บท 25: Have you heard of the organization Genesis?
When Ike got discharged from the hospital, they surrendered his belongings, including his phone to him. His phone was wrecked. That was why he got a new one for convenience. Never once since his discharge did he ever touch his old phone, but now he was going through all the hassle just to restore it.
After more than half an hour of trying, Ike mentally threw his hands in the air.
"This isn't working," he admitted, tossing the ruined phone back into the drawer of his desk. "This needs to be done by a technician."
He already gave his all to — at least — get the files from his old phone but to no avail. Ike knew when to give up and this was when he had to. As he pushed the drawer closed, he instinctively looked back at the open door.
'Are they still there?' he wondered, keeping quiet to detect any movements within the house. 'That punch messed up with my senses a bit.'
Ike shook his head mildly before hearing his stomach grumble. Peeking down, he sighed.
"Of course, I'm hungry." He pushed himself away from the desk, grabbing a small bill from another drawer to buy something from the convenience store.
The slight discomfort from his nose to his eyes and head didn't bother him, nor did the fact that he couldn't sense any movements inside the house. Before school started, Ike's focus and observation improved since there was no disturbance living alone.
The fight with Desmond was exhilarating, if he was going to be honest. Losing a bit of what he built or slowing down his progress so this body could completely adapt to the new soul that inhabited it was worth the sacrifice. Quite the opposite of what one would expect, since it should be the soul that should adapt to its new host and not the other way around.
'It'll return to normal.'
Ike jogged his way down the stairs, only to pause when he reached the first floor of the house. He raised a brow, hearing slight noises from the kitchen. When he approached the kitchen, his eyes fell on Ashley sitting in the dining while Bernis was placing a pot on the table.
"Right on time!" Ashley's jolly voice rang, turning her head in his direction. "I was just about to call you. Come! It's late, and I'm sure you're just as hungry as I am."
Ike's gaze veered in Bernis's direction, and the latter only glanced at him. Bernis said nothing, going back to the kitchen to grab more dishes.
'That looks delicious.' Ike's stomach grumbled, staring at the steam ascending from the pot.
"Quick! I'm hungry!" As if she had forgotten how she left his room almost an hour ago, Ashley waved.
Since this was Ike's house, and he was hungry, he stepped inside. Ike sat down on the chair opposite Ashley, glossing his eyes over the stew Bernis cooked. There were a few side dishes that looked just as appetizing.
"I'm telling you. Bernis's cooking is the best." Ashley grinned from ear to ear until her eyes looked like mere slits. "So, did you restore your phone?"
"Unfortunately, I have to spend to get it fixed." Ike looked back at the girl across from him and then glanced at Bernis as the latter returned with an extra bowl of rice and a fried dish that would complement the other dishes.
"I used the ingredients that were in the fridge," said Bernis while taking off his gloves and dragging the chair beside Ashley to sit down. "I hope you don't mind."
"I will if you took it home without giving me enough to eat."
"Hehe. You should be careful of what you say," Ashley chuckled. "You might be surprised that one day, you wake up and Bernis is already in your kitchen cooking something for the stray cats and dogs."
Ike furrowed his brows, looking at her incredulously. "I might believe that."
"I'm not joking." She shrugged before facing Bernis. "He always wants to become a chef, but he wasn't able to cook anything at home."
"And why is that?"
"He isn't allowed!"
"Ley." Ashley zipped her mouth when Bernis called. The latter then looked back at Ike, maintaining his plain and stoic countenance. "Please enjoy the food and do not waste it."
Ike darted his eyes between the two while Ashley announced to dig in. The latter excitedly served herself, asking Bernis to hand over the dishes she couldn't reach. The table wasn't long or big, but Ashley was rather short or simply lazy. Either way, Bernis didn't seem to mind getting everything for her before he put food on his plate.
"Huh?" After shoving a mouthful inside her mouth, Ashley snapped her eyes up. "Why aren't you eating? Don't tell me you are shy?"
"More than shy, I want to make sure it wasn't poisoned." Ike reached for the bowl of rice to serve himself. "Now that I am sure it wasn't, I feel relieved."
Ashley pouted before taking another spoonful, casting Bernis a look. The latter had no reaction to Ike's response, enjoying the little food he was shoving inside his mouth.
"Well." She shrugged nonchalantly before continuing her meal. "Whatever."
For minutes, only the sound of cutlery hitting the ceramic echoed in the dining. None of them spoke a word, enjoying the meal. Ashley wasn't lying or exaggerating when she said Bernis was a great cook; Bernis was, indeed, a good one.
Ike learned how to cook during his brief summer break, but he must admit Bernis's cooking skill was of another caliber. As they ate, Ike couldn't help but lift his eyes to the people across from him. He thought they would start recruiting him while eating, but the two of them focused on their meal. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they enjoyed it more than him.
And that suddenly left a question in his head.
From the beginning, Ashley was the first to approach Ike. He didn't find her interesting at first, but after discovering the district ranking, he indulged with her. After spending a day with her as her 'friend,' questions that were left unnoticed throughout the day slowly resurfaced on top of his head. Their involvement in the student council only amplified the myriad of questions he had.
"I'm curious," he spoke after swallowing down his food, watching the two pause as they lifted their eyes to him. "Other than my stomach, my curiosity is famished. What the hell do you want from me? Or rather, what does the student council want from me if I joined this student organization?"
Ashley blinked, chewing slowly. She and Bernis looked at each other before facing Ike once again.
"Have you heard of the organization called Genesis?"
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