Someone To Hold

Chapter 5

"Where are we going?" Xeno asked Andrea while staring at the road.

Andrea cooled down and she took a deep breath before answering him.

"Just drive straight and when you see a blue house on the right, drive right." She said while gesturing her hand the directions.

Xeno nodded at her and smiled at her brightly. She noticed it and she looked at him shyly.

"By the way, you look good today. We're matched. White shirt and black trousers." He winked at her before looking at the road again.

"Stop looking around and focus on driving, I don't want to end up dying." She said.

"Oh? You don't want to end up dying but you're trying to kill yourself days ago. Remember?"

"It doesn't have anything to do with you, stop minding other's business."

"Thay I will not do, I've been involved with you the day we met so just sit there quietly and enjoy the moment, darling."

"Tssk. Stop calling me darling, it's disgusting." Andrea furrowed her pretty little eyebrows.

"What do you want me to call you?"

"Just call me Andrea."

"Hmm, it's too plain. I want Darling more."

"Tssk, how arrogant. By the way, is Janice still pestering you? Why do we have to go this far? Being in a relationship?" Andrea asked him.

Xeno didn't look at her but he's listening.

"Yes, she is. Here, why don't we have a deal? In 5 months, if she stops pestering me after that time, then we'll break up and I'll never show myself to you again. However, if she still keeps on pestering me, of course, you have to remain my girlfriend that time." He looked at her and his lips curled.

"You know what, I've been wondering how this current situation will benefit me. I just acted that day in the restaurant because I'm annoyed and insulted by Janice. We don't have to go this far."

Andrea saw him touch his own jaw like he's thinking deeply. After that scenario, he gave her a single photo. She looked at it and her eyes widened in shock.

"How did you know about this!?" She couldn't stop the volume of her voice. She furrowed her eyebrows.

"I let Ryan investigate you and now I know your story. Although not the whole one. I'm sorry I did that without asking your permission. You can hit me now if you want."

She hit him in his arms, because of her rage, tears began to fall and she's now sobbing.

"I already told you to mind your own business! Your arrogance really knows no bound. You asshole!"

Seeing Andrea in that state, he felt very guilty so he stopped the car beside the road. After stopping, he hugged her tight. But Andrea keeps on hitting his chest as she cries.

"I'm sorry, darling. I'm really sorry."

She felt tired from hitting him and she stopped. She held his hands tight like a child that just lost her parents.

"It wasn't me who killed my parents. I was set up. It wasn't me.. Please." She said while she hugs him back.

Xeno caresses her hair to calm her down.

"I know, that's why I took an interest in you. I promise I will help you catch the one who killed your parents. Deal?"

She instantly nodded to him and she cried in his arms for about 6 minutes before calming down. She moved away from him slowly.

Xeno wiped her tears and kissed her cheek. Andrea could not grasp what happened and she pushed him away.

He caught me off guard.

"What do you think you're doing? Are you taking advantage of the deal we just made?"

"Of course not, I just feel like doing it. You did it once in the elevator, remember? You also caught me off guard that time. This is just you know....fairness?" He jokingly said.

Andrea can feel the heat from her cheeks.

"Why are you so red? Don't tell me you're blushing. Hmm."

The thought of her kissing his cheeks in the elevator still surprised her so much.

"I am not! Don't misunderstand. It's because I'm crying, asshole."

"Haha, okay. Whatever you say." He said while handling her a handkerchief.

She harshly pulled it from his hand and looked outside of her window beside her, hiding her face.

"By the way, how much do you know?" Andrea said while wiping her almost dried tears.

"I knew where you lived 6 years ago. When you were just 17 years old. In Isabella, you live there with your parents but they abused you. Some say that you murdered them but I didn't believe them. I want to know it from your mouth."

Xeno started the car and continued to drive.

"Yes, it's true that I lived there 6 years ago. And yes, my parents are killed but I'm the one who killed them. Someone set me up." Xeno nodded at what she just said.

I know you couldn't do such a thing. He thought.

"You know what? I've been thinking, are there any chances that the person named Ryan is involved in that matter? I mean when I mentioned that name to you, you just froze and you looked terrified."

Andrea is already in her calm state earlier and she looked at him with agreement.

"Yes, you are right. Ryan is someone that I shouldn't have messed with a long time ago. He's the reason why they call me a murderer."

"Don't worry, I'll help you with that. I'll make sure they will pay for what they did to you." Xeno tightened his grip to the steering wheel.

"You don't have to overexert yourself, Ryan is a powerful man. He has many connections."

Xeno just laughed at what she said.

"What's funny about that?" She frowned at him.

"You're sitting beside the richest man in the country, Darling. I have many connections too.You don't have to be scared of should I say....you're worried about me, aren't you?"

"In your dreams. As if I will worry about you. I'm just afraid that you might do some things recklessly. Hmmp!"

"Haha you don't have to worry. I got it under control. I'll definitely find out who's the man behind all of your sufferings."

Andrea reached out to hold his arms and smiled at him.

