Someone I'm Not

15| Fall from Heaven

It was awkward inside. Not only the Vianne could feel the awkwardness to where she's currently standing, but to all over the place.

"Come on, Raya, pick up the phone. Pick up, pick up, pick up." She mumbles to herself as she starts biting her lips.

[Hi, you've reached Soroya. I'm kind of busy right now, so I'll direct you to voicemail. Okay? Bye!]

Beep!

A soon as she hears the beeping sound, she starts talking.

"Uhm, Soroya. I don't know why Eduardus is here? Doesn't he know you're not here? Anyways, I just want to make sure you're also okay there. That's all. Call me back when you get this."

She ends the call after that as she carries the plate with sandwiches on it. Her other hand also holds the pitcher with the same flavored juice she used before. She takes a deep breath before stepping out of the kitchen and into the living room, where Eduardus is comfortably seated and waiting.

"Hey! Sorry, I took a bit long. .  ." she says as she places it down on the simple coffee table that keeps the chairs to where they seated, separate. The television is on, and it was moved into a specific channel about soccer.

"Oh, don't mention it. It's totally worth it waiting for you." He averts his eyes away from the TV and into her. He has this smile that quickly catches her heart, but at the same time, it reminds her of her fear. She settles down as she watches him get himself a sandwich and starts biting at it.

"Well, I just, Uhm, called Soroya. Did she forget to remind you that she's out of town for the weekends? I'm sorry if she did and that I kept you waiting when I just directly say it a bit earlier." She explains as she grabs herself a sandwich. She takes a massive bite as she starts to feel a bit anxious about their situation.

"Don't worry; I wasn't here for her. . . I am here for you." He says that made her feel the butterflies in her stomach. At the same time, she chokes at her own food that quickly sends Eduardus alarmed. She starts coughing as she places down her sandwich.

"Oh goodness, are you okay? That's just the first bite!" Eduardus exclaims as he pours her a glass of voice.

"Thank you." She made the words out after Eduardus hands her the glass. She quickly gulps it all in one go. Eduardus watches her closely as the feeling then again strikes him. He instantly leans back as he feels a pinching pain right into his chest.

'What the hell is going on with me!?' He asks as the pinching pain acts up as if it will suffocate him in just a couple of seconds.

He looks away from Vianne as he caresses his chest, trying to control his breathing. Luckily for him, Vianne is still busy retaining her composure after choking herself.

'Calm down, Eduardus. Calm down.' He says as he puts pressure to caressing his chest. It was gentle, but he made sure there's a bit of heaviness in the weight of his hand, now clenching as he repetitively strokes his chest.

"I'm sorry, the food that I chew suddenly went straight into my throat without me breaking it down completely into smaller pieces." Vianne chuckles weakly as she still coughs lightly.

"No worries. It happens to you humans all the time." He says as he stops what he is doing, the exact moment that Vianne lifts her face to next his eyes.

"What—"

"I mean, WE humans, ha-ha. Of course, WE." He says as he emphasizes the two-letter word. Silence quickly evaporated as soon as Eduardus's chuckle died down. Now, they're sitting right across from each other, but their eyes feel different. Just by staring at each other, it already made them feel like there's nothing, not even a thing existing around, only them.

Vianne noticed that Eduardus is pulled taut, but he cannot identify what or who he is drawn about. But being able to examine his eyes further only tells her one thing.

'Nothing.'

Eduardus is doing the same. He is also examining her eyes, her features. And her eyes say a lot of things.

'She wanted to ask me a lot of questions that I don't know if I'll be excited to answer or not.' He thought to himself. But then when that day comes, he wanted to be ready. . . You hear all her questions when he all have the answer she needed to hear.

"I didn't know you liked sports." His own train of thoughts suddenly got cut on when Vianne decided to talk. His eyes then shift to the television, where he is currently watching Brazil and the USA match for a spot in the world cup.

"Oh, hah. Well, I don't like soccer; I just happen to have watched it since there are no good movie channels played for today." He admits. He's not a fan of that sport since he doesn't know about anything from his past. And now, he's getting more and more curious.

"Oh, I see. . . Well, I don't like that sport either so, don't worry," Vianne confesses too.

"Really? I thought yours into sports?" Eduardus asks, trying to save their dying conversation.

"I am. . . well, you were a volleyball player back when I was in my junior and senior years of studying. . . But I stopped when I attended college." She explains as she takes a bite at her sandwich, now a bit less than the edge she had earlier.

"That's weird. Why would you quit?" He asks as he is now more interested in getting to know her more.

"Well. . ." she pauses as she leans her body backward to relax. When she back feels the wooden chair, she starts to recall everything when she's still studying.

