Senses

The sun is about to set so Demian decided to head back when he saw a cafeteria in front of him. He hasn't eaten here before because there is a school cafeteria and he is too lazy to go out every lunchtime. 

"Should I be a thief just for today?" he suddenly thought. He's just too hungry and he doesn't have any money. Demian heaved a deep sigh and whispered, "Sorry, mom. Just for today." 

The vehicles are fewer now because it's already afternoon so he crossed the road with his mom's face flashing in his mind. 

He feels so terrible because he knows his mom wouldn't want him to do this but what choice does he have? Their money might be taken by the landly.

Should he just die of hunger? No, if that happens, he will not be able to complete his goal. 

When Demian entered the cafeteria, he noticed that no other customers were dining inside. He looked around and saw a guy in the cashier reading a book and saw a girl looking at him at the food counter. 

Demian stayed in his position for a minute and sighed. "I can't do this," he thought and turned around to leave the cafeteria. 

"What am I thinking?" he muttered and facepalmed an embarrassment to himself. He chuckled and thought how stupid he looks right now. "Geez." 

"I'll just head back and hope that my money is still in the apartment," he pondered to himself. 

Demian hadn't gone far yet when someone grabbed him by the shoulders. He stopped but didn't bother turning around.

"Ahm… here." a soft voice of a girl said. 

Demian turned around and looked at the girl. She's the girl inside the cafeteria. "She followed me?" Demian thought. 

She's handing him a paper bag of food with a sheepish smile. The amazing smell of Sinigang, his favorite Filipino dish lingered i098n his nostrils as his stomach growled in hunger. "Damn, I can feel my stomach rumbling," he thought. 

"Take it. I know you are hungry but you don't have money." She said while smiling innocently. Earlier, she notices how Demian wants to eat but he couldn't so she thought that he might not have money to buy something. 

"How can you say that? Just because I didn't order doesn't mean I don't have money," Demian acted while trying to hide his hunger and how he wanted to eat the food she's giving.

He pondered, "Dxmn! I'm so hungry." 

Yeah, and he doesn't want to admit that. 

Meanwhile, the girl blushed in embarrassment. "I-I'm so sorry if I offended you," then she bowed down her head.

"Don't worry I'll take it even though I'm not hungry. I'll just give it to the kids in need outside. No need to be embarrassed," he said in a monotonous way and took the paper bag. Deep inside, he's celebrating because finally, he got something to eat. 

"O-oh… alright. I'm really sorry!" She bowed her head again to hide her blushing face. 

"Nah it's fine, it's fine. Thanks for this. I'll go ahead," Demian said hastily as he tried to control himself not to smile because of happiness and then turn around. 

"Finally! A food!" he whispered. 

But then before he leaves, he notices the guy in the cashier inside the cafeteria is looking at him as if he's looking through his soul. He's still holding the book he was reading earlier. 

There is something in his eyes that is giving Demian a different kind of vibe. No, it's not just his eyes but his presence. It's weird that it feels familiar to Demian so he shook his head and tried to clear his thoughts. 

Meanwhile, the man in the cashier walked outside the cafeteria to talk to the girl. 

"That kid is strange," he said. 

"What do you mean, Troye?" the girl said. 

Troye looked her in the eye and said, "I cannot confirm if he's like us but I know he is not a normal human." 

Dazaree's eyes widened. "Then what should we do? Should we follow him?" 

"I thought of that but we can't leave the cafeteria like this," Troye replied. 

Dazaree looked in the direction where the boy went and said, "I still don't understand why you can't confirm if he's like us though." 

"I can't read his mind," Troye stated. "If he's a normal human, it'll be easy for me to connect to him but that's not the case. There is some sort of barrier that is keeping his thoughts from leaking. I don't understand why yet but I don't think he is an enemy either." 

Dazaree looked at the ground and started thinking. "What if he's just like us and he's connected to the previous incident?" 

"There is a possibility," Troye agreed. 

Dazaree nodded and looked at him, "What should we do now?" 

"We will investigate inside the village to find answers," Troye said and then both of them entered the cafeteria. 

"There is a high chance that we will encounter our enemies again…" Dazaree said, making Troye nod. 

"Yes, that's why we need to hone your ability." 

Dazaree's eyes widened in excitement. "Really? You are going to help me out?" 

Troye smiled and tapped her head. "Yes. But for now, let's go back to work," he said when he noticed a group of teenagers entering the cafeteria. 

Meanwhile, Demian returned to the village and found out that there were no longer any people around the apartment, but the barricade tape remained in place. 

He decided not to head back until midnight and sat on the wooden bench 20 meters away from their street. One thing he learned about himself is that the power he possesses is limitless and any act of excessive use of it will be dangerous for his body.

Yes, he knows a lot because he's been practicing his abilities since last year without his mom knowing. He was pretty curious about it because he already mastered how it works. Let's just say that he's a pretty genius kid but well, he still doesn't know everything. 

Demian closed his eyes tightly to clear his thoughts and meditate. This way, he'd save the energy he had left to get through the day. 

"My energy was drained for the last time because I've let my anger take over me but I don't regret that. Once I'm fully regenerated, I'd plan for my next move," he pondered to himself. 

The surroundings were very quiet and all he could hear was the chirping of birds and the rustling of trees.

Demian heaved a deep sigh because just as he thought, the light footsteps that he felt since he entered the village were following him. He knew that any time soon, that person would come towards him. 

Gently, he opened his eyes as he felt cold metal on the right side of his neck. He didn't bother looking at the person behind him because he had anticipated that this would happen. 

"Give me your money or I'll slit your neck open."

***