Gypsy Lover

"I... was really devastated when my sister died. And I still am. She was all I've got. She was even the reason why I'm working abroad... working so hard... And now, I'm all alone... even though I still have an aunt and a cousin who care so much about me. It's just... different now... you know?" And Alodia's voice faded away as she looked away from him.

"I understand."

She heard him say it with a gentle voice. She looked at him once more. "I wish you really do," she said with a hidden meaning. She then sighed and drank all the cloudy white liquid that was left in her glass.

"What I don't understand is that you're still here... when the fact is that your sister's already gone," he mused. "Should I thank her in spite of everything that this has put you through?" His dark brown eyes searched hers. Although she could feel his sincere heart in those words, she gave him a bitter laugh. "I've already signed the contract before I went home a few months ago. So... I had to come back. And when I think about it, it's better this way than to just stay in the Philippines and mourn for her. I somehow understand why she... took her own life. But I can't seem to forgive or forget it." She shook her head as she said it.

He looked at her with more concern. His eyes were silently asking her why and he silently pleaded her to go on with her story. But she shook her head.

"I can't tell you why she took her own life, Harman. Let's leave it like that... at least, for now. Shall we?" she gently requested of him.

He leaned back on the back of his seat. He nodded and shrugged his wide shoulders. He apparently respected her wishes. "Of course. I understand, Alodia. But I hope you'd tell me everything in the future."

After finishing their cocktails, he paid the bill. That was when she was reminded to check the time on her wristwatch. It was already past midnight! She could not believe they had a long talk for only a night, and to think that it was only their "first date"! It was like she had known him forever. She could easily talk to him and express herself. But then, she was still careful not to show him her vulnerable side, as well as her plan that was laid out for him.

He sent her back to her employers' house. And because she had keys and they gave her no curfew, all she had needed was to not disturb them. She got off from his expensive car after he opened the door for her. They looked at each other as he still held the door for her. She smiled at him sweetly.

"Thank you for tonight, Harman. And for these flowers and chocolates," she said, holding his gifts, which she did not leave behind when they left. She had them with her.

"You're welcome, Alodia. And thank you for spending your night with me," he said with meaning. A suppressed teasing smile was on his cherry-colored lips.

She slightly nodded and stepped aside. He closed the door of his car as she entered the gate without noise. She could not resist a smile on her lips when Harman was apparently fighting against himself whether or not to kiss her goodnight. But he did bend forward to kiss her. On the cheek.

She refused to think she was disappointed by it because she wanted to be kissed on the lips, so badly. But perhaps he was testing her, too. Well, he could play a game, too, she thought. She just smiled at him then and bade him goodnight. He promised he'd call her to remind her about the certificate of no marriage and he sounded so serious about it; thus, it was her turn to chuckle.

He watched her close the gate and waved him goodbye before she finally entered the big house.

She just shook her head as she changed into her nightgown and was able to sleep soundly that evening for the first time, after her sister died.

***

The next day by mid-morning, Harman's lawyer came alone and asked for her signature for the SPA. Alodia shook her head when she discovered that Harman was right outside sitting in his own car when he she ushered the lawyer to the gate. It turned out that he was there to drive the lawyer at her employers' house. That made her curious why he did not show himself earlier since her employers were not at home anyway because they went to work.

She then heard the phone in the living room ring. He gestured to her that he was calling her. She took the cordless phone with a raised eyebrow.

"Is this some kind of a game?" she asked on the phone while looking at him. She leaned against the door jamb.

"No. But I thought that I shouldn't bother you when it is your working hours. I can't afford to get your employer freak out and get you sacked!" He grinned.

She shook her head. "Isn't it the same with the lawyer bothering me at my time of work?" She chewed on her left inner cheek to restrain herself from laughing. Giani, the little girl, peered into the glass door in her playroom and moved to stand beside her. She looked back at the kid with a smiling face. Harman waved at the little girl since they could see him through the gate made of bars.

"I think we got to go. My lawyer's going to take care of the papers from here on out," he said, winking at her, and ended the call. He then drove his car away from her employer's house, with his lawyer in the passenger seat. "Who was that man?" Giani asked Alodia in Romanian.

She placed the phone back to its cradle in the living room where they were. She rumpled the girl's short blond hair playfully. "A friend," she answered with a smile. "Come on, let's make some pancakes!"

The little kid nodded, and they went into the kitchen. Her employers had already left the house earlier to their respective offices. Giani was already taken by her maybe because of her vibrant personality.

Her day was a good one because she already saw Harman today. She had not even noticed she was humming happily while making pancakes.

"You're happy, Alodia," Giani stated while she put the pancake on a plate and put it in front of the kid, who was seated at the kitchen table.

"Oh, well... I suppose." She was still smiling and spread out the maple syrup on the little kid's pancake. She knew that the child liked it very much. It was good to know she had no allergies so it would not matter whatever she prepared for Giani, as long as it was healthy. She made sure of that.

"But why are you happy?" Giani curiously asked her, looking at her in the eyes. Her big expressive blue eyes penetrated hers.

She went still. Was there a deeper and bigger reason why she was happy by merely seeing Harman today, even without touching her or kissing her on the cheek? But the little kid was not aware of it. He was just so innocent, and she was curious about the particular reason why she was happy that day and nothing else.

"Well... I just feel happy. I... am not even sure why," she said haltingly, making a face. It was because she could not tell the child the real reason. She just knew who the reason was why she was particularly happy today. And today, she did not even want to analyze it or reflect it, and she might get disappointed with herself. She did not want to lose this kind of feeling. Yet.

Not just yet...