Chapter 4: Preparations

Preparations

"You are so kind to get me some food, aren't you?” I sighed. “I’m sorry, I do not have a penny remaining from my savings.” Right away upon our visit to the residence of my soon-to-be boss, Shamcey grabbed my arm and took me inside a well-known restaurant as we were walking past. I was taken by surprise when I saw the price list of all the foods that were available on their menu. It is pretty pricey! It seemed as if I had something to pay for. As a result, I just let my cousin decide what we can eat for lunch.

"That's nothing, and I got so hungry looking for Boss Convocar's house. In fairness, their house is so spacious that it could comfortably fit ten families because of its hugeness," she said.

After what seemed like an eternity, the waiter had finally placed Shamcey's order for us. While the waiter was placing all of the meals that my cousin ordered on our table, I was helpless to figure out each of the foods that was being served. Probably this may be simply because of the fact that my cousin decided to get French cuisine. Except for my favorite menudo, which was the very last dish that the server brought out, which caused my smile to grow wider. Oh, finally, I've been looking forward to this!

"Eat a lot," my cousin said as she was trying to get something to eat.

For some reason, the car that had just parked caught my attention. It looked like this black car was exactly like the one that was parked at the residence of Boss Convocar. I had an overwhelming feeling that somebody was inside that car, watching me. Or was I just making it up in my head? Especially considering I didn't see a driver getting out. For what purpose did Shamcey decide to enjoy our meals here, facing a restaurant's parking lot? I just couldn't help observing things!

"You ordered so much food, yet there are only two of us devouring food, huh?" I've made an effort to divert my concentration away from the car.

"Am I asking for your opinion?" She looked at me with a sneer on her face and lifted her eyebrow towards me. However, it didn't last for a while and was quickly swapped out for a beaming grin. She is, in fact, joking around. She has some great funny humor that other people won't get, and this is only one of them. "Kidding!” 

Obviously, is there anyone who celebrates an occasion for joy by ordering just a single serving of food? I did little more than shrug my head and take a bite out of the food. Ah, I see! Their menudo is unbelievably tasty! As the one-of-a-kind taste makes its way into my mouth, I find myself wanting more. The meat is savory and tender enough to be enjoyed. It's no surprise that the food they serve is so expensive. To be fair, this deserves to be for a higher price.

"Isn't it delicious? Told you, this restaurant is one of the finest, right?" she remarked in reaction.

"Hey, you really don't need to spend so much just to congratulate me for passing the job interview. For God’s sake, you're ordering so much food, as if I hit the jackpot or something! You're totally overreacting," I joked. “Kidding aside,” I smiled at her. “I'm really grateful, but just so you know, I'm totally fine with your treats being just street foods. You know, I am not that picky."

"Why not?" She let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. "So, just so you know," she said, chewing and swallowing her food before carrying on with what she wanted to share. "It's not just about that job interview, Heids. I mean, yes, that is a part of it, but it will not be the only reason for a toast. We're celebrating because you're now able to stand. You'll finally be able to rise up after all those times you fell down because of everything you've been through. There's so much that's been taken from you, including Aunt..." Shamcey just stopped talking straight away. She understands that it was one of the things I lost deeply, and it hurt so much—my Mama, the one person I rely on for everything. That really boosts my strength. Honestly, I'm totally fine with thinking of losing everything. Because I can return them if I want. But my mother's life? It feels like no matter how many times I pray and reach out to God, it just never comes back. It is difficult for even God to grant a wish that is impossible to come true.

She cleared her throat, hoping to shift the vibe a bit. "Seeing you at your lowest point hurts me too, as your cousin. If I could only take your other problem, I would have done it long ago. But you know, there aren't really any rules in our lives that say we can just take on other people's problems to help them out of it." She bent down, trying to hide the tears flowing down her cheeks, even though I could see them clearly. "This is the only way that I can assist you," she said. "Someone who, no matter what happens, will be there to cheer you on. I know you're dealing with a lot of pain right now. I doubt I could handle all that on my own, even if I were in your shoes." She stared at me. When she said, "Heidi," she grabbed my hand and held it gently. "Bear in mind at all times that your one and only cousin is here. I'm just a call away—ready to help you whenever I can! Always keep in mind that you are not fighting this battle alone.

There, the tears that had been hidden for a while now began to come out. It is a comforting feeling to be surrounded by someone who recognizes and appreciates the bittersweet moments that happen in your life. Making their presence known in order to lessen the feelings of loneliness that come with being by myself. I am very grateful for that specific part of my existence.

