The Lone Gatekeeper

I woke up early the next day. I didn know why, but suddenly I felt like I needed to cook breakfast immediately.

And I figured out why when I heard a loud thud from the kitchen.

Alexandras head was in the fridge, looking for something. She was wearing one of my white, oversized shirts and a pair of black, boxer shorts.

Last night, I had to let her sleep in my bedroom while I slept on the couch. I thought that was the most appropriate thing to do, as she needed some extra comfort and rest after all of that happened.

I was unable to sleep well, but I spent a few hours watching anime and reading some manhwa that I liked.

I scanned my eyes through the kitchen. It was a big mess. Bottles, boxes… everything was scattered around.

”Good morning, ” I said as I sat on the bar stool across the kitchen counter.

It took her a minute or two before realizing that I was already there.

”Ethan, good morning. Im sorry, I… ” She scratched the back of her neck as she looked around. I noticed her dark hair scrunched up into a bun.

”Its alright. We can clean that later. What are you searching for? ”

Her answer was short, yet it really made sense.

”Meat. ”

”Sorry, but I don have it. Im on a diet, ” I said.

”Really? I didn know you were on diet. I mean, it doesn — ”

”Yeah, it doesn appear on my body. ” I laughed. ”Its because I don exercise regularly. Theres only fish, chicken, and eggs in the fridge, so you won find any pork or beef even if you turn it upside down. ”

She sat helplessly beside me and pouted like a child.

Damn, she looked so cute despite her athletic build. I suddenly wanted to touch some strands of her messy, dark hair and tuck it behind her left ear.

I laughed again. By this time I had known it was her animalistic side that kicks in whenever she eats, and I shouldn let her starve. I was afraid that if I do, she could turn into her other form and devour me.

”Lets make a deal, ” I stood up. ”I know that you picked up how my kitchen looks like before you tore it down. Im gonna buy some red meat and cook when I get back. But promise me, youll gonna turn this place on how it used to be. Deal? ”

She smiled wickedly.

”Deal. ”

****

The market wasn really a long way to walk from my residence, but since it was a sunny day today, I became exhausted rather quickly than usual. Sweat was all over my face when I reached Farmers Market.

The marketplace had a categorized scheme. It had a separate area for fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, and poultry. Since it was still a bit early, there were a few customers around. The smell of fresh animal blood welcomed me when I entered the meat and poultry section.

”Good morning, sir! ” the butcher asked me. She was a plump, middle-aged woman with tanned skin. ”Long time, no see, huh? ”

I smiled. ”I told you, Ate, Im on a diet. ”

”Then what brings you here? ”

”Gotta cook some dishes for a friend. This is her dying wish, ” I grinned and scanned the products. ”One kilo for chicken, two for pork, please. ”

And then the butcher proceeded with my order.

I checked my phone—it was just eight in the morning. I had enough vegetables back home so I didn have to buy anymore.

I wondered where Alexandras house was as I walked home. I saw her in her slippers and because of it, I thought she lived nearby.

But where could it be?

”Good morning, Kuya Marco! ” I greeted him as I wrote my time-in on his logbook. He wasn around when I left the condo, so I write my time-out as well.

”Good morning, Sir Ethan. Hows your friend? ” He noticed my belongings. ”Hmm. Will you cook? ”

I nodded. ”Shes okay now. Her wounds healed fast. And yeah, the girl wants some meat. ”

And that was when his face went serious. He looked around, maybe afraid that someone would overhear us.

”Tell me. Is she a Morphling? ” ”Um… ”

Damn. I can lie to him.

I trust him, but I don know the—

”You can tell me. ” He smiled. ”Im a Morphling, too. ”

So I ended up inviting him for lunch.

****

”Really? Wow, thats something. ”

Alexa said, her eyes glittering with awe at Kuya Marco. They were talking about how Morphlings can have two or more other forms. A while ago, we told him about Arias death in the alleyway, and he said he was glad we told him sooner.

”Yes. But only skilled Morphlings can do that, ” said Kuya Marco. He paused and chewed his food.

”Seeking older peoples advice whenever in need is a great thing to do, ” according to him.

And I must say that I was impressed with Alexandras cleaning skills. She didn leave any filth or grime.

I knew I made a mistake for not asking her to clean my whole unit because obviously, she could without breaking a sweat.

I cooked Chicken and Pork Adobo, Chicken Caldereta, and Bicol Express. Caldereta and Bicol Express are spicy foods, yet the two with me here ate as if I cooked something sweet. They haven drunk a single glass of juice or water to battle the spicy flavor and when I looked at both of them, there was no single sweat visible on their faces.

Maybe I didn put up enough chili?

I learned—through listening to them—that Morphlings have faster metabolism since they are more active and wilder than us. I accepted it whole-heartedly since last night because obviously, I had no choice. I also had to embrace the fact that I know people far from being human, but they have this kindness greater than any ordinary human I know far.

I hate to admit it, but I think they are better people than my father.

”Ill tell you something, Kuya. ” Alexandra said as she chew her food, ”Ethans immune to . ”

Kuya Marcos eyes widened in shock. ”Is that true? ”

”Yeah, and not only that. He didn even freak out when he saw me in my other form! ”

”Hey, ” I joined in. ”I did freak out at first. And when you changed back into your original form, I knew that you wouldn hurt me. So I let my guard down and took you here. ”

They fell silent. And I didn know why.

