Chapter Two

Emily pulled the door with a creeping feeling. She couldn't place her hands on what was wrong, but she could feel a steering premonition under her clothes, and it left her with goosebumps and her head swelling from overthinking. It was a few minutes past 5 pm by that time and that was approximately an hour earlier. She'd decided on an early closing so that she could find enough time to make amends with her daughter.

She stepped into the living room as quietly as the atmosphere permitted that evening. Although she could feel a strange peace, it hit her somehow that such peace had not come without a price. Maybe this was why the neighbors had smiled more widely towards her on her return today.

She made to drop her bag without looking, so the sound of its thud on the floor startled her rather from within.

"Please, God. Let this not be what I'm thinking." She said and moved around a bit, trying to find a positive ground around the world that had begun to spin beneath her feet.

"Aleth…baby, I'm home…"

She looked around. The house was as she left it. There was no mess made, and for the first time, it seemed to be a bother. She called on Alethia again and listened in, not quite for her response but for any movement in her room, but there was nothing in response.

"Baby…" she said for the last time before thundering up the stairs. She halted to catch her breath when she got to Alethia's door.

"Aleth…" she held the knob and as gently and slowly, placed the side of her head on the door to listen in again.

"Aleth…"

Emily pushed the door in and crashed on the floor from the force she'd employed. The room was clean and well-ordered. Alethia had spread her bed as if it was the last time she would be sleeping on it. When Emily checked her closet, she discovered that Alethia had few clothes left, and her dressing table had been wiped clean.

She turned around to look for any other signs that Emily could still be around. But it left her feeling like a crazy woman, and it was then that she couldn't keep her tears at bay anymore. They came with full force, and she crashed on the bed to drown it.

But she didn't stay there. She rose immediately and headed back to the living room. On a thought she wanted to report her daughter missing, but she decided that Alethia could still be around.

It was dusk now. The only thing that gave her a shadow was the street light. There were four directions she could head to, but choosing the right direction was taking a toll on her. She inhaled deeply and held her forehead instinctively. Her head hurt so much she could feel a timer ticking in it, ready to blow off her reasoning.

Anything other than leaving the house would have been better, she admitted. Now she had to look for her daughter without a definite direction in mind.

***

"I'd like a sandwich, please," Alethia ordered. All she had at the counter were her luggage and a small purse. And her order had already been brought before she realized that she doesn't even have a dollar to pay for what she had ordered. But she embarked on a fruitless search anyway.

"Is everything okay?" the waiter asked.

Alethia smiled awkwardly. Of everything she made sure of before leaving the house, she couldn't believe that she forgot to bring some cash. Her credit card would have done the magic, but she didn't have that as well.

She sighed deeply and straightened up. "I'm sorry, I think I'm cashless."

The waiter drew the tray carrying the order back to herself and guided it still.

"I'm sorry, miss."

"Please, can I pay you later?"

"I'm sorry. As much as I'd like to help you, I can't."

Alethia swallowed hard and regretted it immediately. The much she'd swallowed seemed to have reminded her stomach of the hunger, and it rather became more discomforting to bear. She wanted to plead with the waiter, but she didn't know how to do that and still keep her pride.

She'd just grabbed her luggage and turned reluctantly to walk away when she heard a man approach the counter and ask how much was her order. She turned immediately, only to meet a rather dashing man.

The hunger didn't prevent her from admitting that this man was her type. He was tall and manly with broad shoulders. She surmised he visits the gym regularly -- that must be the secret behind his well-built body.

Alethia watched his blue eyes as he fixed it on the waiter who was blushing instead as if she'd never seen a man as handsome as that. Well, that made sense. Even Alethia hadn't seen a man as handsome as that as well. His face was purposeful, like a man who could only get one thing done at a time, so he wasn't looking at Alethia. And he only smiled at her briefly once he sorted her bills. Then he moved away and went back to a table by the expanse of glass that made the window.

Alethia took her tray with a lingering embarrassment. But she'd decided that filling her stomach was more important than any shame. She admitted it was kind of the man to have helped her out, but he rather appeared to her as stoic and a snob.

