恋の唄

Morning already?

*achoo*

I guess those cobwebs make a trick.

*grww*

I should go downstairs seeing if there's any to eat.

“Good morning, Mr Baranov. May I have your order?” greeted, Alistair.

“Tea and some croissants would be nice. And please, call me Mikita. We're living here together after all. No need to be formal.”

“As your wish. The tea will be ready soon. However, I’m afraid that we have run out of croissants…“

“Yeah, no biggie. Just point me to the bakery. I’ll go fetch some myself.” I interrupted before he could finish. 

He’s kinda slow-paced speaker with that formally posh accent. I don't know if it's just me or I'm being too rushing. 

“Very well, there is a bakery called ‘Beast beneath the moonlight’ on the left corner of the opposite street.”

“Okay, be right back!”

Ha! ‘Beast beneath the moonlight’? Sounds too fantasy to be the bakery's name. Why don't try something like Magical bakery? Eat, smile and die smilingly. Wait, that sounds even worse.

But wow! I gotta admit the smell in here is so heavenly. Fresh pastries straight from hot ovens to these shelves, magically. This is heaven.

“Good morning, sir. Oh, it’s Mikita-Nii.” Greeted, the employee who seems to know me for some reason.

“Umm, do I know you?”

“Nii-san, it's me, Reishi. We’ve met at the bar last night.”

“Oh, you're that messy hair bloke. What's up, having a new haircut? I barely recognise you.”

And I thought he was looking vaguely familiar. Haha……haha……ha……

“Haha, very funny. So what can I do for you today?” cut to the chase, Reishi.

“3 croissants, please. Oh, that's one looks good. What is it?”

“That’s Argentine savoury pionono. €6 per pound, €1.50 per piece.”

“I’ll take one pound and 6 of these Runeberg tortes, please.”

“Certainly, that would be €15.75 for today.”

“Ok, accept credit cards?” I handed him my credit card.

“Yes, certainly.” Reishi took the card and do the thing then placed the pastries in a bag. “ Here you go. Have a nice day and treat me to dinner sometime!”

Huh?

*Reishi’s thought: He got a credit card, he must be very rich.*

“Yahoo! I’m back.”

“Welcome back, your tea is ready.”

“Appreciate it.” I sipped the tea.

Umm, yeah, bitter, perfect.

“Hey, Alistair, why don't you join me? I bought plenty of sweets”

“As your wish.”

He pours himself a cuppa and come sitting beside me. 

La La La, breakfast, breakfast, breakfast!

Let's try the croissant first. *Crunching* Mmm! So crispy!

And this one, Runeberg torte, a Finnish delicacy. Oh, how long I’ve been long for this scrumptious little thing. *Amm* Ah! My childhood has returned again! Oh, Aunt Kyllikki, I miss you.

“Here, Alise, Say Ah……”

He do as I told. How adorable. Just like a little pup.

I shove the other half of the Runeberg torte that I’ve bit into his mouth. He eats it without any doubt just like a dog.

“How was it?”

“It is delightful. Thank you for sharing it with me.”

“Yeah, no prob.”

And the last and the biggest one, the Argentine savoury pionono. Don't even know what it is but let’s eat. *Amm!* Mmm, interesting. It’s giving me a vibe of a sandwichy cake. It's like a savoury cake roll of sorts. But I think I rather keep this for later.

“Excuse me, a delivery for Mikita Baranov.” 

All of the sudden, someone rushed in. 

Delivery for me? I don't remember ordering anything. What is it?

“Oh, it's you. Belgrade's sister, Tirana, isn't it?”

“Yes, that's me. Brother told me to me give you some of his old clothes and this letter.”

“Oh, thanks.”

Then she left. 

Tirana Jansen, a younger sister of Belgrade Jansen, my saviour, and the owner of that hairdressing&tailoring shop yesterday. Her eyes resemble her brother. But, the rest is not, magically.

Now, let's see the letter.

‘To Alistair O’Rourke

Good day to you. My name is Belgrade Jansen. I have written this letter to you because I want to donate some of my old clothes to your tenant, Mikita Baranov. However, I must apologise for not being there myself. I have crippled my ankle during a mission. I would also like to advise you to bathe him as well. When I met him, he smelt ghastly as hell. I crippled my ankles thanks to that smell. 

With respect 

Belgrade Jansen 

Ps. Don’t read the last part to him. Thanks in advance.’

The hell is this! His ankles were crippled because of my smell! And what do you mean don't read the last part to him? He thought I can’t read, didn't he?

“Hey, hey! What do you think you're doing?!! Put me down you…” I paused by surprise. “Mr Nyx?”

“Rub texted me to bathe you. Or maybe together if you want.”

“Together! Together!”

“Very well, my little horror. Let's get naked together.”

Omigod! Omigod! My dream has finally come true. Yeah, take that bitches! I’m getting married.

*one hour later at Ruby’s shop*

“*Wah!* Ruby! He's raped me. That horny jerkass rapist narcissism.*Wah!*”

“Huh? Wha?” I’m on my knee grabbing Ruby’s leg while wearing nothing but a single towel. “Is something happened, Mr Rourke?”

“I was just trying to bathe him as you have asked me to.”

“Minty, Mr Rourke’s done nothing wrong. Just let him bathe you, please I beg of you.”

“But he’s really tried to rape me. Look! There's a kiss mark on my neck. Look! Look!” I bend my neck a little for all to see.

“No, there is……” paused, Ruby. “Oh, there is one.…”

“Ah, finally! “

“On Mr Rourke’s neck.”

