Someone I'm Not

17 [pt.3]| Surprisingly Suspicious

As soon as Eduardus steps inside the small-sized bedroom, he closes the door behind as he leans his back on it. He watches as Houdini watches the outside from the small mirror, but enough to ostensibly see what's happening on the outside.

"It's happening already, Eduardus. And I know you've noticed that too." He starts the conversation without daring to turn to face him. Eduardus narrows his eyes at him, not knowing how to react to what he just said.

"What if. . ." he pauses before turning to his shoulder and grins. He looks back at the window as he pulls the curtain on both sides, letting the sun rays of the golden hour freely pass to the transparent window, illuminating inside the darkroom. "What if you're given a chance to choose between the aim for a wish for the truth and the feeling of love. What will you choose?"

The question stings him a bit for an unknown reason, but it made him scoff otherwise.

"Did you just invite me here to talk about that? Did Goddess Dyke already told you that—"

"Told me what, exactly?" He interrupts him with the curiosity lingering inside his head. "Tell me, Eduardus, what did you think she told me?"

Eduardus's hands balled up in a fist as he contains himself from not telling a single word that would lead Houdini to satisfaction. He's never been a fan of the man and as a guardian. Fighting against him is the only way to justify the label he had given between them: ENEMIES.

"You know what? I'm not doing this with you. So if you don't have any more to say, I'm going—" he turns his back on him and about to turn the knob while talking when he's interrupted again by the most frightful thought that has never crossed his mind since he started doing the task with his client 100.

"You honestly think that I don't know what's happening with you down here, don't you?"

The question strikes him right into his chest, not nearly expecting him to not open up about. But then, he chuckles and turns to face Houdini, who is already facing him; he's half seated on the wooden study desk filled with notes and papers. His forearms are crossed around his chest as his severe and non-mocking face stares at him. His lip is not arched up in a smirk, only a thin line that represents sincerity.

"You're also having fragmented scenes flashing in your head, and you're at lost at who they belonged to. . . Am I correct?" He asks straightforwardly, not wanting to prolong the agony for the both of them anymore.

"She told you, didn't she?" Eduardus asks, wanting to find out if she did tell him or not. But then, Houdini shrugs.

"You wouldn't believe me in any other way if I tell you she didn't." He calmly replies before he stands up and starts to roam around the room. . . As his eyes and hands begin to travel around, he continues talking without waiting for his reply.

"We both know that you've wasted a week already, too coped up with Vianne. However, I can't blame her because she's a beauty and has a pure heart that any man would fall for. But I'm telling you, Ed, you've got to understand where you should stand." He reminds, still keeping his attention around him.

"What are you even talking about?" Eduardus starts to feel his heart pounding, now wondering even more as to why he could feel his heart when he shouldn't. Houdini chuckles as his hand lands on the small picture frame on top of the plastic mini table beside the bed. He lifts it on his eye level as he stares at the people in it.

"Aren't you curious as to why you start to know and feel things that you felt numb about before? Aren't you curious why you have fragmented old memories that you can't even identify who they belonged to? Eduardus, aren't you curious about WHO YOU WERE BEFORE?"

Eduardus feels like his tongue is being tied up in a knot, a disadvantage for him to talk. He froze on his feet as well, although he could feel his knees shaking instantly.

‘Who am I before?’

"I—"

"If you're going to choose between finding out the truth and falling for the person destined for you, who are you going to choose?"

"How much can you give to sacrifice?"

•••

"Hi, dad! I'm sorry if you're busy, but I just want to check up on you." Vianne smiles as she is delighted for her father to pick up the call.

[Dont worry, I just got my rest now that I just had a position shift?] Auran Green greets back as he gets to hear his daughter's voice. He places his gloves on the table in front of him as he takes out his towel to wipe his sweaty face off.

"Then that's great! At least I didn't have you put me on voicemail." She mumbles that made her father chuckle. "But seriously, dad. Soroya and I miss you already."

[Oh, sweetie. You know how much your old man here misses you two over there.] He replies with so much love and concern over his voice. It made Vianne's heart flutter just to hear how sincere their dad is, even though he's just a single parent.

"You haven't been home for the past two months. Can't you come home for my birthday next week? I just want all of us complete for my birthday." She says as she bites her nails, still waiting by the bench from the crowded park.

She didn't get out of the house to buy some ingredients. Instead, she gets out to leave the three behind the house even if she wanted to eavesdrop. She leaves the house for a minute to take a deep breath and just enjoy the city lights and noise as the sun starts to set.

And most importantly, she decided to go out so that she could have a moment for herself to think about everything. Even if she's still at a loss and slow pace, she will soon find out everything. And this determined me to find out about it.

[Oh, sweetie.] Joanne hears her father sigh that served as an answer to her question. [I'm sorry, but I'll be too busy with work by next week. But, don't worry, I'll wire up the money so you could buy—]

"Dad. . ."

[Yes, sweetie?]

"It's okay, don't worry about it."

[Vianne, sweetie? I am very sorry. I feel wrong about not going to be able to attend your birthday when all I want to is to attend and greet you a happy birthday myself.]

He is sad. They both are. But considering the schedules that might be affected if they make a few changes might pull their dad on the brink of not getting any salary for the week. He's a very dedicated father, and all she could do is understand her. Vianne has a work of her own, and she wanted to contribute too. But their father refused and told her that he can still provide. That is why Vianne could only share a few, especially when their father couldn't wire the money with an expected date.

