Depicted Soul With Blood

Chapter 2

KYLE JIMENEZ'S POV

"HEY, I SAID WAKE UP!" As I opened my eyes, Coleen was standing beside me, waking me up. She was using her full strength shaking my whole body up.

I sat up in my bed and began to remove the small lumps from my eyes and looked at the watch in my hand.

"What? Is something wrong?" I asked. She just rolled her eyes and stared at me.

"Of course, there's nothing wrong, your grandma just finished our lunch you know." She walked towards my door then she stopped. Wait, I remembered I locked my door, "Wait, I locked my door before I napped, how did you get in?"

"Silly, you know I have hacks about it, I used my expired credit card from 8 years ago," She showed it from her pocket and smiled.

I fixed myself up then I yawned, oh s**t, I could smell my bad breath even though I just woke up from a nap or maybe sleep?

We went downstairs and saw my grandmother fixing the table. Coleen started to walk faster and helped her. She has a big heart, that's why I love her ever since we met in high school. She's very different in terms of showing kindness to others. She does not know that though, I was very shy to tell her up until now. I can just see that he helps others with initiative, I am even more excited and in love with her.

My grandmother smiled at me as I came closer and smiled. "I can even remember how small you were before, Kyle. I missed you very much."

She hugged me with happiness in her tone. We didn't visit her for the last 10 years I think, we only visited her once with my dad just to make sure she's safe, I never got in here before. I only stayed outside the house, waiting for my dad to come out of the big old door.

"I missed you too, grandmother. What's on the menu for today?" I joyfully asked. "Let's just eat, I know how hungry you and your girlfriend were." She patted me on my shoulder and motioned us to sit. Coleen and I sat beside her with different food at the table.

My grandmother started the prayer and all of us bowed our heads and thank our Lord for giving us the life and food that is in front of us now.

We were eating in silence when Coleen looked at me with wide eyes and looked at my grandmother. I know what she meant, so I just thought of something to talk about.

A little bit nervous, I proceeded. "Grandmother, are you okay with this house, I mean I know you treasure this the most but, aren't you lonely these years?" She looked at me and smiled.

"This house lived for many decades and it witnessed many things, Kyle, I can't even sell this because I want our future heir to realize how rich their ancestors were," She chuckled and proceed to eat.

I saw how quiet Coleen was, I knew she wanted to ask many questions to my grandmother. Her curiosity really drives her crazy. Her face tells me that she wanted to ask about the history of our ancestors, the house, antiques, and maybe even grandmother's teenage years.

"Grandma, my girlfriend wanted to ask questions, is it okay with you?" Coleen's face brightened and looked at me surprised.

"Sure thing, I wanted you guys to know every single detail my grandfather told me. Let's just discuss the rules later," She patted my shoulder. "And just call me Mommy instead, I hate being called 'grandmother'. Do I look old, darling?"

Wait, rules? What did she mean about it? My skin started to crawl again but of course, every house has rules. Maybe she just wanted to be organized and responsible although we're in our 20's. It's not a bad thing, right?

We finished eating, I washed the dishes while Coleen cleaned the table. My grandmother, I mean Mommy Celia went upstairs to get something so we are the only ones here.

"There are no plates left here, you can continue washing those dishes," Coleen said, as she kept cleaning the table.

I was still washing the remaining dishes when someone just put a clean plate beside the sink. I heard the plate make a sound as it touched the tile that was beside the sink.

"Hey, you said there's nothing left and that's a clean plate. Do you know the difference---"

"Kyle, who are you talking to?" Mommy said while going down the stairs with boxes. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I saw, Coleen, beside her going down the stairs too!

I looked back at the plate that just appeared out of nowhere, and it was there. All clean but I was just confused, how the hell did it appear here and who put it there?

"N-no, nothing." I turned to my remaining dishes and arranged them to their places. My skin is so cold and I can't even speak. I feel so pale and can't even move any muscles so I just tried walking to the sofa to relax.

Coleen looked at me confused and she sat beside me. "Hey, I noticed you are not well and you looked at us scared. Is everything all right?" I nodded and leaned on the couch.

I know my answer cannot satisfy her, but Mommy Celia sat with us. She opened one of the 3 boxes that look so dirty, it was full of dirt and spider webs. She blew it away and used her hands to remove the webs.

"You can explore the house, but be responsible in touching antiques, you know how valuable every single one in here, right? You two are old enough to understand what I am saying," She let out a sigh and looked at me. "You can open any rooms you like, but do not open the 10th door. Do not ask questions about it, just do not do it," She sound really serious so Coleen and I nodded.

