TAINTED HEARTS (ENGLISH)

TAINTED HEARTS 03

Chapter 03

Some dreams look so surreal. But if it’s already in front of you, would you still not believe it? All that’s left is for me to ask him to slap me just to prove I’m not dreaming.

“I bought you a house.”

When he repeated it more clearly, I choked on my drink, unable to believe it. He already bought it? When? Yesterday? But . . . I froze as if doused with cold water. How much does a house cost? I didn’t know, but I was sure it was expensive.

“What do you want . . . in return?”

I grew nervous about what he would ask in return, afraid I wouldn’t be able to give it and regretting losing the chance to finally leave the house we’re living in now.

“Nothing. I won’t ask anything. I just want you and your family to move into the new house I bought right away.”

I shook my head and took a deep breath. I still couldn’t believe it.

“But . . . but why?”

He sighed and gave a faint smile.

“Let’s just say, I just wanted to help.”

I nodded. Who was I to refuse such a huge help? Not for me, but for my family. Is this how the rich are? Giving houses whenever they feel like it?

“In that case, when can we move in?”

My nerves mixed with excitement. I wanted so badly for us to leave that house.

He shrugged and smiled again.

“I’d told you I already bought it. It’s up to you, whenever you want. If you want, you can move tomorrow after work.”

I nodded. My vision blurred with tears threatening to fall.

“Thank you . . .” Tears slid down my cheek, which I quickly wiped, crying but smiling.

I didn’t know how else to thank him. I just ended up crying in front of him. He left right away and instructed my manager to let me go home early. Probably so we could pack.

“Is that true?” Mama asked, equally unbelieving, when I told her what happened.

“Yes, Mama! Someone’s picking us up tomorrow!” I bit my lower lip, unsure if I could sleep properly tonight.

I covered my mouth with my hands, tears welling again. Good thing that Amel hasn’t come back yet. Probably too busy spending the money he took from me on his vices.

“We’ll finally leave this place, Mama! That man won’t hurt you ever again!” It was bittersweet, but joy was stronger.

Mama nodded, teary-eyed as well. That same night, we were already packing. My siblings didn’t know yet. They had no idea, and I wanted to surprise them once we moved into the new house; that it was ours and that we’d live there from now on. I couldn’t sleep from thinking about it until morning came and we got into the vehicle sent by Mr. Andromeda.

“Ate, the car’s so nice! And it’s cold inside!”

“This is my first time riding in a car like this, Ate!”

“Where are we going?”

I smiled at my siblings’ innocent questions. Even now, I still couldn’t believe it. We were moving to a new house, and my family would no longer be hurt. My heart jumped for joy at the thought.

The vehicle stopped where Mr. Andromeda was waiting. He stood in front of a beautiful two-storey house. There was a tall gate and what seemed to be furniture already inside since I noticed some air conditioners. It was clean and beautiful. The place was quiet. No people outside.

“Mr. Andromeda, this is Mama and my siblings,” I introduced my family as we stopped in front of him.

He smiled and nodded. His gaze was gentle, with a touch of compassion, as he looked at my family one by one. At the end, his eyes returned to me.

“I know you’re wondering why I bought you a house . . .”

I stayed quiet, sensing there was more to what he had to say.

“Your father . . .”

He stopped. My lips parted, and Mama and I exchanged looks when he mentioned my father. I turned my eyes back to him and waited. He hadn’t continued yet, but realizations were already forming in my mind.

“I am one of your father’s friends—”

“You knew Papa?” I cut him off, surprised at what he said. He smiled and nodded.

“Not a close friend, but I think we’re friends because he trusted me. Before he died, we had a small business. We were business partners. He said that his share is for his eldest daughter. I didn’t know any of his family. When he passed away, he left some money with me. To be honest, I could have kept it since you knew nothing about it, but my conscience couldn’t allow that.” He pointed to the house and the car. “I bought these using his money.” He smiled at me. “And I put the rest in your bank account.”

I shook my head. “I don’t have a bank account.”

He nodded. “I know, but I made you one.”

I glanced at Mama, who was now crying. Papa had been dead for five years. It was sudden, and we hadn’t prepared. Mama agreed to be with Amel because she thought it would help in raising us; that it would help provide for our needs. But the opposite happened.

Now we stood before a fine car and a decent house because of Papa. Tears spilled as I thought about how much he loved us. He didn’t say it, but he wanted us to live a better life.

