Overlapping

They finished their conversation as they arrived at the parking lot. 

She doesn't where they are going to stay. Their house that was abandoned for years and serves as a witness in a gruesome act. She could not imagine living there and be happy again. It is not just what she need after her imprisonment. She has to leave her past behind to move forward in her life.

She looked at her brother wondering where they could be staying. And seemed that Carlo had read what's going on her mind. 

He smiled and touched her head.

" Atty. Marquez is going to let us stay for the meantime in his other condominium unit. We are just neighbors."

She was muted for awhile not until the lawyer started talking.

"It's not for free. Though I know that it would be hard for the both of you to pay me, it's fine. You can work for me Claire while you study with your preferred field. How does it sound? Does it feel too confining?" She can't read what's on his mind neither does he. They are both careful with how they act with others. Not trying to show more than one emotion to an unfamilliar entity. It may sound so exaggerated but it is what it is. 

Claire gathered all her will to ask the guy a question.

"And we can live in there right away?" Simone was clearly surprised by her response. 

"Why does it feel like you expected me to decline this?" She is such a tease. It was not her normal response but she wanted to show her another self to the guy. She doresn't have to hold back anymore. 

"Honestly, yes. I think I must have read you wrong. I apologize for my hasty presumption." Claire looked at him and threw him a smirk.

"It wouldn't be a presumption if it isn't hasty. You've made your judgement before you even asked, right?" She's intelligent he thought. She knows when to talk more and talk less. She's careful enough not to touch the ground of tactlessness.

Her brother tugged her hair lightly, reminding her of her words. She knew that she's being too bold to her benefactor.

"You have a point. Now if the two of you wouldn't mind we'll now head to your place. The traffic heat would surely make you faint if we don't drive there soon." He is running of sentences to throw to this lady. He had never been speechless until now, not even in his junior days in lawschool and this makes it more unnerving.

Just before they arrived, they stopped at a fastfood chain and had a quick lunch. Carlo kept the spirit going with his jokes and stories that involved Claire and their childhood and his time abroad with Simone.  Good thing, Claire thought that her brother is still tactful with the details she doesn't want to let anyone know.

They arrived after three hours of driving. As they arrived at the lobby, Claire knew how expensive it is to live in this place. Simone offered for a tour later this evening as he noticed that she's too tired to do it this time.

It was three times bigger than she had expected. It has a very masculine vibe but doesn't suffocate her at all. Women can like black and white too. It's very clean and elegant thru its simplicity. No dangling chandeliers and gold linings in every furniture. The place were laced with modernity. It is not too eyecatching but it comforts its users. The kitchen is spacious enough to place six people at the same time, or  maybe ten. There was nothing to add anymore. 

"Liked it?"

"Who wouldn't? She'd be a fool." He chuckled acting not suprised at all.

"You could have just simply said yes." How cute she thought. 

"I'm not one of them. I've been changed you know. I can't be bothered with anything after what happened." The air suddenly become stiff. No one dared to talk more than one word or another after her sudden outburst. She felt guilty. She should have not touched that line. 

After Simone left the unit, she slept for hours in her new room. It was one hundred times better than her former beddings in her jail time. Her brother cooked for her while she was sleeping soundly. 

She was awakened by a shriek from the kitchen. He must be frying something again she thought. Carlo can cook anything but frying is not his forte. He despises cooking oil so much that he doesn't eat anything fried at all. Maybe because he wanted to make it special for her. He doesn't need to tho. As long as they are together, she could live without anything fried to be eaten. She got up from her bed and took a shower. It's been a long time since she felt cleaner. She scrubbed every part her her body, ensuring to remove every dirt clung to her skin.

As she finished, she saw an attached room from the bathroom and saw a walk-in-closet. It was a massive area where clothes where arranged including shoes. It could not be hers. But, why are they here in the first place, especially that the owner, Simone is aware that they are going to move here? Realization strucked her that her clothes are not here, not even the ones that were left behind their family house. Besides, it would be too small for her figure now. She grew a lot since she came in prison. She picked a prim and casual baby blue dress from the closet and took s pair of fliplops. They fit her perfectly. She wondered how they were able to get her sizes right. It couldn't be her brother since he saw her years ago.

"Oh, Since when you've been awake?" Carlo spoke as he saw her walking in the kitchen.

" Since I heard a shriek from a woman. Did you have a visitor while I was asleep?" She wanted to tease him.

