Episode 5: The taste of something (Ageusia)

Damon had his shower, then called for Hayden. Together, they headed to the study.

**THE STUDY**

The moment the door closed, Hayden couldn't contain his excitement.

"Boss, your reaction earlier at dinner. Did you really taste something?"

Damon sat down calmly, staring at the ticking clock on the far wall. His voice was quiet. Measured.

"Hayden, I don't even know the last time I tasted or felt anything with my tongue. Ever since that incident, it's like my tongue went numb. But today, I tasted. Sour. Spicy. Sweet. Something I had learned to forget."

Hayden's curiosity piqued. "But boss, does that mean you can taste now? Like every other person?"

Damon shook his head. "Actually, I can't say. When she fed me, I could taste. But when I tried eating by myself, I realized I wasn't tasting anything."

"That's rather strange," Hayden said, scratching his jaw.

"Yes. That's why I want you to call Julian. He should come as soon as possible. He must know a way."

"But boss, Doctor Julian might not be able to make your 'as soon as possible' time limit. He's out of the country for a case study."

Damon's jaw tightened. "He should be done. I'll call him to find out."

"Yes, boss."

"You can go. But this remains between the both of us. That old man must not find out. I'm not ready for his self-proclaimed compliments. And even that clown—at least not now. She might float on the twelve heavens."

Damon massaged his forehead. Hayden nodded.

"Yes, boss."

Hayden walked out.

---

Damon picked up his phone. Scrolled. Stopped on a number he wasn't ready to dial but had no choice.

Julian Parker.

He pressed call. It didn't take long for the phone to connect.

**Julian:** "Ah. So did the universe finally grant me amnesty, or am I seeing things? Well, that priest said I'll find true love very soon."

**Damon:** "You might as well go and look for true love in hell."

**Julian:** "So you're not calling to check on me?"

**Damon:** "No."

**Julian:** "Must you be so cruel? After all my love—"

**Damon:** "Excuse you. I'm a straight man. Watch your words."

**Julian:** "Hehe. Don't make it sound like I'm involved in such, okay."

A pause. Then Julian's tone shifted, just slightly.

**Julian:** "So I heard your old man found you a bride."

**Damon:** "Hmm."

**Julian:** "The number one bachelor of Veridian City finally got claimed. She must be really special to catch your old man's eyes and you not resisting."

**Damon:** "It was an arrangement."

**Julian:** "Arrangement, you say. Like the time you 'arranged' to miss your own birthday party?" Julian chuckled. "You're a terrible liar, Mr. Cipher."

**Damon:** "Is there a point to this call?"

**Julian:** "Okay, trying to change the topic, huh? So, Mr. Cipher, may I have the honour of knowing the reason behind this midnight phone call?"

Damon paused. Then spoke.

**Damon:** "I was able to taste today."

**Julian:** "?"

**Damon:** "I could taste salt, pepper, sour, and more of whatever spice Aunty Carter added to the salmon."

**Julian:** "You tasted?" Julian's voice gained a hint of seriousness. "How? I thought ever since that year, we haven't found a solution."

**Damon:** "Yes. But today, when she fed me, I could taste the food. Not that bland feeling."

**Julian:** "Who's 'she'?"

**Damon:** "Mira. My wife."

**Julian:** "Oh. So her name is Mira?"

**Damon:** "That shouldn't be your concern."

**Julian:** "Already acting all possessive, huh? That's fine. They're right, after all. Once a man is in love, he becomes a fool."

**Damon:** "Are you done?"

**Julian:** "No. But I'll stop, out of respect for your clearly overwhelmed emotional state."

**Damon:** "Nothing is wrong with my emotions. I just want you to come and check the reasons."

**Julian:** "Oh, I see. So, if she feeds you, you can taste. But when you eat by yourself, you don't taste anything. Right?"

**Damon:** "Hmm."

**Julian:** "Did she feed you with her chopsticks? The main point." A pause. "Wait. Did she actually use her chopsticks to feed you?"

**Damon:** "Hmm."

**Julian:** "And wait. Where did your 'I have OCD, don't come close, don't touch' go? Did you throw it under the bus?"

**Damon:** "Shut up."

**Julian:** "Ahhh. And you say there are no feelings."

**Damon:** "Go straight to the point."

**Julian:** "Okay. I don't know for now if it's good or bad, but I think her saliva is probably a remedy to your ageusia."

**Damon:** "I hate guesses."

**Julian:** "I can't say more unless I perform a checkup and tests."

**Damon:** "That's why I called you. Come and do it as soon as you can."

**Julian:** "Okay then. Deal. Because of your new bride, I'll be coming back the day after tomorrow. I want to be the first to bond with her. Who knows, she might be our outlet to you in the future. So it's better to leave a good impression."

**Damon:** "Bring wedding money. Or else I might ask Nico to show you the gate."

**Julian:** "I can't believe that's coming from Veridian City's richest businessman."

Damon didn't wait to reply. He cut off the call.

---

He stood up. Strolled to the cellar in the study. Pulled out a wine bottle and a glass. Poured. Helped himself.

He went to the window overlooking the ground floor of his villa.

He sipped the liquid gently. The only thing he had ever had the luxury of tasting.

Ever since that year. Ever since that incident that still haunted him like a nightmare.

That childish voice still echoed in his head.

*"Mommy, mommy, please don't go. Are you okay leaving me like this? Please speak up, mommy. Wake up. They're coming. Wake up, mommy."*

Damon shook his head. Brought the glass to his lips. Stared at the sky.

Waiting for sleep that he knew wasn't coming.

His insomnia never let him forget.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***