Chapter 20

I waited for the people from the funeral parlor to arrive and get mom properly before I decided to go out.

It was dark and I saw Zoren sitting on a bench outside the hospital when I arrived. He immediately stood up when he saw me. I took a long breath before walking towards him.

"You shouldn't have waited for me."

"I told you I will wait. I don't want you to think I'm a liar."

"Thank you. But seriously, you shouldn't have bothered anymore. Also, I'm sorry if I didn't say goodbye to you properly earlier."

"It's alright."

I bit my lip. We were both silent. I don't know what to say next. I just don't know why he was silent.

"You're going home?" He asked after a moment.

I slowly nodded. He immediately went to his car and immediately opened the door for me.

I was quiet even on the way to the hotel. We went straight to the suite and I immediately sat on the sofa.

I closed my eyes because they hurt. Maybe it's because I cried for a few hours earlier.

I felt Zoren's presence in front of me so I opened my eyes. I saw him standing in front of me and handing me a glass of water.

"I'm sure you shed a lot of tears. You should drink this to avoid dehydration.

"Thank you," I said as I took the glass and took a sip.

I returned the glass to him and he immediately placed it on the coffee table in front of me.

"I don't wanna be nosy but..."

He stopped talking and I guess he was thinking twice whether to continue what he was saying or not.

"Mom has brain cancer," I answered what I knew he wanted to ask.

"I... I'm sorry."

"We don't know how she got it. The doctor said... Maybe she inherited it from her parents and she just doesn't know," I said weakly.

I looked at his hand when he rubbed it against each other. Then I looked up at him.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

He sat next to me. "I'm just not used to you speaking modestly. I'm not used to you being sad. I want to make you happy, but I just don't know how. It's hard, because you lost someone important."

I laughed a little. "I'm not used to you speaking like that either. It's like you're not a sinner."

He immediately frowned. "Are we going to argue about this?"

I shook my head. "Nope."

We were silent again. I looked at my palm and played with it.

"I thought about stopping from being your personal maid. I won't need the money you pay me anymore. Mama is gone."

I didn't get a response from him so I looked at him. Our eyes immediately met because he was still looking at me.

"In the few weeks you've been with me, hasn't your reason for being here changed?"

I slightly frowned.

"My mom is the only reason why I need money."

"You're not staying because you want to stay? You're not staying because of me?"

I was stunned. What does he mean?

"Until now you still don't have feelings for me?"

"Zoren..."

"I know, Mel. I know this isn't the right time for this but... I can wait a little longer. Just please, don't decide to leave me yet."

"I'm from Ilocos Norte. I have to be there for my mother's burial.

"I'll be with you then."

"What?"

"I'll be there for you. You need a handkerchief. You need someone to listen and hug you. You need someone to lean on. You need rest. You need me. That's why I should be there too," he said seriously while meeting the gazes I am giving to him.

I couldn't help it anymore and he made me smile.

Kind of corny!

I nodded. "Be with me then."

Just in the morning, Zoren and I left for Ilocos Norte. We only made one stop at a restaurant we saw on the way for breakfast and we continued our flight.

"This is the way right?"

I frowned and turned to Zoren when he said that, after he turned down the road leading to our house.

"H-how did you know?"

"Huh?"

"Do you know where our house is?"

"Hmm?" He looked at me once and immediately laughed hard before turning his gaze back to the road.

"No! I was just guessing."

I didn't answer and just stared at him. It is also impossible for him to know where our house is. I'm not his age.

I didn't have a Zoren friend back then. I don't have a friend like him.

"Here?"

I frowned and looked at him again. He immediately stopped the car that was entering the right way.

"Or... here on the other side?" he pointed to the opposite road.

I looked at him critically before nodding.

"R-right here."

"Ahh," he grinned.

I don't want to doubt him. I have no reason to doubt that he knew me before or that he knew something about my life. But I can't help it. That's why when we got close to the house I didn't speak. If he stopped in front of our house, it means that he is hiding something from me and it is possible that he knows me before.

Gradually he slowed down in the car. I bit my lip. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

I'm gonna catch you now!

"Are we still far?" he said and passed our house.

I gasped for air.

"It's over," I said with a frown.

He immediately stopped. "What? Why didn't you tell me?"

I snorted. "Just back off. Only three houses you're beyond."

I immediately got out of his car after stopping and immediately turned around towards the large gate of our house. The door was closed but I knew my jerk father was inside. Unlike before, our house is now cleaner. The paint looks like new too. The flowers that mom and I used to take care of also grew more. Look at everyone alive except mom who is still coming here.

I fell on my chest. The pain is there again.

"Auntie will come later. I have to fix it so that everything will be fine when they arrive," I said to Zoren when I heard him get out of the car.

Suddenly the door of the house opened and it spat out my father while he was sitting in a wheelchair and was being pushed by a woman a little older than me.

My father's eyes and mine met. I just looked at him coldly as he tried to recognize me from afar.