CHAPTER 3- Never Had A Home

MIA’S POV

When Mia hears the sound of the shower running, she finally gets up from her bed and thuds toward the kitchen to make some breakfast.

Last night, she was not able to sleep a wink without feeling ashamed. Ava’s words have kept echoing in her brain making her feel worse about herself. Even though Roman has told her not to take her words seriously, she knows she was just spitting facts. Whatever the history between the two, it was not of her concern. She is leaving anyway. Between the hidden handgun and the crazy girl best friend, she decides it is better not to get entangled in their affairs.

“What’s this?”

Roman comes out of the bathroom, drying his dripping black hair with a towel. He glances over the table with interest. It is laden with a plethora of bacon, hotdog, fried rice, eggs and toasts, and coffee.

"Just a little thank you. I know it’s not much but it’s all I can do for you, for now.”

He looks at her amusedly as she immediately serves him a platter of fried rice, and some bacon and hotdog, as soon as he sits down. She watches him take a bite, her eyes expectant.

“Wow.”

“How was it?”

“Wow,” he repeats. “I’ve never tasted anything like this for so long.”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” Mia rolls her eyes, suddenly shy.

“No, really. I’ve never had a full breakfast meal like this in ages. Were you a cook before?”

“No. I just used to do this every morning for someone.”

“Your boyfriend?” Roman raises an eyebrow inquisitively.

It was a harmless question but Mia subtly freezes. He notices this.

"Husband?”

He continues, but she remains silent, sipping her coffee.

“Girlfriend?”

She puts her cup down stiffly. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

Shrugging his shoulders, he lets her get away from it.

She clears her throat. “Roman, I want to thank you again for everything. I think I already overstayed my welcome—”

"I told you not to let Ava’s words get inside your head.”

"She’s right tho—”

“No, she’s not. You don’t have to do anything.”

“But I want to,” she insists.

He sighs heavily while putting down his fork. “Look, if it’s a matter of payment, you can just cook for me.”

"What? Just like a stay-at-home wife?”

“Well, If you want to think about it like that, I’m not going to argue with you,” Roman jokes. She playfully throws a napkin at him.

“I want to look for a job so that I can get to know the city a little bit more,” Mia says seriously.

“I know just the place. I’ll take you there.”

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

Roman is dressed like he has someplace important to be at. She doesn't want to be a burden who needs to be chaperoned everywhere. Plus, Mia knows he doesn't like walking that much and she has all the time to do just that. It helps her memorize the streets and nearby exits. Just in case.

“It can wait.”

“Why am I not surprised? Of course, you’ll bring her here. As if I don’t have enough on my plate already.” Ava sneers. Mia feels like hiding behind Roman but Ava doesn't even acknowledge her presence.

“I just need you to recommend her. You know your father won’t trust anything that comes from me.”

“Fine, but I’m not promising anything. By the way, did you get something out from that deal with—”

He coughs loudly, noticing that Mia is listening in on their conversation. “Let’s talk over there.”

They go to a corner, where their hushed words are only to their ears. Mia surveys her surroundings. It is a quaint charming cafè. The place looks like something out of the kid's book she managed to steal when she was little, where the main character goes to after-school. She suddenly feels like she made it in life. It may seem such a pitiful aspiration but from where she ran away from, this is the cream of the crop.

“Can I get you anything?”

Her head whips toward the voice. A kind old man with perched-up glasses appears behind the counter out of nowhere.

“Uhm, I’m just here to apply for a job.”

He smiles at her regrettably. “I’m sorry dear, but we’re not accepting right now.“

“Oh.”

Mia should have known starting a new life isn’t going to be like that out of a novel. She considers mentioning Ava’s name but she doesn’t want to take any help from her. Her opinion of her is already at the lowest of lows; mooching off of her just because Roman asked her to isn’t going to catapult her in a good light.

Her shoulders slump. She can see that Ava's father feels bad.

“You’re a new face around here. Where did you come from?”

Mia waves her hand around vaguely, pulling her sleeves over her wrists nervously. “From miles away. I was hoping to get a fresh start here.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you landed here. This is a very safe city. Nothing ever happens here. Well, except that incident with the poor little girl-” he stops himself, shaking his head regrettably.

“Anyways, I have a daughter your age. She can show you around the—”

“Dad! You’re here already? I didn’t even see your car.”

It’s like Mia isn’t even there as Ava walks past her to talk to her dad. She would've gone through her if she could.

“Was that Roman?” Her dad peeks over her head, glaring around.

“He just left.”

“Good. Anyways, we have a new worker here. Meet—” he turns to Mia who seems surprised.

“Oh, I forgot to ask. What’s your name, dear?”

“Mia,” she quickly answers before he could change his mind about hiring her.

“What the— Have you interviewed her yet? You didn’t even know her name and yet you hired her already,” Ava reproaches him.

Ava's father shrugs. “She seems capable.”

“I am, sir. Ava and I have met already,” Mia confesses, just so she could get a kick out of Ava's annoyed expression.