Alethia ignored him anyway. She would thank him later if she ever had the chance, and by then she would have had the energy to throw it in his face that he wasn't a god just because he sorted a girl's bills. The more she thought about his reaction towards her, the more she got furious. There was something about him that pissed her off. She could feel herself being pulled to him the way she had never felt with anyone before, and she knew it wasn't only because he snubbed her. Whatever it was, she couldn't wait to find out. So she carried her tray and went to sit in front of him.

"Thank you," she said, staring at him. He smiled condescendingly, and that pissed Alethia off more.

"Paying my bills doesn't make you a god, I hope you know that?" she watched his face as he squeezed it. She could feel she had gotten to him, but he looked…

Alethia couldn't read his countenance. While his face came with a squeeze, a little smile was dancing on his lips. And those lips were very attractive. He smiled so well that Alethia felt seeing him smile could make anyone have a good day. And apparently, it made her feel guilty for coming hard at him when he had just helped her.

"Would you like anything to drink?" he asked.

Alethia choked. He immediately offered her his juice and she drank from it.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Alethia looked outright at him. "For what?"

"I shouldn't have snubbed you the way I did."

Alethia reclined in her chair. So he knew what he did wrong? He must have done that on purpose then.

"For what purpose?"

"Pardon?"

"Did you snub me hoping I'd approach you instead? That must have worked countless times."

He smiled. "Oh, I do have other ways to charm a beautiful woman."

Aethia tried to hold a smile. This man talked with such gentleness that kept on reaching out to her. She could feel how easy it was to talk to him and to connect with him. She was sure he didn't have to make any effort to charm a woman, but she wouldn't let him think that way.

"You must think yourself attractive," Alethia said.

He smiled widely. "That was you admitting that I'm attractive. So, why don't you let me show you the other way I have to charm a woman? Who knows, I might just be able to change your mind from making the biggest mistake of your life."

Alethia looked at him straight across the table. Was she really about to make the biggest mistake of her life? He was offering a hand, and for some reasons unknown to her, she couldn't resist taking it. So she grabbed his hand and when he pulled her up, she crashed into his chest.

It was awkward for a moment with her hand on his chest. She could perceive the faint smell of his rich aftershave, and he smelled ridiculously nice as well. His chest was firm and offered comfort. She didn't know when her head moved forward, but she knew when she placed her head on his chest, the warmth strangely felt like home. The last she'd felt this comfort was with her father because she trusted him and always felt protected within his arms. For some reason, she felt protected by this man as well, but she didn't even know his name yet.

But she didn't have the chance to ask at the moment. Once reality hits her, she jumps away from him immediately, trying to gather herself together.

"Are you okay?"

Alethia looked at him with frustration. It seemed he knew he had some effect over her and was head bent on utilizing it at every chance. Even she knew this, and it drew her to more annoyance. She grabbed her luggage and dragged it along as she headed for the door.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked as he followed suit.

Alethia dashed out the door and refused to stop even though he was asking her to. She didn't know why she was behaving this way. Why she would

feel angry because of this man that she just met and barely knew. So maybe she was running away, away from home and from anything that would remind her of what it felt to be in one.

She had walked quite a distance from the dinner when she heard the sound of an empty beverage ricocheting across her. She halted and turned back.

"Shit, I missed." He said.

"What?"

He threw another and before Alethia could think to duck, the can landed on her head. While she was confused about what he was trying to do, he was laughing.

"That must have hurt," he said out loud.

Alethia sighed exasperatedly. "You must be kidding me."

"You ain't gonna watch me, are you?" He picked another can and threw it at her. This time she was able to duck. Then she picked a can as well and threw it at him. It landed on his forehead, forcing a wince out of him. Alethia laughed out loud.

"Feel my wrath now?" she said loudly.

He approached her now, and she began to run while he chased her. This lasted for a few seconds until they were both tired. Then while she sat on a wooden bench at a park close by, he went to get ice cream for them.