"Thank you."

"A simple 'Thank you' won't be enough. Come and give me a kiss." He pouted his lips. She immediately slapped him lightly.

"Childish." She said while laughing.

Xeno looked at her with warmth.

I'll make sure you will keep that smile and laugh for me. I'll help carry the burden you're carrying through all these years.

"There! A blue house just like you said." Xeno pointed to the blue house not so far from them.

"That's it then turn right."

"Aye aye Darling." Xeno posed a salute move.

"Tss."

When they reached that part of the road, Xeno turned right.

"Drive straight to the end of this road."

"Where are we actually going, if I may ask."

"You'll know when we get there."

Xeno kept driving until they reached the end of the road. After 9 minutes, they reached the end.

Denvor's Orphanage House

It is written in front of the big house. It should be an orphanage house. What business does she have here?

He parked his car and Andrea didn't wait for him to open the door. Xeno also gets out of the car and stares at the rusty gate in front of them.

"This is an orphanage house. Are you sure this is the right place you want to go to?" He asked.

Andrea immediately agreed to him.

"Yes, this is the one. Now help me carry these huge bags." He helped her carry the bags and walked beside her.

"Sister Ruby, I'm here. It's Andrea Nicole." After she speaks. A woman older than her runs towards them both to open the gate.

"Hello, Dreng. I didn't know you're coming today. You should have told me on the phone." When the woman opened the gate, she hugged Andrea tightly.

"I'm just here to surprise you all." Andrea said while she smiled so brightly to Sister Ruby.

Xeno remained silent as he watched both women in front of him say their greetings.

Sister Ruby noticed Xeno's presence so she turned to his direction and smiled at him softly. He can see her dimples showing.

"Who's this, Andrea? Is he your boyfriend? He's good looking, you have a good eye, dear." the woman teased Andrea.

"You're wrong, he's ---" Xeno cuts her off.

"Yes, I am her boyfriend, Ms. Ruby. I'm Xeno Louindelle, nice to meet you." He shakes her hand and smiles at her brightly.

"Oh, how kind of you. And please just call me Sister Ruby. There's no need for formality here." She replied to him.

From afar, they can hear little voices.

"Is that Ms. Andrea?"

"Yes, it is!"

"Let's go and meet her."

There, the three adults heard the voices of children getting louder.

"Ms. Andrea. It's been a long time."

Andrea was met with little children and they all hugged her. She smiled at the sight of them and hugged them all back.

"I'm back, sweethearts. I brought some snacks and food for you." Andrea holds up the bag she's carrying and she can see the excited expression from the children's faces.

"Ms. Andrea, carry me. I am big now and I also became strong." a little boy said while spreading his arms wide, waiting for Andrea to carry him.

Andrea carried the little boy and kissed his forehead.

"You've gotten bigger and heavier, Ethan." Little Ethan hugged her neck and kissed her cheek.

Xeno's heart was overwhelmed with warmth when he saw Andrea surrounded by children.

How can this pure soul have experienced cruelty before? He thought to himself.

The other children seemed jealous of Ethan and complained for her to carry them too.

"I can't possibly carry you all. Now, let's go inside and eat these snacks, how's that sound?" She puts Ethan down. She then tapped each of their heads and messed with their hair gently.

"Yes! Let's eat. Come Ms. Andrea, join us." The other children grabbed both of Andrea's hands and wanted to drag her inside.

"Now, children. Don't drag Ms. Dreng harshly, she just got here. Give her some space, you all." Sister Ruby said when she saw Andrea is struggling from the children's action.

"By the way, where's Suzie? Is she inside?" Andrea asked the children when suddenly a little girl's voice was heard in front of them.

"Ms. Andrea, is that you?" Said by the little girl who was assisted by her friends to walk. She's blind.

Andrea bends her knees and opens both of her arms. The little girl walked slowly towards her and reached out for Andrea's arms.

"I am here, Suzie. Long time no see, my dear sweetheart." When Suzie reached Andrea's hand, they both hugged each other like they hadn't seen each other for so long.

Suzie cried in her arms and buried her face in Andrea's neck.

"I thought you wouldn't come after all this time. I'm so glad you visited us today." Andrea caressed Suzie's hair gently.

In all of the children in the orphanage, Suzie is the closest to her. Of course she loves all of the children but Suzie is the first one she got close to when she first visited the orphanage house. Although she's blind, she's still kind to all of the children and she got along with them so well.

"Of course, I won't forget all of you here. I'm so glad you are all fine and you all got bigger and healthier." Andrea loosened up the hug and turned her gaze to Sister Ruby. She mouthed 'Thank you' to her and Sister Ruby replied to her with a nod and a smile.

Andrea turned her gaze once again to the children surrounding her and smiled.

"Okay! Let's go inside and eat your snacks. I bought all of your favorites." She said while she carried Suzie in her arms.

"Yehey! Snack!"

"There's so much food that Ms. Andrea brought. It all looks delicious."

Xeno didn't even think of bothering Andrea and he carried the bags that Andrea left by himself.

