Unknown Territory

"Shhhh… shh…Come on Claire, you're twenty years old but the way you cry, can still beat a two-year-old child." He combed her hair with his fingers and kissed her head.

"Ku-kuya, are you for real? I thought for a while that you would never come back, I thought that this day would be. Your trick is that you didn't even call me. " Carlo's clothes were soaked with her sweat and tears. She clung to him like a lizard as she kept weeping.

"Don't worry too much, from now on I will make sure that our lives will be fine. Do you trust me?" He assured her while patting her back.

"Attorney. Thank you so much for all your help to our brothers and sisters. We are very grateful to you. " Claire finally remembered someone else's presence and realized he was the one who helped them on behalf of his sibling, Ephraim. If it wasn't for this lawyer, it's likely that her older brother is still lying down or worse something bad had happened to him already. She could not imagine witnessing it after her release or in any day.

"Don't worry too much, all I did was for my brother and besides, I can see that you two both deserve to have the life that was taken away from you after the accident." Simone don't usually help people that couldn't pay for his service but he made an exception for Claire and if he has to do it again and again he knows that he is more than willing. She was deprived and was taken away from society in an unfair process but she was strong and resilient that made her even more unique. Women that he met before usually succumb in depression and were more likely to give up everything after they lose everything.

"Why are you following what he said that much? Am I that important to him for you to help me like this? Then I should thank him very much. " Despite the help that she had received from him, she was even more reluctant to trust him as she can't see through his actions. His facial expressions is a blank canvass. Maybe, what he needs to have in his life is to have a strong person around just to give a little kick in his life, a little spice to excite him. He seem like a person who can get anything he wants without even flicking his finger. He is effortlessly handsome and innately intelligent from inside to outside. Then, she realized that her thoughts are now getting out of hand. She looked at him waiting for his response to her question.

"He just values ​​the friendship between the two of you. Of all the acquaintances of our father, whether in politics or in any field, no one treated him well because if they did not know that he was the son of a famous and brilliant judge. He really feels that as a lawyer he is a failure, simply because he knows that he was immediately hired by a famous law firm not because of his capabilities but because of the surname Marquez that is already attached to him." He explained.

They continued talking as they walked out of the prison. As their conversation is getting deeper she realized what kind of a brother is Simone to Ephraim. He is way much better than him but he lifts him up more than he can do to keep his brother from feeling left out and inferior. They hold on to each other's weaknesses and strengths which makes it more unimaginable, but if it is really true their parents could be great ones.

They finished their conversation as they arrived at the parking lot.

She doesn't where they are going to stay. Their house that was abandoned for years and serves as a witness in a gruesome act. She could not imagine living there and be happy again. It is not just what she need after her imprisonment. She has to leave her past behind to move forward in her life.

She looked at her brother wondering where they could be staying. And seemed that Carlo had read what's going on her mind.

He smiled and touched her head.

" Atty. Marquez is going to let us stay for the meantime in his other condominium unit. We are just neighbors."

She was muted for awhile not until the lawyer started talking.

"It's not for free. Though I know that it would be hard for the both of you to pay me, it's fine. You can work for me Claire while you study with your preferred field. How does it sound? Does it feel too confining?" She can't read what's on his mind neither does he. They are both careful with how they act with others. Not trying to show more than one emotion to a stranger. It may sound so exaggerated but it is what it is.

Claire gathered all her will to ask the guy a question.

"And we can live in there right away?" Simone was clearly surprised by her response.

"Why does it feel like you expected me to decline this?" She is such a tease. It was not her normal response but she wanted to show her another self to the guy. She doesn't have to hold back anymore.

"Honestly, yes. I think I must have read you wrong. I apologize for my hasty presumption." Claire looked at him and threw him a smirk.

"It wouldn't be a presumption if it isn't hasty. You've made your judgement before you even asked, right?" She's intelligent he thought. She knows when to talk more and talk less. She's careful enough not to touch the ground of tactlessness.

Her brother tugged her hair lightly, reminding her of her words. She knew that she's being too bold to her benefactor.

"You have a point. Now if the two of you wouldn't mind we'll now head to your place. The traffic heat would surely make you faint if we won't drive there soon." He is running of sentences to throw to this lady. He had never been speechless until now, not even in his junior days in lawschool and this makes it more unnerving.

