The Lull of Secrets

Vicky stood in the kitchen, waiting for the tea to warm. As she reached for the pot, the lid slipped and clattered loudly onto the floor. The sound echoed through the house.

From the hallway, Monica's voice rang out, sharp with suspicion.

"Who's in the kitchen at this hour?"

Ruben and Cinthia stiffened.

Ruben scrambled.

"Aune… yes, I asked Aune to warm some water for me."

"Oh… okay then. Goodnight," Monica said slowly, her tone uncertain as she turned to leave.

But then she hesitated.

"Maybe… if I tell Ruben, he'll help me," Monica thought to herself. "No—no. He'll tell Nate, or worse, the whole family. Then they'll all find out what I've been doing on my 'getaways'… I'll handle this myself."

"Monica? What is it?" Ruben called after her.

"It's nothing. I'm going," she replied and hurried off toward the kitchen.

"Ugh… that was close," Cinthia muttered with a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Monica reached the kitchen and frowned.

"Ruben said Aune was here, but the kitchen's empty. And wide open? Aune never leaves the door open… maybe she stepped out for something."

She poured some hot water and left, unaware that Vicky had slipped past her moments ago with the tea, heading back to Nate's room.

"You're back," Cinthia whispered. "How do we get him to drink it?"

"Do you only ask questions?" Ruben groaned, rolling his eyes.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"Who could that be at this hour?" Monica frowned and went to answer it.

Inside, Ruben and Cinthia froze.

"The doctor—oh no, I told him to call first," Ruben said, panicking.

They rushed toward the living room, while Vicky reached Nate and gently began coaxing the tea down his throat.

Nate murmured in his sleep.

"Please don't leave, Mama… please…"

Vicky's heart clenched. She remembered how cruelly she'd responded when Nate had offered her money, how she'd humiliated him. She remembered his apology, how he had bandaged her wound without hesitation.

"I'm sorry, Necro," she whispered. "I misjudged you. I didn't realize you were hurting too. From now on, you're my friend. I promise—I'll help you overcome your pyrophobia."

Then, to her shock, Nate spoke through his slumber.

"So… you'll never leave me?"

"Necro?" she gasped softly.

"I love you, Mom."

Vicky blinked, stunned. She sat beside him, cradling the cup, and began to hum a lullaby as she fed him the rest of the tea.

In the living room, Monica stood with a figure.

"Monica, we can explain—" Cinthia blurted, but froze when the man turned.

It wasn't the doctor. It was Daniels.

"This one's sleepwalking again," Monica said, annoyed. "And yes, I poured hot water on him to wake him up."

"You did what?" Cinthia exclaimed.

"Well, it worked, didn't it?" Monica shot back.

Daniels groaned.

"Now I have to change my pajamas… I just bought these."

"They're pajamas, Daniels, not a superhero costume," Cinthia said dryly.

"Yeah, well, I was rehearsing how I'm going to die tomorrow," Daniels muttered.

Monica coughed quickly.

"Die?" Ruben asked, alarmed.

"Ignore him—my momma's boy is still half-asleep. Come on, let's go." She escorted Daniels away.

As she did, Cinthia frowned.

"Wait… then who rang the doorbell?"

Ruben opened the door and found a package on the porch.

"It's addressed to Nathan Shikongo," he said, bringing it in.

"Are you really going to open it?" Cinthia asked.

"I'm supposed to protect him. What if it's a bomb?"

Ruben's phone buzzed. It was the doctor.

In Daniels' room, Monica paced.

"We can't tell Ruben—or anyone."

"I'm scared," Daniels admitted. "You know I only sleepwalk when I'm terrified…"

"We'll handle it. Together. Just stay with me."

"Maybe we should tell Ruben. He might help."

"No. He'll tell Nate—and then the rest of them. I told you, we give the blackmailer the bag tomorrow."

"What if he wants more? What if he finds out it's only 10K and the rest is paper? He'll kill us."

"He'll see the cash on top, delete the photos, and by the time he realizes it's fake, we're long gone. I'll be free."

"I hope it works…" Daniels muttered.

Back in Nate's room, the doctor finally arrived. After examining Nate, he nodded.

"He's stable. What did you give him?"

"Chamomile tea," Vicky answered.

"Brilliant! Honestly, I shouldn't have come—you've handled this better than most professionals. Why don't I know you?"

"I don't live here. I've… dealt with this before," she said softly.

"Make sure he has more in the morning," the doctor instructed.

"I'll give it to him myself," Cinthia interjected.

"Ruben, a word," the doctor said, pulling him aside.

Outside, the doctor looked intrigued.

"Who's that girl?"

"Her name is Vicky. She was at the same business party as Nate."

"Interesting. When I examined Nate earlier, he was alert—relaxed. Usually, he'd be in a state of fear and elevated heart rate. But tonight, he was different. Keep her close to him. She might be the key to his healing."

Ruben blinked.

"Doctor… are you saying she's the girl?"

"Yes. I believe so. Nate feels at peace around her."

Ruben nodded slowly.

"You know… I've been with Nate all his life. From Mr. Armas to now. He never shows emotion to strangers. But with her… he apologized. He treated her wound. And during his panic, she was the only one who calmed him. That reminded me of ten-year-old Nate."

He showed the doctor a video and told him everything.

"If this reaches his fiancée, there'll be chaos," the doctor murmured.

"Then we keep it between us," Ruben said.

Vicky returned, holding a mug.

"Ruben…" she called.

"Are you leaving already?" he asked.

"Yes. Can I get your number? I'd like to check on him tomorrow."

"Of course."

"I left my phone—just write it down."

She handed him a slip of paper.

"Here's the tea. In the morning, warm it by placing the jar in hot water. Make sure he drinks it."

Ruben nodded, watching her go.

And in the back of his mind, one thought echoed:

"She is the girl."