After a few seconds of tug of war, they succeed pulling her up. The two guys who did their best was worn out. It was the devastating moment; it was truly the meaning of life and death. The girl they helped cried as she smiles. She appreciated of risking themselves to save her and so thankful that she keeps repeating it until she leaves.
The team celebrated their victory of saving her. The two girls texted their classmates of what happened, Milo patted Vincent back again and again but Vincent wasn't amuse by it. Milan was relief to see that she was safe and grateful… she was grateful for Vincent listened to her request.
"Hey"
Milan heart was startled. Vincent was staring at Milan. 'was he talking to me?'
"You owe me a strawberry milk" Vincent smiled.
Milan blinked many times. She can't believe what she witnessed. Vincent knows how to smile? She looked carefully however the smile disappear. 'maybe it's just my imagination?'
They continued what they were supposed to do. They walk for another 30 minutes and arrived the top. Everyone was breathing endlessly as they saw their classmates and teacher, their feet lose strength and fell on the ground. Everybody felt the same way 'I'm never going back here again' as they catch up their breathe.
A few minutes, they stood up and noticed that several of their classmates are gone. Milo went and asked Ms. Evan about his classmates, as Ms. Evan told Milo about their next tasked, her lips went upwards. Milo eyes widen as he gasped what he learned. He gone back to the group while his head facing the ground, he sighed and his stomach rumbled.
"So… Ms. Evan said 'If you guys are hungry, you have to find the food at the forest. We scattered it everywhere' with a smile"
Vincent group raised their brow and their faces was saying 'HUH? WHAT DID HE SAY??'
Milo sighed again "We have to go to the forest to find the lunches"
"HUH?!"
"What does that supposed to be mean? They made us climb for two hours and now they want us to find the foods?"
Vincent bobbed his head intensely. For the first time he absolutely agreed.
"Yeah, they said it part of the camping"
"WHAT?" they shouted.
Milan don't see anything wrong about throwing the food to the forest. Its part of the fun and anyway, she can fly and help them find those food. Milan imagined all her favorite food, as she reminisces, she was drooling. How she misses eating a food… then she got a great idea. Milan poked Vincent back and he turned around.
"If you give me part of your food, I'll help you find one. What about it?"
"…" he knit his brow
"You just have to offer me a food, and nothing else. Pleasee?"
"…" he narrowed his eyes
"I'll… I'll double your strawberry milk"
"…" he lifts up his brow
"Triple?"
"…"
Milan groaned "Fine. 8 strawberry milk"
"Make it 10"
'10? How could I hold them all?... but it is better than getting crushed by his hand'
"Deal. Tell them to follow you, in the mean time I'll look for the foods"
Milan drifted to the forest to find lunches before they are gone. Vincent went to Milo to asked him to follow him. Then he paused, he pushed his eye glasses and thought hard for minute. 'Do I talk or not?' He pondered that for a minute and then he decided what to do. Milo saw Vincent coming closer to him, he waves his hand, up high and called out his name.
He's in front the giant, he scanned him head to toe, Milo tilted his head. They both stared each other. Suddenly, Vincent kicked his leg, immediately Milo dropped on the ground as his vision blurred out, before he knew it, Vincent was looking down on him. He completely enjoyed and smiled inward.
"What was that for?" Milo yelled
Vincent lifted his head and his thumb, pointing to the forest. Milo understand Vincent language and tell the others to follow Vincent. Milan came back with the information of where the foods are. After hours and hours of searching they all found it except it wasn't what they are expecting. It wasn't cook, it just raw materials; Potato, chicken, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, black pepper, bay leaves, rice and strawberry milk? Vincent quickly took the milk.
They are puzzled by it but they came back to the resting area. When they came back, they spotted the other students are cooking their own meal. They finally understood what they are going to do with the ingredients. Cook it... but what's the dish?
"Adobo"
The members were astonished to hear Vincent talk. It was surprising he knows its adobo.
"How did you know?"
"I cook, what else, moron"
Vincent run off to washed his hand, grab a knife and peeled the potato as the group process. After wards they started cooking the dish and it started horrible, Milo who supposed to handle the rice began to pour all the rice in the pot and cooked it like that, Vincent was upset as Milo continue doing like he thinks he wasn't doing wrong. Vincent turned off the stove and hurriedly washed it as he kneed. He glared at Milo and ordered him to sit with his eyes and he did.
Next, was the girls who was tasked to cut the vegetables, the other one cut it big while the other made it heart and star like some cookies. Vincent sighed in disbelief; he is the only one who knows how to cook. The two members was force to sit. While the three busy chatting and eating the other team dishes, Vincent remain cooking chicken adobo with his all passion. He cut it, peel it and mixed it perfectly. Milan watch it with overwhelmed of admiration, her drooling approved Vincent's skills.
He took a spoon, dip it in the sauce and taste it once, he savors the flavor after a few seconds it was done. He grabbed a plate, put the dish in it and serve it on the table, however, its look like the three of them already ate as they wait and they looked so full. Vincent eyebrow twitched as his hand form a fist, he slammed his hand on the table, knocking the plate a bit and glared at them. They yelped as they contact with his eyes, their whole body shivered and they ran away as fast as they can. He sighed and didn't bother chasing them.
All of a sudden, Milan sat across Vincent and her eyes was sparkling, she points the adobo and clapped both her hand and whispered "Offer, Pray". Vincent nodded, looked left and right, pushed a plate with spoon and fork over to Milan, Adobo with rice and prayed.
"You got to say its for me"
He says it's for the annoying ghost who want some adobo. After that nothing happened… nothing changes. Milan tried touching the spoon, she closed her eyes then she felt it, she opened her eyes and saw. She can touch them! She screamed in excitement. She took a bite as Vincent watched her taste it, he gulped and observed her. Milan was silent for a moment and then she moaned.
"That was Yummy! Oh, my gawd, I can't stop eating" she showed a big smile and came back eating her meal.
Vincent was surprised at her reaction. It was just a simple dish; nothing was added special and yet she liked it. How long have she not eaten? A hint of smile mixed in without her, realizing about it.
"Would you like some more?"
Vincent turned backward; it was the handkerchief girl holding a plate with Sinigang. She stretches both her hands "It's delicious".
Vincent and Milan stare each other than back to the girl. "Oh" she put her hand to her mouth "I'm sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Lilia Salvador, I'm actually your classmate" she giggled.
Why did she talk to Vincent? Aren't they all scared of him? Milan thought
Vincent tilted his head and took the sinigang in her hand and put it down the table. "Thanks…"
Lilia faced was flustered. She waves goodbye while holding her hot face.
'What is going on here….'