Two

“Jec, I didn’t mean this, bud.” Isiaah just closes his eyes to the shout. He’s on the other line. His friends were drunk, so they had almost no one to talk to. “I’ll take it back next time. I’ll be joining you next Friday,” he added.

He didn’t hear any of his friends reply before the call was cut off. “Jec? Bud?”

Isiaah sighed. It’s not a big deal that he didn’t come. All he really needs to think about now is how his friends could go home so drunk.

He’s the caregiver of the group. He is accustomed to consistently delivering them when they are no longer capable.

“Are your friends okay? I’m really sorry for the trouble.”

Isiaah turned to the woman in front of him, then smiled. “They’ll be fine. They can still go home,” he replied.

The two can’t be separated even if they have been together for a few minutes.

After what happened earlier, he quickly took the woman to his own condo. That was the closest place, so he didn’t hesitate.

He lent her a few items from his duffel bag in the car so she could comfortably get out of the car and get into his unit.

Isiaah cannot understand himself. That is very unlike him. If he went to Sweet Heavens with his friends, he would definitely get the first woman to get his attention.

This girl. . . she obviously got his attention. He didn’t have to fool himself, especially since his eyes almost popped out of the woman’s beautiful body.

But, no.

This isn’t the right time for his sex drive.

He has so many questions that need to be answered. That is what he will prioritize over bizarre things.

Presently, he labeled his face to the trembling woman. Maeluthe’s wearing a shirt now and Isiaah’s boxers, but her fear still doesn’t stop because of what happened with the professor.

“Miss, I’ll ask you again, huh? I am purely worried. Tell me your problem, and I’ll promise to help you,” the man suggested, but Maeluthe remained silent.

He doesn’t want to be wrong with his actions. He thinks that the lady might be harassed or maybe even worse than that.

“Where are you from? Maybe your parents are already looking for you–”

“I don’t have one. . .”

Isiaah’s muscles become tensed. His gaze on the woman became more emphatic.

“My parents are dead.”

The man sat up. He is restless. What am I going to do with her? he asked himself.

Even before he could speak, Maeluthe grabbed his arms again. Still, her hands are shaking. She already stopped crying, but her eyes were still red.

“I am Maeluthe Legson. I am in my fourth year of Law School. I’m really sorry. . . I am swallowing my whole pride to say this, but maybe. . .” Her finger landed on her mouth. She could no longer control her mannerism by biting her nails because of being so anxious.

Isiaah quickly took her hand away from her mouth. He retook the woman’s hand and wrapped his hand around it. “What is it?”

Maeluthe’s chest throbbed deafeningly. Even if he wanted to retreat and exit the house, she had no other way to think of.

She didn’t even know if there’s anywhere she could go home, especially since the landlord repeatedly evicted her from her rented room next to the university she was attending.

She also feels so bloated that she seems to have forgotten the feeling of food.

In this case, Maeluthe needs to put aside her shame first, but this time, she is sure that she will do it in a dignified way.

She will not add to the embarrassment of today.

“Miss Legson–”

“Please, let me stay here.”

Isiaah is partially trapped there. He forced himself to remain silent and wait for what the woman would say next.

“No. . . not in the way you think. I-I can cook, iron clothes, do laundry. I could do almost all the housework. Just please, let me stay here. I have no other place to stay,” Maeluthe said honestly.

Maeluthe remained stopped while Isiaah could not believe what he just heard. He could not fathom whether he would be disappointed by the woman’s clarification of other desires. But on the other hand, he likes the situation where he will often see the woman.

Maeluthe is different from all the women Isaiah was fortunate enough to have. All the women who approach here at night are sure to leave the following day. Maeluthe was just the first woman who didn’t ask that way.

She wants him to help her.

He did not even try to ask what happened before they met.

He can no longer think about why the woman was wearing like that when he saw her, why Maeluthe was alone and why she was crying.

“I-Is that okay with you?”

Should I give her a chance?

“I’ll be here in the morning. I’ll make sure to finish everything before you go to work and before I go to the university. I’ll be back after class, but I have to leave at night when I find a part-time job–”

Isaiah stopped her from speaking. “Why? I mean, why would you do that? Why would you look for another job?”

Why does she have to leave every night? Doesn’t she know how dangerous it might be, especially today?

“I desperately need money–”

“Aren’t you earning enough here with me?” he asked bluntly. He actually hates the fact that Maeluthe still has to leave every night. But that’s at the back of his mind.

He still needs to be grateful for her doing that, avoiding things that shouldn’t happen.

He won’t take advantage of her. Maeluthe is not like the women around him daily.

“But you’re going to let me live here already,” she replied immediately.

“I’ll handle your tuition and other school fees. You will work at my restaurant every weekend for your allowance and here at home every day, so you don’t have to worry.”

Even Isaiah could not believe that he said that.

How dare he say that? He’s very strict about his money. He’s not the type of man who just wastes money, so why would he waste money on the woman he just met?

Even though his mind was confused, he just stood by what he said, especially when he saw the kind smile of the woman in front of him.

“It’s too much, but I can’t refuse it. Thank you so much! I’ll be good, Sir. . .”

Maeluthe couldn’t explain how relieved she was at what Isiaah said. Unbelievably, she can’t think that it would happen from now on. She still couldn’t help but almost jump for joy.

“Isiaah. I am Isiaah Jacinto,” Isiaah declared as he immediately grinned. Unconsciously, he returned the woman’s smile to him.

He could feel the sudden heat of that room, so even before he lost himself, he immediately stood up, making his way out.

But even before he could get away, Maeluthe's chest rubbed against his skin as the woman hugged him from behind.

“Miss–”

“Thanks again. . . so much. I’ll value this. Let me know when you and your friend need a lawyer in the future. I’ll give my service for free.”

Isaiah’s laughter grew louder at what the woman said. He slowly faced her and then ruffled her still, wet hair.

“We’re good people, but I’ll expect that,” Isiaah smiled before turning around and starting to walk out.

He couldn’t help but laugh every time he thought of the number of his friends, but his heart can’t get used to flatter.

He’s sure of it.

Maeluthe. . . she’ll be one someday—one of the most intelligent and successful lawyers in the Philippines.