< Gene’s POV >
Honestly, yesterday I regretted it.
It was a spur of the moment, really. When I decided to tease her after she made a friendly innocent proposal yesterday, a part of me was thinking, I wanted to see a different reaction from her.
And I achieved it. When she suddenly became riled up, I couldn’t help but to laugh at my little success.
Then I slipped out the words that had been in my mind.
“Sure, I would love to date you.”
At that moment, I immediately knew that messed up. I hastily added that it was a joke while I tried my best to find an excuse to end the call without making it more suspicious.
Nina may not have realized it but she is very perceptive.
So, I made a stupid act and hang up. After ending the call, I slumped down on my chair as I banged my head on the table.
That was another stupid move of mine as the impact inflicted another sting of pain from my broken nose.
“Ah, shit…” I groaned.
Thankfully, Mrs. Cathillin was out to buy us some dinner, a generous gesture I didn’t expect here in Freedomville. And I don’t want her to see my pathetic state on my first day at work.
Maybe I have been punished for teasing Nina like that. Was it really karma? I don’t believe in that crap.
When she returned, Mrs. Cathillin asked me to close the shop to celebrate my first day of work here.
It was a strange feeling. She was nice enough to give me a job and invited me for dinner, yet I couldn’t help but feel cautious as usual.
“When are you leaving Freedomville, dear?” she asks, a concerned plaster on her face. She reminded me of Mrs. Caulfield whenever she looked at the bandages on my face.
“I won’t leave here yet,” was my firm answer. “I’m actually surprised that you accepted me, knowing who I am.”
“People can change, Gene. But I am afraid if it weren’t for my dear friend, I wouldn’t bother to pick you up, honestly,” she says, showing me a sympathetic look.
“It’s all right. It is how it is.” I scoop and give a nimble bite of the food she prepared. It’s a terrible habit. But I’m always, always cautious about what I eat.
Especially when there are times that my own foster family put laxatives on my food for their amusement. Or one time, the little kids put thumbtacks in my food.
It was in Nina’s place where I felt safe to eat my own meals, honestly.
“It’s been five years since then,” she continued, breaking my trail of thoughts. “I would have thought that you would run away after the townspeople neglecting you and your foster family…” she paused before shaking her head. It seemed she decided not to go further about the topic. “It’s because of her, right? That girl who was always with you.”
I didn’t answer, but instead nodded, affirmingly as I continued to dig in. Thankfully, no unpleasant taste or smell or any objects inside.
“I haven’t seen her and her mother lately.”
I looked up because I needed to observe her reaction before I answered, “Her mother’s getting married and they moved out.”
“Leaving you?” Genuine bewilderment. Good. She didn’t know which meant that Rodrigo Gomez was very careful not to get traced then.
“It would be against the law to take someone else’s custody from the house. They did the right thing.”
There was an awkward silence and I just continued to eat. And I thought that would end the topic and honestly, I didn’t feel like talking, really. I am always used to silence and the only time I started talking was with Nina.
It would be hard to trust anyone here after all these years.
“Would you like me to adopt you then?”
That caught my attention as I looked up to her eyes: she seemed serious.
“Why?” Was it out of sympathy? Was it out of guilt? Or another hidden agenda I wasn’t sure of yet.
“Because at least you could experience a normal life,” was her answer.
I hesitated, unsure what to say before I shook my head. “Thank you for the food, Mrs. Cathillin.” I stood up, grabbing my now empty plate and heading towards the sink.
“Why won't you accept my offer, boy?” She exclaimed, her voice stern but full of worry.
Unlike Nina, I couldn’t tell if it was sympathy or not but I just glanced at her and attempted a smile. “This job is enough. I'm satisfied with this alone."
After all, I didn’t want to endanger anyone anymore.
Not again.
Later in the evening, I haven’t slept a wink all night.
It wasn’t because my foster family was boisterously laughing in the next room, watching a replayed reality TV show. Actually, it is nothing new to me, really. It wasn’t even with my conversation with my boss earlier. In fact, I appreciated her kindness and that’s all it is to me.
What actually kept me up all night was for Nina to figure it out and that thought scared me.
I am aware that I was Jewish by birth, my brother told me we were from a Jewish family. But not once had I considered praying. But just once, I silently prayed that Luca and Yu would distract her from this embarrassment and we would talk normally like usual.
I had these thoughts until early in the morning until I decided to get myself ready for work again.
I tried calling Nina, realizing that she hadn't called since then. Odd.
She usually calls at this time. But I've decided to call her later. Perhaps she has been busy.
Later in the afternoon, there was not even a single call from her. It worries me a bit but at the same time, I don't want to overthink it.
Nina is safe there, she's not in Freedomville anymore.
But now, after the bell rang and I was heading to work, looking around to avoid bumping into Duke and his friends, I received her call. I smile in relief that she finally called, a strange feeling since I've never been this eager to hear my ringtone but I remembered yesterday's conversation but I have to brace myself then. "Hello?"
“Sorry, I didn’t call you this morning.” she sighs, “I woke up really late...like ten-ish.”
“Ten-ish…that’s a first. You were always a morning person.” I try my best to act neutral today.
“Well, you wouldn’t believe what happened last night after I left the house.”
And I guess my Jewish ancestors finally took pity on me because that would mean this topic wasn’t about our last conversation.
I sigh in relief as I enter the bus. I look around and thankfully, no one is familiar in sight. That means I’m safe from any potential ambush while I have a phone call with Nina.
“I’m inside the bus so I’m all ears,” I say as I sit in an empty single seat behind the driver.