CHAPTER 3 The First Encounter

Glioblastoma.

-a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumor. It invades the nearby brain tissue, but generally does not spread to distant organs.

Symptoms vary depending on the location of the brain tumor, but may include any of the following: persistent headaches, double or blurred vision, vomiting, loss of appetite, changes in mood and personali-

Selene closed her laptop aggressively. She put her both arms on the table with her palms placed on her face. She just came back from her doctor’s clinic awhile ago and heard about her condition.

“Selene?? Dinner!!” a squeaky voice from downstairs was heard.

“Coming!” Selene answered back as she lets out an exasperated sigh. She left her room and her nose was immediately filled with the smell of her best friend’s cooking. She feels bad with living off his bestfriend, Faye, for years and still cannot even cook her food as delicious as what she serves for her.

Selene sat down at the dining area while Faye filled the table. Selene is just watching her, Faye Williams is undeniably attractive in her own way, she have a tall and slim physique with her olive skin complementing her hazel eyes and dark long hair that falls to her waist. They have been friends since Selene entered college when they got teamed up for a badminton match. 

Selene smiled when she remembered how Faye begged on her to lose the game so she could look great on their P.E instructor whom Faye had a crush on.

“Thanks Faye.”

They both quietly started to eat. Weighing which question or answer should be brought up first. Selene can feel that Faye is battling with herself to open up the conversation. Eventually, Faye broke the silence.

“How was it?” she asked, as she pick up a piece of string bean with her fork, as if Selene’s answer is never a big deal.

“It’s…brain tumor,” Selene answered straightforward, trying to swallow her food.

Silence.

“How long has it been?”

“I’m…It’s at the end stage, which explains my frequent dizziness and—and severe headaches,” Selene explained, now playing with her food.

Silence.

A sniff.

And eventually, a sob.

“Oh Faye..” Selene said softly, also holding back her tears. She can never break down…not yet.

“I am so sorry,” Faye tried to calm herself down. She felt really stupid afterwards because she shouldn’t be crying as she should be the one comforting her friend.

“We’ll get through this. You and me, okay?” she assures Selene. Selene nodded with a smile.

Growing up all alone, Selene Madden was never the type of person who blames anyone for her misfortunes. She never blamed her father, who was an alcoholic who always comes home so he could beat her mother up for all the petty reasons he could think of, nor blame her mother for choosing to leave her behind with her father who eventually got murdered by loan sharks, putting her life at risk. She never blamed her classmates who bullied her up to the extremes of giving her all the reasons to end her life.

She never blamed anyone that she’s all alone, struggling but trying to make the best out of her everyday situation.

And now, she was given another reason, the most inevitable one, yet here she is just staring blankly at her room’s ceiling trying to get herself to sleep. The news that her doctor gave her awhile ago has yet to sink in her system, it’s like she was sentenced to death but her body and mind have no reaction at all, numbed.

The sun rose just like it always does, Selene got up at exactly 6:30 in the morning to get ready for her work at Hayes. Out on her window, her neighbor sweeps their front yard as they always do every Mondays, and she sees the same people starting off their mornings by jogging, trying to be as strong and healthy as they can. Selene smiled as she waters her little sweet plum bonsai tree that always looks like its trying its best to survive another day.

I should too.

“Selene.” Calix, Selene’s boss called her the moment he entered the resto still wearing his coat with his cap on looking all neat and handsome as always. He motioned Selene to go to the kitchen.

“I heard from Faye,” he spoke while looking intently at Selene who's catching her breath as she has been cleaning the table counter awhile ago.

“No way, Faye told…?” She sighs in disbelief. Faye, that girl!

“Listen, she’s just worried. She told me to look out for you because you won’t stop working.” His keen-gray eyes are full of worry. Calix Hayes is one of her few friends back in college, with their family business he helped Selene get a job to support her finances and as well as to keep Selene close to him.

“I know. Just..don’t tell on anybody else okay?" Selene let out a smile so Calix could calm down, though she did not know if it worked.

"You guys better worry more if I just lock myself in you know.”

Calix’s bushy eyebrows went up as he scoffs, “Yeah right, I totally forgot, you love money more than anything,” he joked and Selene jabbed him in his chest.

“MADDEN! TABLE FOUR!”

“COMING!” Selene winked at Calix before attending to their customers. The resto she’s been working at has a huge number of regular customers as it’s near from most workplaces and buildings filled with busy people that have no time to cook for their meals. Selene loves her job, and beyond grateful to Calix for giving her one.

“Do you see him?”

“Hell yes! He is gorgeous, I mean- hey! Don’t stand there!”

