Chapter 11: Six Years Ago pt. 4

Six Years Ago pt.4: **Will there be no next time?



"I am sorry for my neglection Madam." The manager at DC Dining nervously pleaded.

"It's fine, I didn't intend to let you know of my presence but you recognized my anyway." The old Madam replied as she sliced her ordered steak. She looked at the manager who is anxiously standing in front of her. She raised her eyebrow and knocked her glass of wine by her hand.

The manager jolted in shock. "It's okay, just call someone from the kitchen to clean this up. You know, that...that one who used to clean my table." The old lady pretending to know nothing about what she did.

"A—are you talking about Rian Madam?" The manager asked tensely.

"I guess that's what her name is" the madam said pretentiously.

The manager hesitant to reply, "I—Im afraid she's a—absent tonight M—madam."

The madam looked at her, "Is that so? Fine, just get me anyone." The manager swiftly went into the kitchen, got a piece of cloth dashed back again.

"What's happening? The manager seemed very rattled." One of the waiters whispered to his workmate.

"I heard the one sitting on table twenty is the Chairwoman." The other one replied back.

"Really?" The other said in awe.

"What are you doing now Rian?" The Chairwoman sighed to herself as she wiped the grease from her mouth.

Meanwhile, on Rian's apartment:

"You can continue sleeping on my bed since you're recovering. You should be as comfortable as possible."

"I can't do that, your sofa looks just as comfortable. You should sleep in your bed instead." Xander refused.

"No way" Rian insisted. And after a minute of discussion Xander couldn't help but give in to Rian's persistent coercion. He sighed as he made his way to her bedroom leaving her sitting in the sofa.

Rian couldn't help but chuckle in the sight of him. He was wearing her clothes—an oversized white t-shirt printed with hello kitty's face in front and and a loose pink jogging pants. She didn't expect that the clothes she mistakenly ordered online will be put into use now. That girly design and color don't really match his masculine figure. He was rejection it first, but doesn't have a choice for I already soaked his dirty clothes with water.

"Will you please stop laughing already." Xander said irritated.

"Sorry, I—I just cant hahahahaha"

"Ugh, for goodness sake" Xander whose brows was furrowed ended up laughing at himself.

"Uhm Xander, do you know anyone here?" Rian asked when their laughter subsided.

"No" he simply replied. "I know it Rian. I will leave in no time, don't worry." Xander said calmly with a smile.

"N—no...I—I didn't mean to throw you out but..." She stuttered.

"I know what you meant." He assured her.

Rian got angry at herself. She already made up her mind this dinner but why is she having a difficulty telling him. She took a deep breath and pacified her racing heart. But before she could speak, Xander has spoken in advance

"I'm sorry Rian. I made things difficult for you. I know you don't know me but you took me in anyway. I know I can't stay for long. I'm sorry for exposing you in danger." Xander apologized with pain in his heart.

Come to think of it, she was the one that dresses his wounds. She should've known that those were inflicted by knife. There are also traces of tattoo on his body. It is easy to conclude that he came from an unclean organization. He realized that despite all that, she didn't asked a single thing about how and why he was injured. The inconvenience he caused her suddenly dawned on him.

"I don't blame you for that Xander. If I was planning to blame you, I should have just let you bled to death that night instead of taking you home." Rian said firmly.

"It's just that my life isn't as peaceful and easy as you see it. There might be perils hiding in the dark that threatens not only me but also the people around me." Xander was taken aback by this remark.

"Are you in danger?" She ignored him, "Kindness is not a cheap gesture and I can no longer continue showing it to you. I can't even take care of myself well."

She was cut off by Xander, "Tell me, is there something or someone threatening your life?" He demanded.

"Let me take care of them atleast before I leave" he insisted with a dark expression on his face.

"I know the likes of you Xander, when you say you'll take care of it, it always ends up with a crime." She avoided his eyes but she saw him shocked by it.

"I don't need you to repay me." She said firmly and loudly without being harsh.

"I don't need salvation when my existence itself is considered a crime." Rian murmured under her breath that Xander couldn't possibly hear.

She pulled a deep breath from her lungs and shut her eyes tightly. When she opened it, a contented expression came out of her face.

"Xander, you can stay here for the next two days and heal more" Xander looked her in the eye as it twinkled in the dim light.

"I can't let you stay longer than that. I hope that within those two days, you'll come up with a plan for yourself." She might have sound cruel but this made Xander see her on a different light that he didn't knew would suit her. This girl never ceases to amaze him and that night instead of being eaten by the thought of leaving, he was left amused every way possible. She was young, but hidden in that fragile body was a tough personality that made her admirable. She have the beauty and the brain, she would be near invincible if she also got the brawl.

He's dying to know more of what she's going through but her voice echoes on his mind. "I hope you can understand and don't ask me anything just like how I kept myself from asking you who you really are. I would greatly appreciate that Xander."

"If we won't meet again after I left, I ought to repay you in my second life" Xander breathed as he closed his and slept.

Rian felt relieved while lying on the sofa. She's happy that she get to tell him what she felt before sleeping or else she won't be able too rest her mind with all of those thoughts. The lights have been turned off and the only one left is the dim lampshade that is settled on top of a nightstand on the end of the sofa she's lying.

She closed her eyes thinking she might probably dream of her mom again tonight. She just wish to live peacefully without being haunted by her father's legal wife who appear to be in the same league with Cinderella's stepmother.

They slept peacefully and greeted the morning together. When Rian woke up, Xander had already prepared her breakfast. Thankfully her Grandmother sent her groceries last week. Xander greeted her with a warm smile. They ate together and Rian bid her goodbye as she left for school. They are both happy things didn't get awkward for them after their conversation last night. Xander kept everything clean after she left.

He suddenly realized that living a life like that isn't so bad either. Maybe if he had the chance to stay there longer, he would forget about his revenge and the things he desperately fights for which almost cost his life.

Rian came home at midnight. Xander was already standing by the road waiting for her. She forgot to tell him that she would be going straight to her part-time job right after her classes. Xander scolded her a bit for not telling him in advance.

"Are you my mom?" Rian mocked him as she followed him inside the house

"You should tell me next time. You can't leave me here like a dog waiting for its owner to come back." He sulked.

"There won't be next time Xander." She said softly.

It took awhile for Xander to reply. "You should learn to tell your housemates what time you're coming back for them not to worry."

He straightened, "You won't live alone forever would you? Time will come that you'll be living with someone."

"And when is that time?" Rian scoffed.

"When you get married?" Xander shrugged.

"Why don't you ask me first if I want to get married." She chuckled.

"You don't want to get married?" Xander blurted. Rian laughed and handed a paper bag to him.

"What's this?"

"Open it for you to see" she said as she entered the bathroom.

To Xander's surprise, it was brand new clothes—a black long sleeves and pants. She bought him new clothes for he is about to leave tomorrow. She can't let him go with those old clothes of him. A smile curved on Xander's lips as he stared at the present. He felt a tickle on his stomach but he swore to himself that that was just a mere feeling of gratitude and the urge he felt to know her more was purely out of curiosity.

She bought those from her salary not from the money given to her by her grandma. She smiled as she closed the bathroom door. She purposely went inside right away after giving him the bag to hide. She doesn't want him to see the look on her face as she watch him open it. She doesn't know what face could she be making but her instincts tells her not to show it to him.

And that night, they both went to bed peacefully like any other nights they had.