Chapter Six

ROEDEN was staring at the paper bag on the passenger’s seat of his car. Minutes had passed since he pulled over in front of the entrance to the compound where Avon lives, yet he still had not left his car. Why? He was feeling anxious. If truth be told, he did not know how to face her. Roeden must admit to himself that he was astonished to see her the other day. It took them five years before they could see each other again. But what really shocked him was his heart’s reaction. It almost jumped out of his chest when he saw her. Something had changed. But as of now, he was not sure if that change was for the better or for the worst.

He found it hard to name what he was feeling all along. Ah, he envied Avon for always being sure about the emotions that she felt. Perhaps being a writer has an advantage when it comes to matters of the heart.

Roeden flinched when someone knocked at the windshield. He turned to his left and saw a middle-aged woman standing just outside his car. The woman knocked again. That was when he lowered the windshield to his side.

“Are you lost or what? This is not a parking zone, Hijo. Could you please move your car a little forward. You’re blocking the driveway.”

“Oh. I’m sorry about that.” He started the car’s engine and drove forward.

Roeden stopped on a vacant lot a few meters away. Maybe it was safe to park there since there was nothing. He then grabbed the paper bag from the passenger’s seat and got off of his car.

The last time he went to Avon’s house was when they were still in high school. There were many changes in their place now since then, but the welcoming ambiance was still the same.

He was in awe as he walked through the path going to Avon’s house. It felt like the way was leading him to the heart of a reserved forest. There were trees side by side, and their branches interlocked with one another, providing shade to the passers-by. Beneath his feet were dried leaves that reminded him of the fall season. Ah, it would be nice and romantic to walk there with her with their hands entwined—but wait. Why was he thinking that way?

Roeden shook his head. That was way too cheesy.

He heaved a sigh when he finally reached Avon’s house. The gate was open, so he headed straight to her front yard. As he strode towards the house, Roeden heard little voices coming from the inside.

“Is anybody here?” he said as he stopped at the doorstep.

A little girl emerged from the inside. With her physique, he presumed she was about five years of age.

“Hi,” Roeden greeted with a smile. “Is anybody home?”

“Do I look like a ghost to you?” the little girl asked sarcastically.

A smile curved on his lips. The little girl reminded him of someone, and that was none other than Avon. She must be her disciple, or she could be…

Roeden’s gaze turned to Avon when she suddenly appeared on the porch.

“O-oh!” She looked surprised to see him. “What are you doing here?”

“Is she your daughter?” he countered instead of answering her question first.

They did not see each other for five years. Since then, he heard nothing about her from their friends as if they were banned from saying something about Avon. Perhaps she asked them not to. Suddenly, Roeden felt his chest tighten. The thought that she was already married with kids made him regret everything he had done to her. But then, the wish that she pasted on that wall in the café gave her a little string of hope that maybe his assumptions were wrong.

“Do we look like mother and daughter?” the little girl chimed in.

Avon laughed heartily. That laugh seemed to erase all the worries in his chest at the moment.

“This is Kim Ariane,” she said as she patted the kid’s temple.

“Ariane for short,” the little girl added.

“This kid is not my daughter. She’s my cousin. My godson Pierro’s friend.”

Her explanation cleared his mind. Roeden let out a sigh of relief, and for an unknown reason, he felt happy.

“Ah…”

“What are you doing here anyway?” Avon lowered her gaze to the paper bag he was holding.

He raised the paper bag and beamed at her. “Well, I came here to return this to you.”

“You don’t have to,” she said with a pout.

“But you bought this.”

“I bought that for you.” She shook her head. “Anyway, why don’t you come in and join us? We’re eating pasta inside. And ah, you better don’t say no because I’ll ask the dogs to bite you.”

Roeden smirked. “You… haven’t changed at all.”

She just shrugged and tugged the kid back inside the house. He followed them.

Toys that were scattered in the living room greeted Roeden when he entered the house.

“I didn’t know you’re a babysitter now,” he said as they walked past the living room.

Avon ushered him to the kitchen, where he saw two little boys busy eating the slice of cake on their plates.

“Nope. Actually, we’re playing this family thingy. Do wanna join us? They’re looking for a dad,” Avon said and laughed.

