Epitome of a Hero

One heart and soul

The awkward silence enveloped the table when Dad joined us at the table where Michael was supposed to eat. Dad was just staring at Michael and Michael, he was just looking down at the table while snatching awkward gazes with me and the old man.

 Am I missing something here?

I looked at the old man and he did the same, he suddenly gaped his eyes suddenly realizing that he is making Michael tensed. I might have to ask about they are so awkward later to him.

“I’m just going to watch, you kids enjoy!” he said and left for the TV. I saw Michael’s eyes slid from the porridge to father who was just leaving.

“Are you okay?” I stared at him and in a snap he was back to his comfortable emotionless face.

“I think you lied to me about talking to Tricia for the first time at school.” I said as I looked at him and he immediately faltered with his motion, he even scooped air before putting it into his mouth, realizing it even later than sooner. Why is Tricia not giving me a clue at this?

I suddenly felt troublesome when a thought crossed my mind--- this wouldn’t be a problem to Kyle and Tricia won’t it?

“Do you--- perhaps like Tricia?” I asked, it might be a problem if he says yes.

“What!? Of course not!” He blurted out and he looked disgusted that I immediately believed him.

“Then why are you acting all weird?”

I narrowed my eyes on him and as I did, he went shy.

“We… we’re childhood friends.”

Childhood friends?

“She’s the clumsy kid who never changed and so we never talked anymore when she stepped in high school.” He said, frowning at me as he ate the porridge in the bowl.

“Is that why you knew what changed when I first got here?” I whispered and he rolled his eyes before nodding.

“Oh…”

That explains a lot. “But why would you even stop talking to her if you were her friend?”

“She did, not me.”

“Hm.”

I hummed and then we stopped talking for a while. Maybe I need to ask her about that. Even though Michael is stubborn, he’s a good guy.

“Thank you so much for the food.” He said before standing up to bow his head a bit. I grabbed the bowl from him and gently swat his elbow.

“Stop acting so formal, kid.” I assured him and he shook his head like he was being joked on.

“You are in a body of an 18-year-old girl and I am 20. Don’t call me a kid, Damian.” He whispered on my ear and I laughed at that thought.

“Well, technically speaking, yes.”

After I finished the bowl I handed him a glass of lemon-infused water so he could have a drink.

“Drink this, it’s filled with Vitamin C.”

“I’m fin-“

I frowned at him so he immediately got it from my hand to drink it. I can’t help but think that somehow, they have been really close at some point of time.

“Thank you…” he whispered and I smiled at him.

“Get well faster and go to school!” I exclaimed and he gave me a smile.

“You too…”

We tucked the chairs we used under the table and headed to where Dad was so that Michael can go on his way.

“Dad, Michael is going home.”

“Oh, thank you for visiting kiddo! Tell your Mom my regards.”

“Thank you Sir Marcus.” He bowed his head once again before he lef for the door. He suddenly tenses when he is in front of her father. I snorted once we got out of the door and suddenly a vision of two small kids holding hands at a park came to my mind.

Is that… them?

My hand automatically grabbed Michael’s wrist since I wanted to ask him but as I did, the picture became clearer. They were really childhood friends…

“D-damian…?” he asked when I realized that I was clinging to his hand as I spaced out. I let go of him immediately and crossed my arms before swatting him on his arm.

“Take care! I’ll be seeing you in school!”

I mumbled and I suddenly looked at to my side when I sensed someone looking at us.

Kyle!?

This heart began pounding once again and this time I got nervous. Why are you even nervous?! I looked at Kyle and he was just staring at us before even realizing that we were looking at him.

“A-am I… bothering something?”

He asked, his eyes looking all gloomy.

“Oh! Nothing of course.” I forced a laugh and looked at Michael who was beginning to have a sinister smile on his lips. I bet he is going to do another of those high-class bully acts!

“What if you are bothering something?” Michael gloated and I glared at him.

I threw an elbow on his belly making him shocked, and I stared right into his eyes telling him not to joke around.

“I’m going home.” He raised a hand for goodbye’s, leaving me and Kyle alone in front of our house.

As he walked away, I felt a cold air rushing towards me as I looked back at Kyle.

“I-I’m sorry if I was bothering something…”

Oh no.

Kyle looks like he was about to cry so I grabbed his hand and dragged him inside the house. I bet I needed to tell him what was going on. I held his hand on mine and as the warmth of his palm burst in mine, I felt very happy that he came. My heart can’t stop beating faster when he came… The butterflies in my stomach began flying all around once again.

