Chapter 15 EATING WITH JOE

KATRINA'S P O V

I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that Joe is such a gifted young boy. If his bullies saw him play the piano, they would be so impressed by how skilled he is that they would stop making fun of him and instead be in awe of his talent.

After giving my wrist watch a short glance, I noticed that it was almost lunchtime, which means teaching him was over. My headache had subsided for quite some time, but now that I was so tired, the dizziness that I had been experiencing had become much more severe.

‘‘Miss Kat, can you play me another song?’’ Joe questioned, and I was unable to refuse his request because he was giving me puppy eyes, which made him look more adorable.

‘‘Okay, but wait here…’’ I replied. ‘‘I just need to take my medicine...’’

‘‘Why? Are you sick?’’ the little boy asked, questions and concern on his face.

‘‘Just colds, and headache…’’

The door unexpectedly opened just as I was about to rise from my seat, and there was Pia standing at the doorway. ‘‘It’s time to go home…’’ she announced, and Joe had a huge smile on his face.

‘‘Miss Pia, guess what?’’ he cried excitedly.

‘‘What?’’ Pia asked, putting on just the level of excitement that Joe needed.

‘‘I can already play a song!’’ he squealed, his face filled with delight.

‘‘You can?’’ Pia enthused, while extending her gratitude toward me. I could already see the smile of pride on his father's face once he found out that his son already knew how to play the piano within a day of learning.

Just as Joe began to play a song, I felt a searing sensation in my eyes. Before I could even hear Joe's first note, I drew one final breath, and numbness spread all over my body. The last thing I remember before everything around me turned dark was hearing Joe call out my name. ‘‘Miss Kat!’’

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I blinked my eyes repeatedly trying to open them, but winced when I was greeted by a blinding light. I blinked again, flickering my eyelids, but everything was still too hazy to make out clearly.

I could barely make out anything.

After a few seconds, my vision slowly getting better. I was now staring at a white ceiling, wondering where I was.

I carefully looked around and found out that I was inside a room in the hospital. What am I doing here? The last thing I remember was that, I was sitting next to Joe as he prepared to play a song for Pia.

Something moved beside me, standing next to the bed, and I saw a woman dressed in all white.

‘‘How are you feeling, Miss Sinclair?’’ she asked as she wrote something in the record pad she was holding.

‘‘What am I doing here?’’ I asked back, instead of providing a response to her question. I stared at her in a blank surprise. I can’t stay here for long, I mean… I shouldn’t have been here in the first place. I have no money to pay my bill.

‘‘Oh… an ambulance brought you here, and your son came here with you…’’ she said, and I was too stunned to show any reaction.

My son? It might be Joe. She might’ve mistaken him for my son.

‘‘Your son is such a sweet little boy…’’ the nurse added. ‘‘He didn’t leave your side even for a second. You are very blessed to have such a wonderful son as he is, Miss...''

The thought that Joe was not only talented, but also lovely and sweet, brought a smile to my face. I couldn't help but feel jealous toward his father for the fact that he had him. I didn’t correct the nurse. At the very least, for a brief instant, I got to experience what it's like to be his mother.

‘‘Where is he right now?’’ I inquired while searching the space for the young boy who appeared to be missing.

‘‘Oh, I think I saw him walk into the restroom…’’ the nurse responded, and helped me sit up on the bed. ‘‘You don’t have to worry about your bills. Your son already made the payment…’’

What?

‘‘Miss Kat!’’ the door slammed open, and Joe strode in with a cheery expression on his face.

Simultaneously, the nurse exited the room, closed the door behind her, and waved her hand goodbye to me, to which I responded with a grateful nod.

‘‘Finally, you’re awake! I am so, so worried about you!’’ he exclaimed in a theatrical tone, and a roll of eyes. I laughed as a response, patted the spot beside me, and gestured for him to come closer. ‘‘How are you feeling now?’’

‘‘I’m fine, thanks to you…’’ I replied. ‘‘By the way, where did you get money to pay my bill? I’ll pay you back later…’’

‘‘No need, Miss Kat!’’ he said, then reached his tiny hand into the back pocket of his shorts, and pulled out his wallet. ‘‘See this? I have a lot of money. My dad is very rich that’s why he always gives me many, many money…’’

My eyes widened when I saw how much money he had in his wallet. Damn! This kid got even more money than I have. ‘‘No, I’ll pay you back. You keep this, Joe. Don’t you ever show it to other people, okay?’’

