Chapter 4

“KUMAIN KA NA BA? Teka lang, initin ko muna ‘tong kanin at ulam namin kanina. Upo ka po, pasensya na ‘di ako nakapaglinis dito.” Sunod-sunod na sabi ni Vivian sa kanya. Abala ito sa pag-aayos at paghahanda sa lamesa. 

He was just stuck there, unable to take a step or make a move. 

“You’re Hero, right? Ramses’ friend?” Vivian looked at him as she asked.

Hero opened his mouth but no words came out. Shit, this should not be happening to me.

“Hello? Halika, kumain ka muna.” Pagpukaw sa kanya ng babae nang matapos na nitong ihinanda ang mga pagkain sa lamesa.

He couldn’t move. Hindi niya alam kung bakit. His mind keeps on telling him to say something to make things less awkward.

Hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili niya. He doesn't know what to feel first. Was it relief? That she’s able to stand, walk, talk, and…alive. Or should he be afraid… that she’ll know. 

Mukhang napansin ng babae na tulala lang siyang nakatingin sa kung saan kaya naman ay nilapitan siya nito at marahan na hinawakan ang braso niya. The moment her fingers wrapped around his arm, Hero stiffened.

She guided him to the dining area and sat, and he just let her drag him.

He just watched how she served him food. Napatitig nalang siya sa plato niya habang nakaabang lang ang dalaga sa kanya na kumain. He’s trying to clear out his mind, to act normal. 

“I’m Vivian by the way, and you are?” 

He looked up at her and cleared his throat. “H-Hero Augustine…” fuck, why did I stutter? He squeezed his eyes shut and cleared his throat. “Hero Augustine. Ramses’ friend,” he said straightly as he offered his hand. 

Vivian gladly shook his hand and smiled. 

“I heard you’re a business owner…” panimula ng babae. 

Hero simply nodded, quite confused. Why is she suddenly interested in my work? Did Ramses tell her? Of course, he did. 

Vivian smiled even more, making him even more uncomfortable. How can she smile so brightly and be carefree after everything she’d been through? Because if he had lost seven months of his life because of someone else, he wasn't sure he'd be smiling at all.

“Ramses told me that you can help me find a job,” she said, her eyes glistening and looking so hopeful and excited.

He stared at her and studied her expression. She’s too…genuine.

“Please, I really need a job. Kahit ano! I can work as a cleaning staff. Basta may trabaho lang ako.” She added, her hands pleading at him.

She’s willing to do that? For what, if she’s already given everything. Comfort and safety, isn't that what matters to her?

He leaned his back and tried to relax. “Why? Is Ramses not providing enough for you?” He asked. 

As far as he knew, besides Ramses’ support to her, he’s also providing for her daily expenses. ‘Di naman siguro binulsa ni Ramses ang mga ibinigay niya para sa babae. 

Vivian waved her hands defensively and shook her head. “No, no, no. Hindi sa ganun.” 

“Then why find a job?” 

She’s already been living just right. Everything is already provided for her already. Ramses was feeding her, housing her, and her expenses were already covered. Why was she still so desperate to work?

Vivian sighed heavily and finally opened up to him. “Actually, nahihiya na ako kay Ramses. He has done so much for me,” she lowered her gaze. “I wanted to earn everything with my own hard work.” 

Hero doesn’t understand. “Is Ramses complaining about this?”

Vivian looked at him and shook her head. 

“Then I think you two are good? Ayaw mo ba nun? You don't get to worry about anything, or work, since he gives you everything you need.” He pointed out. 

She sighed defeatedly. “You don’t understand…”

“Then let me understand. Everything is already given to you.” He said calmly, still trying to make sense of her reasoning. Why is she trying to look for a job instead of resting after that incident? 

“That’s the point,” she replied, her voice firmer now. “None of those are mine. I want to pay back all the kindness he gave to me and at the same time, I wanna stand on my own two feet. Do you get my point?” Dagdag pa niya sa medyo iritadong boses.

Hero fell silent. For the first time in his twenty-four years in the world, he didn't have an answer. So instead, he shrugged and nodded to end the discussion.   

“So?” Vivian asked.

“So, let’s rest up for now and we’ll continue talking tomorrow.” Tanging sagot niya para iwasan kung saan man patungo ang usapan nila. With that, Hero stood up without touching his food and settled himself on the sofa. 

“Ayaw mo ba matulog sa kwarto?” Vivian suddenly asked when she saw him lie down. 

“I’ll sleep here,” he replied with finality in his voice. 

“Are you sure?” She asked again.