“Kyle!” Dad called when he saw us. “I was just about to text you about visiting since you have been asking a lot about Triz.” He’s been texting him?

“Huh?” I asked, looking at the both of them.

“He’s been asking me about your condition.” Dad said as he waved, continuing to watch the TV.

“Is that.. true…?”

I asked and Kyle nodded, “Yes… You haven’t been replying to my texts so I asked your Dad… I was just worried.”

My phone! I left it under the pillow! I remember how I’ve been looking at the phone the whole night when I woke up waiting for his text that I completely forgot about it in the morning!

“I’m sorry… I left my phone upstairs… I was spending my time downstairs and then Michael came. He was a friend of mine back when we were kids and he was also sick so I invited him to eat porridge that my dad made as well. Then we talked and---“

I was cut off when Kyle chuckled. I looked at him and his smiles were enough to let my heart pound through the sternum once again. “You don’t need to explain, Tricia… Seeing you right now and knowing that you are fine and well is already enough for me.”

Flowers began blossoming to my chest as he spat out those words. Looks like there’s not going to be any problem at all. He then grabbed something from his bag and pulled out a bag of kiwi. Those are my favorite!

“Here, this is for you.”

I took the plastic bag slowly and I can feel how hearts are beginning to form at the center of my eyes. He remembered! I told him about my favorites when we ran out of topic when he walked me home. Ever since we met and he went in the house, we have been talking a lot and all of those memories flooded my mind making me feel very glad.

“Okay kids, I’m going to buy dinner for us.” The old man turned the TV off and headed towards the door where we are standing. “Kyle, I trust you.”

The old man said out of nowhere and Kyle said yes immediately before dad left the room. What does he mean by that? The atmosphere suddenly got heavier when we were both left all alone inside the house. Then and there, I understood what that meant.

My heart kept pounding like stampeding horses and so I stood frozen beside Kyle by the door. Is something going to happen? What kind of thoughts am I thinking right now???

“Tricia?”

Kyle asked and I jumped on my place as he did. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything. Let’s put this kiwi on the tray.”

He smiled, lighting up the whole house like it was a bright shiny day. I nodded and we both went to the kitchen and he laid the plastic basket from the sink and put the kiwis in.

I watched his every move and I can’t help but feel amused to the way he is. Sometimes he is like a kid who doesn’t have any mind to some things but most of the times when he is with me, he is so gentle and manly…

I have seen Duke like this mostly, and Troy some of the time when he is not being a jerk.

Maybe I should have talked to them more…

I always remember how Duke would be beside me when I wake up after a drink by the bar. I would always be laying down the hay beside the stables where I also once lived. I was a drinker back then, but even if I was I never failed as a swordsman--- maybe because that’s what I think I was living for, for my sword and nothing more.

“Here.”

Kyle placed a plate of sliced kiwis in front of me before he sat down on the chair near me.

“T-thank you…” I smiled and started to dig in the sliced fruit. As I did, I stole some short glances at Kyle who was just smiling at me as I ate. I pierced a slice with my fork and decided to share it with him since he is the one who bought it. I placed the piece near his mouth for him to eat and when it was already near him, my cheeks fell hot.

“I-I’m okay, Tricia. You can eat it, I bought it for you.” He stuttered but I insisted, making him open his mouth to eat the kiwi. And he did, he put the slice on his mouth from my fork and chewed on it.

“Thank you.” He said and I kept eating the slice from the same fork that he put his lips on, making every bit of slice like bolts of lightning that cuts through me every time.

It’s like we just kissed!

I suddenly got one stuck on my throat when I heard the thoughts inside my head, “What the hell are these thoughts!?”

I smite the table while holding the fork, feeling a burning sensation that emits from deep inside me. Kyle got startled as I did, making feel so embarrassed that my supposedly internal thought got out. What am I gonna do now???

Kyle began laughing and I pouted at him, “Stop it…” I mumbled, I wish the land would just devour me at this point.

“What we’re you thinking about?”

He laid his cheek on his palm as his elbow propped on the table while looking at me. He’s so cute… My eyes canned his whole face and even with him wearing his glasses, the genuineness of his reaction still shows. As I stared, my eyes went to see his lips and it looked plumpy and--- soft…

No!

I put my hands on my face, feeling so hyped up on the feeling. I feel so embarrassed right now…

“Tricia…” Kyle spoke in such a serene tone while he laid his hand on my chest, caressing me like a new-born.

