❝let's just say, i'm like the bodyguard
of master strange.❞ she casually
explained to the kid. ❝so, you're
like happy hogan? but with magic
powers?❞ the boy asked innocently.
cass...
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THIRTY ONE| LEAD US ALL, PLANNER
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THE FIRST THING that caught Cassandra's attention as soon as she stepped inside the kitchen was the loud foreign music playing and a strong smell of vinegar. A salty and sour aromatic sensation of garlic, peppercorn and bay leaf swirled in the air and the woman wondered who was cooking so early in the morning. Getting into the bustling space, her nostrils were further invaded by the wonderful aroma of meat intermingled with the divine perfume of sweet and exotic spices she smelt earlier. Plates and bowls with ingredients of various kinds were lined up to form a colourful collage along the long tiled counter of the kitchen in preparation of whatever was the event for today.
Cocking an eyebrow, Cassandra figured out that the foreign pop song blasting in the speakers was Filipino and just as she was about to further walk into the kitchen, she saw Alona and Bruce nodding along to the beat of the song. Somehow, she felt like she was intruding and stepped back, hiding behind a wall that was near the kitchen's entrance.
"Akin ka na lang! Akin ka na lang!" suddenly sang Alona when the song seemed to have reached its chorus, swaying her hips as she added another ingredient into the pot. "Iingatan ko ang puso mo!"
Cassandra heard Bruce chuckle and that made her slightly crane her neck to eavesdrop on the two. Her radar was on high alert and she didn't know why, but she was feeling something was brewing with these two. She had seen a sparkle in Bruce's eyes whenever she brought up Alona. Actually, she never had a one-on-one chat with the sea kingdom queen, they were all related to work. Are they a thing? The towering green brute just fondly watched her while chopping up the bell pepper. "What does that mean?"
"Oh, well, in English, it literally means, be mine instead, be mine instead. I'll be careful with your heart."
"Wow, the lyrics are nice. The song's even catchy and cute. It has this Beatles-esque vibe."
"Cute? Like me?" teased Alona, drawing near to her companion, fluttering her eyelashes. Bruce only glanced at her with a playful smile dancing on his lips. His eyes swept up from her feet to her eyes and Cassandra swore his gaze lingered on her face too long. There was a certain gleam in his eye that she recognized when both of their eyes met.
The connection between Bruce and Alona was different. There was a spark.
And Cassandra knew that because Stephen used to look at her that way.
Stephen often looked at her like she hung the moon and the stars in the sky. Like she was his sunrise and sunset, the awe-inspiring kaleidoscope of colors that soothed the soul. Whenever he would stare at her during their practice session, he made her feel she was a masterpiece painted by Picasso that came to life right in front of his eyes.
