Chapter 3

Months. Weeks. Days had passed like everything was just yesterday. His name is Billy Domingo and his room was flooded by darkness. Speckles of light were penetrating from the opaque curtains draped in the closed–windows. Dusts danced in the air. Bottles of beer were left scattered on the floor. Some were broken. Aroma of trashes were circulating all over the room. He drowned his heart in sorrow and pain brought by the heart-rending mishap. The family he had called had already gone and left him lonely. Breathing with no life, a lying corpse – he felt for now. Billy sat squeezing his laps with his arm as he was condemning himself.

The man who had known someone was jolly, basically kind, impressively brilliant became what he feared of – being alone and unhappy. He looked pale and sick; his eyes adjusted in the dark. He was killing himself slowly and painfully. He even forgot to brush his hair. Actually, he lost his physique and became no one.

Just now. He wanted to forget by some means but painful and sorrowful memories haunted him repeatedly. He tried to momentarily forget what happened. And to relieve himself from pain and grief. His staggering feet paced toward the Verandah to just give himself a shower of the golden, smiling sun. Not to think. Never he thought. He glimpsed the pictures of his mama Ally and papa Ben, and then Brail hanged one-lined on the wall.

"Why… Why did you leave me broken and nothing?" He shouted as he tightly clasped his fists.

"I'm alone and nothing!"

Every single moment flashbacked and he was pre-occupied again from what happen during the bonding date he had planned that brought them a tragic death. I insist to drive that damn car was the guilt that always sprang out. Those times of intractableness. All – that moment – haunted him blow by blow. He faced about and slammed the door. As usual, he would give himself a quaff of beer until he'll be stone-cold-sober. To escape. To forget for meanwhile.

Liza opened the door and her nostril sniffed bad, mixed odors. Touched her columella nasi and shrink her face in disgust. She stiffened in front of Billy trying to express her sympathy as she eyed him sitting at one corner sobbing. Drank. She opened the curtains to brighten up the room and the windows for ventilation.

As he blindly looking at the rays of the sun reflecting on the glass-window panes, "No! just leave me away." He frowned and narrowed his wet eyes.

"You just get out of here and never come back again… you always meddle with this unfortunate life!"

As always, Liza felt the same as Billy shooed her.

"Yes! I always meddle for your betterment… I am who will never leave you in your state …who always think of your welfare… I am here 'cause I love you and can't afford to lose you, Billy." She finger-combed her hair as she held her head. Eyes closed.

…moment to moment it brought her pain, it ached her so much. She quivered in anger and was into her emotion and tried to control words but there it was… she spoke them out. Billy would better know that… "I left L.A., my family for you."

Billy held back his breath and spoke, "I don't care and I don't need you."

He can't be identified as a goddamn handsome and a man of good physique. The man who was basically kind and gentle became sympathetic and pitied of.

At the moment, against her will, Liza stealthy walked out leaving Billy sobbing in grief, bearing heavy feelings. She really wanted to alleviate what Billy was carrying from his heart but HOW?

Heart ached.

She could not bear to leave him in that state and can do nothing other than to see after him. Breathe heavily as tears of pain fell on her eyes.

"I'm sorry Billy that you've to struggle through these" was uttered underneath her breath.