“You look so adorable, even with your swinging moods…” He smiled.

“I’m sorry…” I croaked as I feel his caress on my head. “I just feel like I am about to explode and I don’t know how to handle the frivolous thoughts that comes in my head. It’s my first time experiencing this kind of feeling so I don’t know how to react. Every time you talk, my heart just keeps beating through that it vibrates on my ears…”

I added while I hid on my hand. I felt Kyle scoot closer since the chair creaked when he pulled it near me. I opened the gap between my finger, wider to peek through when I felt Kyle’s warm hand gently pulled mine to his.

He entwined his fingers to mine and it was there I knew how small mine was. It was also warm and callouses seem to be present at the sides of his finger, making it feel kind of manly…

“To be truth, I also don’t know how to react whenever I see you or even talk to you, especially at first. Every time I see you, my heart also never stops beating in a very unusual manner which I have never felt about anyone before. But as time passes by, with me talking to you, seeing you, and even confessing to you. I started welcoming all the strange and new feelings that I was receiving… I realized that it was much more natural that way--- especially when it is because of those who are very dear to you…”

He explained and I was astounded by how calm he was… and how beautiful he looked… His hands are warm and as I looked into his eyes, I felt like I was drawn closer and closer to him. The fast beating of my heart began to sound like music to my ears and I loved how warm it made me feel.

The time seemed to slow down and our eyes settle on one another…

Slowly, it felt like he began to go closer and closer to me and I felt my lips parting, expecting for a taste of something I have never felt before. I closed my eyes as he draws near and eventually blinked several times when I felt his lips on my forehead.

Huh?

I looked at him and he was just smiling at me.

“I can’t just kiss you like that yet… I still haven’t courted you officially…”

He looked shy and my heart just swells at the thought of him being like a real gentleman. He’s just like a prince from the story books… and he is treating me with too much respect as a girl he likes…

I giggled and held his hand tighter, making him giggle as well.

After that, I went to wash the plate I used and we went ahead to the TV to watch some movies as I wait for Dad to come.

“Sheene and Faye said they can’t go here because of family matters. But if you still haven’t gone to school tomorrow, they might come.”

“I will be attending classes tomorrow. I already feel fine.” I exclaimed. “You’ll be staying for dinner right?” I asked as my hold in his hand tightens.

“Yes, I will… Your dad says so.” He laughed and it was so warming to see him like this. The feeling was starting to grow on me when he told me to take all the strange feelings openly. It was more… serene than before.

We both sat down the sofa until Dad came after an hour.

“I’m home.” He grinned at us and so we prepared the table for the three of us to eat. He brought a chicken bucket and lasagne tray, enough for the three of us.

It was a nice time we’ve had. Dad was talking about his work and some of the funny events in his life which I knew he made up as we ate. It was such a precious moment.

However---

The table began to be silenced and grave when Kyle asked my Dad a question.

“Can I have the permission to court your daughter…?”

I gasped and I figured my dad would be serious and damn scary at these things. My dad put his spoon and fork down and when I looked at Kyle, the determination in his eyes never goes away.

He is serious about this!

“What if I say I won’t?” My father answered and Kyle began to look terrified by his answer.

“Dad!” I called him out and then he began laughing at the table. “You should have seen the look on your face!” He trolled Kyle and the table started to feel lively once again.

“Tricia is old enough to decide for herself, so you should just go ahead and ask her yourself.”

“Dad…” I felt more surprised by his reaction. He then winked at me and looked at Kyle who is looking more positive after hearing his answer.

“Just don’t hurt my daughter… You will never know what happens if you do.”

“Yes sir. I would never dare.” Kyle answered with a smile and that settled it. Dad went ahead for anew topic to talk about making both me and Kyle catch up to whatever it was that he wanted to talk about.

When the dinner ended, I escorted Kyle outside the house and the night has just fell. It was cold outside but it was then replaced by warmth when he held my hand again the moment we got out of the house.

“I’m going now.” He said, smiling as he sucks a little of his lower lip by his teeth.

I found it adorable, the way he smiled and everything he does…

“See you tomorrow…” I replied, gripping the hand tighter before letting go. He started to walk on and as his figure disappeared from the streets, I decided to go back inside the house with something weighing on my heart.

I know that Tricia and I are both present lately… but why do I feel like I am slowly losing myself…?

Is it because I’ll be disappearing sooner?

I shook my head and just continued upstairs after telling my dad good night. I have no right to complain since I am just someone whose been living in the home of someone else…

I should be just thankful instead…