"I'm sorry it was me. Where did you get your dress by the way? The clothes in your room are from Simone's dead sister.  I'm telling you not to touch them." She turned white that made Carlo laugh. He was bullying her again.

She kicked his shins and beat him in his stomach. He deserves more than that she thought. 

"We just took our chances in getting your right size based on what I could remember from you." She made an impressed look and tapped his shoulder.

"You sure have a good memory and have a  quite impressive calculations for a guy. Thanks."

After they ate the snack her brother prepared, she decided to go downstairs and explore the amenities the condo were offering, and just before she reached the elevator, Simone grabbed her arm. 

"Easy there, missy. You'll get lost if you don't let me accompany you."

What's wrong with this guy? Why is starting to annoy me more? I know I owe him a lot. Is this the return he wants. If it is, then he's lucky. She laughed with her own joke again. 

"I can manage myself Mr. Marquez. I know you've been to tired with us on your back for years. I assure you that I can do it myself and you can sleep in your place now."  She seemed polite in her own judgement she thought.

"I agree to disagree Miss Garcia. I look forward in giving you a tour." She's too excited to let this bastard dampen her mood so she just agreed to his suggestion.

"Suit yourself then."

He's seven years older than her but he acts like a child most of the time. Yes, she admits that for some time he has his serious side.

"So, what is your favorite place here Mr. Simone." He looked at her and rolled his eyes.

"Please, drop the honorifics you're not my client anymore. Just use Simone. I would love to hear that from your lovely mouth."

Gross, he sounded like a pedophile. This is not going to get better. She just kept her mouth shut for the rest of the tour and nodded in everything. He would not talk unless she welcomes it.

She's annoyed by the fact that he is handsome and well-built. She's annoyed that no one approached her in this manner entailed with this gorgeous facade. She's trying to shove off her crush on him by being cold or not responsive to him. She wanted to be safe from this drama if ever. What she needs right now is a job and a diploma. She has too much on her plate to think about him. But, why not?

They ate at a nearby restaurant. Its atmosphere is quite overwhelming for her, but he squeezed her hand assuring that it is alright.

"I thought you would like a change of environment. Don't be shy, I'll be just here in front of you." I don't know. My stupid heart skipped a bit. Just a bit not an entire one. She have never experienced it before. Maybe she had a boyfriend before, but she must admit that when the guy is older than you, she kinda feel it is way different but she's not sure if it is better or worse.

After they ate while walking at the lobby, they both realized that they were supposed to have dinner together with her brother. Hesitant to decline last minute, the two made a deal to pretend that they did not eat out. Good thing Claire wasn't that full after that "tiny bit of luxury for a bird" full course meal. Carlo was waiting for them they arrived. After dinner, Simone informed them that he has to go since he has another case in the morning. It was a criminal case about a woman who killed her husband. She went out with him and stopped as they reached his door. 

"Thank you for the meal. It was superb. Please send it for me to your brother." Simone spoke.

"You tell it to him yourself. You talk as if we are not neighbors. Okay...I got to go now. I am too tired." As she turned around to walk, she felt something unexpected. 

As she turned around to walk, she felt something unexpected. He grabbed her arm again, but what's new is she wasn't annoyed at all. He hugged her. She was too surprised to shove him off. She's still attracted to him no matter how hard she tries. This fluttering feeling is not going anywhere but in her stomach anytime soon. She just want to feel this moment. It feels comforting. She turned around and looked who hugged her. It was not Simone. It was another guy, but the older version. She wasn't able to tell the different with her facing the other side. Heat slowly turned into a icy sensation. He could be Simone's father or uncle. She could not form a word until the guy initiated to break the silence.

"You should be his new toy. I'm Simone's father by the way. Sorry for that kind of introduction. You know I'm used to that and I think I trained Simone for that as well." 

She chuckled and turned into a mocking grin. This guy must be insane. Making presumptions are really her hatest traits from a person. It brought her to jail and has been the root of all her misery.

"And? what do you expect me to do sir? I don't have any relationship with him. I appreciate by your kind gesture, but non of it is needed really. I just happened to be his client. So if you'll excuse me, I have to sleep. I need rest after this whole tiring day."

 The guy lost his composure while she was telling him her side. It seemed like it was what he had always expected from his son. He turned away as he realized that Claire wasn't there anymore. He had never been more embarassed since the day he peed on his shorts in kindergarten.