"Our parents had their jobs that could only sustain our everyday food. Usually, we will all agree to not eating so that Soroya and I would have money for school. We were contented about it, though, especially after hearing a lot of people complain about dieting. Soroya and I would always tell each other that we aren't struggling with dieting because, well, we don't follow the  thrice a day meal." She conceded as she controls herself from crying already. She then looks down on her knees as she intertwines her own fingers and rests them on top of her knees.

"Then one day, my classmates played volleyball and that since it was my first time seeing them having that enjoyment, I decided to join. . . And just by playing it for the whole two hours of our PE class, I already know that I have fallen for it." Vianne pauses as she was expecting him to say anything. . . any violent reaction, but no. Instead, he keeps himself silent as the excitement builds in his eyes that for the very first time, she sees him that way. It was already an assurance for her to go on with the story.

"So, I didn't realize that our PE teacher was paying attention to me when I have to play with my friends. Long story short, he invited me one day Into his office and that he wanted me to join his varsity team.

Of course, I was excited! I really am, mostly that I was that quickly fallen in love with that sport that made me went straight home after classes. Damn, I still remember how excited I was back then."

"So, what happened when you got home?" He asks that made her grin.

"Oh, this is the most challenging part." She says as she fixes the way she's seated. Eduardus then leans forward as his elbows rested on his lap, his chin rests on both of his own hands.

"They didn't approve, didn't they?" He asks his expression matching his curious self. He is also starting to feel disappointed but relieved when she nodded.

"Fortunately, they did. . . But as I mentioned a while ago, we are not the most fortunate family in the world. . . We are just so glad to eat even only once a day to survive.

When I agreed and met my co-players the first day, it broke my heart to see them wearing that complete outfit of an athlete. They have knee pads, elbow pads. Their hairs are in a clean braid, and they also have expensive socks and those colorful shoes that a kid like me would wish to have. I already feel my knees weaken that day, you know? That drive of passion suddenly turns into a poisonous fruit as the jealousy corrupted me so quickly. I then decide to breathe it all out and swallow my envy for the rest of the training.  After the training, I decided to quit."

As she said that, Eduardus starts to feel something inside him. His vision starts to spin a bit that made him shake his head. "Go on, continue." He says, wanting for her not to notice him suddenly feeling bad. Just then, that feeling stops for an unknown reason. Why did it even start in the first place?

"As I said, I did quit."

"B-but why? That's an opportunity! And doesn't the school handle the varsity shirts and sh*ts?" He asks, now surprised that he managed to ask a question he just found out of asking. 'How did I know that?' He asks himself, now having a lot of things going on in his mind.

He then watches as Vianne shrugs before taking another sip at her juice. When she places it down, she smiles, ailing at her.

"Well, yes, they do. But, they don't give sports shoes for free. And what will I use if I decide to join, right?" She exhales as she sips again. When her glass is already empty, she pours herself a glass of juice also.

"I told my parents I don't need to join because I know they can't afford it. I understand them because their salary is just enough for our food. We don't have electricity that made it lighter for us in terms of expenses. . .  But because they told me they'd find a way to buy me that shoe, I didn't have a choice but to move forward."

"Well, did your coach accept you again?"

"Oh, I didn't go to him and ask for another shot. . . He came looking for me to give me the slot that I've left because he told me there's no one more deserving than I do."

"Then you must be so good in that sport if that coach came looking for you and pleading you to come back." He says that made her nod. Suddenly, he can then feel again the sickness and pain from what he felt earlier. But this time, it became much worse.

"But I don't want to tell you the WHOLE story because we might end up finishing the story for a week." She says. But before she could talk even further, Eduardus curs her off.

"Well, I'm happy that you did that, Vianne. But I think I. . ." He says as he tries his best to control himself from shouting in pain.

"Hey Eduardus, are you okay?" Vianne asks with an anxious tone as she stands up from her seat and sits right next to Eduardus. She leans her hand onto his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "Hey."

As if in just a blink of an eye, the eerie sound he's hearing, the increasing pain from his heart, and the turning of his vision at a 360° angle hastily disappear. It was already steady.

"Eduardus?" She asks as he pauses for a moment, trying to test if he's feeling it right or not. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yes! Yes, I'm alright. . . I'm fine—" he turns to her only to realize how close she is to him. He quickly gulps as the increasing tension once again evaporates inside him, but this time, it is a good feeling.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Hah! I just carried away with. . ." Vianne asks as she removes her hand from resting on his shoulder. She also leans back and shyly slides a few inches away from him.

'Sh*t! Why does his body being close to me feels so right?' He asks himself but relieved that he didn't say it out loud.

