Love is War

Chapter 66

We paid for the products that we have chosen and there we went to a vacant table outside so that we can eat it there. Dad will not be so happy if he finds out that we are eating hotdogs which he forbids. There is some unsettling feeling here because of that man earlier, but I chose to ignore it and decided just to enjoy this food that we bought.

Mom offered to put the sauce on my hotdog but I insisted to her that I can do it for myself. She allowed me to do so and she just watches me smiling while I struggle opening this pack of manhattan sauce and ketchup.

It is like the plastic that they used to pack these sauces are made out of metal, because of how hard it is. I tried biting it to tear it off but to no avail, it still proved to me that it was very hard to open it. I almost gave up on opening it but mom reached her hand to me.

I am young that time but I can clearly remember that I had a pride already developed back then, because I remember how ashamed I felt that time. I told her that I am strong enough to open my own sauce.

Moving on, she opened the sauce for but I am still the one that putted on the sauce in a zigzag pattern and then we ate the hotdogs, we silently finished our meal that night, enjoying the cold breeze, and it is almost like that everything was going well that night, or so that’s what I thought.

We decided to bring this pack of chocolates towards my sister and brother, as they were already asleep when we got to their rooms to invite them in this secret night out, and mom did not want to disturb their sleep, that’s why we are the only ones here now.

Dad was still wide awake but he is still busy with his work that for some reason, they can’t tell us about it. I envy my classmate for some reason because they can brag about their father’s job, and there I only lie to them telling them that my dad is a doctor, because of the proper attire that he always wears, and the suit case that he always carries.

Mom always told me that I will know about it in the right time, not just now. Dad did not lack anything to me. He is giving us time and love that we needed and he also spoils us with toys, but he is strict when it comes to health.

Mom sometimes joke about dad, about being a paranoid monster when we sneeze assuming that we have already illness. I did not understand those jokes that time, but thinking about it right now, I wished I laugh at those jokes, while she was still with me, because I did not know that it was the last time that I will be with her.

After sometime of sight seeing, mom decided that we should go back to the house because dad might be finding us now. Dad’s work made me believe that he is a magician one time, because of how he just appears and disappears in thin air. 

“Honey, finish your chocolates we will go back to the mansion,” she told me while I am busy eating the chocolates that I picked for myself. Mom already hid the chocolates for my siblings.

I looked at her and offered her some of the chocolates that I am eating today, but she shakes her hands and rejected my offer.

“It’s for you to enjoy,” she said. I shrugged my shoulders and continue to munch on the treat and she watched me with amusement in her eyes. I noticed it and looked at her again this time I smiled at her, the sweetest smile that I can think of back then. “Such a sweet girl,” she said and I giggled again.

After I finished the chocolate, we finally decided to go home and she offered me her hand to help me stand up and I grabbed her hand. She pulled me gently towards her and there she pulls out a handkerchief, then she wipes off my lips, stained by dark chocolate I just enjoyed.

“Let’s go?” she offered her hand again after she puts the handkerchief back in her pocket again so we can go back together while we hold our hands. Then that is the almost same moment when the creepy vibe that the guy from earlier came back to me.

I became frantic and I looked, as if he was following us, but every time I looked back, I cannot see him. My mom noticed what I have been doing so she became worried.

“Is there anything bothering you dear?” she asked and I looked up to her because she is towering over me right now.

“No mom,” I lied to her, and until now it pains me for not telling it to her, maybe if I did that time, we can find a way of escaping that grim moment and she might survive and all the things that I am not supposed to see there will not haunt me.

“If there is anything that is bothering you honey, just tell your mom, okay?” she told me and now with a tone of reassurance.

“I will mom,” I told her while nodding, then she pats my head again which made me feel safe that time. We peacefully walk towards the dim street which is the only way home, so what I did was just contain my fear as we walk along towards the mansion, that time I thought that once we reach home all these fears will go away.

But I was wrong, I was wrong about getting home, before we reach the house we have to go through to a dark corner, where the man is waiting for us. We were caught by surprise when he pops out of nowhere and blocked our path.

“Who are you?” mom asked as she tries to hide me in her back. That time I hold my composure and I tried not to cry, she told me that she will handle it.

The man did not answer her question, and just stare at us with his empty eyes.

“I will ask you again,” she said. “Who are you?” she asked again for the identity of the man, and once again that man did not answer and just stare at us, I even caught him smirking towards me with that evil grin of his that made me more scared towards him.

“Let’s just say that I am here to collect payments,” he said in a groggy voice which creeped me out even more, I hold her dress more tightly and my mom noticed and she pat my head to console me and encourage me that I am in safe hands right now.

What payment do you mean? I am not in debt to anyone,” she responded to the man’s statement, and the man smiled even more wider and this time my mom can see it, and we backed away from him. The man walked towards us as we back away.

“That’s interesting,” he said. “I think I know someone that who is in debt,” he added, as he walks towards us. Both of us and mother stepped back away from him, mom puts her hand on my head to console me but I don’t know why. She begins to pat my head gently, and I looked up to her.

“It will be okay honey,” she told me.

“Yes, everything, will, be fine... little girl,” he told me creepily and I hide myself in her back. Seeing him is giving me the creeps. Earlier, I felt like that there is someone following us, and I am starting to regret my actions that I did not tell her about the uneasiness that I am feeling.

“No, you don’t say that to her,” my mother told the creepy man, and right now, all I can see mom’s back as I am completely hidden behind her back. “Get away from us, don’t you know who I am?” she threatened the guy, but I only heard a chuckle from him.

“Oh, I already know who you are, and I have a plenty of information about you two,” he replied towards my mom, and I heard my mom gasp for air as she was very surprised, to hear that from him, then I heard him laugh which scared us.

“You don’t dare,” she threatened the man again as we continue to back away from the creepy guy.

“Oh yes I will,” he mocked my mother, and I feel like crying right now.

“You don’t know whose ground you are standing on right now,” my mom told her again but the man only found it amusing, that caused him to laugh maniacally for some reason.

“You don’t need to remind me miss, I am very aware where I am right now,” he said with his hoarse voice and this is like a cue for my mom to grab my hand, as if she is preparing to do something. “If you may, I will collect the debt that I have been ordered to get right now,” he said and I peeked to know what’s going on, but my eyes widened as I saw him puts out a knife.

Mom’s hold on my hand tightened.

“Ow,” I reacted on her tight grab, and she started to run away from the man.

“I am sorry for this sweetie,” she told me as we start to run away from the creepy man.