Her Sweet Vengeance

Chapter 5.5

Chapter 5.5

Weekend came and when I went out from the inn, I saw that Grey was waiting outside. Yeah, he is so persistent so he ended up knowing where I live and where I work. And one thing about him is that, he’s a cool friend and a great conversation starter.

“Hey gorgeous,” he greeted. He fixed the collar of his polo shirt and smiled at me.

“I ain’t gorgeous so stop the silly act and be straightforward.”

“You don’t believe my words?” he asked in disbelief.

“I don’t because I know the bitter truth. Anyway, where is the exact location of the house?”

“You’ll just need a few minutes walk from here.”

We walked a few blocks away from the inn and we arrived on a house with a small lawn and a lot of plants.

“We’re here!” he announced happily. He really reminds me of a carefree spirit from one of the books I have read before.

“Are you sure that the rent is 50 dollars? From the looks of this house, you can even pull a hundred bucks when you rent here.”

“Well, grandma said that it is discounted and she needs someone who will stay with her. You know old people…”

“Hey, that’s disrespect. Don’t say old people.”

“Oh sorry. I just… well, let’s come inside the house now. The sun is biting my skin and it feels so bad.”

“Huh? Are you afraid of the sun?”

“No. it’s just that, my skin is ultra sensitive so I hate it when the sun is this high and hot.”

“Okay. Whatever you say ‘sensitive’.”

He glared at me for teasing him but he didn’t say a word. We entered the black iron gate and walked on the not so wide pathway. Grey knocked on the wooden door. It was lacquered and it has carvings of flowers and vines on it. A few moments later, the door opened and we were greeted by an old lady in her late 50’s.

She was wearing a floral dress and and an apron. She smiled when she saw Grey and hugged him. Hay! What a sweet scene. When she turned to look at me, her eyes were questioning.

“Ah, hello Ma’am. I am Havaianas Miracle Leeven. You can call me Miracle. I am the classmate of Grey, uhmm… the one who will rent the rooftop room.” After my explanation, her facial expression changed into “recognition”.

“Oh! It’s you that he’s been talking about. And you really are beautiful. Anyway, yes. You can check the rooftop room. Don’t worry, if you want privacy, you can go in and out using the stairs outside. Anyway, I just want some help on my garden. You see, I love traveling with my amigas and when I come back here, my plants are already wilted. Every now and then that I travel, I can’t seem to enjoy it because all I want to do is go bac here this instant. So I say that having someone around to look for them will be amazing and a relief. Oh never mind this old woman who keeps on blabbering nonsense…”

“It’s not nonsense Ma’am. I understand you. You know people, they have different things that they want to protect and take care in their lives, an in your case those are the plants. Its natural to worry and be anxious over those things. But I really want to know why are you offering that room in such a low price?”

“You see Miracle, I know the feeling of living alone. It is hard and in your case, you are still a student. You need some space of your own. That room is not used for a long time anyway and for sure the dusts and cobwebs are everywhere of it. For me, that room is a place worth to be torn down, however, for you, that place could be a home. It’s a win-win situation if you think of this. I benefit, you benefit too.”

“I can definitely clean that room Ma’am. You need not to worry for I can do it alone. Thank you so much for lending me that room in a small price.”

“It’s okay. At least I can help you. I’m okay still if you delay a payment. You don’t need to worry too.”

“Thank you so much again Ma’am. You are godsent really.” The old woman smiled and she told me and Grey to check the room and I was surprised when I saw it. It was so spacious. Just like a smaller version of a pad. And it was not true that the room is dirty but it looks old and the wallpapers doesn’t seem to look good now.

“Wow! This place is amazing for a 50 dollar payment. Thank you so much for helping me Grey.” I was sincere when I said that. He really saved me.

“No problem. I’ll do anything for you. Anyway, you need some hand in cleaning this messy place? I have a lot of time you know, ah… I’m just saying.”

“Sure. I will be grateful if you do that. And I need to take down this old wallpapers and buy new ones.”

“We go to the mall for that stuff.”

We spent hours just doing cleaning on the rooftop room. We finally smiled when the task was done. It is fulfilling to do a task and finish it. I know that I owe Grey bigtime. He’s been so helpful to me even though we have just known each other and I know that I will be indebted to him.

“There. We’re done cleaning now. Do you want to grab some lunch? I feel like dying already from the constant moving around.”

“I’m sorry. I will buy us lunch. What do you want?”

“I want steak.”

“Steak it is.” He looked so shocked when I agreed. Is that a shocking thing?

“Eh? I was just joking. You don’t have enough money for that right?”

“I owe you something. You’ve been helping me since day one Grey. I don’t care if I will pay a lot right now and I don’t want you to refuse.”

“Okay. Okay. So, let’s buy steak and wallpaper for your room and then things that you need here. Beddings, kitchen wares and alike.”

“Okay. Time to shop.”

***

We were at the mall already and we ate our lunch first. After eating, I look for some wallpapers and gladly, I found them and they look amazing. I bought kitchen wares too and pillows, blanket and a comforter. I kept on looking for some interesting things as we were walking but I stopped in my tracks when I saw her again. Is that… Maxine?

How come that she’s here? I have made sure that I am far away from them. I don’t want to cross paths with her again. Not that I’m afraid but because the pain and suffering that they caused me are too much and I don’t want anything that reminds me of them.

“Hey, are you okay?” I snapped back to reality when I heard Grey’s concerned voice . I looked up at him and then looked back at that spot but she’s not there anymore.

“Ahh… yeah. Yeah, I was just… I thought I saw someone I know from that direction but I must have been mistaken.”

“Are you sure you are alright? You look pale. Do you want some water to drink?”

“Don’t mind me Grey. I’mm really okay. Thank you for the concern. It’s nothing, really.”

He doesn’t look convinced but nonetheless, he just nodded and we both continued to look for my essentials. It was already 3 p.m. when we were at the department store to buy my stocks. I need to cook since it will be more cheaper than if I buy from the restaurants and such. I’ll just bring lunch to school to.

“Hey, why are you putting a lot of noodles and sardines on the cart?” I asked Grey. He really placed a lot of those.

“Ah… well, it is easier to cook this and…”

“And no instant for me. I don’t need that. I am an expert in the cooking department so I can prepare my meals just fine. All I need is the ingredients and spices.”

“I didn’t know that you can cook. I thought you were just like me.”

“Wait… you’re saying that you keep on eating those processed foods with a lot of sodium chloride content? Are you really fine by that? I mean… it can kill you.”

“What can I do? My Mom is always away eversince and my Dad is always busy with his business. I am left alone in that house and the only thing I know is to boil water and eat instant noodles. I can eat proper food if I go out and eat on restaurants but most of the time that I’m at home, noodles and biscuits would save my day. And oh! An apple too.”

“Now I pity you Grey. I think you’ll die sooner because of that habit.”

“Hey watch your words Miracle. Its hurting me.”

“Are you having a heart attack already? Oh no! this is what I’m telling you.”

We both laughed at that and continued to do our last task.