Beth

I sit at the corner most couch attached to the wall of the cafe, where we usually hang out.

Back in the days when Kaiser studies here at one point, we usually meet at Something Sweet By Samantha. Since it is nearby our school and it’s the only cafe near the intersection. It’s not too difficult to find a way home since the jeepney terminal is a few blocks away.

And among the cafes we went to, this is far the best one we could find. We enjoy most of their sweet stuff since we’re both sweet tooth. Especially their best seller—the chocolate muffins. Chocolate overload.

Though having financial constraints, I still ordered our favorite dessert. I add their classic green tea frappe. It feels rewarding to eat something like this in the middle of my stressful student life.

While waiting for his coming, my mind races questions of how he looks nowadays. His looks. His voice. Those little things seem enough to have me thrilled with this meeting.

Minutes after I arrive at the cafe, he comes in.

I’m in awe looking at his physique. He is different from how he looked before. I remember the last time I saw him a year ago, he was that typical wimpy kid at school.

But now, he looks different. His beauty shines and gains attention from the people. He glances and smiles at them while he searches for me.

He looks taller, leaner, and fresher from how he styled his clothes. Denim jacket, white inner shirt, and tattered denim pants. He dyed his hair looking ashen in an angular fringe cut.

I press my lips instinctively when my eyes land on his pink and thin lips.

If my sister follows those K-pop fandoms, I understand how she feels when I see him again. He is very attractive now.

When our eyes finally meet, he waves his hand and smiles.

Damn, those smiles. I am like melting ice.

I try to keep my own composure and show my faint smile. Trying too hard not to look awkward and uneasy in front of him.

I glance to notice the women, still staring, as he stands in front of our table and grab the chair to sit.

“Hallo, Beth. How are you?” His voice sounds deeper than before. And hearing it the first time surprises me.

I clear my throat. “I’m good, a bit stressed out though.”

I place my hand underneath my chin, sipping my frappe. “By the way, I ordered the same stuff. I am hoping your taste didn’t change.”

“Of course, not. Why would you say so?”

“With your looks? I would doubt if you’re still the Kaiser I knew from childhood.”

He scoffed and giggled. “No way. My looks changed. You know, I need to improve myself a bit. But you—”

“But what?” I interrupt him with a sarcastic tone, raising my eyebrow waiting for his remark.

My chest feels tight, constricted, while waiting for his next word. He’ll say ‘You’re the same dull-witted woman I knew, Beth.’ And laughs.

He smiles, almost squinting his eyes. “You still look beautiful.”

Frozen. I try to keep my composure while I stare back at him.

While trying to hide my blush, I look outside the glass window seeing the busy streets.

Cars passing by, people walking behind, and some stand waiting for the go signal to pass across the street.

I sigh while sipping my frappe again. “Anyway, when did you arrive?”

“Today. You know what, I want to take a rest but because—” He stands up extending his arms to my cheek and squeezing it tight.

I squeak to prevent attention although I want to scream. I hate it when he does this. Though we’re both grown-ups, he still does the same thing since we’re kids as if he’s a lot older than me.

“—I miss my Beth. So, I rush to meet you right after we return to our house. I couldn’t wait to see you.”

“You could’ve rested more before we meet,” I say, glancing at others cringing.

“Why? You don’t like to meet me again?” He frowns like a disappointed kid.

His response annoys me, although he tries so hard to look cute. But his timing isn’t right.

My mind is too pre-occupied with my project. And the pressure it bears as the deadline is fast approaching makes it worse.

“Why? Is something the matter, Beth?” He changes his question. Did he notice something?

I release an exasperating sigh. “Yeah. I need to finish my project as soon as possible. But it’s been a week since I’ve been working on it, but there’s no significant progress.”

“What’s that project all about?” he asks while sipping his frappe and pressing the muffin with his fork.

“It’s for my Philosophy class. We have to meet inmates and gather interesting stories from them. Something worth an A grade. You know me, Kaiser. I’m not my sister nor you. I’m not an achiever like you guys are. I want a passing GPA grade to graduate. That’s it. Nothing else. But I need to get an A for this one,” I explain, releasing a sigh at the end.

“What exactly are you looking for, Beth?” He leans against the back of the couch, sitting with his legs apart.

“I know I could get murderers of any kind, notorious criminals all over the country. But their stories are either the same boring drama or not something worth an A.” I almost sputtered.

As soon as he hears my explanation, he becomes silent and in deep thoughts. His mind is on fire right now.

“I need a special story that will gain attraction from the rest.”

Before I could put the fork inside my mouth, he leans his torso forward with his elbows placed on the table.

“This story will be of help. Let’s see.” He hummed a bit, squinting his eyes as if he gathers information in his head. “I remember a story that sounds too good to be true to me. But her story will be your amazing scoop.”

“What about it?” My eyebrows furrow as his tone seems to invite my interest. I lean against the back of my chair as I cross my arms and legs, listening to what he’s going to tell me.

“I remember my aunt has a close friend sentenced to death twenty years ago. Her name is Alexandra Montenegro. Have you heard about her?” he says.

I shake my head because I never heard of her name before.

“What’s her story?”

“My aunt and she were close friends in college. Later, Alexandra surprised everyone with her surrender back in 1999. Within more or less one year, the government sentenced her to the death penalty. Because of the crimes she committed. She was the infamous night slayer, who killed a countless number of people in her hands without a trace. It took the police long years to solve her crimes. But if she didn’t confess, our country would remain no clue of her whereabouts. I guess, it’s her guilt that made her surrender, which leads to the death penalty she faced back then.”

“Your aunt has an assassin friend?” I almost sputter again out of surprise. I glance to see other people looking at us. I smile out of embarrassment and return my sight on him.

Kaiser nods without hesitation. “She’s a notorious assassin our country has ever had. Her code name is Belladonna.”

Wait, I’ve heard about Belladonna.

I guess my mom shared a bit of her when I was young. She’s by far the most dangerous woman that every citizen scared of.

According to her, she met her in person. But her fear forced her to remain distant until her death sentence in 2001.

“Alexandra Montenegro, the infamous night slayer called Belladonna,” I say. “That’s something I have to know about.”

“Sure, we can go to my aunt tonight. If you like to. But—” He pauses and squeezes his face as if there’s some trouble meeting her. “—it would take us a long ride before we reach her though.”

“I don’t care. I have to get this scoop. We have to meet her.”

“Alright,” he says while drinking the frappe. I smile while eating the remaining muffin in my saucer and drink the frappe until the last sip.