GUILTY OF LOVE

One

ROSA's POV

It was 9pm, David wasn't back from work yet and mom was getting sick from worrying. Dinner was getting cold and the sweet smell of the lasagna was making me drool. Mama tried calling him for like the fiftieth time but it went straight to voicemail. David owned the big store down Maple street but is always back by 7pm to eat dinner with the family. She was now pacing up and down the living room, she tried calling friends around but according to them, they haven't heard from David this evening. Honestly, I'm not really worried about David, he must have visited a friend and forgot to call mama that he would be late for dinner. His phone must be dead, he always forgets to charge his phone until it dies. Classic David, that must be why mama can't get through to him.

"Can I go eat dinner up in my room? I'll put the remaining food in the freezer, when David comes home you can heat up the food and have dinner with him", I asked. She was still trying to get through to him and it still went straight to voicemail, no surprise there. She took her time to reply me.

"Yeah sure,honey. Can you do me a favour?". She looked so stressed right now and she still had a night shift that was starting in an hour time at the hospital. My mama is a nurse at Darwin's General Hospital.

"Ummmm... okay sure, what do you want?" I asked while dishing out my food. I was so hungry, I was shivering out of hunger.

"Call Junior. Ask him if David went to see him in college after work....please...", she stopped in front of me, pleading.

"You know begging doesn't really look good on you. I'll call Junior after eating, I'm starving. You should also eat something,you have a shift in an hour time.", I was arranging my food on a tray to take up to my room.

"I'll get something to eat as soon as I hear from David."

"Why are you so worried about him anyway, he's a full grown ass man who can take good care of himself? He's probably at a bar drinking or something."

"This man you're talking about pays your bills and owns the house you sleep in",she yelled at me.

"Well, we were doing just fine by ourselves before you decided to marry Mr Big and strong." I deepened my voice at the last words and raised my two arms upwards to further emphasize my point. Having made my point clear I packed the the remaining food and put it in the freezer, took my tray, climbed up straight to my room and closed the door shut.

I heard her shout out to me from downstairs, "Really mature Rosa, just grow up. Now you want to judge me? Do you think it's easy being a single mom in this world? You can't even take care of yourself, you are so self centered, and greedy and...."

I then connected my bluetooth speaker to my phone and started playing some rock music and increased it to the highest volume to drown out her voice.

I wonder how she could just forget all about dad. My papa used to be a bus driver back in Seattle. Everything was smooth, we were happy and a family back then, not what we pretend to be now. It was all cool then until my papa had an accident which took the lives of many that day. Things got really bad after the accident, papa changed. He used to hit her. Soon after, they got divorced and mama got full custody of me. Fast forward three years later, mama got remarried to David, the father of my former crush. Now nothing can never happen between Junior and I cause we're now siblings, if you know what I mean.

Just then, Camila Cambello and Shawn Mendez's senorita started playing on my speaker. I got up to dance a little but ended up hitting my big toe on my bed stand and fell face flat on the floor. Boy, it did hurt so bad, mostly my toe though. I got up limping back to my bed and cursing underneath my breath and just then, out of my bedroom window I noticed a silhouette of a figure in one of Mrs Smith's bedroom.

Mrs Smith is my neighbour, she's old, like really old, like really really old, like 65 years old. She lives alone though, I always wondered why her family didn't take her to an old age home. She's still active but I know how much she hates climbing the stairs and the physique of the person I saw from my window didn't look at all like Mrs Smith. It looked like a man. OMG, did someone break into Mrs Smith's house?

I paused the music and walked slowly to my window, staring into the room, trying to find out what the the person was doing. He was just walking around, touching things, like he was searching for something. What kind of person would try to steal from that kind old woman. I don't know how long I stood there studying this person until someone knocked at my door, jolting me back to reality.

"I'm going to the hospital right now, can you give me a call if David comes back home...fuck, coffee on my... f**k", it was mom. I knew she was in a hurry, the way she kept cursing and all.

"Bye", I said but she knocked again.

"What do you want?", I asked.

"Can I come in..."

"Yeah, sure whatever",I said picking up the tray with my now empty plate and cup to drop in the sink when my door opened slowly and my mom entered with the walk of shame. Her left breast side downwards of the hospital scrubs she had on had a design of black coffee. Her long curly black hair was packed up on a ponytail. She was holding her coffee mug, her black tote bag with blue and yellow flower designs were hung on her right hand.

I had planned on letting her walk through the door, then walk past her like I didn't notice but when I saw the black coffee stain on her hospital scrub. I changed my mind knowing she has been through enough trouble for the night and doesn't need to add me to her list of worries. Not like my name was ever crossed out her list of worries

"What else do you want?" I asked, dropping the tray down and sitting on my bed.

"Well, I'm sorry for yelling at you that way... it's just that I'm really worried about David right now and... I know that it isn't an excuse for..." she stopped and looked into my eyes and held my hand as she slowly walked us back to the bed wher we took our seat,"honey I'm sorry"

"What, so I'm not selfish anymore?"