"Wear this, it can protect you from anything, just do not lose it or remove it from you," She took two necklaces that look alike. There was a tree and hearts in it, probably a couple of necklaces.

Coleen wore it herself and she looked so beautiful with it, good thing I am wearing round neck t-shirt today so I can hide it. It's just that I am not confident wearing necklaces especially I am not into fashionable things.

"Can I ask how this house was built? I mean, what was the whole history of your ancestors?" Coleen asked and her eyes were so bright and full of curiosity.

My grandmother sighed and smiled, "Well, this house was built almost 300 years ago, the family who lived here were the most wealthy and powerful families of the 17th and 18th centuries. Yes, both centuries were included because they maintained their wealth for more than 100 years, built more houses, more businesses, and the generations knew how to handle money and business. It all started with the name of Stephen Jean Jimenez, the man who made our family part of history."

Mommy Celia went on one of the boxes and she showed us piles of handwritten letters with signs and blood. It was compilations of contracts and letters from over 300 years ago.

"These letters and contracts were one of the only ones that survived the fire. So, back to the story, all of the wealth of the Jimenez Family is much more valuable than those millionaires we have today. They were the most respected families at that time, they maintained everything so well. They even bought half of this country from the government, since at that time the government does not have enough funds and agreed to sell a large part of it. But now, Jimenez Family was out of history, and the only land and property we have now is this house and its antiques. That is the reason why I could not sell this even though I badly wanted," she paused, "So probably, your question is, how Jimenez family was out of history and why did we receive our downfall? It is because of the 5th or maybe 6th generation, Jonathan Jimenez."

She showed us an old painting that was a family picture. A man was standing in his suit with a woman by his side and 3 girls in the frame. It was too old and dusty, but you can still see their faces and their outfits.

"But, this selfish guy, Jonathan Jimenez is not part of the family. I mean, he doesn't have the blood of a Jimenez and was only adopted by our family. Maybe that is also the cause of chaos and why we received such a downfall after years and decades of hard work our ancestors did. Yeah, after his adoptive parents died, he did not receive any wealth from them, instead, they all gave it to his soon-to-be wife at that time, Maria Losauria. They knew Jonathan could not handle their business and money, they knew he will use it for bad. As you can see, there are only 3 girls in this frame, but this is his 2nd family and just married some chaotic wife with 3 kids. The first family he had was a lovely wife and a very good daughter. The only thing was his first wife died when she gave birth to their only child, so this kid never saw her mother. Plus, he also got everything since he was the husband," She added and sighed.

"That is awful, she never had the chance to meet her biological mother. His dad also married someone and maybe he has something to do with the first wife's death?" Coleen said then looked at the painting of Jonathan's second family.

"Maybe, but if it is, he should be in hell right now. But, that is not the most awful and tragic experience of his first child. You know the story of cinderella, right? She became an outcast as soon as his selfish father married someone else, maybe at the age of 7, the kid already experienced living in the basement and eating once a week. All they did to her was make her feel out of the family and be the slave instead of the righteous heir of the business. His father did not show any love nor care, he even looked down at her and thinks she was just a stray pet." My grandmother stood up and closed her eyes, we did not know why she did it, but after a few seconds, she sat down.

"The kid's name was Serena Jimenez, or rather, Serena Losauria. She took her mother's maiden name instead of his father's. I do not know what happened to them, even their deaths were not found. I have searched in this house for years yet there were no records of their death, the only thing I found was evidence that they lived. That is all for today, let's continue tomorrow or some other day," She said.

"How did the Jimenez continue their name?" Coleen asked again.

"I found out that Jonathan's adoptive father has a brother and they continued the name. For some reason, his brother did not want to take this last property of the family, but his sons and daughters did. They did not want to waste the only property Jimenez has left. To say at least, we have to thank our ancestors for not selling any part of this, they even cared for it." Mommy Celia answered then stood up.

"Do not forget about my warning, okay? I will go rest, you two should sleep too. You've been on a trip all the way here for several hours," She left us and I feel too tired and scared. Man, I should not be scared.

When Mommy Celia closed her door, my girlfriend started to shake me, "Hey, we should go explore the whole house now, I just can't wait like I didn't sleep for this."

I really like to join her, but my hallucinations or should I say experiences lately disturbed the hell inside me. Probably, I should keep Coleen away from danger, maybe some rest is the best idea.

"I'm a little bit tired and stressed, can we rest for today?" Seeing her eyes change to sadness, she just agreed.

