{ Even if everyone forgets you, we will still be waiting }
Rina closed the door, her mind racing with a dozen questions, though she didn't know where to start.
"Are you feeling hungry, Mayar?"
"Yes!" the little girl chirped.
"I'll prepare food for you right away," Rina said, turning to their guest. "Please, Madam Maria, there's no need. Just sit and rest; I'll prepare the meal myself."
"I am the one who will prepare lunch," Maria stated firmly. "You just rest. Or does my doing so disturb you?"
"No, on the contrary! But you are our guest."
"Just show me where things are kept, and don't worry about the rest."
Madam Maria and Rina began cooking together. Maria's expertise in the finer details was immediately apparent to Rina; even Mayar began to giggle at Rina because of the sheer number of remarks Maria made about her technique.
"I see the kitchen is lacking a few items," Maria noted. "It seems that troublemaker Hakan didn't buy everything needed."
"He brought a lot of things," Rina replied softly. "I think it's enough."
"A mature woman must have a kitchen equipped with all the essentials to truly cook. Remember that."
"...Alright...."
[Is it me?] Rina thought to herself. [Am I just not social enough? Because having someone you barely know walk into your kitchen and start giving orders is a new experience for me. Live a day, see something new.]
"This will suffice," Maria said, breaking Rina's train of thought. "Help me set the table."
"Right away."
Rina began to help. Once the table was ready, they all sat down to eat.
"Good work," Maria remarked. "I give you a 6/10 for setting the table."
"...Thank you."
[Why is she grading me?] Rina wondered. [Am I really that bad at this?]
"You need to practice the basics of cooking and other household skills more," Maria added. "I will help you learn starting tomorrow. What do you think?"
"If it's not too much trouble for you, I agree and I am grateful."
"Now, let's eat before the food gets cold."
Mayar began eating, the joy of Madam Maria's cooking written all over her face.
"The food is delicious!"
"Indeed," Maria sighed. "It has been a very long time since I've had lunch with anyone other than my own family and Mr. Kenjin. I wish he were here with us now."
Meanwhile, in Kenjin's office...
Kenjin suddenly sneezed.
"Bless you," Noor said. "Is that a cold coming on?"
"I don't think so," he replied. "Perhaps someone is talking about me."
"Heh! Do you actually believe in those superstitions?"
"Who knows? There are things we deny even though they are the truth."
"Maybe you're right," she mused. "Speaking of superstitions, did you hear about the incident that happened yesterday evening?"
"Do you mean the family they found murdered without a single drop of blood? Yes, I heard. The strangest part is that there was no weapon or fingerprints at the scene."
"Do you think a ghost killed them?"
"Anything is possible," he said, glancing at her. "Are you afraid of them?"
"Of course I am!"
"A moment ago you were talking about superstitions, and now you say you're afraid of ghosts..."
"That's one thing, and this is another! Ghosts are real! Believe me!"
"Yes, yes. I believe you."
"Really?"
"As I said before, anything is possible. Who knows? I might run into a ghost face-to-face one day."
"Don't talk as if it's a normal thing! If you feel something sinister, run away immediately!"
"The coffee is finished, unfortunately..."
"Don't change the subject!"
"Alright, alright. If something happens, I'll run. But why the insistence?"
"I don't know," Noor admitted. "I just wanted to make sure you wouldn't do anything crazy."
"It's obvious that if something supernatural appeared to me, I'd run out of pure terror."
Noor began to laugh. "I just can't imagine you running. I think it's because of your constant serious expression."
"I'm glad I look that respectable," he replied dryly. "But I am still human. I would likely run out of fear."
[For even the Devil... might die of fear.]