FIRST NIGHT TOGETHER III

Kaye couldn't hear the show on the background. Her ears were still ringing the words he said. Her brain were processing them slowly and her heart was beating like crazy. She didn't know what to do with herself. It was a good thing she didn't spill the beans as well. It would be really awkward.

Initially, she was happy hearing him say 'I like you'. She wanted to tell him she likes him too, but something stopped her and it was great that she stopped. If not, she would make a fool of herself.

Kaye looked at him for any changes in expression but there was none. She patted her chest and smiled sadly at him. "Don't utter those words carelessly. It may cause misunderstanding. I'm glad to be consider one of your friends." 'I guess, we'll have to be friends. At least, I have a label.' It was a sad thing that she couldn't like the person openly even though they were under the same roof.

Ivan didn't bother her anymore. He stayed silent beside her to avoid himself say something that would cause him trouble.

Kaye was focus on watching the movie. She would laugh, scream or curse the actors but she didn't forget to give him a side-eye every few minutes.

She was halfway through the movie when she felt something heavy on her shoulder. She turned her head slightly and saw Ivan leaning on her, sleeping.

"Can you not sleep on me, big guy?" she said sarcastically, but she didn't move him.

Ivan heard her sarcastic remark but he only moved slightly to adjust his position, his faint smile hidden from her view.

Kaye continued watching the movie. It was a romantic comedy type of movie. Her movements were restricted to avoid disturbing his sleep, but stifled laughter was a melody to Ivan's ear. He could faintly hear the heartbeat from her chest. He could smell her natural scent, a sweet nectar from a flower.

"Therese." Ivan muttered the name softly but since he was leaning on her, Kaye heard the name. Ivan felt her stiffened for a a minute, but she calmed down after a while.

"Fate must be having fun." she said to no one in particular. She lost interest on the movie she's watching. She just stared blankly at it, lost in her thoughts.

It was weekend, the evil woman and the evil man went somewhere, leaving a lonely child alone.

"Meow." her black cat was sitting on her lap keeping her company. "Meow."

"Are you hungry?" the little child asked her cat, combing it's fur with her hands.

"Meow." her black cat leaped down from her lap and ran towards the door.

"Wait. Let me clean my wounds first." the child called out to the cat. As if understanding her, the cat looked back at her and padded towards the patched up blanket, waiting for her.

The little child went to the kitchen and dampened the cloth she was holding with water. She wiped her face and her wounds to get rid of the dried blood. She changed her clothes into a clean set that she washed and went out holding her cat.

She walked for a while and after few minutes she stopped in front of a large house. It wasn't very large compared to the other houses around the area, but to the young child it was huge.

She pressed the doorbell and a young lady came out.

"Hello honey, it's good to see you again. Come in."

To the child, this place was heaven. No one bullied her and the young lady helped her learn a few things here and there. She would give her food as well. She was the only one who cared.

The child came in with her cat on her arms. Her small feet were covered with wounds, since she walked barefooted. She followed the young lady to the kitchen.

"Where are the slippers I gave you?" the young lady asked her when she saw the new wounds all over her. She took out her first aid kit box and picked up the child to settle her on one of the chairs in the kitchen.

"Didn't I tell you to wear your slippers when you go here?" she asked her again while putting some disinfectant on the cotton ball.

"The evil woman threw my slippers." the child said softly. Just like her body, her voice was so small and soft that you can barely hear her. "Miss Maine, my cat is hungry."

"You came here because your cat is hungry?" the child nodded to her question. "I don't really know what to do with you. I told you to come here whenever you're hungry, not when you're cat is hungry." she dabbed the cotton ball to the wounds on her face while giving her a lecture.

"Auntie, I couldn't find my books. Where did you...Who is she?" the new comer, a boy older than her for few years, came into the kitchen. He looked at her carefully from head to toes. "Why are you covered with wounds?" he asked her checking her arms, her face and her legs.

"This is Therese. Honey, this is my nephew. He's..." Miss Maine didn't finish her statement when the boy interrupted her.

"I'm young master of the Harley." the boy said.

"Ha...harley.." the young child, Therese, uttered the name to herself.

"Don't mind him, hon." Miss Maine whispered to the young child while dressing the wound on her left arm. "Van, get some clean socks from your drawer that could fit her. Let her use your one of your slippers as well." she ordered the boy which the he followed instantly.

After dressing making sure that her wounds were cleaned and disinfected, Miss Maine prepared food for her. The young boy appeared again, holding socks and indoor slippers.

"Let me help you." he squatted down and helped her wear the socks he found and the slippers. "Make sure to wear this so you won't get cold." he gave her feet a soft pat and smiled at her. "Can I hold your cat?"

The young child didn't say anything, but she gave him her cat. That started their short but wonderful friendship.

"Where could you possibly be right now?" Kaye shrugged her shoulders at the thought of him. She wanted to ask Miss Maine about the child but she was embarrassed.