Hannah was back in the kitchen after changing into dry clothes. She heard from Axel that Penelope was hungry so she asked Axel to teach her how to cook. Axel had looked at her like she was retarded before he began to instruct her.
But who knew that Hannah was this bad at cooking? He didn't know that she had never held a spatula in her life and even when she did, she ended up making a mess!
"That is a vegetable, not a person! Don't chop it like that!"
"Are you trying to burn down the house?"
"Leave those, I will do them!"
"Wash those first… no not that one, this one!"
With Axel's help, dinner was finally ready and the trio sat at the table to eat. Penelope sat beside Axel while Hannah sat at the opposite side of the table. She wasn't angry though. Penelope seemed to be back to her usual chirpy self which Hannah was used to. Her cheeks had a hint of red that Hannah had not seen in a very long time.
She should thank Axel properly before he leaves.
During the meal, Penelope was all over Axel as they talked about what games they played earlier and when next they were going to play outside. Clearly, the child was already attached to Axel. He brought her outside after all.
After dinner, Hannah helped Axel with the dishes, and in no time they were done. The sky had already turned dark and it was getting pretty late so Axel got up to leave after promising Penelope that he would be back tomorrow which of course, made the child happy.
Hannah walked Axel to the door intending to see him out but she stopped when they were almost at his car. "Wait a minute, I will be right back!" She said before dashing back into the house.
Though he was confused, Axel waited patiently beside his car till Hannah came out. She held out her hand holding a familiar watch to him. "Thank you for today". She said shyly with her has hund low and her hair falling on both sides of her face.
Axel smiled and he was touched by her gesture but he couldn't accept the watch. That damned bastard, Raymond, gave it to her! "I can't accept it, sorry". Axel apologized.
"But why?!" Hannah was confused. "You liked the watch so much?"
"That was before I found out that it came from Raymond. I hate this watch now!" Axel stated seriously while staring at the watch like he could burn it with just his gaze.
Hannah could understand where Axel was coming from. Now, even she felt like throwing the watch away. But she wanted to thank Axel and she wanted to do it by giving him something too.
"Give me a second". Hannah said and dashed back into the house. She came back again with a knife in her hand and gave it to him.
She was going to thank him with a blade?!
Hannah saw how Axel was looking weirdly at the knife and then at her. "This is not just any knife. It's my lucky blade. I use it whenever I go on an important mission. You can have it". Hannah stuffed the knife in his palm and Axel held it in his grip.
He studied the knife. The blade was still in its sheath; he could only see its silver handle. At the end of the handle was a small emerald stone that shone brightly even though it was dark outside.
"Why are you giving me this if it's your lucky blade". Axel asked.
"There are two of these so I can keep one while you take the other".
'Twin blades?'
"Did Raymond give this to you as well?" Hannah quickly waved her hands in his face and shook her head.
"No! Someone else gave it to me. A friend of mine". Hannah said.
"Why would you give me something that a friend gave to you? Wait… you have friends?!" Axel looked shocked.
Hannah's face burned red from embarrassment. Of course, she has friends! No, she only had a friend. "W-what do you mean by that? If you don't want it then give it back!" Hannah was getting angry.
"I won't give it back. It's mine now". Axel smiled and hid the knife behind him. He was acting like a child again. "You should go inside. Penelope must be waiting".
Hannah nodded and went inside, leaving Axel behind.
When she was finally out of his line of sight, Axel brought the watch back to his front and he began to study it again, Thoroughly this time. He pressed hard on the small emerald stone and the handle opened like a flower in full bloom but what he was expecting to see wasn't there.
It was gone!
But…
Does Hannah know about this
He removed the sheath from the blade and the silver blade showed brightly under the moonlight, almost blinding him. He turned the blade around and he saw a small circle in the middle.
He looked intently into the circle and saw a small 'H' in it and Axel froze.