"Dad, I totally understand if you have a job to do next week. Youre working not only for yourself but for us too, and that's already enough for Soroya and me to be fulfilled. So, please don't be sorry? It would make me feel bad to have asked you about my birthday if you insist on you feeling bad for not going to attend my birthday." She says, trying her best not to cry. It's already her 3rd birthday that their father couldn't attend, and that turning 25 this week would be meaningful for her if only her father could slip a time for her.

But, she has to understand either way.

[Thank you for understanding me so much, Vianne.] Her father sighs over the phone that made her smile.

"No worries, dad!.  Oh, by the way, I have got to go. I just came out to buy something for dinner so I have to end it now."

[Oh, right. . . Well, is your sister with you?]

"No. . . She said she'd rather take guard on the house." She lies.

[Then, can you at least tell her that I love her and miss her too? Tell her to give me a call sometime.]

"Sure, I'll tell her when I get back. Gotta go now, dad. Take care over there and don't forget to take your meds and dinner, okay?" She reminds him every time they call because sometimes, he'll just forget about it.

[Now, you sounded just like your mother.] He exhales.

"I got to go—"

[Vianne, before you go. . .] He interrupts that made her stop. It seems like he's been wanting to ask her something and he found it a perfect tome for today. And for her, it's always great for her father to open up.

"Yes, dad?"

[If I may ask. . . What were you and your sister Soroya's favorite chocolate? I know it's kind of weird for a father to ask at this moment, but I decided to give that chocolate a try even if you know I'm more kind of a milk person.]

That explanation made her recall the moment their father first got home from work with a lot of chocolates in his bag. It was their only request which is why even though these chocolates were expensive, he bought them different kinds such as bars, candies and so much more just to see their wide smiles and sparking eyes with excitement to taste those chocolates. But then, only their father wouldn't grab a bar of chocolate for himself because he's very adducted to the white Hershey he had bought alongside the chocolate bars. That day, he gave them all the chocolates, with nothing more in his hand rather than the plastic of White and cookies and cream Hershey.

A smile spreads to her face as she looks around, admiring the view from her perspective. "That's Cadbury for me and Reese for Soroya, dad."

[Oh, hahaha that right! Cadbury and Reese? Okay, I'll buy those and taste it. . . Okay, so have a safe trip home there, sweetheart. Dad loves you both so much.]

"We love you too dad."

[I'll see you soon.]

"Yup! See you soon."

•••

Soroya's been waiting for almost an hour now since Eduardus and Houdini decided to get inside her room to talk. She attempted eavesdropping, pressing her ears as hard as she could to only collect any gossip for her interest, but she is too surprised to hear nothing as if the room was just covered with thick foam that serves as soundproof. She furrows her brows, recalling that she could always hear what's happening outside if she is to stay inside their room, she could even hear the television banging.

"How come they're still talking? What are they even talking about that lasted this long?" She asks as she crosses her forearms in front of her chest. But too bored to be waiting, she decided to grab herself a glass of cold water. Luckily, their fridge still works properly.

As soon as she opens the fridge, she fiddles with the items inside, setting aside each to gain access to the pitcher from the back. But as she's about to take it out, she realizes that all of the ingredients were properly arranged inside. She takes the pitcher out as she gets back on it, scanning every ingredient. She then soon realizes that it was just Sunday and that her sister would have probably had her groceries already.

"But why would she tell us that she's going to buy some ingredients? Did she actually forget something, or did she just used that as an excuse?" She thought to herself as the curiosity over her sister starts to grow. Just as she's about to continue raising more and more questions inside her head, she hears the door swings open, making her stand back up and closes the fridge. She casually turns to the table to pour herself a glass of cold water before the two men completely came out of the room.

"So. . . you guys hungry or thirsty?" She asks as she stretches her water to them.

"Thank you, but I have some important matters to attend to, this instant. So, I'll head out." Houdini smiles before turning his back on them and walks towards the door.

"How about you, Guardian Ed?" She asks, still, her hand flared in front of her. But then, Eduardus smiles and shakes his head.

"I need to attend to something important too. I'll just see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Yeah, sure."

"I'll head out now."

As Eduardus follows behind Houdini, the front door swings open as well, revealing Vianne who had just came back. She's a bit surprised to see the two men, but Soroya couldn't figure out if she's surprised to see them still here or that at the same time of her arrival is Vianne coming back.

"I'm about to cook dinner. You both might want to stay here for a bit longer?" She offers as they all stop to face each other by the door. Just then, Soroya's gaze landed on Vianne after realizing something.

"Oh,  I'm afraid I can't. I have an important matter to take care of. But sure, I'll stop by for dinner soon." Houdini explains, Eduardus beside him, agreeing as well.

"Yes, I also have something urgent that has to be dealt with immediately." Eduardus elucidates also. Vianne then didn't have a choice but to nod.

"Great! Then, I guess I'll see you both soon then?" She asks as she clasps both of her hands.

"You'll see us, probably often starting from now, Miss Greene," Houdini says before the two men bid their goodbyes and exit the house. As soon as Vianne closes the door, she heaves a sigh.

"Finally, they're out! What took you all so long to talk about? Now it kind of wants me to ask you for details." She says as she places down the cap into the kitchen table before grabbing herself an empty glass and pouring herself water from the pitcher. She moans as she enjoys the coldness flowing through her throat. "That's refreshing from a long walk." She says before pouring herself a glass of cold water again. But then, as she had a closer look at the cap, Soroya gasps to realize something.

'That cap! No, no, it can't be!'