The night stretched on as I dragged my weary body home. It was past ten, and the streets of EDSA pulsed with life—honking cars, neon lights flickering against the dark sky. Hunger gnawed at my stomach, but I forced myself to ignore the street vendors lined up along the sidewalk. I barely had enough for my jeepney fare. If I spent a single peso on food, I'd have no choice but to walk the rest of the way home.
Two more kilometers. Just a little further.
Then—
A scent.
Rich. Savory. Irresistible.
I stopped mid-step, my body betraying me as my head snapped toward the source.
A small eatery stood at the end of a dimly lit alleyway, blending into the shadows. I hadn't even noticed it until now. Unlike the lively food stalls nearby, this place was eerily quiet. The buildings beside it were shut tight, their windows dark as if abandoned.
Yet, the aroma that drifted from inside…
It was impossible to ignore.
I clenched my fists, my stomach twisting in protest. No. You can't afford this.
But my feet had other plans. Before I knew it, I was stepping closer, my eyes drawn to the trays of food gleaming under the eatery's warm lights. Menudo, adobo, pochero, dinuguan—every dish looked like it belonged in a high-end restaurant.
I swallowed hard.
I had to leave.
I turned away, forcing myself to walk—
"Kuya, what do you want? Everything here is delicious."
A soft, lilting voice stopped me in my tracks.
I turned and saw her.
A young woman stood behind the counter, her long hair cascading down her shoulders, her skin smooth as porcelain. Her lips curled into a knowing smile, dark eyes watching me with quiet amusement.
For a moment, I forgot my hunger.
"Are you okay, kuya?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Ah… yeah. Just tired from work," I muttered, shaking my head to snap out of it.
Her smile widened. "Perfect timing, then. I have an open seat inside just for you. My food is cheap, don't worry."
"I can't. I only have enough money for my ride home. Could I just have some water?"
"Of course! Come in."
She pushed the door open, and something inside me hesitated—but my thirst won over my caution.
The moment I stepped inside, my breath caught in my throat.
The place was packed.
Men filled every table, eating with unsettling eagerness. The air buzzed with voices, yet from the outside, I hadn't heard a single sound. It was as if this entire place had been… hidden.
I sat at a small table near an old electric fan, my gaze scanning the diners. They ate hungrily, each bite devoured with almost obsessive delight. But what really caught my attention was how often they glanced at the woman—whispering, smirking, their eyes gleaming with something primal.
So that's why they're here.
I smirked to myself. It wasn't just the food they wanted.
But before I could dwell on it, the woman returned—not just with water, but with a full meal. A tray piled with steaming rice, adobo, menudo, and vegetables.
"Eat," she said, setting the dishes down in front of me.
I blinked. "I didn't order this. I only asked for water."
She simply smiled. "Pay me next time. I know you're starving."
I frowned. "And what if I don't come back?"
Her smile deepened.
"You will. No man can resist my cooking."
Then she turned and walked away, leaving me alone with the food.
The smell hit me again, stronger this time. My stomach twisted in desperation.
Screw it.
I grabbed the spoon, my hands trembling slightly as I scooped up the adobo.
The moment it touched my tongue—
A rush of flavors exploded in my mouth.
Savory. Sweet. Perfectly tender meat that melted like butter.
My eyes widened.
"Holy shit… this is amazing!"
I dug in, shoveling spoonful after spoonful into my mouth. The menudo was just as heavenly, the sauce thick and rich. Even the vegetables—something I usually ignored—tasted impossibly good.
I drowned my rice in adobo sauce and devoured the last bite, washing it down with a deep gulp of water.
Then I let out a loud, satisfied burp.
The chatter in the room stopped.
Every pair of eyes turned toward me.
Heat crept up my face. "Uh… sorry," I muttered.
The woman appeared beside me again, her expression unreadable.
"Are you full?" she asked.
I nodded. "Yeah. Thank you. I swear I'll pay you back. Next time, I'll have money to actually buy food."
She didn't respond.
Just smiled.
Something about that smile made the hairs on my arms stand on end.
Brushing off the strange feeling, I stood up and left the eatery.
But as I walked away, a nagging thought tugged at the back of my mind.
I turned back.
And froze.
The eatery was gone.
The warm lights, the crowded tables, the woman—
All of it had vanished.
In its place was nothing but darkness. The alley was just as empty and desolate as before.
A cold chill crawled down my spine.
"Maybe she closed up fast…?" I muttered under my breath.
Yet, no matter how much I searched for any trace of the eatery, I found nothing. No signs, no lingering scent of food—just an empty, silent street.
I shook my head and forced myself to keep walking.
But deep inside, an unsettling thought refused to leave me.
And the strangest part?
Despite everything…
I wanted to go back.
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To be continued…
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