LUCILLE sprinkled the mixed bread crumbs and parmesan cheese strips on top of the Italian dish that she chose to make for tonight’s occasion. The dinner is almost ready, but Steven hasn’t replied on her text messages. With a sigh, she put the casserole inside the oven to bake.

She looked at her wristwatch, it’s already seven-thirty in the evening. She’s expecting Steven to come over at eight. But knowing Steven as the early bird in all their dates, he should be here by seven p.m to help her prepare the dinner.

Lucille heaved a sigh again. She removed her pot gloves and took out in the kitchen cabinet the Basi Del Diablo wine that she reserved for this moment. Basi del Diablo is a red wine made of sugarcane that is popular in the Ilocos Region. She got this wine as a gift from one of the clients that travelled to Manila all the way from Ilocos just to personally asked beauty advice from her. Her client also told her that the basi wine is a hard drink that can make a man drunk in only a few shots.

A wicked smile formed in Lucille’s lips as she placed the wine bottle on a bucket full of ice cubes and put it in the middle of the table. She prepared for this night, and she’ll make it sure that this time, Steven won’t resist her charm.

After setting the oven cooking time, Lucille went inside her room to freshen up and change clothes. She was left only thirty minutes to prepare, and Lucille is starting to feel panic. She began on brushing her long wavy brown hair then put on a simple makeup. Because she often wears makeup on her line of work, Lucille preferred to look bare face yet sexy for today’s mission. She knew that Steven doesn’t like women that wear heavy makeup, but she also knew that he likes women wearing dresses that show up their curves.

That’s why she chose to wear a red bodycon satin dress that hugged her slim waist and rounded hips. The low neckline also shows off her small but full breasts. Lucille can’t wait to see Steven’s reaction after seeing her in this sexy dress.

“He’ll rip this dress off me and plant kisses all over my body…” Lucille shut her eyes as she imagined Steven touching and kissing her. “Oh, Steve—” She paused when she smelled burnt meat in the air. “Oh, my gosh! The chicken!”

Lucille ran out to her kitchen and saw that the light on the oven’s timer is still on even the scheduled cooking time was over. She quickly opened it and welcomed by smoke and smell of burnt chicken casserole.

“Fuck!” she hissed as she took out the steaming casserole and placed it on the kitchen table. “What’s wrong with you, stupid microwave?! You’re made to make my life convenient, right? Then, what is it that you’re doing? Are you having dementia or what?”

She opened the casserole and flinched at the sight of black Italian Chicken Casserole. “Fuck, fuck, fuck—” She heard knocks on her door. “Oh, my God, he’s here.”

Lucille went to her door. Before she opened it, she checked if she smelled like burnt chicken. Because she didn’t put any perfume that could overpower the odor, she did smell like roasted chicken and burnt mission.

“Hi,” Steven greeted her as she opened her door slightly and peeked at him. “Can I come in?”

Lucille bit her lower lip. She hated it whenever Steven is formal to her. It felt as if he’s distancing himself from her.

“Steven… I thought you couldn’t make it,” she said, holding the door still and won’t let him in. “How did you sneak out?”

“I didn’t sneak out,” she sighed. “I told them that I’ll say good-bye to you.”

“Oh… That’s too harsh to hear,” she said and widened the door. “By the way, we have a problem.”

Steven knotted his forehead. But as soon as he stepped inside and Lucille shut the door behind him, the odor of burnt chicken in the air reached his sense of smell. “Is that… chicken?”

Lucille nodded. She couldn’t look at him in embarrassment. “My microwave oven forgot to follow the baking timer.”

Steven laughed. “I’m expecting this to happen,” he said and gave her the paper bag he’s carrying. “You’re not a good cook, so I bought our favorite chicken inasal to eat tonight.”

Lucille rolled her eyes ceilingwards. “I can cook!” she said and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “It’s the microwave’s fault why the chicken burned.”

Steven patted her head. “Okay, it’s the machine’s fault,” he said and urged her to seat down. “Come on. Take a seat as I prepare our food.”

She sat down and watched Steve placed the chicken inasal on a large plate. The marinated chicken barbecue or chicken inasal from Baliwag, Bulacan is their all-time favorite chicken barbecue. His parents used to bring chicken inasal for dinner on a salary day, and since then, Steven and Lucille love it.

“I miss chicken inasal!” she said as soon as the plate touched the table. “Give me two cups of rice, please!” She held her plate to Steven. “Preparing for this dinner made me hungry.”

Steven chuckled. “I can see that you really prepared for this,” she said and pointed at her dress. “You even wore a kid’s size dress.”

Lucille glared at him. She can’t believe that he’s insulting her dress instead of complimenting it. “I can’t believe you!” she shouted. “I dressed up for you!”

“What for?” Steven asked and placed her plate of rice on the table. “It’s just me.”

Lucille pressed her lips together. He’s right, it’s just him. He’s just the man that she truly loves then and now. She’s been in love with Steven for more than two decades, but unfortunately, he doesn’t see her as a woman.

“What’s this?” Steven took the bottle of Basi wine and looked at its label closely. “Basi Del Diablo?” he chuckled. “Funny name, huh?”

As the wine’s label caught her eyes, Lucille’s hopes went high again. She raised from her seat and took the wine bottle from him. “My loyal client from Ilocos gave it to me. Let’s try it.” She opened the bottle and poured Steven’s wine glass.

Steven looked at the wine closely, then smelled it. “It has a pungent smell. Will it knock me out?”

Lucille laughed. “It’s just a ladies’ drink,” she lied and poured her own glass. “Let’s have a toast for the end of our friendship.”

Steven’s brows furrowed. Still, he took his glass and raised from his seat. “Let’s have a toast for the new beginnings after this dinner.”

Lucille bit her tongue. ‘Let’s have a toast for the last day of our innocence,’ she said in her mind before clinking glasses with him.

***