Hero just covered his eyes with his arm and hummed as a response. Buti nalang at di na siya kinulit ng babae. 

When he heard footsteps walking away, he let out a heavy breath and looked at the ceiling. 

He’s trying to understand her desperation. Hero had never wanted independence the way she did. 

His name. His status. His company. His identity. Everything he had, they all came from his parents. He didn’t really gain them with his own hands and sweat. Kaya hindi niya maintindihan ang dalaga. If something is easily obtained, then why not settle for it until it lasts. 

He sighed once again then he suddenly noticed. He’s only wearing his boxer shorts. Shit! He cursed on his mind. She didn’t even point it out. Pero mukhang hindi naman nito napansin.

Napailing nalang si Hero at sinuot ulit ang hinubad niyang polo at pantalon kanina. Nakakahiya naman kung maabutan siya ng dalaga kinabukasan na nakahubo’t-hubad.

A small smile crept into his lips when he remembered her words earlier. He was…speechless for a moment. Vivian was the first person he met who wanted to earn what was already being handed to her. 

He blew out a harsh breath. Tomorrow, he’ll try to understand her more and help her. That’s the least he could do. Pambawi sa nagawa ko.

HERO WOKE UP earlier than Vivian so he decided to cook a light breakfast meal. Just a simple bacon and eggs. He already prepared the meals on the table.

He wasn't even sure why he bothered cooking. He could've easily ordered food, but somehow making breakfast felt easier than facing another conversation with Vivian.

Vivian was sleeping in the guest room so he sneaked into Ramses’ master's bedroom and borrowed some decent clothes. He’s wearing gray sweatpants and a black compression shirt.

Habang nagtitimpla siya ng kape ay biglang bumukas ang kwarto sa guest room. He took a quick glance at her and almost laughed. Her hair looked like she'd fought a war in her sleep. 

He cleared his throat. “Morning,” he said without looking directly at her. 

Vivian yawned as she took a seat on the stool near the counter. 

“You cooked?” she asked.

Hero stirred his coffee before taking a seat two stools away from her. He glanced at the table. “Someone had to.”

Vivian smiled despite his dry words. “Thanks,” she said and started eating. 

Hero silently looked at her as she heartfully ate those simple dishes he made. He'd never seen someone look that happy over something so ordinary.

Hero frowned and took a bite of his own breakfast. It tasted exactly the way bacon was supposed to taste.

Tiningnan niya ulit ang dalaga. She looked genuinely delighted over a piece of bacon 

Mukhang napansin ng dalaga ang tingin niya. She looked up and met his gaze. 

“Sorry, it's just my first time eating non charcoaled bacon.” Natatawang paliwanag nito. “Kasi naman, ang hirap kaya lutuin ng bacon! Lagi naming nasusunog ni Ramses ang bacon.” Kumagat ulit ito at napangiti. “Masarap pala talaga 'to.” 

Napailing nalang si Hero sa sinabi ng dalaga at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. There was silence between them as they shared breakfast together. The silence was not deafening, it's kind of comforting.

“You know, you’re much nicer than Ramses.” Ani bigla ng dalaga sa kanya matapos nitong kumain. She was smiling with her chin resting on the back of her hands. “I think I like you.” 

Hero almost choked on his own coffee when he heard her say those words.

“Do you know what those words mean?” He hissed, almost stuttering. 

Vivian looked at him like he said something dumb. “Of course? I mean, you can cook, you’re not nosy, and also you’ll help me find a job. All traits you have, kabaliktaran kay Ramses.” 

Hero let out a small chuckle before immediately clearing his throat. “It feels like you’re confessing your feelings to me,” he whispered to himself.

"And you're already saying I'm better than Ramses after one breakfast?” 

God knows how he loves it when someone roasts his friend. Ever since they’ve become friends, Ramses has always been the center of attention. And that guy loves the attention. Kaya naman ay natutuwa siya pag may nakapuna sa ugali nito.

Vivian shrugged. “Ramses always made breakfast but it also always ended up in a trash bin.” 

She raised a finger. “He’s nosy.” Another finger, “Hard-headed.” A third finger, “Makulit, ano pa ba…” she trailed off, thinking of words to describe Ramses.

Hero hid his smile behind his coffee mug. For once, someone was saying exactly what he had been thinking for years.

“Pero kahit ganun yun, nagpapasalamat ako at nakilala ko siya. He’s a respectable guy.” 

Hero smiled and shook his head. “Yeah, thank you for saying that.” 

Vivian looked at him. “So, tutulungan mo na ako?” 

Hero stared at her for a couple of seconds then nodded.