CHAPTER 5— Apologize

Rain’s Point of View

When my mommy was laid on the bed, that’s when I stared at the man whose name was Ali. Unlike before, the man was wearing clothes. But his muscles and biceps are still scarred. I shook my head at the thought. I want to hit my head. I looked at the door when it opened. It was Daddy, who obviously ran.

“Oh, why? Is there a problem?” Mommy asked.

My dad seemed surprised because Ali was in the room. He seemed to be breathing a sigh of relief. Later, he shook his head. “Nothing. I’m sorry. I forgot that our room is on the second floor.” He approached the bed and kissed Mommy’s forehead.

I, on the other hand, just sighed as I was simply stunned. After a while, I went to the window and adjusted the closing.

“Thank you very much for helping my wife, Ali,” was my daddy’s voice. I can feel the sincerity.

“That’s okay, sir. I’ll go out first. Excuse me,” Ali said goodbye to my parents.

I didn’t move to look back at Ali, but I only looked at my parents.

“I’ll go first, Miss Ember,” Ali said to me, which startled me a little.

I was stunned for a moment before facing it. I just nodded and looked away. I once again remembered how he had accused me earlier that I was stealing his pictures. If he believes that I don’t have it anymore—he is wrong.

Ali has come out. I heard my parents talking while they were both in bed. I sniffed to get their attention. “I’m going to my room. Goodnight.”

I did not wait for them to speak. I went out immediately, but as soon as I closed the door, I seemed to want to go back inside again because I saw Ali there. It was leaning against the door. He didn’t seem to have any intention of paying attention to me. That’s why I didn’t look at him and I stepped to pass, but he spoke.

“I’m sorry about earlier.”

I was stunned, and there was a moment of silence. Later, I looked at him. It was so bright in that hallway that I could clearly see the perfect shape of Ali’s face. His eyes seemed to have a magnet. I can’t take my eyes off it.

Ali straightened up and took a position in front of me. “Sorry if I pissed you off earlier.”

I frowned. I don’t know what to say. I just looked away and removed the blockage from my throat. “It’s okay.”

He nodded. “I didn’t introduce you properly earlier. I’m sorry.”

I looked at it in wonder. “It’s not a big deal if we know each other or not.”

“Really? Why?”

I took a deep breath and met his eyes. “Because it’s not required.” I looked at him from head to toe. “Based on how you looked earlier and what you’re wearing now... You’re a gardener, aren’t you?”

Ali's face became serious while staring into my eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t just make friends with anyone.”

He nodded. “Is that so, Miss Ember!?

“That’s another thing. Don’t call me by my second name because we’re not friends or relatives,” I said. Now my annoyance is rising for him.

He didn’t move. Ali bowed, then put his hands on his own waist. He looked down at me. “Are you insulting me?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Do you have anything else to say? I’m sleepy.”

We looked at each other for a while. I know, and I can read, the annoyance in Ali’s eyes, but I don’t care.

“You don’t seem to have anything to say. Excuse me.” I turned back but immediately stopped when I heard him speak.

“I can’t believe you’re Doña Aitana’s granddaughter,” his voice was cold, but I just ignored it. “Your attitude is far from hers.”

I turned to face him. “What did you say?”

Ali straightened up and crossed his arms across his chest. “I said your behavior is far from Doña Aitana.”

I clenched my palms. The annoyance that I had been suppressing rose up. “What is your problem!?” I asked him frantically.

Ali shrugged his shoulders. “Nothing. Go ahead. Go to sleep.” He turned around and went straight to the stairs, then went down.

He left me feeling very annoyed with that man. I can’t believe someone would talk to me like that. ‘The thickness of his face! He's just a gardener!’

I stormed into my room and threw my body on the bed.

I woke up early the next day. The sunlight hitting my face awakened my spirit. I didn’t get up right away, but I fumbled for my cell phone and checked the time. It’s only six in the morning.

My stomach growled, so it forced me to get up to get water, but my tumbler was empty. I left my room and slowly went down the stairs. The lights were not on on the stairs to the living room leading to the dirty kitchen. Good thing I had my cell phone and turned on the flashlight. That was the torch I used to see on the path.

I was already in the kitchen and was approaching the fridge when I heard a rustling sound from somewhere.

I got nervous in my chest. I don’t know if I should leave there or just ignore the noisy thing earlier. I felt for a while. I carefully took water from the fridge and strained the tumbler.

I was about to leave, but I bumped into something. Based on its shadow, I knew it was a man. “S-sorry,” I said.

“Why did you wake up so early?”

I remembered that voice for a while. I can’t be sure, but there was one person that came to my mind first. I frowned. “I just got some water. Excuse me,” I said and was about to leave, but I stopped when the man in front of me didn’t even move. I stepped to the right, but he did the same. “Excuse me?”

“Go back to sleep. It’s too early.”

I frowned. I don’t know if he sees me and I don’t care. I dropped the tumbler and placed it on the table. I faced the man again. “That’s exactly what I was going to do, but you got in the way,” I said. Couldn’t hide the annoyance anymore. I folded my arms and then looked at it badly. It’s getting a little light outside, so somehow, I can already feel him

Ali nodded before stepping back to give me the way.

I picked up the tumbler and walked away. I passed Ali. I am disgusted with him here and, for me, he is too arrogant.