"Your most beautiful and sexy cousin and your most gorgeous aunt are here, who are ready to join you in this fight," she pointed out in addition.

Because of unclear reasons. My cousin made a foolish joke that made me chuckle while I was wiping my cheeks from crying, as it blended with the emotions that are going on right now. "Unbelievable,” I shook my head in disbelief. “You even managed to praise yourself."

Upon seeing my reaction, she just laughed. The emotional and passionate deal with from earlier had been replaced with an endless guffaw

She shrugged her shoulders and said, "Just stop this drama," as she cut off her laughter. "Let's just eat while the food is still wam."

And so we went on eating. What I expected was right; we failed to finish all of the food that Shamcey had ordered. The outcome is that we simply take out the leftovers from the bowl. Not only will Aunt Rabiya be able to enjoy French cuisine, but she will also no longer have to worry about the hassle of preparing food. "Uhm, Heids," she called out my name, causing me to break into silence. At the same time that she was looking away, she used a white napkin to wipe her mouth.

"Hmm?" There was a brief moment when I glanced at her. I was busy organizing all of the things that were inside my bag. Currently, we just patiently wait for the waiter to bring the payment terminal to the table so that Shamcey can pay the bill.

"How many times have you asked about knowing if I am in a relationship with someone? Given my age and the fact that I am so attractive, You are curious as to why I do not yet have a boyfriend."

"I didn't say anything like that," I denied the most recent statement that she made. Just wow. This woman is full of herself. "Oh, huh? What's the point of bringing that up?"

She cleared her throat, almost like she was unsure about whether to say something or not. "Uhm, Heids, I want you to meet my boyfriend," she said with a smile.

When she said that word, I looked over at her, and there was a guy next to her, smiling and looking right at me. He's got on a chef's uniform and that white hat on his head, which is called a toque blanche in French. Hold on a second… I took another look at his face. I've seen him around before. I feel like I've come across him before.

My expression turned frowny. "S-Shamcey, are you really serious?" I just can't wrap my head around it.

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, Heids, this is Frank, my boyfriend," she said, and I couldn't believe my ears. Whoa, she's not joking around! "And, babe, this is Heidi, my very own and only cousin."

"Hey there! I'm really glad to finally meet you," he said, reaching out his hand to shake mine.

I smiled at him and, out of respect for my cousin, I accepted his hand. "It was great to meet you as well," I replied. "I had no idea my cousin was dating a chef!" I said as I shifted my gaze to my cousin. "Hey, are you working here?" I changed the topic.

He gave a slight nod. "Yes, I am. I was actually one of the chefs who made the food that you and your cousin had for lunch today." He's feeling pretty proud of himself. They really fit to each other. "What do you think about the menudo?" Shamcey told me that it was your favorite."

“This is so tasty!” Wow! Did you make this?” I asked with excitement.

He just shook his head. "Actually my colleague did prepare the menudo, I just told her to cook well so that my cousin in-law would like it," he explained.

I chuckled a bit uncomfortably at what he said. I really can't tell if he was taking things serious or just messing around at this moment. I just can't shake off the awkward vibe in the air since this guy showed up. This guy seems off in some way.

"Welcome to your new home." As soon as the car pulled over to the sidewalk, Frank gave me a cheery greeting. We're almost there! Just one more turn and we'll be at my cousin's place. He drives us back to Heidi's place after we have finished eating at the restaurant. He informed me that he had just finished his work shift at the restaurant for the day. It's also possible that they both planned it. "You're definitely going to have a great time here," he said. He cleared his throat and said, "Hey, you're totally welcome to join us for a night out."

"You're really going to love it even more! I promised," he said, leaning in to kiss Shamcey's hand as she sat in the front seat.

"Absolutely! I bet you'll have a great time here, Heids," she said, nodding to his boyfriend.

"Come on, Shamcey," I called out to my cousin. "Hey, you know, I'm not really a fan of that, right?" With some hesitation, I spoke to my cousin. I hope Frank won't be disappointed by what I said. At the same time, I am responsible to make sure that the boyfriend of my cousin becomes aware of how things are going.

"Stop being a killjoy," Shamcey said to me, turning to face me in the backseat. "Didn’t you have a good time during our first hangout?" She asked me with a grin on her face, as if it were not enough to explain that I enjoyed the one-night stand that took place that night in front of his boyfriend.