Selene looked on her right to see two ladies glaring at her.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” She immediately stepped back and followed where the two were looking. At the end corner of the resto sits a stunning man wearing black polo with the sleeves folded over his elbows reading a book, From Here to Eternity.

Selene’s gaze went back to the two ladies that were now taking pictures of the man. She just let them do their business and went back to the counter.

“Mr. Morgan wants to have a talk about the garbage left on his backyard the other day, he seems really upset,” Lora, her co-worker told her.

“Okay, I got it,” Selene replied, almost rolling her eyes. She knew Lora was the one who keeps on forgetting to sort out garbage and then let the blame fall on her.

Selene wiped the counter and her eyes landed to the end corner of the resto, where the man sits. She was startled when she saw him looking at her- no, staring intensely rather.

She assumed that he needs something so she approached him, carrying her notepad for orders.

“Do you need anything?” she asked him, but he did not even blinked. “Sir..?”

“I’m sorry, I was just thinking if you would love to join me here,” the man finally spoke, his deep appealing voice sent shivers to her neck. His golden eyes are amused like he just found an interesting prey.

“Excuse me?” she asked, frowning.

“Selene,” Lora approached her and whispered that Mr. Morgan is already at their backdoor waiting for her. She glanced once more to the man but he is not looking at her anymore and returned to reading.

Okay, another weirdo. She thought as she face Lora leaving the man behind.

She took a step and she suddenly felt dizzy. She felt pain from her cheeks to her nose up to her temples, excruciating and pulsating like her head is going to explode anytime. She fell to Lora’s back in front of her down to the ground.

No, please…not here.

“Selene!!” Lora’s voice caught the attention of the people in their resto.

She could not feel anything but the pain, she could not hear Lora and the people around her asking what happened. She held her head with her shaking hands as Lora asked their customers to make way so she could bring Selene to the kitchen.

Her vision was all blurry, but another pair of hands held her, she knew they were not Lora’s, and thought that it’s Calix.

“C-calix,” she called him weakly. The pair of hands tried to bring her up and the moment she was back on her feet, a deep heavenly voice whispered something on her ears.

“Sanare dolorem”

“Selene!”

Calix came and immediately carried her on his back. She can hear Lora reassuring their customers that everything’s fine. They got inside of the kitchen and before the door closes, with her blurred vision, she saw a man waving at her.

Calix brought her down and made her sit on a chair, the pain was already bearable and she could finally see Calix’s worried eyes in front of her.

“Hey..Selene, does it hurt so bad?” Calix asked as he fumbles with his phone to contact Faye. Selene stopped his hand and smiled.

“It’s okay, I’m fine now. Please don’t call Faye anymore, she’ll go hysteric.”

Calix deeply sighed and gave her a glass of water.

“I almost peed on my pants Selene, you scared the hell out of me.” Selene chuckled on his remark. “I just went back to my house to check on things and then I got back here and saw you lying on the floor!”

“I am sorry for causing disturbance.” Selene felt bad because the customers seemed scared as well.

“Don’t worry about it. Stay here, I’ll just instruct Lora and call someone to replace you today.”

She then remembered Mr. Morgan. “Calix! Mr. Mor-”

“Stay. Here. And don’t move a finger!” Calix cut her off and went outside.

Selene was left alone in the kitchen. Remembering what happened, she was not really sure if Calix was the one who whispered something on her ears because the voice was far different. She was also confused because her headaches usually take a lot of time to subside and she often needs medication but earlier, it took just about ten minutes then it was gone.

She caressed the back of her neck and it felt really cold.

“How are you feeling?”

The voice startled her. She looked up and saw the weird man resting his back against the kitchen door. She met his golden-coloured eyes still wearing the amused look. She was not able to notice it earlier, but he has a strong physique and broad shoulders, his dark hair was neatly slicked back, almost like he have gone to a hairstylist before going here.

“I’m sorry Sir, this place is off limits,” Selene tried to sound authoritative despite still feeling weak.

The man started to walk towards her with his hands both inserted on his pockets. His eyes were pinned down on her as he slowly bends down on her level. She looked down on the floor immediately, feeling really uneasy.

“I just saved you back there, you know.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please leave,” Selene asked, avoiding his eyes. She could feel his intense stare but her intuition warns her not to look.

“A little gratitude would suffice.”

“I didn’t asked for your help,” she said sternly. The man was taken aback, clearly not expecting such answer. He regained his composure and stood straight. Selene is still not looking at him like she suddenly finds the floor very interesting.

“Well then, if you need my help, you’ll find me here. You are so much welcome.” The man placed a small card on the table beside Selene, she was just about to say something but when she looked up he was nowhere to be seen.

Selene picked the card. It was a plain black card with just two words written in gold ink.

DOMUS MALUM.