6 Call

It's been a week since Kairo found Seraphina. Seraphina followed him and decided to stick to him. It's been a week yet he hasn't found any information about her. Every day, he visits different precincts hoping to find Seraphina's family. But he always got home disappointed. No information gathered. He couldn't find any leads--- nothing. But he won't give up. Not until he found Seraphina's family.

It's like Seraphina just came out of nowhere.

Seraphina is like a mushroom in a vast woebegone forest. An unconscious fledgling alone and unaware of how life works when she woke up. This world too dangerous and delinquent for an innocent life to live with. As what had Kairo was observed for the past days. Seraphina is a delicate woman who doesn't know anything about her surroundings. 'Except for her name'.

She is naïve--- no, oblivious--- about everything. She didn't know how to write, read, or even use any kitchen utensils. Kairo's afraid. He is afraid to ask Seraphina again if she knew something or doing chores. Because the last time he asked her, she got upset. Well, that's what he thought because from plastering her sweet innocent look, her face turned gloomy. He offended her.

It is eight o'clock in the morning and Kairo is observing Seraphina. He is sitting on a dark blue monoblock from his dining table that can only accommodate two persons. Fanning his hand to his face. While Seraphina is currently watching cartoons on his old style 32-inch grey Samsung box television. Somehow, he felt like a teacher supervising a child while watching so she won't be able to watch some inappropriate scenes.

Even though it is hot, Seraphina is wrapped in a blanket like a turtle and he can't do anything about it. A large amount of sweats is forming and skidding from his forehead to his chest. It is really hot in his apartment--- right now. It feels like his whole apartment is inside of a cauldron with boiling water around it. Despite the fact that it is really hot Seraphina didn't even shed any sweats. She got no pores at all.

Because of boredom, Kairo stood up and gait to the small cabinet beneath his television and fished for a box. He reached the box and opened it. The smell of new and never been used school supplies lingers through his olfactory. A quick flash of memories came to his mind. He remembered him and Kean's, his little brother, buying these things to prepare for Kean's school.

*"Are you excited?" Kairo asked as the walk into National Bookstore to buy supplies Kean will need.

"Yes!" the little boy exclaimed in happiness. His face is radiant, smiling wide from ear to ear.*

Kairo can still remember how excited Kean is when he knew that he will finally attend a real school. It was Kean's dream. Kean was seven and homed school so he was so eager. He will be given a chance to interact with other children of the same age. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

Kairo put down the box and take out an elementary pad of paper, two Mongol #3 pencils, and a Staedtler white rectangular hard eraser. Once he got all the things he needs. He put back the box, close the cabinet, and find his way to the dining table.

"Seraphina." He called trying to get her attention. He failed.

"Seraphina." This time his voice is much louder and distinct. Still, he failed to get her attention.

So he got no choice but to stand up, walk in front of the television and block it from Seraphina's sight. Kairo immediately notices how her face change. Her bright glistening eyes and the slight smile turned into a frown. She even pressed her lips together and narrow her eyes. 'She's really cute'. He brushed off his thoughts.

'This is not the right time to adore her cuteness, Kairo!' he mildly slapped his face. 'get back to your sense!'

He turned off the television by unplugging it from the socket. Then he pulled Seraphina out of the blanket and gently drag her to the dining table.

It is not just because of boredom why Kairo decided to teach Seraphina. Yes, she can speak--- just a little--- but he wants her to be somehow literate. Don't get him wrong. He wants Seraphina to learn so she'll be able to express or voice out her thoughts.

"Sit." He said with a little bit of authority.

He pulled the chair beside Seraphina and sat.

"So here is…" Kairo's words were cut off when he heard his phone beep. He sighed in annoyance. 'It must be Jasper, again.' He thought.

He looked at his phone. He was right, it is indeed Jasper. He has been calling him non-stop since last week asking if Seraphina is ok or what is she doing… yada yada. It is the first time that he certainly got pissed of Jasper for no reason. So he ignored the message and throw it on his sofa bed.

He then turned back at Seraphina. "So as I was saying. I will be going to teach you how to read and write. Do you understand?"

Seraphina just nods without knowing what does Kairo means.

"So I have here a paper, this I where you will write. Then this…" he took the pencil and place it just above the pad of paper. "and, this is a pencil. This is the thing you will use to write."

Kairo demonstrated how the black charcoal tip of the pencil inked the paper. He wrote the alphabet one at a time. When he finished writing the alphabet, he glanced at Seraphina who is now attentively looking at the thing he wrote.

"Today I will teach you how to write and we will do this until noon. So if you don't have any questions, let's start."

Kairo started forming his mouth and pronounce the letter 'a'. Seraphina followed. She also imitates the way Kairo opens his mouth to pronounce every letter. The last four-letter and they are done with the alphabet. She is a fast learner so he didn't get a hard time teaching her the alphabet.

"Ok, we're getting there." Using the pencil, Kairo points at the letter 'w'.

"Say, double-you."

"Do-la-byu." She replied.

Kairo shook his head and repeat the letter. "No, no. Double--- ble-you."

"Do… ble… blue."

He couldn't help it but facepalm and guffawed. He can't remember how many time he told Seraphina is cute this morning. She just couldn't pronounce 'w' that well. So he skipped it for a while and continue to letter 'x' to 'z'.

"Uhm… we're almost done. So your last letter. Say 'z'."

Her eyes are wide open. "Si."

"Not 'si', it's 'z' with the 'zzz' sound."

"zzz…z."

"Very well," He commented and pats her head.

"Are you hungry?" he put down the pencil and asked. She nods.

"We'll continue again later. I'll go to cook for lunch." Kairo stated and stood up from his chair. Set aside the things he used for teaching Seraphina and walk through his refrigerator.

When Kairo opened the fridge, he grabs a whole chicken, one unripe papaya, a piece of onion, four cloves of garlic, and three thumbs of ginger. He put all the ingredients on the table along with the butchered knife and cutting board. He held the butcher knife with his left hand and was about to butcher the chicken when he noticed that Seraphina is watching him.

"Don't look." He uncomfortably told Seraphina. She tilted her head.

"I mean close your eyes. You might get an unpleasant stomach seeing me cut this chicken." But she didn't obey him. She just stares at the chicken lifeless and featherless chicken.

Kairo put down the knife and reach for Seraphina's eyelid and gently closed them.

"Just close your eyes for a bit and I will tell you if you can open them."

He is not an expert on cutting a chicken. But he knew where the joints of the chicken are located. First, he snapped it in the middle where he thinks the joint is located until he heard the snapping of the joint. Then, he lay flat on the cutting board. Took the butcher knife and cut it.

The loud thud of the butcher knife reaching the cutting board startle Seraphina. The reason why she almost opens her eyes. But she was able to refuse the urge of her curiosity what is the reason for that loud thud.

When Kairo's finished butchering the chicken he told Seraphina that she can now open her eyes. He crushed and chopped the garlic, sliced the onions, and julienne the gingers before he sautés on the medium heat pot with oil. Soon after the onions got soft, he added the chicken and cook it until it turns light brown. Later on, he added the water and just let it boil on low heat.

When the food is done. He set the table and put the cooked 'tinola' on a big bowl. He put rice on Seraphina's plate and along with the 'tinola'. He waits for her to took a spoonful and put it in her mouth.

"Do you like it?" he asked. Seraphina nods happily.

They were enjoying their food when they were interrupted by Kairo's phone ringing. He checked it. Again, it was Jasper who called along with the message 'important call, picks it up'. So he did.

"What?"

"Kai, I think I found Seraphina's family."