Someone I'm Not

10. (DIS)TRUST

It upsets her ample time to realize how painful the memory is, just a couple of weeks ago. Soroya stays silent as Vianne watches her closely.

"Hey sis, are you okay?" She asks that makes her snap back to reality.

"Y-yes! Of course, I'm fine. Why?"

"You seemed down while spacing out." She honestly tells what she thinks. And if there's something everyone would know, Vianne is a bit frank and doesn't want to lie in any form.

"Of course not! Why would I feel so?—" she didn't continue what she's about to say when Vianne sees how awkward the conversation is leading.

"By the way, I'll be going out to buy goods, and dad already sent us the money, so I'll also by the atm to withdraw so, just use your remaining money from your weekly allowance since I know you had saved some cash from your weekly allowance last week."

"But—"

"Don't worry. I already told dad to give us an extra." Vianne goes to pick up her mug and her mini shoulder bag, enough to carry her phone, her coins, and her card. She disappears in front of her for a couple of seconds before walking into the living room again, with the key in hand. She tosses it to Soroya, as she catches it perfectly.

"Don't forget to lock the doors and windows when you go out, okay? Just take the keys with you so that each of us has a key entrance to the house just in case. I requested the key maker to duplicate it."

Before Soroya could even reply, Vianne's already by the door. Vianne closes the door behind her, leaving Soroya by herself. But then, Phoenix asks where the woman could be hiding her savings. He's never done savings before he's still alive because he's been spoiled by things he needed. Everything is provided, and that all he would do is live the life everyone has been dreaming of. No, his family is not the richest among the richest, but he can do anything in just a snap of a finger. He can solve anything with the use of money.

Friends from his previous school? He can buy them. Assignments that he's too lazy to even read? He can pay for anyone to make it for him. Popularity is always important to him. . .

Not until his friend Soroya talked to him. . .

Not until he starts going to college, where no one cares about his money. . .

It was an eye-opener for him that pushes him to change, but it was already too late to prove that he can repair all the damages that have been done.

Because his selfishness comes with the price of someone's desperation— Money.

•••

"You're late," Eduardus says after looking at his watch. Soroya's panting unstoppable when she reaches the area where Eduardus is waiting.

"I'm sorry. . . The ride was a bit late and—"

"I don't want excuses, Client 100."

"I'm sorry."

"Now, catch your breath first before we start. I don't want myself to worry about you." Eduardus bluntly gives his answer as he stares at Soroya bending down, her hands rested on her knees.

"One second." She says as she closes her eyes and tries to relax. When she's ready, she stands straight. Her eyes landed quickly on the house in front of them. She wanted to squint her eyes, hoping she's dreaming. She wasn't ready yet, but for some reason, she wanted to.

"It's our house. . ." Eduardus looks at her as she is amazed. Even if Eduardus is staring at a woman right now, he is sure that he's looking at Phoenix. "Why are we—" she asks that makes him turn his head away, not wanting her to see him smile. Eduardus clears his throat as he places both of his hands inside both of his pants pocket.

"We are here to start with your mission." He says as he walks straight for the door. Soroya's eyes widen, and he rushes to cope up with his steps. "Wait!"

"Can't you go a bit faster? Damn, I didn't know that you possessing a woman's body would also limit a sudden distance when walking—"

"For once, can you NOT remind me of that? I've had to deal with this body, and I was damn scared when I got to bath!" Soroya sighs, but it only made Eduardus chuckle.

"And let me guess, you ended up NOT taking a bath, hmm?"

"What!?" Soroya then blushes, making Eduardus start laughing. With a bit of embarrassment with the fact that HE almost decided not to take a bath, Soroya then pushes him as Eduardus didn't stop cackling from the thought of it.

"Of course, I did! I have to, you know. . . Close my eyes."

Eduardus laughs even more as Soroya marches forward, a bit mad. She mumbles all the way until she's facing the main gate to their house. She heard Eduardus continuously laughing, making her roll her eyes.

"Okay, fine. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have teased you like that." Eduardus apologizes when hex already standing beside her.

"Well, I would rather wish Goddess Hyke for us to switch for you to try and deal with what I'm dealing with right now."

"Then I would have handled it perfectly." He answers with confidence.

"Oh, really? Because I would have to doubt that."

"Oh come on, Phoenix— I mean, Soroya! I'm a guardian! Of course, I could do anything!"

"Tss! You're so full of yourself."

"And you're just jealous because I'm the boss between us two—"

Before they could even ring the doorbell, the door opens as Phoenix FROM THE PAST comes out. When his eyes landed on the gate, his brows furrow. "Soroya?"

Soroya quickly averts her gaze when she hears her name being called. Her eyes widen to see Phoenix already there, looking at her with confusion in his eyes.

"PHOENIX!" She calls out as she stands straight. She gives him an awkward smile as her palms start to sweat behind her. She secretly wipes her palm into his pants.

"What are you doing here?" He asks as he opens the gate. Soroya turns to her side to signal Eduardus to talk, but her eyes widen to see NO EDUARDUS beside her.

"Where did he go!?" She panics, not like to be all alone with Phoenix for the moment, especially that she doesn't know what to do next.

"Who are you referring to, exactly?" Phoenix asks, but that wasn't enough to stop Soroya from turning round and round, scanning every edge, hoping that Eduardus is just hiding to irritate her even more.

"It's that freaking Eduardus. He's just here beside me before you call my name."

"Soroya—"

"Maybe he's hiding somewhere? That man—"

"SOROYA!" The sudden raising of his voice caught her off guard. She almost cringes, sending her attention back to him and only him. She sees a hint of anger, jealousy, and irritation in his eyes that makes her recall what has happened a few weeks back.