All I did was shoot her a glare.

"Hey, make sure to remember that you're treating me to drinks, right?" She gave me a smirk.

“Oh!” Shamcey checked out the notifications on her phone. "My mom is already wondering where we are. You need to go right now, or we're going to get caught together," she told Frank.

I just frowned. What if they get caught together? To stop her from having a boyfriend is too impossible. As far as I know, Shamcey is three years older than me. We're definitely not too old to jump into dating someone else.

"All right. I will go ahead. Please bear in mind that we are meeting tonight." Frank leaned in close to my cousin and said, "Please don't let me down."

“Alright, babe,” she said. Then, they just went ahead and kissed right in front of me. This is more than just an ordinary kiss. I can still picture a tongue twirling in the middle of their kiss. So gross!

Godd*mn! So, earlier we were enjoying some French food. Then I saw a couple of French kissing in front of my very eyes today! What's with the French words today?!

Seeing myself embarrassed caused me to look away. So, who should make adjustments for us?! The actions of these two made me feel ashamed and embarrassed.

The fact that Frank roughly grabbed my cousin's br*asts without any hesitation after they had French kisses was even more shocking to me. Are you conscious of the fact that I am sitting inside of this car?!

The only thing that Shamcey did in return to her boyfriend was have nothing but a wink and a little giggle. It was impossible for her to even scold Frank for what he had done. What I witnessed has left me torn between outrage and disgust. That's absolutely terrible. He just insulted my cousin in front of me!

Frank finally said his goodbyes by pulling his car away.

There were just the two of us standing by the side of the road; Shamcey, in the meantime, waved foolishly as if his boyfriend's car hadn't disappeared from sight.

I gave a slight shake of my head and then tsked. "What do you like about that guy?" I didn't think twice before asking, which resulted in her dropping her wave.

"I have to admit that I find your tone annoying. It seems as though you have something bad to say. She gave me a threatening glance.

"You think it's cool?" I let out a sigh of frustration and asked, "Which man would kiss and touch his girlfriend's br*ast in front of other people?" I arched my eyebrow in her direction. "Do you have any respect left for yourself?" My irritation washed over me as I fixed my gaze on her, hoping that she would pay attention to what I had to say. "Shamcey, the actions that your boyfriend showed towards you were disrespectful." I informed her in a straightforward way. It doesn't matter to me the possibility that she gets angry with me as long as she wakes up to the fact that that man is taking advantage of her.

She chuckled nervously while shaking her head. "You are just like the other people who easily judge. You are far too sensitive. You know, rather than paying attention to Frank and I's actions, why don't you try to find a love life? For you to understand the body language of couples that are comfortable with each other." As she whispered, she began to walk. "You are no different from my mother."

All I did was shake my head and bang my forehead.

"Why did he drop us off here at the corner instead of right in front of your house?" I began interrogating her.

"So... So that it won't be too difficult for him," she stuttered. "Just so you know, our street is a dead end." The way she breathed was heavy. I stared up and she struggled to meet mine. "Frank brought us here, yet you still manage to complain--"

"Aunt Rabiya didn't approve of the relationship between the two of you, didn't she?" I cut her. I am familiar with this woman when she is lying.

She panicked and looked around before turning to face me. "Could you please lower your freakin' voice?" she complained.

"I will really raise my voice if you don't answer my question," I had warned her. It was entirely up to my speechless cousin to decide whether or not to respond to my questions.

She quickly placed her hand over my mouth just as I was about to yell out.

"Alright, alright, fine," she let out a heavy sigh. She said, "I'll tell you," with an expression of panic. "Yeah, Mom's not really supporting our relationship," she finally admitted. "Are you happy?" She fired me a glare.

"So, why are you two still..."

“I am deeply in love with Frank,” she said without hesitation. "We love each other. So then…” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and flashed a grin. What a b*tch! "...Frank is quite well. Good-looking, caring, and sexy. "I really don't get why Mom doesn't like my boyfriend," she said with a pout as she talked to her mother.

"Could it be his attitude? Just like what he did today. You just kissed right in the face of me, and then he touched yours..." I gestured towards her chest.

“Are you referring to my b*obs?”

I gave a nod.

"Was that all? That's how Frank expresses his affection for me. Like, hello? This era has nothing similar to the generations before it. Today's generation is so liberated. “Except for you,” she struck me with an accusing glance.

"What he did was perfectly acceptable," she emphasized.