“Sorry for the delay. I just found out that you are his family. It took me a while to find you. I also had to make sure you were truly his daughter.” Smiling, he handed me the keys to the house and the car. “I also want to extend my help. I saw your hard work, so I want to suggest you go back to school. I can pay for your tuition and allowance. It’s on me. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

“That’s already too much—”

“It’s alright. It’s just a small help. I’m happy to meet you and your family.”

I nodded. He said his goodbye shortly after. My hand trembled as I unlocked the door of the house. The car was already inside the gate, parked. The house wasn’t overly big, but to us, it felt enormous. Both upstairs and downstairs were neat. It was spacious, with a laundry area at the back. Everything was made of stone, even the stairs. There were three bedrooms, each with its own terrace.

“Ate, are we going to live here? Is this really our house? Amel won’t find us anymore?”

“Yes, Mena. We’ll live here, and he won’t be able to find us.”

I smiled when she burst into tears and hugged me. My siblings were overjoyed, as was Mama, who still couldn’t stop wiping her tears. Me, until now, I still couldn’t believe it. Mr. Andromeda was heaven-sent to my family, when I thought there was no more hope of leaving the place we once lived in.

Go back to school?

My smile widened. I had stopped schooling when Mama and my sibling got sick. Just one more year to finish, but I couldn’t afford both my studies and Rico’s medicine. I ended up at the club because finding work was hard, and that was where the fast money was. I got hired quickly without the long application and interview process.

“I asked my assistant to bring you your school supplies,” said Mr. Andromeda when he called.

I didn’t refuse and immediately accepted everything he gave. The supplies were expensive, even the bag. The next day, I happily went to the school Mr. Andromeda mentioned. With just one look, I could already tell the tuition there was costly. I glanced around the vast place. I couldn’t believe I was now one of the many students in this luxurious school! Not even in my dreams had I imagined it!

I wandered for a while, unable to wipe the smile off my lips. My eyes sparkled as I saw the students inside. All of them carried expensive gadgets, and their clothes were clearly high-end.

When I came home, I joyfully told my family everything I saw. Like me, my siblings’ eyes gleamed, so I promised to take them to my school one day so they could see it.

“Xena, are you awake?” Mama softly called, knocking on my door.

“Yes!”

I combed my long black hair while singing along to the song my sibling was playing. My smile was bright today because it was my first day of school.

“I’m leaving, Ma!”

I stepped out after saying goodbye to Mama and my siblings. Humming a favorite song, I passed by the car in the garage. I stared at it with pursed lips. I had to learn how to drive so it wouldn’t just sit there unused.

I put on Along’s old hat so I wouldn’t get too hot walking toward the jeepney stop to ride to school. I got on and off the jeepney, grinning at the thought of studying in a big, prestigious school. After we moved, it felt like I had a second life. Second chance. I would study hard and not waste it.

I took a deep breath and walked up to the guard with a smile. He took my ID and stared at me before letting me in. This was my second time entering this school, but it still felt like my first. I hadn’t really explored much during enrollment.

“He’s our school’s new professor,” I overheard the whispers of wealthy students.

Their English and pronunciation were intimidating. I wasn’t surprised, though, since even before I enrolled, I already knew most of the students here were rich.

I couldn’t help glancing when they giggled. I smiled when one of them looked my way, but my smile faded when she raised an eyebrow at me. Biting my lip in embarrassment, I continued up the building to find my classroom.

“My god! Did you see him? I almost faint!”

“Not just I saw him; I smelled him too when I bumped into him at the entrance! I was shocked because he’s too hot to be a professor!”

“His students are so lucky! I think I suddenly want to shift subjects!”

I was on the last step of the stairs leading to my classroom’s floor when I passed by another group of girls. They seemed to be talking about the same teacher the students downstairs had mentioned.

All their eyes were fixed in one place. When I followed their gaze, all I caught was the broad back of a tall man. He had just turned into one of the hallways, so I didn’t see his face.

After the girls passed me, I continued and stopped in front of the room of my first class. I took a deep breath before gently knocking. I stared at the door, thinking I would probably be the one to open it. I exhaled again, bit my lip, and opened it.

My nerves spiked when I peeked in, every student’s eyes fixed on me. I swallowed hard. My cheeks burned as I opened the door wider. I avoided their scrutinizing stares and shifted my eyes forward—only to almost freeze in place.

A hunky, drop-dead gorgeous man was strictly staring at me. I chewed my bottom lip and awkwardly smiled at him. He didn’t budge. He was emotionless. He just stood there, sternly looking at me. He was in front of the class, and I assumed that . . . he was our professor.