Mrs. Evangelina and Sarah went to visit Louis where he was held captive. Seeing him through the window, they got emotional. What surprised them more was that despite the high-class food that had been served to him, he denied eating any portion of it.
" Why aren't you eating? Is the food not good enough for you?" The man asked.
…
" I—-- I—---- I want my mom's homemade cooking. I won't eat anything else if not for her cooking". Louis told the man with the remaining strength he had left.
Hearing what the boy said got Mrs. Evangelina and Sarah, all teary. They took steps away from the window. They had seen what they wanted to see and now, they were ready to depart back home.
" Let's go!" Sarah and Mrs. Evangelina went on ahead while Lucas stayed behind. He watches Louis for a couple of seconds more before following them.
At the Esperanza Restaurant, Martin Kyung came to make trouble as always but was surprised when he didn't spot either Mrs. Evangelina or Sarah around.
" What can I get you, Sir?"
Jennifer went to Martin's table to take his orders, putting aside all the resentments she felt towards him.
" Where is everyone?" He completely ignored me as he asked a question out of me.
" Whatever do you mean, Sir?"
Martin stared at me with an aloof expression and said: " Don't play dumb with me! Where's Sarah and her mother? Why aren't they here?"
…
As Jennifer was thinking up an excuse to give out to Martin, Mrs. Evangelina, Sarah, and Lucas came back from their little errand. They entered by the back door of the restaurant.
" What can we do for you, Sir?" Sarah appeared before Martin. She gave him a dark look.
" I was wondering why you weren't at the restaurant, that's all". He responded.
" We went to buy some stuff we needed for the restaurant. Why? Are you going to deprive us of our freedom too?" Sarah said coldly.
Martin looked very hurt at Sarah's harsh words. Jennifer spouted the sadness out of him and felt confused.
" Sarah, don't be so loud! What are the customers going to think?" I whispered to Sarah in an attempt to calm her down.
…
" I'm going to freshen up".
Sarah left the table and was followed closely by her mother. Lucas went to the other customers.
" What can I get you, Sir?" I asked him again in the hopes that this time he would give me an answer.
" A salad, please!"
Jennifer left his table to get his order ready. Ten minutes later, she came back with his order and put it on the table.
" Is there anything else you would need?" I asked courtly,
" I don't need anything else, Thank you!"
…
Several hours passed and the restaurant officially closed for the day. While everyone was gone, Mrs. Evangelina and Sarah finally let their emotions out in the open.
" Louis was so skinny and pale. My poor baby might have suffered a lot all those months". Mrs. Evangelina let out bitter tears.
" He didn't want to eat the food that was served to him although it was high-class cuisine. That shows how much he has been enduring all this while".
We headed home soon after and had dinner which went on silently. The atmosphere has never been this silent. It was very awkward for Jennifer and Lucas.
Meanwhile, at the abandoned house, Martin came to check on the kid. His men reported to him on Louis' conduct.
" He refused to eat again! What does he want? Isn't the food good enough for him?" Martin was pissed off due to the bitter moment he had at the Esperanza Restaurant.
" About that, what he asked for may not be possible to give him". The man said to Martin.
" What does he want? We can get him any kind of food he desires". Martin asked the man for Louis's preference.
" He wants homemade cooking. He asked for his mother's homemade cuisine". The man answered.
…
The following morning, Mrs. Evangelina was the first among us to wake up. She made breakfast before we all woke up and aside from that—----------------
" Good morning, Mrs. Evangelina!" Lucas and I greeted her upon coming to the dining table.
" Good morning!"
We had breakfast and after twenty minutes—---------------
" I made this homemade meal for Louis but I don't know how to deliver it to him". Mrs. Evangelina held the bento box tightly.
( Right! Mrs. Evangelina and Sarah told me that Louis asked for his mother's homemade cuisine. This must be why she made this bento box for him).
" I can have it delivered for you if you don't mind". I said suggestively.
" Are you sure?"
" Yes, I'm sure, and don't worry about the fact that I might be spotted by Martin Kyung because I already have a plan regarding that". I said with utter confidence.
" Thank you!"
She handed the bento box to me as my words convinced her she could trust me with the food delivery.
" I'll come by the restaurant after I'm done with the delivery".
Mrs. Evangelina and the others headed to the restaurant while I went to deliver the bento box as scheduled.
( My plan is simple enough. I have to make sure to run into Martin Kyung by coincidence. Also, the bento box must be put in evidence so he can see it. My plan's perfect).
" Hey!" Martin interpellated me as he spotted me from afar.
" Hello!"
" Aren't you the lady that works as an aide at the Esperanza Restaurant?"
" Yes, I am!"
His attention shifted to the bento box I was holding in my hand. My plan is a success, I slightly grinned.
" Is that a bento box you're holding in your hand?" He asked swiftly.
" Yes, why? Do you want it?"
He answered: " I'd like to have your bento box and I'll pay for it of course".
" Sorry, but I can't give it to you because it's a delivery". I responded.
( It would be suspicious if I handed the bento box to him that easily. I'll make it a bit harder for him as revenge for what he did to Mrs. Evangelina and Sarah).
" I'll pay whatever the cost is needed but I must have this bento box". He said very insistently.
" Mrs. Evangelina won't be pleased with this but seeing as you're so insistent, I suppose it must be quite urgent".
" Yes! It's an emergency".
" I'll give you this bento box but I'd like something in exchange".
" What do you want from me?"
" I'll hand this bento box to you for free but in exchange, you have to buy me dinner. What do you say?"
" You've got yourself a deal!"
I handed the bento box to him and before we parted ways, we exchanged numbers.
( My job here is done. I must report back to Mrs. Evangelina and Sarah Asap).