Meanwhile, Simone wasn't aware of what happened outside. He was preoccupied by his case tomorrow. Claire on the other hand were confused. Simone's family are sure strange individuals just by taking a look at the first three ones she met. Ephraim is softest and loyal among the three, Simone is playful despite his age same goes with their father, but in a creepier way. She could still remember how he hugged her at the hallway. She shooked all her thoughts and proceeded in the bathroom. She need to soak in all her wiry thoughts and have good sleep. She realized that Simone must be really exhausted too to inform her about the job. Maybe it's not yet tomorrow, she thought as she remembers the case he said he was taking on tomorrow morning. Claire skimmed thru the walk-in closet and eyed a cute sleepwear that's loose and silky. It has the shade of her favorite color, olive green. She hastily wore it and went to bed. 

Early morning she noticed that her brother is not yet awake so she decided to cook for him.

She cooked their favorite fried rice that were smothered with sauteed garlic and chopped red peppers. She put scrambled egg and meat in it as well and ground black pepper. As for the side dishes, she fried eggs, hotdog and tapa. She was so happy to be able to cook again and what's more great is that the fridge has sufficient amount of stocks to sustain their needs for a week or two. She made three cups of hot chocolate, hoping that the guy next door would come for breakfast and join them. She just wanted to show her gratitude, nothing more, nothing less.

 It was seven in the morning already. Their neighbor should be awake by now. Claire went to her brother's room and woke him up.

"Kuya Carlo, you need to wake up now, breakfast is ready already. Call Mr. Simone and ask him if he wants to join us for breakfast." He groaned in annoyance as he tried to open his eyes and walked out of the room. he did not bother to wash his face or even comb his hair. Boys really are different from girls, Claire sighed in defeat. She cleaned her brother's room before she left it. She went straight to the kitchen and served the foods. Claire just put two plates and two mugs in case Carlo won't arrive with anyone to add in the company.

As for Carlo, he was having a hard time to ask Simone as he did not yet open the door for the past ten minutes he was waiting outside. Aa soon as he waswalking way from the door to return to Claire, a woman told him that Simone left already thirty minutes before he arrived. It seemed like he was going somewhere really important she added.

"It should be the case he told us about yesterday. Well, I did not expect him to get off early." He smiled and thank the woman as she proceeded inside the elevator. 

"People here are more approachable than we always thought about them. A woman awhile ago informed me that Simone left already instead of doing something." Carlo spoke as he reached the foyer.

" Maybe because we are here and they are within our reach. Don't be so positive about everything kuya. Some first impressions could be decieving." Carlo wasn't really a fan of her opinions but she always make valid points most of the time.

"Don't be so skeptical. You could be wrong. They must have been just victims of prejudice." This time he knew that he defeated her.

She just nodded and handed him a plate with fork, spoon and a mug.

"Look what we got here.I miss loving to have breakfast with your cooking skills Claire. And I hope to see more of it forever." He joked.

"Hah! Dream on, kuya. I am planning to get married soon after I graduate. You'll have to start looking for a wife who can cook for you. You know, you're getting more and more ugly each day. you have to find someone soon that you can con." Both of them laughed and teased each other.

Carlo knew that it won't be too long that they'll be apart from each other again since either of them marries someone. They have a lot of things to fix first in their lives. They'll have to deal with adult stuff without their parents around them. He's the older one, so the responsibility directly goes to him. It's not as if he had a choice. 

As for now,  he still can't decide if he'll continue going to school or look for a job already. He has to support Claire. She's been wounded by past and without talking about it he knows that she is still hurting.

"Hey Claire, do you think you can handle the work at Simone's office? Wouldn't it be too overwhelming for you?" He was worried that she could not do the works assigned correctly, not that he doesn't think she's smart enough, maybe she would just have an information overload.

"I want to do something. I've been imprisoned for years and I don't want to see myself confined again but in a luxurious place. It still feels the same for me."

He realized that she must be feeling suffocated again. Normally, when they were still together in the province, Claire prefers more to be just inside their house. Her go-to places are just her bestfriend's house or their school. Maybe, she's tired and wanted to feel what it is really like to go out and see the world.

Speaking of Tessa, Claire's bestfriend he haven't heard anything about her, not even Claire mentioned her name to him once after they reunited. It feels strange since they were so close. Claire isn't bothered at all in letting Tessa see her quirky side, unlike those times when they have visitors or even in school.