Roeden’s eyes widened. He knew she was just joking, but he could not help but think the other way because it came from Avon.

Ah, he missed her… a lot. Now he realized why it always felt like something was missing in his life for the past five years. Now he knew why everything seemed boring for him. And this crazy woman in front of her was to blame. He wondered if she missed her too.

SHE could not help but grin as she stared at Roeden and the kids who were now sound asleep in the living room. Avon was just kidding when she told him that she was playing family with the kids. Her godson Pierro was there for a vacation, and whenever he was there, Ariane would come to her house to play with him and vice versa. Thirdy came with Pierro when he bought something from the store and joined the two eventually. She did not play with them and stayed inside her room, unbothered, minding her own business.

“It’s a total knockout I guess.”

He became their horse and airplane for hours. No wonder he felt tired.

Roeden’s arms moved and hugged Thirdy, who was sleeping on top of him. Ah, she felt jealous. All those years, Avon had imagined how it would feel to sleep with her head on Roeden’s chest and his hands wrapped around her.

Then, she suddenly felt her eyes sting. “Ah… why am I feeling like this.”

She crouched and started picking up the toys the kids littered in the living room. Avon was doing that for quite a while when a hand suddenly appeared and helped her. She turned behind her and saw Roeden scratching his forehead. His polo was crumpled, and his hair was a mess. Avon’s mouth dropped open. How come he managed to look sexy at that moment?

“Where’s the bathroom?” Roeden asked in a hoarse voice.

She found herself slowly plopping down on the cold tiled floor when he turned his gaze on her.

Damn it!

“Avon, I said where’s the bathroom,” he said with furrowed brows.

Her hand automatically pointed to the right. “Enter that door, then turn left.”

Roeden rose on his feet and strode towards the direction she told him.

But after a few seconds, her eyes widened. Avon realized she pointed to the wrong bathroom. Why did she point the one inside her room?

“Goodness gracious…” She stood up and followed him. “Roeden—” 

“What?” He was already done using the bathroom when she got inside her room. Droplets of water were dripping down his face. “May I borrow a towel?”

“Wait.”

She strode towards the drawer to get what he needs. But the moment her hand grabbed the handle, flashes of that unforgettable memory from five years ago started flooding her mind. Avon opened the drawer briskly and grabbed a face towel that she threw on Roeden before she ran out of her bedroom and headed to the kitchen. With her cheeks burning, she opened the fridge and got bottled water that she drank immediately.

“Avon,” Roeden called.

How come he followed her in the kitchen in an instant?

“Y-yes?” She slowly turned in his direction.

“I have something to tell you,” he said as he sauntered towards her.

Avon’s eyes grew wider and wider as he came close to her. Would he start digging their past?

“R-Roeden…” Her hand unclenched absent-mindedly, causing the empty water bottle to drop on the floor.

“When you’re available, please come to the office,” he said.

“E-eh?” She blinked twice.

“Well… I want you to help our creative team in brainstorming. Since you’re the author, we’d like to hear your suggestions. And oh, I want you to make a character profile of every character in the series.”

Avon let out a deep sigh. She panicked for nothing.

“Noted. Is that all?”

She did not get any response from Roeden. He just continued crossing their distance as her feet moved backwards to avoid him. But then Avon reached the dead end, her lower back already touched the sink.

“You have something on the side of your lips.”

She gasped sharply when Roeden’s thumb brushed the side of her lips, wiping away something. Avon swore her sanity almost left her when he put his thumb inside his mouth and sucked it.

“W-what?” Her forehead creased.

Holy freaking shit! She did not even eat a small portion of cake. How come she would have icing on the side of her lips?

Roeden covered her face with the towel. When she removed it, she saw him running away from her.

Avon palmed her chest. Her heart was beating fast. “What the hell…”

“Ninang Avon!” Pierro rushed to the kitchen. “Ninang Avon!”

“O-oh?”

“Ninong Roeden left,” he informed her.

“Wait. What?”

“Ninong Roeden left,” Pierro repeated it with the exact words and tone.

“W-who told you to call him that?”

“You! Remember when I was a kid? You said he’s my ninong.” Pierro grinned from ear to ear.

“How come you still remember that…” she whispered.