CHAPTER 30

　　Vior's Point Of View

　　She simply turned to me, s-she was smiling? Her eyes... is this really Zenith?

　　"Hi, Vior, are you looking for me?" as well as her voice, it was different, it was so tender. I don't know what to say, right now.

　　"First, why do you seem stunned?" I heard Manong ask.

　　I still can't speak.

　　I just stared at Zenith's face, she frowned and then avoided me.

　　"Let's just ignore him, Old man, maybe he just saw that ghost," she said teasingly.

　　"What, Uno, are you going to order or are you just going to watch Zenith there, you know? You're all right …" because of what Manong said, it was as if cold water was suddenly poured on me and then I woke up.

　　My heart was beating faster then I heard Zenith's laughter, damn! I'm dead. I think it's going to explode and it will spontaneously come out of my chest. I tried to act normal but nothing helped and that only made me worse.

　　"So, why are you looking for me? How are you? It's been days," this is the first time she asked that and she sounded like concern.

　　Is this really Zenith?

　　Vior, snapped out of it. That's still Zenith but just weird? like what? I admit, I'm glad she's like that but still I want the old one, the one who doesn't care and is very cold. I miss that Zenith.

　　I sighed deeply, I need to talk to her properly so I'll postpone it first. "Can we talk?"

　　She turned to me and smiled again, oh please! "Sure, what are we going to talk about? I'm all ears, spill."

　　"No, not here, I can't. Let's talk in private."

　　I saw her shock, she turned to Manong as if saying goodbye.

　　"It looks like you're going to talk seriously so go ahead, I'll serve what you ordered later," Manong insisted.

　　But Zenith shook her head and then faced me. "Can we eat first before we talk? I don't like waiting for food especially if it's freshly cooked."

　　Oh yeah, she's right about that.

　　"Manong Pilot? Please cook for me too, just like before ..." I said.

　　"All right, wait a minute. This is your order, Zenith I hope you like it," Manong happily prepared the food in front of Zenith.

　　I smiled because she still ate a lot, something she wouldn’t lose and change that character. She enthusiastically left it.

　　I just watched her take them one by one, she didn't stop and she was consuming them quickly, she said.

　　Now, I have no doubt that she is not so Zenith but I just wonder why did she changed herself. "I'm sorry for waiting, this is yours, Uno..." I immediately sat up and faced Manong Pilot. I gladly took what he cooked. "Thank you, Manong."

　　I started eating the bulalo first, it was very tasty especially when freshly cooked because the broth was still hot.

　　When I was exhausted, I followed the sisig that was really my favorite.

　　"It's nice to see that you two are really enjoying yourself …" I don't know but I was stunned by the food then frowned when I looked up to face Manong Pilot. I have something else on my mind.

　　"Your cooking is really good, Tanda. There's no denying that so it's better if you build a bigger restaurant so that more people can eat with you," Zenith suggested, I agree with her on that point. .

　　"Yes, Manong Pilot. Why don't you make a bigger diner?"

　　"Even if I wanted to, it wouldn't be possible, in the small and crowded place of this place, a big store wouldn't be enough and I'm content with what I have now. There's no need for that," he said. twinkle in his eyes, he was obviously sad about it.

　　Manong is also right, no matter what they do, it will not happen because Forbidden City is only a small part of Warriors Academy.

　　"Is your only problem with land, Old man? I can buy you..." we were both surprised by what Zenith said.

　　It was serious and there was no trace on its face that was joking. She was too kind if she meant that.

　　Is the real Zenith back?

　　"Oh my! Don't, daughter, that's too much. It's embarrassing, you're already paying too much to buy me," Manong said hesitantly.

　　Zenith just smiled at him.

　　"No, I insist, Old man. If you can't accept it I can't do anything but I'm still gonna buy you a lot," she insisted.

　　"It's just like that, Old man. What if I buy you land in exchange for free food? Would you accept that?" she added.

　　"Not yet sister, there's too much land just for the food I'm cooking for you. Thank you …"

　　I heard her sigh. "You still don't want it? Food is more important to land, then I'm not just referring to a kitchen. As long as I eat here it should be free then I would like the business to grow even more so that you can help others."

　　I wondered looking at her, did she want to convey something? With that reasoning, she seemed to be saying goodbye to Manong Pilot.

　　"Hey, let's go. It's up to you as long as you always eat here ah? So that I can pay somehow." At the same time she laughed that Zenith just rode too.

　　They stopped when I stood up, they both looked at me with questioning faces. "What?"

　　They just shook their heads together.

　　"All right, sister, Uno and you have something else to talk about? You've finished eating so you can go," said Manong, that's not what I meant. I just stood up to get down what I ate, feeling guilty.

　　"Hmm I'll go ahead, Old man. We'll go first as long as I come back with the land title, thanks for the food." Zenith stood up and motioned for me, so I easily bowed to Manong.

　　As a thank you and also an apology then follow Zenith who is walking out of town.

　　"Ahmm, Zenith?" when I broke the silence, we were between Warriors City and Forbidden City when I thought of speaking.

　　She stopped walking and then smilingly turned to me. "It's getting late, do you want us to just talk at my house? You can spend the night there too so you can rest."

　　That surprise me. My brain can't process what she said, she's dead! I was still stunned and unable to speak.

　　"What, come on?" she asked further.

　　"I-Isn't it bad to look at that when I sleep in your house? I didn't mean anything … but then …" And by that, she started to walk again while leaving me hanging.