Treacherous Waters

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕟

Shela, Blesie and Dean had entered the market in Baguio city, all around them food had been sizzling causing Dean's stomach to start growling. He hadn't smelled something so good unlike in the Americas. Blesie had gone off to get a few groceries while Shela and Dean started walking through the street. Until Shela's eyes landed on a meat and vegetable shish kabob.

"Hey Dean, do you want any food?" Shela asked knowing very well that Dean was going to do nothing but eat.

"Sure thing," says Dean, Shela kissed Dean on the cheek and made her way over to one of the booths, While Shela had been over at the booth, a beautiful woman with White hair, and dressed in a red and black outfit. The girl walked over to Dean and touched her hair.

"Hello handsome," says the girl, causing Dean to look around until his eyes landed on the girl.

"Are you talking about me?" asked Dean.

"Why of course silly? Who else would I be talking to," she said as she touched Dean on the shoulder.

"Um, I think you may be mistaken, I actually have a girlfriend," says Dean as he had started to feel uncomfortable around the girl. "I'm actually here with her right now,"

"Really? Well I don't see her," says the girl, Shela had bought two kabob's and turned to see that a girl was busy trying to flirt with Dean. Shela could feel how uncomfortable he was and quickly walked over to him.

"Hey sweetheart," says Shela as she handed Dean one of the kabob's she had in her hand. "Who might this be?" Once Dean pulled his hand away and politely took the food, Shela wrapped her arm around him.

"No one in particular," says the girl with a slight glare on her face. "Well, sorry about that, I didn't know you actually had a girlfriend," the girl turned and started walking away. "See you later Dean," the girl walked toward the forest that wasn't too far from Baguio and disappeared amongst the trees. Shela and Dean looked at each other with suspicion as Blesie came back with some groceries.

"Dean," Shela said. "I think we've got some work to do,"

"You two ready?" Blesie asked Shela nodded her head as the group made their way back to Shela's relative's house where her uncle Elvin was busy cooking some food for everyone. Dean had walked into the house with Shela and saw one of Shela's uncles sitting at the table.

"Excuse me," says Dean. "Um, this morning, Shela noticed something about the manananggal, What can you tell us about it?"

"Ah yes, the Manananggal," says Uncle Lim, "Come, I'll explain it to you," Uncle Lim, Dean, and Shela made their way outside where Blesie was tending to the fire pit allowing the bonfire to start.

"The Manananggal is a horrible creature with the wings of a bat, and is said to separate its upper half with its lower half," Uncle Lim said at the same time Anne came out carrying a plate of pandesal followed by Uncle Elvin who sat down next to Shela. Anne sat the plate of bread down by one of the tables as she climbed onto Dean's lap. Dean looked at Anne in surprise not expecting Shela's niece to sit on him.

"Dean you never answered my question," says Anne sweetly. "Are you going to ask Ate Shela to marry you?" Dean smiled at the young girl and looked over at Shela who turned away from him.

"I don't know," says Dean as he was about to reach over to grab one pandesal, the duende once again appeared as Dean picked up the bread, Dean had been close to taking a bite when suddenly the bread disappeared from his hand. "What the?!" Dean said as he looked around at the same time Anne had gone over to Uncle Elvin.

"Oh bread! Don't mind if I do!" says the Duende while it quickly stuck the entire small bread in it's mouth. Shela giggled as did her family seeing that Dean had been struggling with a dwarf.