I didn't even bother to say anything. This is because if I attempt to respond, we could end up in a serious argument. I recently figured out how dumb my cousin is when it comes to love. It's still inappropriate to touch a woman's body portion that only the two of you should be able to see. This is especially important when you are in a public place with a lot of people around. How come he lacks respect for her girlfriend?

She exhaled.

"Come on, let's go inside. But please, Heidi," she said as she turned to face me as she embraced me. "Please don't mention to Mom that Frank was the one who drove us, okay? She'll be mad at us," she begged.

"Why am I now involved in your foolishness?" I asked her in disbelief.

"Because you agreed to drive us with my boyfriend," she replied, smirking at me. We both kept going until we arrived at their house.

"You're unbelievable." I rolled my eyes.

"We are finally here, Mom! Jeez. So tiring. The traffic caused us to be late. Don't worry, we've got some food for you."

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ 🕮 ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

The foam that Aunt Rabiya had got out earlier from their storage room is quite soft, and right now I am sitting on the bed as I am feeling the comfort it provides. The fragrance of foam, that seems like it has been stored in the storage room for a long period of time, is more prominent. It does not smell awful as I expected. In fact, this smell is really nostalgic. I get a cozy feeling. As Shamcey and I left the house earlier, Aunt Rabiya was finishing up cleaning this room right before we got home. She even changed the bedsheet and pillows with brand new ones. On the very first night that I was in this place, Aunt Rabiya gave me a fluffy blanket. claimed that it was her Mama's favorite blanket. That is the reason why she kept it.

The fact that Aunt Rabiya even provided me with my very own room in their home is truly beneficial for me; I am the luckiest nephew in the world. On the very first night that I was in this house, I found it impossible to get some rest in my cousin's room since she was always pestering me. I took a glance around the room that was going to serve as my place of stay at Shamcey's. Despite the small area, it was fully furnished with a window and a door that led to the balcony.

The silence that had been there in the room ended when I heard three knocks coming from the direction of the door. "Heidi, dear? Are you still up?" It was Aunt Rabiya. As quickly as I could, I opened the door for her.

"I am still awake, Aunt," I answered. "Is there something you need?" It was a question I had.

As she lifted the tray she was carrying, which had a sandwich and a glass of milk, she smiled warmly at me and greeted me with a beaming grin. So I quickly opened the door wide enough to make way for Aunt Rabiya to walk in.

After putting the tray on my side table, she sat down on the bed and continued talking to me. "I was worried that the shift in your new bedroom would make it hard for you to sleep," she explained. "That's why I've made sure to bring you milk and a snack."

"It's enough that you gave me my own space in your home," I commented to my aunt. "You shouldn't have bothered yourself anymore," I added.

"Let me take care of things for you; you are also precious to me. You are the only a part our family that we still have." She took a deep breath and tried to hold back the tears that were about to flow. As she stated this, she pouted and continued, "While your mother left us early. So you," she took the palm of mine and softly caressed it. "When the moment comes for you to want to get married, I only ask for one thing…"

I frowned. I gazed at Aunt Rabiya for a while. Her expression, however, was serious. "What is it, Aunt?"

"Have a lot of children. So that our family line will grow more," she said, which is why I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Aunt!" I reacted by shaking my head and saying, "You are going to turn me into a mommy pig." We both ended up laughing.

"Have you been enjoying your new room?" She shifted the conversation, saying, "Please bear with us, though this happens to be the only room in the house that isn't in occupied."

A sigh came out of my mouth as I gently held my aunt's hands. "Aunt, it's more than I wanted," I said to her as I faced her. "I loved this room. I also really enjoy the floral pattern of the pillowcase and bed sheet that you prepared for me, Aunt," I started with a chuckle, which caused her to crack up also. "I really mean it, Aunt," I sincerely said. I gave a soft whisper, "Thank you so much."

It was then that she moved closer to me and gave me a bear embrace. "You are always welcome to spend time with us, Heidi," she whispered to me as she lovingly rubbed my back. "We are always happy to welcome you. Go get some rest now, and you will be working tomorrow," she said, pushing us to break free from our hug.

Just as she was ready to leave my room, she suddenly turned her gaze back to me. "Heidi," she called to me.

"Yes, Aunt?" Have you missed something?"

An uneasy smile appeared on her face as she looked at me. "Nothing, um. I would like to ask you a question."

"What is it, Aunt?" 

