CHAPTER 23
“You startled me!” Helene burst out and threw the pillow to Malcolm. “How long have you been there?” she asked, rubbing her hammering chest. “I’ll die early because of you.”
Malcolm laughed. “I’m sorry, Helene. You were so occupied with your phone when I came in,” he said. “You didn’t hear my knocks.”
“Did you?” Helene asked in a knotted forehead. “I didn’t hear anything.”
“See,” he said and sat beside her. “I thought you have slept on the couch again.”
Helene smiled. She’s glad that Malcolm came back. “Where did you go? Why did you just disappear?”
Malcolm knotted her forehead. “I didn’t,” he replied in a knotted forehead. “I don’t have special powers to just disappear.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I was just getting my keys and talking to you. When I turned around, you’re gone.”
The man’s thick brows furrowed. “Are you sure about that? Because I never leave your side, you didn’t look back at me when you opened your door and stepped inside.”
She paused. What’s happening to her? She’s sure that Malcolm disappeared at the rooftop a while ago. “I’m serious. I didn’t saw you. You just disappeared—”
Malcolm placed his hand on her forehead. “You have a fever. That’s why you’re having hallucinations,” he said and looked at her worriedly. “You just got tired of going to that place…I’m sorry, Helene. Because of me, you got sick.”
She touched her own forehead. Malcolm was right; her temperature is high. But she’s not feeling anything, except that her eyes are starting to get cloudy. “I don’t feel sick,” she said and smiled at him. “Don’t blame yourself, Malcolm.”
“If I didn’t lie to you about my job, you will not go to that place and won’t get sick,” he said and caressed her hand. “I’m sorry, Helene. From now on, I promised you that I will never tell you lies.”
Helene’s heart fluttered with what Malcolm said to her. “Don’t be like that to me, Malcolm…” he said and looked away.
“Why?” he asked and cupped her face. “Why are you looking away from me?”
“Because…” She trailed off and looked into his beautiful eyes, “because I’m afraid that I might fall for you.”
It took moments for Malcolm to answer her. It felt like hours for Helene. “I’d be happy if it will happen,” he said and smiled. “I like you, Helene. I like you as a woman.”
Helene’s lips parted in surprise. She didn’t expect what Malcolm confessed to her. “Y-You like me?”
He nodded. “I like you a lot, Helene.” He then lowered his face to her and kissed her lips gently. “I like you from the moment that I caught you peeking behind your door.”
She paused. “Y-You saw me?” she stuttered as the heat started to rise on her cheeks. “I just got curious who will be my new neighbor.”
Malcolm laughed. “Since that day, you never leave my mind,” he admitted shyly. “Maybe that’s the reason why I kept dreaming about you every night.”
Even in her wildest dreams, Helene didn’t expect that a man as handsome as Malcolm would confess his feelings for her. And she never thought too that she’ll fall for a man who doesn’t have a decent job. She can now imagine her mother’s reaction towards her rational life decisions.
But, for a girl like Helene, who spent her life alone and unwanted, meeting Malcolm is like a ray of light in the darkness. She must grab that light to live and survive in this world full of cruelty.
Helene returned Malcolm’s smile and stared at his handsome face. For a moment, Helene is starting to notice that he has a resemblance to Adam. Or was she just hallucinating again? She blinked her eyes to clear the clouds in her eyes.
“Helene, can I ask you a question?” Malcolm asked. He took her hand and held it still in his lap. “How did you buy a new phone? I remembered you mentioned to me that your savings are broke.”
Helene looked at her new phone on the desk. The screen kept on lighting up, an indication that she’s receiving a lot of messages. From whom? She doesn’t know, and she doesn’t have time to check it out now.
“Minerva lends me money to buy a new phone,” she admitted. “I got my first salary. I’ll be able to pay her back tomorrow.”
“First salary?” Malcolm asked, brows furrowed. “But you just started your job yesterday, right?”
Helene bit her lower lip. Should she tell it to Malcolm? No, she shouldn’t ruin her image to him. “Ah, it’s my signing bonus.”
But Malcolm doesn’t look convinced. She squeezed her hands and looked at her thoughtfully. “Helene, if that job is putting you in danger, stop it,” he said and wrapped his arms around her. “I don’t want to see you unconscious again in front of your doorstep.”
Helene snuggled closer to Malcolm. Now she knew how it felt to be locked inside a man’s arms. It felt good and safe. Helene will never be used to this feeling, especially if it’s Malcolm that will hug her.
“Please, Helene?” he asked near her ear as his hand rubbed her back. “I will find a job soon so I could help with your bills here. I don’t want to be a burden with my girlfriend.”
Her heart almost skipped a beat with what she heard. She pulled free to look at him. “G-Girlfriend?”
Malcolm nodded. “Why? You don’t like me?” he asked and curled his lips as if disappointed with her reaction. “Then why are we hugging each other if our feelings aren’t mutual?”
Helene laughed. “I can’t believe you,” she commented and pinched her cheeks. “Of course I like you. I’m just surprised that you called me your girlfriend.”
“Am I your first boyfriend?” he asked, grinning like a school kid.
Helene blushed. “You’re second to James,” she said and laughed. “He’s my first boyfriend.”
Malcolm looked at the posters pinned on the wall. “But I’m more handsome than him,” he said and turned to her. “Right?”
She arched her brow. “Absolutely,” she said and hugged her again. Happiness is overflowing inside her heart. “Malcolm, I will quit tomorrow and find a safer job.”
“Thank you, Helene.” He took her hand and brought her knuckle to his lips. “I want to have a lot of time with you, Helene. I want to create memories with you.”
She smiled. She has made her decision now. “Let’s make a good memo—”
A knock on her door followed by Adam’s voice interrupted them. “Helene? It’s me, Adam. Can you please open the door?”
***