He joined her a few minutes later and sat firmly beside her after offering her the ice cream. She couldn't figure out how he knew that she loved the strawberry flavor, but she appreciated him anyway.

"So, why did you run away?" He asked abruptly.

Alethia turned to look at him. Is he a seer or did have some kind of powers that she was yet to be aware of?

"H-how?"

He relaxed and smiled at her. "Your luggage says everything. It was obvious that you ain't a traveler, and you not being able to pay for your meal meant you left in a hurry. Probably without thinking this through."

Alethia sighed deeply. Maybe she could tell this man everything and at least let off the baggage weighing her heart down. He peered his eyes to be sure that he was concerned about her, but the longer she maintained, the more she felt stuffy inside. So she turned away and sucked her tongue.

"My mom was head bent on replacing my dad, so I had to leave."

"And your dad, what did he have to say about that?"

"Well, he wouldn't be able to…"

He looked at her for a few seconds to read her countenance. Once he'd caught up, he knew condolences were required.

"I'm sorry, I didn't…" She interrupted him.

"That's fine."

He could see that she wasn't fine. Her face was that of a person trying to make amends with whatever regrets she'd had, but because they were things of the past that can't be fixed into the future, it tends to stick a person in the present. She must be finding it a task to move away from this timeline.

"You know, it's barely seven months, and she's already planning to remarry."

He thought to approach with caution now. "Maybe you should hear her out?"

She turned sharply to face him, and he cringed a bit.

"I mean, she must have her reasons."

"There's nothing more to this other than that she'd been seeing this new man long before Dad died. She must be happy that she was finally having her chance."

He tried to hold himself back from smiling. She might be talking with face and hatred, but underneath everything, he could feel the love she had for her mother. And maybe she was afraid that another was about to share that love with Alethia.

"She's your mother. I'm sure she still loves you. And trust me, it must be really hard on her right now. She wouldn't have planned for losing your dad, and now she had to be there for you while being there for herself at the same time. The least you can do is try as much as she's doing. You both are what's left of each other, yeah?"

Alethia took a few minutes to think about his words. The more they sink in the more she could feel the relief that was sweeping over her. By the time she could breathe deeply with a light chest, a small smile surfaced on her face.

"You should do that," he said.

"Do what often?" she was still smiling.

"You look more beautiful when you smile."

She blushed. She could feel a wave inside her, and it was that of great relief and comfort.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," he said and leaned sideways to bump shoulders with her.

"You're so playful," she said.

He laughed lightly. "Life's not that serious, my dear. We live longer by chance. The best we can do is try to make the most of the little time we have."

She nodded in agreement. "Have I told you you're such a motivational talker?"

He giggled. "Wouldn't be the first time I've heard that."

They talked for half an hour before Alethia agreed to return home. And he had to leave as well. She would have said no to him offering her some cash for her bus fares, but she considered them friends now, and he wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.

"Will I see you again?" She asked. There was no way she could make him stay, and darn her self dignity that she couldn’t tell him outright that she didn’t want him to leave yet. That she would very much love to spend time with him again.

He came closer, and when she wasn't expecting, hugged her tightly.

"Everything will be fine, okay?

She inhaled his scent deeply, literally for remembrance, but she only had to exhale deeply to forget it immediately. She could already feel that their encounter wasn't meant to last, and she didn't know how long she could hold him where they stood.

"I'm Alethia, by the way." She said,

He smiled. "Ethan."

She raised her eyes immediately and recoiled from him, which surprised him. That was the second time she would be hearing that name the same day. But this Ethan didn't strike her as her would-be stepfather. He was rather younger and more handsome than the picture she'd painted of the person her mom had mentioned.

"He's not the only Ethan in the world anyway," she said to herself. By then he was gone, and she realized she'd zoned off for a few seconds.

She looked everywhere for him with such agitation that made her feel unrest. He was nowhere to be found, and now she wondered if he did exist. He'd been too good a person to be a mere human. Maybe he was an angel?

And maybe he'll always be around...