All of them entered the entrance and he looked around the house. It's a big house and the decorations inside are simple. There are also some hanging paper flowers and there are also some shapes that he assumed were made by the children. He smiled while following all of them.

When they all reached the backyard. Xeno saw a big vertical rectangular table in the middle. It must have been set up by the children. It's a fine late afternoon so it's fine to eat outside.

He immediately puts the two big plastic bags on the table and the children are all looking at him. After putting the bags in the center, he looked around and he could see the children were now sitting next to each other. The other end of the table, there sits Sister Ruby while on the other end of the table, there sits Suzie.

Andrea sits on the right side of Suzie. Andrea noticed that Xeno was having trouble on where to sit so she pulled a chair beside her and tapped it. Xeno noticed what she did and smiled at her before walking beside her.

The children remained silent, still watching Xeno's movement.

"Now, Ethan and Alyssa. Please open the bags and distribute the food fairly, okay?" Sister Ruby said to the two children sitting in the center.

"Yes, Sister Ruby." The two little children carefully opened the plastic bags and their eyes sparkled once they saw a bunch of snacks inside.

They both distribute the food to all of the children including Sister Ruby, Xeno and Andrea.

"Alyssa, please hand me the apples." Andrea said.

"Of course, Ms. Andrea." Since there's only two packs of apples. The children knew that it was Suzie's favorite. There are also just less children who like apples so she didn't buy many.

Once she received a pack of apples, she distributed it to those who liked apples and the remaining one, she gave it to Suzie.

Suzie happily accepted it.

"Before we eat, let us pray for this food." Sister Ruby said before holding the hands of the children beside her, left and right.

They all hold hands with the person beside them including Xeno and Andrea who hesitated for a minute but still held hands to him.

After praying, the children happily eat the food on their plate.

However, on the other hand, Xeno refused to let go of Andrea's hand. She hid it below the table.

"What are you doing? Get your hands off me." She whispered while trying to pull her hands.

"Never." He whispered back while he tightly held her hands below.

"You..." She's secretly pissed by him.

"By the way, Ms. Andrea, I just smelled a man's perfume earlier. Do we have a man visitor?" Suzie asked her while slowly eating her apple.

"Ahmm--" She couldn't finish her sentence when the kid asked them as well.

"Ms. Andrea, is the man beside you, your boyfriend?"

"Who are you, Mister? and why are you with Ms. Andrea?" Ethan asked them while eating a big portion of a biscuit.

"Are you trying to take her away from me? She's gonna marry me soon." Ethan added while pouting.

Andrea almost spit out the food in her mouth when she heard Ethan's remarks.

"Ethan, aren't you being a bit rude? Besides, she won't marry you. You're still a little boy while she's an adult now." Sister Ruby said.

"I'm sorry, Sister Ruby." Ethan said while he lowered his head down, feeling ashamed.

"It's okay, Sister Ruby. And Ethan, I'm not trying to take her away from you guys. I'm just accompanying her so that bad guys will not hurt her, don't worry." Xeno said to Ethan while smiling. Ethan's face brightened up when he heard Xeno's voice.

"Really? Okay but you should really protect her or I will beat you up."

"Ethan, watch your mouth." Sister Ruby said.

Xeno agreed to him and squeezed Andrea's hand below the table.

After they're done eating, Andrea and Xeno play with the children until the sun sets and the dark slowly creeps in. The children are beginning to grow fond of his presence and they treated him like how they treated Andrea.

It was 6 pm already when Andrea decided to go home.

"You're gonna visit us again, right? Bring Mister handsome with you next time." Suzie said while standing in front of the gate and holding Sister Ruby's hands.

"Okay, I will visit again soon and I'll bring him here as well." Andrea hugged them all and Xeno also entered the hugging group.

"Bye bye, Ms. Andrea and Mr. Xeno." The children said in chorus.

The children waved their hands as they watched Xeno and Andrea leaving with a car.

"I didn't know you're that close to children. They are all like little Angels." he said to Andrea while smiling.

"Yeah, I've been visiting them for a year now." She said.

Thinking of something, she lowered her head sadly. Xeno noticed it and looked at her worriedly.

"What's wrong, Darling."

"It's just that I remember myself to them, although they don't actually relate to what happened to me but I still feel sad while knowing that someone abandoned them. So the love that I've always wished for, I just gave it to them. They deserved to be loved, not to be abandoned."

Xeno held her hand and squeezed it gently.

"You really are the kindest person I have ever met in my entire life." He said while looking at her sad eyes.

"Thank you."

It was already dark when they reached Andrea's condominium. She got out and bid goodbye to Xeno before going into her room.

She ate less for dinner and prepared to sleep. She kept on thinking about this day before she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

.....

3 days have already passed and Xeno just keeps on contacting her everyday through her phone. Although she doesn't know where he knew her number, she just let him be.

In those 3 days, she just stayed in her condo and did some work. A thought came over her mind.

Maybe Xeno's not quite bad after all.