Before she spoke, she cleared her throat and asked, "Do you have any memories that keep coming back after you had the accident?" It was a question from her.

My brow furrowed in response to Aunt Rabiya's question. It has been a very long time since I was involved in a car accident. My mother told me that I was on my way home from school when, all of a sudden, a car that was missing its braking systems came rushing towards me. The impact of the car hitting me was so severe that I eventually received a diagnosis of dissociative amnesia. The car accident wiped out all my memories. In spite of the loss, I realized that I had been given a second chance at life to spend with Mama. Despite the fact that five years have gone by, and I have not been able to recall any memories, I am still grateful. "I have not been able to recollect any memories up to this very moment, Aunt," I shared with her.

She chose not to respond. Instead, she gave me a soft nod. "It's about time to make it for the day. And I really hope that nobody disturbs you when you're at rest. Right? Shamcey?" I shifted my attention to the corridor where Aunt Rabiya had been staring. There was Shamcey, making her way towards my room.

"Gosh! Are you so bored with life, Mom, that you saw me again?" She gave her a rolled eye. "Just chill out, alright? I am not going to disturb your precious Heidi's sleep. I'm just here to say goodnight."

"Please don't mess around," Aunt Rabiya cautioned her when she had left us. "Just don't goof around."

Once more, she rolled her eyes. "Really?" The shape of an 'O' formed on her mouth as she expressed her disbelief. "Is that how you say goodnight to your daughter, Mom?" She asked, but there was no response to her question.

I couldn't resist chuckling aloud in response. Suddenly, I remembered the playful discussion that happened between Mama and me, and it was unexpectedly the same with the hilarious conversations that took place with Shamcey. I long for her very much. The only thing I did was let out a loud sigh. At the same time, I let my body drop on my comfortable bed.

"You know? I'm not sure if I should be worried about if I am her biological daughter or you. Just so you know, I've been asking this room for a long time. However, in the end, she just gave this to you," she said.

The only thing I could do in response to her frustration was laugh.

As Shamcey sat on my bed, I could feel the foam in my bed bouncing. "Hey!" She patted my leg while calling me. "Are you really going to rest?"

I glared at her in a sarcastic way and asked, "What kind of question is that?" I guess so? Just so you know, I will be starting my new job tomorrow. I need to save some energy," I pointed out. She didn't say anything or even react to me. Because of it, I gave her a look. "Why did you ask?" I questioned as I stared at her carefully. She looked restless and seemed to be hiding something. I had a feeling this woman was going to say something.

"Nothing," she answered, as if she were trying to defend herself at this moment.

"Shamcey, I know you," I said, glaring at her. "I know when you're hiding something."

She let out a deep sigh. "Okay, fine, you win," she said finally, rolling her eyes in frustration. "Tonight, Frank and I are going out," she said. "I was just thinking, what if you joined us?"

"Are you nuts?" I blurted out. "Can't you see, I have work tomorrow."

She was holding my hand. "Please? We're not going to stay longer. I feel like Mom allowed me to go out when I'm with you. Look how kind she is when she's with you."

"You're really going to get me involved in your foolishness," I said cautiously. I faced her. "No," I insisted. "And just try to go out tonight, I might be the one who tells you to Aunt Rabiya for the bullsh*t you've been doing with that Frank."

Standing up, Shamcey released my hand. She shot me a furious look. "You know, I really regret telling you," she replied with a hint of anger. She then left my room in a rage. "You just don't have a love life, that's why you can't understand what I'm doing," she said as she walked away.

I didn't even attempt to chase her. I mean, come on! So why would she go out tonight? Isn't it enough that we went to the club the other day? Surely her lungs were already burning from an alcoholic beverage.

I nodded and went out to the balcony, holding the glass of milk that Aunt Rabiya had prepared for me. I guess I'll just grab some air before going to sleep. While I was meditating. I noticed a black car parked on the side of the road. I frowned. Was what I was seeing right? The car that was parked on the side of the road, the black car that had been parked at the restaurant earlier, and the car which was also parked in the garage at the residence of my future boss were all exactly the same. Dissatisfied, I hurried out of the house and approached the car. I was well aware of the fact that my actions posed some risk. On the other hand, it seems like my curiosity was devouring my system.

As I step closer I stopped and took a careful look at the driver's seat. As I drew more closer, I saw there was a person inside the car. I was about to knock on the window near the driver's seat when it sped away. I found myself filled with nervousness with hundreds of questions. Why do I feel as if someone has been watching me?