"N-no worries. I'm sorry if I worried you for a sec. I thought I was just feeling something strange." He says before comprising himself. "So, where we're we?" He asks that made Vianne grin.

"Since you found out one of my hobbies when I was just a teen, I think it is time for me to ask you back." She says with a broad smile painted on her lips— a sign of excitement.

"Hmm. . . why do I feel like I won't be likening what you're going to ask?" He asks her that made Vianne chuckle.

"Of course you should! Because I think you're going to tell me the fascinating story behind it." She says that made him chuckle, but at the same time, nod.

"Okay. So, I'm just so curious now since you don't look like you don't have a hobby but, let's talk about sports. . . what would be Eduardus's favorite sports?"

Favorite sport.

The sound of zooming in and eerie instantly increases as the pinching pain in his heart comes in unison. "Ahh—" he moans in pain as the suffocation starts to linger once again. His skin begins to freeze, and his body numbs. His vision starts turning again as it made him feel like he wanted to throw up.

"I—"

"Eduardus?"

"Hhhaaaahhh!!" He repeatedly gasps for air as he tries to take it under control. But he couldn't. He stands up as Vianne's panicked voice seems to me only muffled noises. He stretches his hands in front of him, trying to find something he could grip on, while his other hand scratches his neck, trying to get rid of the thing that is tightening around it.

"Edward, watch out!"

He turns around to see the same woman he considers the first time he experienced this. The woman hurries to where he is standing, and that he is surprised to see where he is standing.

"Thank goodness I came out to look on you. Where the hell is your father!?" The mixture of concern and anger is present in her tone, and he still doesn't know what to do and say. He attempts to say something, but he is only stopped when no sounds nor words came out of his mouth.

"There you are! How could you leave your son like this!? What if he drowned himself?" The woman starts arguing with the man.

"Stop exaggerating, will you? Our son is just discovering things—"

"Don't you dare say that to me!" She says as she walks towards him and carries him.

"Where are you going—" the man asks as Eduardus watches and listens to both of them.

"I'm going home!" The woman who was said to be his “mother” replies in a very pissed-off way.

"And how will you do that? We only have one car—"

"Of course I had the keys! You find yourself a bus to ride home!"

"Hhhaaaahhh!" He inhales sharply as he's back to reality.

"What the heck! Eduardus, are you okay!?" He hears her clearly now, as Vianne kneels behind him.

"W. . . water." He mouthed as Vianne rushes to the table and grab his glass. As soon as she hands him his drink, he immediately gulps it all in one go.

"Are you feeling okay now?" Vianne asks when he places down his employ glass. He nodded as he wipes his sweat.

"I thought you were gonna faint there." She says as she pushes the strand of her hair on the back of her ears.

"How long was I doing that?" He asks, too curious about it.

"Maybe ten seconds? I don't know." She says as she caresses his back.

'Ten seconds!? But that felt more than a minute! How is that even possible!?' He thought to himself.

"Can you stand up?" Vianne asks as she did stand up. "Let me help you." She says as she extends her hand for him to grip on. Eduardus didn't hesitate as he takes her hand, at they both carry his weight.

'First, is Soroya, and now her? What the heck is going on!?'

"Do you still feel dizzy?" Vianne asks as she starts to examine him. Eduardus looks down on her as he feels the electricity again.

'What the hell is happening!?'

"I'm good." He says that made Vianne look up to meet his gaze.

"Oh, sorry again. . . Just carried away." She says as she's about to take a step backward when Eduardus finds his hand moving in its way. His one hand immediately slides down into her waist as he pulls her close to her. Vianne gasps to his sudden movement, and even himself is surprised.

"Don't take a step back when you're concern about me. . . because I like the way your body is close to mine." He says, and then again, he's surprised by his own courage. Vianne's eyes widen to it, not knowing what to reply next.

Knock! Knock!

But before anything could happen between them, a sudden knock on the door disturbed the moment. Both of their eyes were darted at the door for a second before they look at each other again. That moment, Vianne decided to clear her throat and push him lightly from the chest.

"I got to, uh, get the door." She says before Eduardus nodded and lets go of her.

"Sure." He shortly replies before going to the door. Just as she slides the door open, her brows furrow to see an unfamiliar man standing before her.

"Uhm, hi?" She asks.

"Is Soroya here?" He asks that made Eduardus familiarize the voice.

"I'm sorry but, who are you?" Joanne insisted on knowing who the man was standing in front of her. Eduardus steps closer to the door for him to see the person that's looking for Soroya. When Eduardus is already standing behind Vianne, that's when he realized who the person is.

"Oh, I'm sorry, unethical of me. . . Well, good morning, Miss Vianne Greene. I am Houdini."

What—