CAN'T HIDE HIM II

Kaye was holding a bag of her purchases with each hand as she sauntered to her apartment room. She placed the bags on the floor and looked for her keys. She knew that Ivan was working so she didn't want to disturb him to open the door for her and beside, he would know that she's home once she entered the door.

Kaye opened the door and stuck her right leg to keep it open before reaching out for the bags and went inside. She unstrapped her sandals and grabbed her slippers.

"I'm home. Ivan, I couldn't fine the...thing...you..." her voice faded after she saw the people at the living room. All three pairs of eyes were looking at her, one was blank, one was anxious and one was happy. She stood there unable to move or say something. Her mind was spiralling out of control and she's getting dizzy.

Kaye put down her purchases, pinched the space between her brows and looked at the three of them. Her parents weren't saying anything which scared her and Ivan wasn't speaking as well, making her nervous and a cold sweat ran down her spine.

"Let me arrange these first." was all she said before grabbing the bags again and walked to the kitchen.

Kaye's hands were trembling as she opened the fridge and pile up the ingredients that need to be inside it. Next she went to the cupboard and place the other remaining ingredients. The last small bag that contains Ivan's things, she brought it with her and put it on the coffee table. Her mind was in a mess and she wanted to hide and breath until this whole ordeal was over.

"Sweetie, we wanted to surprise you...but we were surprised." her mother said with a soft voice and a hint of surprise for keeping a guy a secret.

"I can see that. I'm beyond surprise that you are all sitting here as well." she said before taking the seat between Ivan and her parents. One was to protect Ivan. Two was not to see Ivan's expression since he's facing her back.

"Ivan told us what happened and the reason why you agreed to accept a roommate." her father said cutting to the chase and avoid scaring her. He noticed her turning pale when she arrived earlier and he didn't want to cause her anxiety.

"I actually wanted to tell you about him once you're home from vacation. I didn't know you would be back this soon." she was still trembling and didn't know what to do if her parents would react in a violent manner for keeping a secret from them. It happened to her before, when 'that' mother found out she kept a few coins for saving from fetching water in their neighborhood, she was slapped a couple of times.

"You brat! You selfish brat!" that woman slapped her twice. "You'd rather have us dead than give us your money? You are so arrogant!" the woman slapped her again. "You think saving this amount of coins will bring you somewhere? Let me use this instead." the woman slapped her again and again until her face was swollen and her nose and lips were bleeding.

Kaye closed her eyes from the memories. That was one of her nightmares that she didn't want to relive.

Now, she made a mistake and kept a secret from her parents. She didn't want to be abandoned again. Her heart was beating faster every second that passed, waiting for her parents to latch on her.

"Breath Kaye. You'll faint." she snapped her eyes open, startled when she heard Ivan whispered softly behind her. She was sweating coldly and her hands that she hid under her coat couldn't stop shaking.

"Sweetie, I'm glad you found yourself a roommate. Your apartment was really gloomy before." her mother told her after a while.

"You aren't angry I didn't tell you about this?" her voice was trembling as well and she was about to cry from anxiousness and distress.

"Huh? No we're not. And you were planning to let us know, it was us who came here suddenly." her father inserted, putting his hands on top of her mother's hand gently squeezing it.

"Are you really not angry? Are you sure? Before..." she would never show any sign of despair in front of anyone not even in front of that woman no matter the times she would beat her but this time was different.

These people showed her love, showed her happiness, showed her the beauty of the world, if they wanted to shatter her, they could do it with a snap of their finger.

She turned around and faced Ivan before breathing a sigh of relief and gave him a smile even if he couldn't see it.

"Let's talk more once you could go home. Why don't we eat lunch outside saving you time to prepare food." her mother suggested after seeing her daughter's face getting more color. "You join us Ivan. It's really boring eating here alone." she added before she took her bag and stood.

"Thank you for the inviting but I'm fine here. You can go ahead and catch up with each other." Ivan refused politely Mrs. Jimenez's invitation.

"Come on. We could catch up anytime at home. Eating with you is seldom. Let's go." Mrs. Jimenez walked out first followed by her husband. Ivan and Kaye stood in the middle speechless. It was Kaye who spoke first.

"Let's go. I would be there with you anyway." she gave him a small tug of his shirt before walking out. Ivan followed her closely as they walked outside. Her parents were talking about random things when they suddenly turned to Ivan.

"Since your blindness isn't inborn, do you plan to have surgery?" it was an inquiry at the same time it was something personal but Ivan didn't mind at all.

"I don't want my things thrown outside the apartment." he uttered which both parents knew why.

They laughed as they gave Kaye a side-eye.

"Someone would indeed throw your things out. I guess you could talk and work it out even once you gain your eyesight." Kaye'a mother uttered with a slight laughter laced in her voice.

Looking at them and hearing their exchange of words, Kaye couldn't help but frowned. 'Why does it feel like you're giving me away? He isn't your son-in-law mom!' she wanted to shout at them but she couldn't to avoid awkwardness.

"This time, you dig your own grave." Ivan whispered to her ears, his breath so close, warming her heart and making her face hotter.

Kaye was so embarrassed with their conversation that she wanted to leave them. She wanted to hide and she wanted to turn into bubbles and pop in the air to nothingness.