Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3: ETHAN'S IDENTITY

VALERIE ALVAREZ'S POINT OF VIEW

"It is already 11:45 are you not going home?"  He asked me.

"I am going home. You can join me. I can give you a ride home," I said to him. But he suddenly became quiet and goes silent. And the smile on his face suddenly fades away.

"No, thank you." He said.

"Why?" I asked him curiously I just wanted to help. Did I do anything wrong?

"I am an orphan. I can go home," he said then looks away. And smiled forcibly. I tapped his shoulders and says.

"It doesn't matter. We are friends after all right?" I said then smiles at him. He looks at me.

"Friend?" He says in shock. "Would you love to befriend an orphan like me?" He asks me.

"It doesn't matter. Yes, we are friends. Would you want to eat in my house?" I asked him.

"Thank you," he said full of joy.

It looks like it is the first time he was having a friend. Maybe that is why they are bullying him because he was an orphan. Because of the excitement, he was feeling he hugs me. And because of that, I am speechless, and  I almost can't move in where I was standing.

My heart keeps beating so fast. What is happening to me? I feel the beat of my heart. As it beats one by one. It was like a drum. I can hear every beat of it. What is happening? Why am I M feeling like this?

I like to punch him because I am not comfortable when someone hugs me. But I feel pity for him and he was my friend. I offered him friendship. So I need more patience in him.

"You can let go of me now," I said to him.

Then he let me go. When he realized he was hugging me tightly. Then a silence broke out in the both of us. Before I get my courage to spoke again.

"Let's go. Let us have dinner in our house," I said to Joshua.

"Okay," he said. Then I support and hold him again. Because I was helping him to walk. Because he is unable to walk on his own

As we walk to go outside of this clinic. I just continued helping him to walk. A lot of paired eyes are looking at us. They were gossiping about something. Well! I don't care about them. We just continue to walk. And my two bodyguards walk towards us, Joshua.

"Lady Valerie," they both called me with respect.

"Can you help him? He can't walk on his own because of his injuries. Please support and help him to walk," I said to one of my bodyguards. While the other one holds my bag and also the bag of Joshua. "He will be coming to my house too," I said. Then we walk to my car. That my Mom and  Dad bought me.

They open the door for me. And put the bags beside us. Joshua was amazed when he sees my car. He was overjoyed when he sits inside my car. Is this was the first time he was gonna ride a car? 

"Is it the first time you are gonna ride in a car?" I asked him out of curiosity.

"Yes, Valerie. It was the first time. In my seventeen years living it was my first time sitting and riding in a car," he said with a smile on his face. I did not answer and ask him more. I just smiled while looking at the smile on his face. He looks very happy.

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"Eat up," I said to Joshua then smiled. He looks in front of him. I think he doesn't know what to eat. "You don't like the food?" I asked him worriedly. Maybe he is allergic to this food? Or he doesn't like this kind of food? 

"No, it is not that," he said.

"Can you wait?  I will tell them to cook another dish for you. If you don't like the dishes," I said to him "Yayaaa--," he cuts what I was going to say.

"It is just too many. I have never seen a lot of dishes. And I never it like this before," he said to me. I just smiled.

"I thought you didn't like the food," I replied.

"No, I all like it. I can I taste all of it?" He asked me and look at me.

"Of course, you can. There is a lot more in the kitchen," I said to him. "Eat up," I continued. Then we started eating.

"You have a guest," Mom said.

They suddenly show in nowhere. They go to the table to eat with us. I thought they were not here.

"Yes, mom. He is Joshua by the way. He is also studying in the school where you wanted me to transfer," I answered my Mom.

"Is he is your boyfriend?" My dad asks me.

I almost throw all the food inside my mouth. Because of what dad said Then, he looks at Joshua who has a bandage on his nose. Then Joshua and I looked at each other. And the atmosphere became silent for a moment. Before I dared to answer Dad's question.

"No, he is just a friend," I answered directly. 

Then mom looks at dad with her eyes wide open. It is a signal to my dad. To shut his mouth and not dared to say another word.

"So Joshua, what grade are you right now?" My mom asks him.

"Grade 12. Maam," Joshua answered politely.

"Valerie is also a grade 12 student," mom said.

Mom asks Joshua many more questions. I just eat they embarrass me in front of Joshua. I felt ashamed of Joshua because mom and dad asked him so many questions. I just wanted to end this.

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"I'm sorry for what mom and dad act earlier," I said sorry to Joshua. Because of what happened earlier while we are eating.

"You know it is okay. I just wish I had parents like yours," he said. I just smile I wish he knows what my life cycled is.

"Can I ask you?" I said to him with hesitation.  I am just really curious why they were afraid of Ethan.

"Yes, you can ask me everything. As long as I can answer it," he replied

"Why they are bullying you?" I asked him.

"Because I didn't do his homework," he said directly.

"Then why almost all of them is afraid of Ethan and his friends?" I asked him.

"Because the family of Ethan owns that school where we are studying. His father killed all who will dare to touch his son. And maybe sooner or later. His father will find you and take revenge on what did you do to his son," he said to me. "I'm sorry if you came into this mess because of me," he said then he lowered his head. So that is why they are scared of Ethan.