Just before they arrived, they stopped at a fastfood chain and had a quick lunch. Carlo kept the spirit going with his jokes and stories that involved Claire and their childhood and his time abroad with Simone. Good thing, Claire thought that her brother is still tactful with the details she doesn't want to let anyone know.

They arrived after three hours of driving. As they arrived at the lobby, Claire knew how expensive it is to live in this place. Simone offered for a tour later this evening as he noticed that she's too tired to do it this time.

It was three times bigger than she had expected. It has a very masculine vibe but doesn't suffocate her at all. Women can like black and white too. It's very clean and elegant thru its simplicity. No dangling chandeliers and gold linings in every furniture. The place were laced with modernity. It is not too eye catching but it comforts its users. The kitchen is spacious enough to place six people at the same time, or maybe ten. There was nothing to add anymore.

"Liked it?"

"Who wouldn't? She'd be a fool." He chuckled acting not suprised at all.

"You could have just simply said yes." How cute she thought.

"I'm not one of them. I've been changed you know. I can't be bothered with anything after what happened." The air suddenly become stiff. No one dared to talk more than one word or another after her sudden outburst. She felt guilty. She should have not touched that line.

After Simone left the unit, she slept for hours in her new room. It was one hundred times better than her former beddings in her jail time. Her brother cooked for her while she was sleeping soundly.

She was awakened by a shriek from the kitchen. He must be frying something again she thought. Carlo can cook anything but frying is not his forte. He despises cooking oil so much that he doesn't eat anything fried at all. Maybe because he wanted to make it special for her. He doesn't need to tho. As long as they are together, she could live without anything fried to be eaten. She got up from her bed and took a shower. It's been a long time since she felt cleaner. She scrubbed every part her her body, ensuring to remove every dirt clung to her skin.

As she finished, she saw an attached room from the bathroom and saw a walk-in-closet. It was a massive area where clothes where arranged including shoes. It could not be hers. But, why are they here in the first place, especially that the owner, Simone is aware that they are going to move here? Realization strucked her that her clothes are not here, not even the ones that were left behind their family house. Besides, it would be too small for her figure now. She grew a lot since she came in prison. She picked a prim and casual baby blue dress from the closet and took s pair of fliplops. They fit her perfectly. She wondered how they were able to get her sizes right. It couldn't be her brother since he saw her years ago.

"Oh, Since when you've been awake?" Carlo spoke as he saw her walking in the kitchen.

" Since I heard a shriek from a woman. Did you have a visitor while I was asleep?" She wanted to tease him.

"I'm sorry it was me. Where did you get your dress by the way? The clothes in your room are from Simone's dead sister. I'm telling you not to touch them." She turned white that made Carlo laugh. He was bullying her again.

She kicked his shins and beat him in his stomach. He deserves more than that she thought.

"We just took our chances in getting your right size based on what I could remember from you." She made an impressed look and tapped his shoulder.

"You sure have a good memory and have a quite impressive calculations for a guy. Thanks."

After they ate the snack her brother prepared, she decided to go downstairs and explore the amenities the condo were offering, and just before she reached the elevator, Simone grabbed her arm.

"Easy there, missy. You'll get lost if you don't let me accompany you."

What's wrong with this guy? Why is starting to annoy me more? I know I owe him a lot. Is this the return he wants. If it is, then he's lucky. She laughed with her own joke again.

"I can manage myself Mr. Marquez. I know you've been to tired with us on your back for years. I assure you that I can do it myself and you can sleep in your place now." She seemed polite in her own judgement she thought.

"I agree to disagree Miss Garcia. I look forward in giving you a tour." She's too excited to let this bastard dampen her mood so she just agreed to his suggestion.

"Suit yourself then."

He's seven years older than her but he acts like a child most of the time. Yes, she admits that for some time he has his serious side.

"So, what is your favorite place here Mr. Simone." He looked at her and rolled his eyes.

"Please, drop the honorifics you're not my client anymore. Just use Simone. I would love to hear that from your lovely mouth."

Gross, he sounded like a pedophile. This is not going to get better. She just kept her mouth shut for the rest of the tour and nodded in everything. He would not talk unless she welcomes it.