"I deserve that...I'm sorry Rosa"

I got up from the bed, took a few more steps forward, my back still facing her, I said emotionlessly,"I'll call you if David comes home, you have a long night ahead... now please close the door on your way out."

She got up and walked out and I followed quietly. Immediately she stepped out of my room, she tried to say something but I slammed the door at her face and went back to playing the music and then to my bed.

Just about twenty minutes later, I heard her go out of the door, then she drove off in her car which was parked just outside the house.

I then remembered, I never checked up on Mrs Smith, I mean someone broke into her house so I rushed out. I was wearing one of my dad's big grey shirts that only barely covered my butt and a pair of grey thigh-length socks to match. I wore a grey bunny flip flops. When I got outside, it was so cold I regretted not taking a jacket or wearing trousers but I was so worried about Mrs Smith that I didn't bother to change into something more appropriate for the weather. Inside the house was warm but outside was chill.

What if the person who broke into her house hit her in the head to knock her out? I've seen that happen in a lot of movies...Just the thought of that made me sick. I wanted to call 911 but I left my phone in my room. I can't go back to pick it up, I need to check up on her first.

I picked up my pace and when I got to her front yard. The burglar was there. He had a bottle of vodka in his hand, he was just sitting on the floor. I couldn't see his face because he was just staring at the floor.

I was so shocked I stopped running and was just watching him, like who breaks into a house in the night and takes a bottle of vodka from there, sits at the front and waits? I hope he didn't hurt Mrs Smith... or God forbid kill her...

"Hey, what's up with you?", I asked calmly and gently while slowly walking towards him. What's up with you... Is that the best I could come up with? I don't know if he has a gun. He didn't even look up, he just answered me still looking at the floor.

"Wanna join me? The bottle is still half full", raising the bottle up a bit. His voice was calm but his words slurred

"Sure,sure...", I sat beside him now and took the bottle from him

"Care to tell me what you're doing here? I mean you broke into Mrs Smith's house... (takes a bit gulp straight from the bottle of vodka. God, it burns) You didnt hurt her, right? Cause I've called the cops already so there'll be here in about 5 minutes time. This is an head start, you can run before they get h...", he interrupted me laughing. Is he a psychopath? I didn't really call the cops on him but he should have been scared and run or does he want to get arrested?

After laughing for what seemed to be a minute.

He looked at me straight in the eyes and was just quiet. I was lost in those gray eyes, it was bright. And then, he started laughing again.

This dude must be crazy so I got up to go check on Mrs Smith but he just grabbed my hand.

"Hey, where the f**k do you think you're going?"

"Maybe if you just answered simple questions that I asked you, I would then answer you",I got his hands off me and went inside her house...

"Mrs Smith... Mrs Smith... Mrs Smith...",no response.

"b***h, you're crazy. Maybe you don't know what time it is, but it's f*****g 10 now and she's sleeping"

Sleeping... what does it mean when a burglar says someone is sleeping? Oh my God, did he kill her?

"What did you do to her? Tell me... what?" I asked him, keeping him engaged in the conversation while walking backwards towards the kitchen but he kept following saying keep your voice down and get the f**k out. I was freaking scared and shouting.

I finally got a knife.

"Woah! Woah! What do you want to do with that?"

"Get out... get out or I'm... I'm going to stab you", he was finally listening to me. He was moving back slowly. I guess I got the advantage now.

"Hey, calm down... please..."

"Shut the f**k up... I'm going to f*****g use this, i swear I'm gonna use...", I said waving the knife at him to scare him, then i saw the phone on the table. I ran close to it but he ran closer to me so I raised the knife back up.

"Get the f**k back...", I picked up the phone and dialled 911

"911, what's your emergency?", it said

"There's a psychopath in my neighbour's house...", he interrupted me again.

"Psychopath? I'm not the psychopath, you are..."

"Shut up asshole",to the burglar.

"Norm, where are...? Rosa, what are you doing here? And at this...", it was Mrs Smith. I dropped the knife on the floor and ran to hug her.

"Time of the night...", she finished her sentence.

"Thank God Mrs Smith, I was in my room and I saw him from my window. He broke into your house", I said pointing at the gray eyed burglar.

"Broke in? What do you mean broke in?" Mrs Smith sounded confused.

"Yeah yeah, this guy broke into your house. I don't know what he wants. Maybe to steal something or...", I said trying to explain to her but she interrupted me.

"No no, he's my grandson. He's staying with me now. Just moved in today, this evening", she explained to me cupping my face in my hands.

"Oh my God, Oh my God, I'm so so sorry Mrs Smith. I'm so...", she stopped me.

"No,it's okay. Really, it's okay",she told me.

