Chapter 64: No helping it

I woke up slowly, peacefully, the way I imagined people with absolutely no worries would wake up. I gave a small smile as I stretched, then gave a small sigh, my eyes fluttering open.

The first thing I saw was Sin's eyes, watching me almost curiously. He looked like he had just woken up, too, and I realized why I hadn't been able to stretch both hands. It was because he was still holding one.

"You are awake," I said, clearing my throat a little, my eyes avoiding his.

He gave a small nod but said nothing else. His eyes just watched me, like he was seeing me for the very first time. I don't think he looked at me this way the very first time he saw me.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I finally asked, my eyes darting across both of his.

He slowly let go of my hand, then gently cupped my cheek, his fingers moving away whatever strands of hair there were.

"You are the wild haired type of girl," he said, chuckling a little.

"What does that mean?"

"It means that you make me want to tame you," he replied simply.

Before I could process it, he had gotten out of bed. I watched his back as he stood in front of the window, his fingers adjusting the waistband of his pants.

For a while, he gave me that view to gawk at before he finally walked away toward the bathroom. I still stood there, watching his silhouette in a place where he no longer was, my lips parted slightly.

A soft knock came on the door, and I slowly broke out of my reverie, then sat up.

"Come in," I said, and the door slowly opened.

Rosalind stood by the door, her eyes avoiding mine.

"Dinner is ready, madam. Please come down."

I watched her for the longest while, and just before she turned away, I got out of bed, covering the distance. I held her hand back, my eyes wide.

"Madam, please, I..."

"I wouldn't hurt you, Rosalind."

She turned to me, her eyes blinking rapidly. "Madam."

"What you did earlier... I forgive you for it. It hurt that I trusted you, and you chose to do that, but I have made peace with it. My husband believes me, and... -"

"You are lucky," she said, her eyes suddenly filling with tears. "You are lucky you have a husband. You are lucky he is stinking rich, and you don't have to beg like a dog. You are so lucky."

"You don't know how much I understand that, Rosalind. How painful it can get. I watched my father die because we had no money. I was sold because we had no money. I know very well how that feels."

She swallowed, her eyes filling up. She met my eyes now, and her eyes had become a tint of red, her hands slightly trembling. "Why is he not kicking me out yet?"

"Because he won't," I said, moving closer. "I understand. We all need to survive. We are all trying to survive. And if you need a little help surviving, do come to me."

She was barely holding her tears back now, and gently, I pulled her to me, wrapping my hand around her. For the first few seconds, she was stoic and refused to give in, but slowly, she started to break down in front of me.

I held her tight as she cried, her body trembling hard against me, so much that I tightened my grip so I could cushion her.

After a while, she pulled away, then met my eyes, her chest heaving hard. "I... I found the picture immediately after you left, but... someone called before I could give it to you."

I nodded, my hand gently wiping the tears away. "What did the person say?"

She sniffed, then used her sleeve to wipe the tears away. "He... he offered money. He asked me to come up, and... and... and take the picture out from an envelope. Five thousand dollars. He gave me instructions. I... I... I swear, I am not normally like this, but. But he gave me instructions. He asked me to take that part off. To... to act like that. He promised me money. I... I really needed it, Madam. My son... he is just two. He doesn't even have a father. I made a mistake. He is sick and..."

I pulled her back to me, my hand gently caressing her back. My eyes were filled with tears by now, too, and I closed them, reliving every scene with my father. His desperation, the helplessness.

I broke away, then wiped her tears away. "How much does your son need?"

"Madam...-"

"I have some money," I said, remembering the one million dollars Sin had given to me. "I will help you. Let's see your child, okay? I will help."

She simply broke down again, her hand covering her face, her sobs a little louder now. I turned to look for the money, but instead, Sin was standing by the small intersection between the bedroom and bathroom, his eyes watching me. He was wearing a black robe, his hands crossed in front of him, his eyes thin.

"Sin," I said, my lips parting. "I... I am sorry, I just..."

He blinked, then slowly nodded. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, and I turned to Rosalind. She looked positively scared now, her tears freezing on her lips, her body still trembling.

"Sin, please." My voice was a little shaky, and maybe I felt this way because it would help me with the regrets I still had concerning my father.

"You want to help someone who framed you?" His voice was low, and Rosalind started to cry even harder once she heard that.

I could hear her trying to explain, but nothing could come out because of how hard she was crying.

"Yes. Please let me. I beg of you."

He tilted his head upwards, then slowly nodded, his eyes moving between me and the still crying Rosalind.

"How much does she need?"

Rosalind looked up, surprise filling her eyes. I swallowed, then turned to her.

"How much?"

She swallowed. "I... I... my son is still at home. I didn't have the money to take him to a hospital."

I turned to Sin, and his expression wasn't giving anything away still. He slowly nodded.

"Bring him tomorrow, then. I am sure my wife would want that." His eyes met mine as he said that, and I couldn't help the grateful, tear filled smile that lifted my lips.

"Thank you! Thank you very much, sir! Madam, Thank you. I am so sorry. Thank you. Thank you."

I managed to smile at Rosalind right before she left, her gratitude still echoing behind her. The door closed, and it was just me and Sin again.

He was still watching me, with no plans of moving or saying anything.

Slowly, I covered the distance, then wrapped my arms around him, my face buried in his chest.

"Thank you so much, Sin."

For a while, he didn't reply, but when he did, it set all of me on embers I now know still burn bright.

"I did it knowing you would come to me like this," he said, his fingers sifting through my hair. "Now I know I succeeded."

I broke into a smile, but stayed there, my hands around him, my face buried in his skin. I guess there was no helping it. I was used to this already.