It took up to two minutes before Kuya decided to break the silence.

”Sir Ethan, I think you should go to DSEA. ”

My eyebrows crossed. ”Why? ”

”Because you know too much already. And you have an amazing gift to block a mental skill. ”

”Wait. Before me, lets find those who killed Aria first, ” I glanced at Alexandra to see her reaction.

And as expected, it was grim.

”Uh, Im sorry I brought up the topic back, ” I said.

She let out a sad smile.

”Its fine. Here, eat some meat, ” she then hastily put a spoonful of Bicol Express in my mouth.

I choked. ”I told you, I— ”

”Just this time, ” Kuya Marco interrupted me, ”since you cooked all of these. You have to taste your cooking, too. ”

”Ugh. Okay. ” I groaned as I chewed my food carefully.

”And after this, Im going to drop you two off at the Department. ”

****

Traffic. A thing everyone can escape in the Philippines.

I was sitting in the middle part of Kuya Marcos white Crosswind. I was curious why a security guard had this kind of car because I was pretty sure his salary wouldn be enough to pay for it.

I wasn degrading him or something, I guess I was just bewildered by it more than the knowledge of them being Morphlings.

”Mr. Santos gave me the car, ” he said. Mr. Santos owns Santos Realty, Inc., the builder of the residence where I live.

Alexandra was sitting shotgun, and she hadn said a thing since we left the condo. I think she was still upset because in her perspective she was the reason why Aria died, and that was seriously heavy.

During breakfast, she told me that she found a dying man in the alleyway, but when she moved closer, it turned into a large, black cat and attacked him—hence, her bloody claws.

She tried to interrogate him, but the man just kept saying ”He took that human ”. Alexandra went deeper into the darkness with her enhanced senses, but all she saw were Arias clothes, scattered one by one to the ground.

It left a trail that she eventually followed, but Aria and the ”He ” weren there at all. She fought the man and it managed to claw at her chest before it escaped.

And it was me who saw her right after that.

I let out a sigh. I really felt sorry for her, but at this point, we didn have any other options but to tell the Department officials about everything we knew on the night of Arias disappearance. I think theyd be more capable of finding her than us. And hell, I was dying to see what the Department looked like.

”Kuya, wheres the DSEA exactly? ” I asked out of annoyance.

The traffic was getting on my nerves. The Crosswind had air conditioning but since it was sunny outside, the light passed through the glass windows of the car. Damn. I was starting to sweat and it was bringing some changes in my mood.

”Just a little farther, Sir Ethan. ”

I let out a groan. The car fell silent.

Alexandra stared at me, maybe figuring out why I suddenly lost respect for the man I treat like an older brother. But I didn care.

I glanced outside.

And the next thing I knew, Alexandra was already beside me.

”Hey, you. Calm down, ” she said as he pressed my shoulders with her strong hands. I think she was trying to massage me so that I could relax.

I looked at him and she shook her head with an amused expression.

”Its so hot out here, ” I ranted.

I glanced at the rearview mirror, and I met Kuya Marcos eyes. I suddenly realized that I had indeed flipped out a while ago.

”Kuya, Im sorry I— ”

He laughed. ”Its alright, Sir Ethan. I understand. ”

He turned up the radios volume.

”Hey, hey. Is that Endlessly by The Cab? ” I asked.

”Yes. I like Rock and Alternative, in case you are wondering, ” Kuya Marco answered.

”Really? ” Alexa joined in. ”But the genres don fit you. ”

Kuya Marco laughed. ”I know. ”

I snickered and started to recall the lyrics of the song. ”Na na na na na na na… Im not perfect, but I swear Im perfect for you. ”

”What the hell is
a na na na na na na? ” she said.

”I don know. So just shut up and enjoy the music. ”

She smiled, and eventually, I forgot that we were stuck in traffic.

I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

****

”Ethan. Hey. We
e here, ” Alexandra whispered in my ear. I swore my ears heard her perfectly, but her scent also permeated through my nostrils.

Her smell reminded me of the forest during the rainy season—petrichor. It also made me envision the trees back in our house at Antipolo.

I suddenly missed my old home.

”Ugh. I still wanna sleep, ” I answered as I moved my head comfortably in her lap.

Wait. Her lap?

I immediately snapped my eyes open and backed away from her.

She chuckled. ”What? ”

”What am I doing in your lap?! ” I exclaimed.

”Sleeping? Cuddling? I don know. ” She flashed a smile and I noticed her two sharp teeth in the rear of her front teeth. I wanted to ask if it was because of her Morphling genes, but I quickly brushed it off my head.

”You couldve pushed me away. Or you couldve woken me up! ” I answered as I put a considerable distance between us.

”Why? You
e so cute when you sleep. I didn want to disturb you. ”

I felt my cheeks burn again. I looked away from her and fixed myself. She giggled and went out of the car.

I followed suit, and I dropped my jaw to the ground when I saw it.

The Department of Supernatural Existence and Affairs.