"Oh yeah, maybe it's for the best, seeing you---like uhm you don't feel well," She sadly said and turned her eyes away.

"I am really sorry, let's just go inside our rooms and rest," Coleen nodded with sadness and went upstairs before me.

Her actions really make me feel sorry for her and make my conscience fill me and it was my fault that I didn't let her explore.

To make it up for her, I made her an old-fashioned love letter or should I call it, a sorry letter.

I just thank God for giving me the professional skills of a calligrapher. That's how I got Coleen, even though many boys who are much handsome and talented than me liked her before.

Many of them just failed, giving her chocolates and valuable things, but I won the battle. The battle I wished I will win whatever was the consequences.

I only gave her my calligraphed love letter every day and put it inside her locker. I became her official suitor for almost 1 year and a half. That was kind of unexpected to me, but I think it was wonderful that she noticed me out of those guys that she might have been paired with.

She finally answered me on the day I became her official suitor, May 23.

I couldn't describe how I feel that day, she really remembered everything since we began.

I knocked at her door but there was no response, so I have no choice but to return to my room. She is still mad about it, especially she has been waiting for this moment for hours.

I focused myself to sleep, thinking positive thoughts but yeah, not a single thing worked. I was like a crazy man staring out of nowhere.

But I really want to clear my mind for now. My letter is not enough to make her feel better, there are no stores near either.

What should I do?

Maybe Mommy Celia has stocks inside her fridge, I can make her something to make her feel better. Like making her favorite omelet I guess.

I stood up and walked out of the room, no sight of Coleen.

Walking down the stairs I was thinking of some menus that I can make. As I opened the fridge, there were a lot of vegetables and meat inside.

Many menus inside my head began to pop up continuously so I will be making more than I expected.

It will take hours to do, but since it was my fault for being a stubborn boyfriend, I literally deserve it.

I did some exercise and moved my head sidewards then prepared everything. What can I possibly do? There is no gym here, besides I do home workouts.

She will die because of you.

I was in the middle of cutting the onions when the knife suddenly slipped because of the voice I heard and made a small wound right in my index finger.

I looked around but no one was there, so I closed my eyes and told my mind that it was only a hallucination.

Arranging the table and preparing everything, I looked at my watch. It really took me hours, it is almost a quarter to five.

I ran upstairs and started knocking at her door. Again, there was no response on the other side. But as I made another knock, the doorknob unlocked and she walked past me.

Her presence made me shiver and my skin crawl the moment she passed, how did that happen?

I even noticed her weirdness and looking downwards. I let out a sigh and followed her.

She just sit quietly without any words or movements, so I sat beside her and decided to talk to her. Apologizing in front of her is the protocol, of course saying sorry should be from the heart and that I admit I was the cause of her mood right now.

"I am sorry about everything especially I didn't let you explore----"

"Just shut it," She shouted and started eating.

She was so different today, she was not the kind of person that will say it. If someone will apologize to her, she will hear their stories first.

This is also the first time she interrupted and shouted at me.

I really did hurt her feelings so I just watched her eating until she finished and cleaned everything up.

I prepared the remaining dishes I saved up for me and Mommy Celia.

She went upstairs then Mommy Celia showed up.

"The food smells good, your dad taught you very well, huh?" She smiled and sat in front of me.

"Where's Coleen? You should call her so we eat now," She added.

"She already ate, Mommy. She is not in her mood today," I said and ate.

"Is something wrong?" She seriously asked and stared at me.

As I go back from everything that happened, there's nothing wrong actually. "There's nothing wrong, she's just tired from our trip."

Looking at her eyes, I know she didn't believe me and continued to eat. She was looking at me like she was not believing me like she knew that it was my fault. Yeah, I admit it, I was keeping her safe from harm.

It was really awkward as we eat in silence without uttering any words in our mouths. Just chewing the food, our spoon and forks making a sound and just the wind entering the house.

"I'll be doing the dishes, just rest for now Kyle. Goodnight."

"Sweet dreams and have a goodnight too," I smiled and went upstairs.

Looking at the moon with its shining stars, I remember how Coleen taught me and its facts.

I just can't let her be angry at me for the whole day, but she just won't talk to me either.

Am I a man or just useless?

For real, I am so disappointed in myself for not exerting more effort so she forgives me for what I've done.

Staring at the window and feeling the cold breeze of the night, my eyes closed slowly as I fall asleep. Maybe, tomorrow I will finally help her remove the madness because of me.