He nodded as he hid back his wallet.

‘‘I have an idea…’’ I said, and his eyes lit up, expecting a good news. ‘‘How about I treat you a meal?’’

‘‘I would love that…’’ he smiled. ‘‘Can I choose a place?’’

‘‘Of course!’’ I responded while extending my hand to give his adorable cheek a slight pinch. ‘‘What place do you have in mind, hmm?’’

‘‘McDonalds!’’ he gleamed, but then he pouted his lips in a cute fashion and started complaining. ‘‘I always want to eat at Mcdonalds but dad doesn’t want me to…’’

I leaned in, and whispered to his ear. ‘‘Daddy’s not here, so... McDonald's it is!’’ I said, and his eyes widened as he jumped up and wrapped his tiny arms around my neck which made me taken aback by the strange feeling it gave me.

I couldn't help but feel sorry for this young boy. Even though he's wealthy, he wasn't even allowed to eat at the place of his choice. He was so overjoyed that he was clapping his hands after pulling away from me, and his eyes were sparkling with excitement and happiness as if he were about to be given his most desired gift.

...........*******............

‘‘By the way, who helped you in bringing me here in the hospital?’’ I asked while we were sitting at the back passenger seat of the taxi that I called.

‘‘Miss Pia called an ambulance…’’ Joe replied while he was glancing out the window, taking in the scenery outside. ‘‘I believe that she did not see me get into the ambulance with you…’’

‘‘What?’’ what was this boy thinking? Pia might be looking for him now.

‘‘We’re here! We’re at Mcdonalds!’’ Joe exclaimed, pointing at the big golden stylized letter M that hung above the fastfood restaurant. ‘‘I want to eat cheeseburger, French fires, spaghetti, and coke!’’

I laughed as I gathered up my wallet and paid the driver, mentally noted everything he wanted.

I placed the order for everything Joe desired as he was busying himself by looking at the pictures of food that were posted on the upper section of the counter while simultaneously licking his lips. There were still three tables available, and he picked the one that was in the corner so that we could enjoy the scenery outdoors through the glass wall.

After I set the tray down on the table, Joe picked up the cheeseburger first, and started to dig in. ‘‘Do you know that this is my first time eating this, Miss Kat?’’ he asked, and I feigned to be surprised, but deep inside I really did.

‘‘Why won't your dad let you eat here?’’ I inquired while taking a sip of cola from the disposable cup in front of me.

‘‘Because dad said it’s not healthy to eat in a fast-food restaurant like this…’’ he said, his mouth was full of French fries. ‘‘Thank you, Miss Kat for bringing me here. Don’t tell this to dad, okay?’’

I nodded with a smile as I watched him with amusement as he ate happily, when all of a sudden I heard my phone ringing in my bag. When I checked who was the caller, it was Pia.

‘‘Miss Katrina?’’ she said as soon as I answered the call. I put my phone on a speaker so that I can still eat while talking to her, but the nervousness I was feeling was killing me. ‘‘Are you with Joe right now?’’

‘‘Y-yes, Miss Pia… I’m sorry, I didn’t know…’’ I replied biting my finger instead of the fries.

‘‘It’s okay. I’m sorry, I should be the one who accompanied you…’’ she sighed. ‘‘Anyway, Joe’s father is here, and he was looking for him…’’

Oh my God!

‘‘Where exactly are they?’’ I heard a deep male voice in the background, and it caused me to go completely still. That voice sounded so familiar.

That voice... I knew that voice!

‘‘Are you still in the hospital, Miss Katrina?’’ Pia’s voice snapped me back to reality.

‘‘No. We’re here at Mcdonalds, 8th avenue…’’

‘‘Stay where you are…’’ the man said, and I flinched. He might’ve snatched the phone from Pia. ‘‘Wait for me there, I’m coming…’’

The call ended, and I slowly turned to look at Joe, who had by that point begun eating as fast as he could after hearing his dad’s voice.