The Moonlight Assassin

Picnic at the Park

Tabby arrived at Miguel's office, and knocked at the door.

"Mike baby? Are you there? I have something for you!", she said.

"Ok...uh... babe? I'll be right there, let me fix myself up...", Alexander replied, trying to emulate Miguel's voice.

 After he fixed himself, Alexander opened the door. And there stood Tabby, holding a basket.

"Hi baby! Come let's have lunch, at our favorite place!", Tabby said.

Alexander was reluctant, but he went with her anyway.

At the elevator, Tabby talked to Miguel, who was actually Alexander. 

"Babe, I'm very sure you will like what I made, it's gonna be the yummiest ever!", said Tabby.

Alexander asked her, "Um... babe... where are we going?"

Tabby was curious about what he said. "You don't remember, babe?", she replied, "we're going to our favorite place, the New Town Park! Let's bask in the shade and have a picnic together! Well, I guess you were drunk last night, weren't you?" She smiled at him, assuring everything will be alright.

"I guess so," Alexander replied.

As they walked away from the DF Towers going to New Town Park, Alexander had some questions for Tabby:

"Babe, were you surprised I did weights?"

"Yeah, but it wasn't surprising," Tabby replied, "I saw you tried weights before but you can't get past 50 kilos. It was so funny! But now, you really went serious about it. Good job!"

"Babe, do I look good in the office?"

Tabby replied, "Sure you do! When I first saw you, you were that nerdy, awkward, clumsy, puny guy who looks like you're only fit to be a small-time commercial model, but... look at you! Now, you look dashing, dapper, and fit for the runway!"

"Babe, am I doing too well for Ma'am Alice?"

Tabby turned back and said, "Babe, you know what, you are an excellent person. You know your craft well, and people get impressed by you, even that evil woman Ma'am Alice. But I wanna tell you this, 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.*', that's what I learned from Sunday school when I was a kid. Do what you do that pleases Father God, okay?"

"Okay, I see. Can we go further?", said Alexander.

They arrived at New Town Park, just in time. The air was fresh, trees were swaying with the wind, birds singing happily, and families and friends gathered together to enjoy their noontime meal.

Tabby laid out the picnic cloth, and laid down all the tiffin boxes and cans of soda. She opened up one of the boxes, revealing her favorite dish, spaghetti with meatballs, with a side of garlic bread. Alexander, being a manananggal, was appalled by the smell of the spaghetti sauce and the garlic bread, knowing that he abhors garlic being a repellant against his kind. He couldn't take the smell and had to cover up his nose.

Tabby just laughed, "Ha ha ha, did I put too much garlic in my dish? Don't be silly, it's just the right amount. Come dig in!" She then handed him a plate and a fork.

Before they even ate the food, Tabby started a prayer:

"Father, thank you for this wonderful food, and a wonderful friend You gave to me. May this meal we share be a blessing upon us as we go throughout our day. And bless our conversation today as well. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen."

Not knowing what to do next, Alexander could only observe Tabby as she put her fork into the pasta, twirling it, and placing it onto her mouth. He looked closer as he observed how Tabby slurped the noodles into her mouth. He then tried to imitate her, twirling his pasta, and shoved it onto his mouth. As the sauce coated his tongue, a burst of flavor emerged from his mouth. Alexander could then only cry in joy as he tasted the most delicious food he has ever tasted in his life, tastier than even the freshest of flesh he took from his victims.

"Tabby, thanks for this food. It's so good!", Alexander said to her.

Tabby smiled at him, even if unbeknownst to her, she was looking at Alexander.

*Colossians 3:23 New International Version.