Afraid to make any small talk before she becomes venomous. Eating his meal quietly, a few times glimpsing at her, but she just nibbling on the food.
Recalling when mom had first brought her home this was how she used to eat, and the tears never stop. 'I wonder what she must be thinking now?'
Most of his evenings he spend out of the house with beautiful women having his dinner, and he always had Melisa calling him so he can leave as soon as he finish.'
Looking at her eat silently, thinking this meal is special, it seems as though she still doesn't like rice or baked chicken.
She mainly cook this meal for me, she remembered that Mom used to prepare this meal for me often.
'Oh my God, does that means she hasn't forgotten all the things I like, does she still cares a teeny little bit for me?'
Feeling this joy stirring up inside, making him want to laugh even cry the way he felt happy. Thinking at that moment he should buy some groceries.'
Diandra hearing him saying, "Whatever you will need from the supermarket, just make a list, and I will get it for you."
Lifting her head looking at him, 'Is this one of his tricks, or is he testing me to see if I am still illiterate?' When he lifted his head looking at her asking, "What is wrong?"
Wanting to laugh but instead said, "So Alex, don't you cook at home?"
"No, most of my evenings I dine out, and I am not home during the day and I don't cook. I never have visitors, so what is the need of stocking up?"
"I see, then don't bother about me, I love crackers and sardine with a hot cup of tea, I will fend for myself.
I have been doing it for so long and by the way, from what you said, I won't have access to the kitchen anyway, but just make sure it have bread, cheese, butter and things to make tea.
I have been surviving on those few things for years, so don't worry a few more days won't kill me."
Noticing the way he was looking at her, "What, I have learned to be flexible and can adjust myself to any situation or surroundings."
"But you will be home again after so long."
When she looked at him, Alex sees her eyes were red like fire with rage, bending his head, saying "I am sorry whatever you says I will agree."
We never said a word after that until it was time to leave.
While Alex took her bag and the few things she had packed from the kitchen to the van, she did her final cleaning then take the garbage out resting it on the garbage rack.
Then she locks the door and hangs a sign on the door, On Vacation, wondering, 'Why did she do that, is she expecting someone?'
Hearing her whispering something, when he open the front door in the van for her to sit, Alex said nothing as she insist to sit in the back seat.
Not making any fuss he get behind the steering wheel and head out. Shifting the review mirror to get glimpses of her.
She had just doubled her hair at the end so it won't drag. Halfway on our journey, she was asleep and her hair was like a blanket covering her.
Parking in his garage winding down the glass so she could rest. Unable to resist taking his phone, Alex took a few pictures of her sleeping.
Looking at the photo she looks as though she was praying with both hands clasp together.
Removing everything from the van quietly, as memories of how the child in the pre-school flash before him of how he was sleeping.
Recalling that the teacher said that he has no father, only his mother. Alex thought as he was wiping and cleaning the house, he haven't seen anything to show of a child living in the house.
The only thing was the packet of juice and that tasted very good. It could only mean she likes the flavor and can't afford to buy bigger packets, as he recalled clearly, she always liked childish things?
'Now if I wasn't in the house and someone had told me it's her child, putting the both of them together, the way they favor each other I would believe they were mother and son.
But if she has a child, I am sure she would have photos hanging of him, but it only has Mom's portrait at the front door, and a few of hers in the living room.
Resting the containers of food on top of the counter and the meat she brought, Alex place it in the freeze.
Seeing it have nothing inside the cupboard to drink. Thinking about it now, 'If only he had thought about getting juice and sodas earlier, he might have stop and buy some on the way.
And the few other things she had suggested. But with her sleeping, if he start the van it will just disturb her rest.
Resting her bag at the foot of the stairs hearing the hall clock bang half six. Thinking if she continues to sleep then tonight she will have problem sleeping.
Going to the van but she was no longer sleeping. Hearing her voice, it was almost like a whisper.
It seems as though her life is so secretive, but from overhearing the conversation, it also seems as if she has a friend.
Standing so she won't see him as he listen to her conversing with someone named Maria.
"Maria, I am okay, I am so sorry I cut you off yesterday. It wasn't intentional, it's just that I didn't sleep well, and when you called just now, you wake me up.
No Maria I am not crying, my vice is a bit horsey. Maria, how is everyone over there?"
Hearing Champ fell while running, "When did that happen? Is he alright? Is he with you now? Okay, let me speak with him?
Hearing his voice, "Hi honey, grandma said you fell and hurt your knee, okay put the phone by your knee where it hurt, and I will kiss it for you."