"If you're here just fo talk about your boyfriend, then I'm going because I don't have time—"

"Wait!" Soroya knew she did the right thing to stop him. Phoenix did stop, still clutching the bag strap into his hand. Soroya just notices the bag, making her look at him curiously.

"Where are you going?" She asks that makes him sigh.

"Don't pretend that you don't know where I'm going, Raya."

"But—"

"I'm sorry, but I think I have to go. . . Now, if you don't have anything to say, I have to go now to catch my train. Or I will have to wait three more hours again for the next one."

Soroya stands there silent, not knowing what to choose.

'If I let go of him now, maybe I won't have another chance before he dies again! But if I do this now, he'll maybe get mad for making him wait for his next train!' She thought to herself. Phoenix from the present also has his hard time deciding, especially that Eduardus isn't there to guide him with the choices and options.

"Soroya. . . Okay, you know what? I'm going now. . ." Phoenix starts walking past her, but before he could take another step, Soroya turns to face his back.

"I said wait, you son of a b*tch!"

Phoenix wasn't expecting her sudden outburst. It was his first time hearing her scream and curse at him at the same time. He turns fo face her.

"I'm sorry, Phoenix, but we have to talk. This is urgent!

•••

Vianne finds the hard way to spot a space for her to sit on. She is just ten minutes late for the mass, but the chairs are already full, or at least she thought so.

Deciding to accept defeat and just stand at a suitable corner to still participate in the mass, she is about to get settled in when she feels a hand grips her wrist. She didn't have enough time to process what is happening; she only found herself seated beside the man who effortlessly dragged her. Her eyes widen even more to see

"Eduardus!?" Eduardus looks at her as she places one of his fingers pointing upwards, as he presses it into his lips as a sign to keep silent. He leans to his side to meet her ear as he whispers.

"Keep your tone done, gorgeous. The mass is still ongoing. We both certainly agree to not wanting to disturb the others too because they're entirely focused on what the pastor is saying."

Eduardus sits erect as Vianne immediately examines around her, receiving a few glances and glares from them. She gives them a forced smile and a slight nod of the head before turning back around, facing the altar. This time, Vianne is the one who leans to her side.

"How did you—" but she was cut off short when a woman confronted her.

"If you want to have a conversation, miss, don't come here. We are trying to keep our focus here. If you keep on talking, you'll muddle us between our concentration."

Vianne stops quickly as she retrieves her composed sitting position before secretly looking at her side, seeing Eduardus, who is seriously paying attention. Her heart starts to thump faster than the normal state of her beating heart. Suddenly, Eduardus shifts his eyes to her, that she quickly withdrew her eyes from him and acted like she's been starting at the pastor talking from the altar the whole time. That made him smile and feel something inside him as well, before turning his eyes on the pastor.

They both stay in silence as Vianne almost forgot she's been sitting beside Eduardus. They've been sitting right next to each other like they're strangers until it was time to go. The mass ended calm and fulfilling, especially that Vianne had the time to talk fo God again.

"Hey Vianne, wait up!" She stops in her tracks when she hears a familiar voice call out her name. She turns to see Eduardus running towards her.

"Are you talking to me?" She asks as she points at herself. Eduardus rolls his eyes at her.

"Don't know anyone else who has the same name as yours?"

"I don't know. . . Maybe." She turns her back again and ready to take another step forward when Eduardus takes the opportunity to march on and block her way.

"What the f*ck are you doing!?" She asks as Eduardus chuckles as he raises both his hands in surrender.

"I'm not doing anything if you ask me."

"Oh, goodness, gracious! Can you just move out of the way? Remember, we are also in the church. . ."

"Well, I don't mind."

She wraps her forearms around her chest as she raises an eyebrow.

"Are you flirting with me?"

"W-what?"

"You know what? I don't trust you. I just met you yesterday, and from the moment I saw you, I don't trust you."

She nudged his shoulders as she walks past him. That wasn't enough, though, to not him follow her.

"Just wait up, okay? I'm here to join you —"

"And I tell you!" She almost shouts that catch a little attention. She looks around and apologizes to everyone. She takes a few steps back until she's a step away at him.

"You know what? I'm not dealing with you today here." She walks past him as Eduardus didn't stop following her. She's a bit annoyed, but she continues to walk, almost doing the running-walking style. She sighs in relief when she's already away from the church. She took the left wing from the first intersection for a shortcut down the market. Few walkers only walk that way, making her enjoy a bit of the loneliness. . . Though, that's too impossible for her, now that she's like running away from a creeper.

'Just leave me alone, will you!? You're creeping me out!' She mumbles to herself, wishing that someone would eventually grant her wish. She didn't bother to look back, and she just kept her head held down and proceeds to walk.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Vianne." She lifts her head, only to disappoint herself.

"Hot sh*t!" She curses as she flinches, now staring at the man she wished to go away. "How did you—"

She didn't manage to reply quickly when Eduardus approach her. She takes a step back, just to keep a gap. She feels her heart beating faster and faster, almost wanting to escape from her rib cage and explode. But then, she doesn't want this feeling. It makes her feel uncomfortable.

But when Eduardus was about to close the gap again, she stops him. With a serious look, she managed to answer without stuttering.

"You're with my sister, Mister. And it would be totally respectful if you show a but kindness to me instead of flirting with me." She points at his chest when she talks. When she's done, she stands right in front of him and stretches her shirt before nodding and turning around. But before she could even continue walking away, she feels a hand wrapped around her wrist. With enough force, the man pulls her to face him.

"What if I tell you that we are not together?"

The question feels so right for her to hear. But something inside her tells her that she shouldn't fall for it. . . She shouldn't—

"Would you believe me if I say that I've got my eyes on you?"