In all honesty, Mia is getting quite tired of her attitude towards her and she doesn't feel that intimidated anymore after getting her father's approval.

“Oh really? Why didn’t you say anything? Please, just call me Raul. Can you get started right now?”

“Of course.” Mia nods enthusiastically.

Raul claps his hands. “Splendid. I’ll first show you how our coffee machine works. Ava, man the cashier.”

“Well, it turns out, I’m not needed after all,” Ava drawls, putting on her apron with heavy hands.

RAUL’S POV

Working at a cafè is no rocket science and Mia gets the hang of it before lunchtime. Unlike her daughter, Raul finds Mia interesting. Amicable, gentle, timid, and yet determined, she is the complete opposite of his daughter.

"By the way, how are you settling in the city?” Raul asks, enjoying the cup of Americano Mia brewed for him.

“I haven’t got out that much. I was just lucky to have found a place to crash.”

“I’m surprised Ava didn’t offer you her place. She really needs a friend right now.”

Mia hesitates. “Is she going through something?”

“Well, to start with, her boyfriend just passed away last year and he turned out to be not the guy we all thought he was. So you could say it was a pretty messy affair. You know Ava, she can be quite cold so I can't read what the kid's feeling. It'd be good if you could be there for her. She doesn't have that many friends.”

"Of course," Mia purses her lips. "Uhm, can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead, dear."

"You don't like Roman very much, do you?"

He puts his cup down. Hearing his name brings a bad taste to his mouth. "Oh dear, he's bad news."

"He did look like one but he seemed alright…"

Raul squints his small eyes at her. "Don't tell me the place you're staying in is his?"

Mia averts her eyes. He lets out a sigh, it’s not his business but he’d feel bad if he doesn’t warn her at least.

"I don't have a say in your life but let me say this, be careful around him. He's involved in some shady business. Sometimes, people's actions don't reflect what they really are. If you need anything, you can come to me. Alright?"

"Thank you, Raul," Mia says gratefully. She changes the topic. "So, how did he and Ava become friends?"

"They've known each other since high school. I didn't think much of Roman the first time I saw him. I still don't think much of him now. I wish Ava would have listened to me but no, she only has one friend and it just has to be that kid. I just don't want a repeat of last year."

Raul removes his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose. He feels like he just stoked Mia’s interest in him more. Why does it always have to be good girls who are attracted to bad dangerous men?

"If you still could, it's best you stay away from the likes of him."

MIA’S POV

It was five in the afternoon when her shift ended. Raul has been more than an understanding boss and someone who Mia can confide in. Ava worked quietly with them, but not without giving snide remarks here and there. She has only spoken with Mia to inform her to wait for Roman outside.

Admiring the buildings being washed over with the purplish glow of the coming night, Roman's figure catches her eye. She sees him turn to an alleyway before going to the cafè. Before she could think, her feet have taken her to where he disappeared to.

“—obviously the cops are on someone’s payroll. A fucking powerful one. I’m betting the whole department’s on it that’s why they’ve been able to operate this long,” a familiar voice says with a heavy accent.

“No shit. I’m asking who is the one paying."

“It’s been a long time since you’ve brought me supply. Why should I tell you anything?”

“Maybe because I could kill you in your fucking sleep,” Roman spits out. He sounds like a different person than whom Mia had just breakfast with this morning.

“Keep talking like that and I’m going to think you’re the one who killed that little girl.”

Before the man could blink, Roman slams him hard against the wall. He chokes him with his elbow, lifting him a couple of inches from the ground until they're eye to eye. Roman's eyes are unreadable.

The man gasps for air, pulling Roman's thick arm from his neck. Before his face could turn purple, Roman finally let go. He crouches over, his breath pathetically coming in pants and wheezes.

Despite almost choking to death, the man still manages to grin crookedly.

“This doesn’t work with me. I’m not one of your sitting ducks, Roman. You need me.”

Roman pulls back from him, his eyes losing their fire and seeming tired, empty hollows. The man massages its neck as he stares up at Roman warily.

“If you’re that dry, a fresh pair can always compensate. How about you give me that black-haired girl from the bar you took home?”

“Fuck off.”

The man's chuckle fills the air. Mia hears the distinctive sound of grass crunching under heavy footsteps. Someone's approaching her way. Mia quickly runs back in front of the cafè and pretends she has been waiting there all afternoon.

“Think fast.”

Roman hurls something solid in her direction. Mia catches it before it could hit her squarely on the face. She stares at the phone curiously.

"You don’t have a phone, right? I already put my number in.”

“Th-thanks?” Her gratitude turns into a question. She can still feel her heart beating harder against her ribcage from what she just overheard.

"C’mon, I’ll take you home.”

He puts a hand on her back as he falls into a step beside her. Despite the warnings she has received against mingling with a guy like Roman, the waving red flag of the stashed handgun, and the highly suspicious conversation she overheard, Mia still finds herself following him back to his apartment.