“What!”

“Yeah, on his arms and his abdomen as well.” Ruby counted the marks on that half-naked blondie jerk. “Seems like you left quite a lot of traces on his body, huh. I don’t need Bel to examine your body to know who’s the victim here.”

“Hey, boss.” Emile, the It support, has shown up at the entrance. “Nyx and I finish packing. Ready for the mission.”

“Oh, sorry, I’m not ready yet. Please tell the other to wait a bit, kay?”

“Gotcha, boss. We’ll be in Belgy’s room if you need anything.”

Then he left without even realising two half-naked men in here.

“Now listen, you two. I have to go to Thailand soon so as your friend, could you please please talk this out at home? I know you only just met, you have your differences but please Minty try to open your mind. Mr Rourke isn’t a bad guy. I wouldn't let my buddy stay with some wicked vermin, would I?”

“Yeah, alright.”

“Now” Ruby kissed me on my cheeks. “I’ll find something for you two to wear.”

Why am I the only one wearing saree?! And why the heck is he wearing a normal t-shirt?! God, I started to get embarrassed. At least, I got this figure to die for. Ha! Magically sexy.

Whatever, now I need to find out what the heck happened to me. I almost raped the poor bloke. Could it be, that during the kidnap, those men did something to me? Maybe I should stop by Dr Zowa’s office sometime.

“Hey, you.”

“Yes?”

“I got a thing to do. You head home first.”

“As your wish.” 

After I parted ways with Alistair, I realise that I forget something. Something tremendously important.……

I don't know where she lives! Ruby and Mr Nyx are probably on their way to the airport right now. God, what should I do, what should I do!? I don't have a phone, their contacts or anything helpful! God bless me.

Ohthe, maybe that lad, Reishi, isn’t it? Maybe he could help me out. Let’s get back to the bakery.

“What do you mean he’s gone?!” I intensely asked the employee at the bakery.

“He’s probably at the Vietnamese restaurant near the police station by now. Today’s Friday, right?…”

“Okay, thanks for the tip!”

Alright, Reishi, I’m coming for you! 

…………

And here I am at the Vietnamese restaurant ‘Rau Muống’. The building looks pretty clean. The interior looks kinda white-ishly convenient, I guess? Don't ask me anything related to architecture, I don't know a thing. 

“Welcome, sir. Please have a seat.” welcomed, the waitress.

“Actually, I come to see Reishi. Is he here?”

“He’s in the kitchen, go through that door.”

“Thanks!”

In the kitchen, wafting through the air is the smell of some aromatic soup. Could it be ‘Phố’?

Near a big pot I spot, there he is, Reishi, my saviour cannabe, cooking something in a big hot pot, I spot. 

“Yo!”

“Awawawa! Mikita-nii? What are you doing here?”

“Making Phố?”

“Yes, smell great, right? Wait, no! Don’t dodge the question!”

“Okay, straight to the point. Could you call Ruby or Mr Nyx for me? I need Dr Zowa’s address.”

“Verzeihung, can’t help you there nii-san.”

“Crap!”

“Why don’t you just ask Alistair-nii? He got the contacts, no doubt. He’s one of the Bonbon sweet boy’s club, isn’t he? Ruby, Nyx, Alice, Ishtar…”

“What’s that? Sounds kinda lame.”

“Yeah, can’t agree more. It’s Bythesea’s idea to inspire himself.”

“Like some kind of boy band idols of sort?”

“You could put it it that way. Now, please, away with you. Shush shush, I got so many work left to do.”

“Please let me staying here with you. I kinda… don’t want go home right now.”

“Don’t say it like that! People will misunderstand us.”

“What is going on here?” 

The lady, in pink Vietnamese dress, walking in through the back door.

“Boss!”

“Boss? It’s a pleasure, my name’s Mikita.”

“I’m Triệu Hằng or you could just call me Helena. I’m the owner of ‘Rau Muống‘. Pleasure’s mine. It’s good to finally see young Reishi’s lover in flesh.”

“But he’s not…”

“Shush, young one. If he wants to stay, let him stay and help.”

“But, but, but!”

“No but. Now, let’s get back to work.”

“Aye aye, Helena, ma’am.”

Then I’ve had the steamiest day in my life. Even though all I have done there is cutting veggies and roll spring rolls.

Mist of aromaticness wafting in the kitchen all day and teasing Reishi too. It’s just the best feeling ever. Ways even better than a sauna. 

I also got some money from Ms Helena. What a generous woman. 

After all those steam and sweat, I tag along with Reishi to my palace. 

To face the reality.

Fuu……… here I go.

Argh! My legs are frozen. Can’t, I can’t. Somebody pushed me in.

“Come on in, Conejito! We’re having a surprise for you.” Ace approached me before he pull me into the shop. As the music starts.

🎶🎶🎶🎶

“🎼I cried a tear, you wiped it dry

I was confused, you cleared my mind

I sold my soul, you bought it back for me

“I’m sorry for everything.” I apologise to Alistair.

“Aww, don’t be. I wish I was there myself so I could have all the fun to myself.” Said, Ace.

“He wasn’t talking to you, pervert.” Mr Tharald smacked Ace’s head with his fist.

“Ouch! I was just messing around.”

“I, too, have to apologise. For anything infuriating, I may have caused.”

“Please don’t say that you haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Yeah, he’s right. Let’s party!!”

Oh my god, I've just noticed. Reishi's hair becomes messy again.