"Rosa, are you okay?" She asked

I felt so embarrassed. I f****d up real bad. I turned around and he was just standing there, looking confused. I didn't really notice it when I was threatening to kill him but he was so damn cute. I think cute is an understatement, he's hot. The sleek brown hair, gray eyes that could easily be mistaken for blue, chiseled jaws, firm muscles. He had muscles in all the right places and he was tall, taller than I was for sure and just the right amount. His abs were visible in his black t-shirt. He has perfect lips, perfect body shape, prefect height.

I took small steps towards him. I didn't really notice how cold it was when I was scared and fighting the hot new guy but now, it was like with each step i took towards him it was getting colder and the front door that we left open wasn't really helping things.I mean I'm wearing only a big grey shirt and socks with slippers.

"Hey,we got off on the wrong foot. I live next door, I'm...", I stretched out my hand to introduce myself but instead he grabbed my wrist tightly, so tight it hurt and dragged me to the front door.

"You psychotic lunatic, you almost killed me, almost stabbed me... you know what? f**k off... Get out of my house and don't ever show your face here again", he said all these before shutting the door at my face.

Okay, that went bad... Like really bad... Like really really bad. He's such an asshole. So rude, he didn't even let me explain myself. And he shut the door at my face, how dare he? I kept thinking all these while I walked back up my place.

I first did the dishes, then went up to my room.

Now it was 11 and David was not back yet so I called Junior. It rang three times then went straight to voicemail so I hung up. It's a waste sending David and Junior voicemails, they don't listen to it anyway.

God, I was still so pissed at that asshole for slamming the door at my face so I decided to go to the one place that makes me feel safe.

I tried calling Junior like five more times on the way there but it kept on going to voicemail. I started walking fast, then it turned to a jog and then to a full run until I got there.

Immediately I got home, I checked on David but he wasn't at home. This is so unlike him though. He isn't like this. He has never done something like this before. David isn't a bad guy, he's a good guy. I also think he's good to my mama but he still isn't my dad.

"What the f**k Junior?", it was very noisy. I could hear girls screaming, music so loud it was blasting my ears. He was in a f*****g party.

"Hello, hello, hello, I can't hear you", he kept shouting

"Junior have you heard from your dad all day?", I asked shouting into the phone so he could hear me

"Hello... hello... can you just call tomorrow?", he said

"Have you heard from David?", I asked slowly this time but I was still shouting so he could hear me

"Ok, thanks for understanding. Talk to you tomorrow."

"Wait, wait, wait...don't hang u...", but he hung up before I could finish.

"f**k!"

_______________________________

The sound of the alarm woke me up, I lazily slammed it shut and just laid on my bed. I spent about six minutes gathering up strength to get up. I was in my purple silk pyjamas. I wore my furry purple flip flops and went to check on David. I wanted to be sure if he came home last night.

"David... David... David... David", no response so I went to his room, knocked three times before entering. No one was there. The bed looked like no one slept on it last night. I went straight to the bathroom door and knocked twice before entering. Still, no one was there.

I went downstairs, first to the kitchen where he normally makes breakfast for mama and I but he wasn't there. He wasn't in the living room too so I checked outside. His car wasn't parked out front. Maybe he went to work early.

I went up to get ready for school. When i was done, I looked at myself in my school uniform- brown mini skirt, white long sleeve button up short and brown blazer which had my school badge neatly sown on the left breast pocket. I packed my hair into a ponytail. I was so happy that I had threaded my brows yesterday. It looked really good. I only put on some powder, mascara, my cherry lip gloss, sprayed rosewater and my makeup was done. I'm not really the full makeup kind of girl, I rock natural looks all day although I have a lot of makeup products on my dressing table.

I left the two upper buttons so I wouldn't sweat too much. My brown thigh high boots were looking at me and I smiled. My nails were already painted black yesterday. I picked up my black school bag and wore only one hand. Then the sound I've been waiting for finally came, the sound of the horn of my bestfriend's car. I looked at myself in the mirror again, smiled at said, "You are an achiever, conquer today, conquer the next, conquer the many more to come. Alexander the great conquered the world at a young age. No pressure but you can do more by just fighting your fears, helping the needy, surviving the day. Don't just survive the day and the next, live the day and the next and the many more to come." This is a speech my papa always said.

Too bad my mirror is too close to my window because my eyes went next into my neighbour's window. He was working out, doing pull-ups. So damn hot! The way his body moved, his muscles clenched with each movement he made. He went up and down in a rhythm that made my body tense up. He saw me as i just stood by the window looking at his body. My breathing ceased, it was like there wasn't any air left for me to breathe. Every step he took to the window of his room made my heart beat faster.

I found myself waving at him, I couldn't control my hand, it was moving on it's own. Why did i just wave? I'm meant to be angry with him after he kicked me out of Mrs Smith's house.

He smiled, used his left hand to brush his brown hair to the back. He then closed the curtains shut. Asshole.