I'm Nothing Without You Chap 14

‘I-I need to go home. Please…’ I beg him with tears in my eyes. ‘I need to see my Mom.’

‘It’s late already. Tomorrow we will go there as of now, you need to take a rest.’

‘I-’

‘Please, don’t argue with me now. Besides there is no available chopper today, dad used it.’ He said matter-or-fact. ‘Take the shower and change your clothes. Mom’s excited that you’re discharge from the hospital so she-’

‘I've done some shopping for you.’ Katherine finishes Klive sentence. ‘I’m so excited having a lady in this house. Finally this will be a little bit different here from now on.’ She said excitedly at me.

‘But I’m NOT going to stay live here. I’ll be going home tomorrow.’

‘Nonsense!’ said Klive as he finishes throwing a glance to his mother. ‘Like it or not, you’re going to stay here.’ To that he marches outside the room.

‘But I don’t want to.’ I said stubbornly at myself. I look at Katherine and to my surprise I see her smiling at me. There is something in her smile that made me blush. ‘What?’ I ask looking away from her.

‘Nothing.’ She simply said. ‘Come on I’ll help you-’

‘No it’s okay. I can handle it.’ That was I thought but the moment I stand up I immediately losses my balance. I am as if an infant starting to learn how to walk. Katherine helps me on my way to the bathroom which is fortunately inside my room. I just wash my face because I’m afraid my wounds will be infected if I’ll take the shower. I had known from my previous readings that bacteria’s multiply on wet areas.

Katherine helps me pick my clothes that I will wear for that evening. When she said awhile ago that she had done me some shopping; I thought she meant that she buys me just a pair of clothes. But to my surprise, as I enter the closet, she buys me a wardrobe! The closet is as big as our hut and there I see so many clothes that I can only see inside the mall. Not only that, as I look further I see so many shoes, with different styles and colors but have one thing in common, they are all three to four inches high!

Oh My God! You got to be kidding me? I ask myself silently.

‘What’s wrong? You don’t like it?’ she asks me as she sees me frowning because of something.

‘N-No. It’s just that…’ I sigh. ‘Katherine, this is too much! I’ll only be staying here for a day.’

‘You heard Klive awhile ago right?’

‘Yes, I do but… I can’t stay here. I can’t stay with you guys.’

‘Why? Because you despise our kind?’ she asks me seriously.

Now how in the world she knows that? ‘Katherine…’ I said in a voice telling her that I didn’t like the flow of our discussion.

‘Look Avie, Klive told me that you just lost your Mom which happens to be the only family you had.’ She pauses a while as if giving her next word a thorough thinking. ‘I haven’t blessed on having a daughter. After Klive turns 6 I was pregnant again but I lost it. My baby fertilized and implanted on one of my tubes. My doctors terminated my pregnancy for that. But I didn’t lose hope because one of my tubes is fine, that was I thought. The same thing happens when Klive turns ten…’ she trailed off.

‘I’m sorry to hear that Katherine.’ I’m silent for awhile still confuse on her revelation. ‘Give me the bottom line, Katherine.’

‘The bottom line is I like you and I want you to be my daughter… just for awhile. I know you still grieving from your mother’s loss but I can be your mother if you like and Jake-’

‘No way! You can’t replace my mother that easily.’ I said tactlessly. I see pain in Katherine’s eyes as she lowers her gaze. ‘Katherine I-I’m sorry… I-I didn’t mean to… Why me?’ I ask her confusingly.

‘Why not you?’ she said with a smile. ‘Let’s discuss this some other time. Here, wear this.’ She said as she handles me a powder blue dress. ‘This will complement your skin pretty well.’

Dinner is fine. The dress that Katherine gave me wasn’t the usual clothing that I wear when I’m still at the island. My everyday get up would be a pair of loss fitted jeans and a t-shirt with flip flops and that's it! But that night it was way different from what I used to wear. The dress made me feel like my old self, a girly, girly type. I also wore a three inches stiletto heel that at first it made me so awkward to walk but later I was getting used to it a bit. Upon heading down stairs, both the two men were waiting for me and Katherine, and upon seeing Klive stared at me in his disbelief, I know he likes what he sees. All throughout the dinner I was quiet and occasionally joins their conversation. And there were few times that I catch Klive staring at me, as if he was checking me out or something. I just ignore him and focus my attention to the food.

‘Wow!’ I said in my amazement. Just a head of us is one of the buildings the Thompson’s own and it is huge! As promise to me, we are heading to the Island to visit my Nana’s grave. I still couldn’t accept the very fact that she is now dead. ‘Sometimes, I’ve forget how rich you are.’ I said truthfully.

He smiles at me. ‘Do you want to bring Mom a flower?’

‘Yeah! I’ve forget about that.’ I said seriously but I didn’t look at him. ‘Can we go to a flower shop?’

‘I’ll send someone to buy us flowers.’ He gets his phone from his pocket. ‘What is Mom favorite flower?’

‘Daisy.’ I said quietly at him. ‘Klive, can you also buy a Carnation?’

‘Okay. Does Mom also love Carnation?’

‘No it’s for a friend.’ I said simply.

He calls someone and instructed the person to buy the flowers I had mentioned awhile ago. ‘We’ll wait for the flowers to be delivers in the office, okay? I have something to check before we leave.’

I nod at him.

As we enter his office I’m so impress. It so big, fully furnished and on top of that there are a lot of employees working on their own desk. This looks familiar. Oh yeah! It is the same scenario as before. But the Thompson’s are much richer than the Killian. I though as I thoroughly assess my environment now comparing it to the rich family I had known for quite sometime.

‘Avie have a seat.’ He said as he begins to scan the documents in front of him.

I silently obey him and obverses him while he works. He read something on the folders that makes his brow to draws at the center. I smile. That didn’t affect his beautiful features. He may look confuse but still as handsome as the first time he opens his grey eyes. I blink and sigh. What is wrong with me? Why do I assess him all of the sudden? I ask my self confusingly. I try to pull out my gaze towards him and focus on the pictures hanging on his wall far from his left. The picture draws my attention because it looks so familiar to me. The style the artist uses, the theme and everything, it looks so familiar.

I slowly walk towards the picture. The artist takes a picture of a child caring an infant while on his free hand, he holds a toddler with a torn doll on her hand and with a background that made my heart sank in sympathy for these children. ‘Oh My God!’ I whisper at myself. I recognize this. How could I not? I have the same painting with this in my room. With trembling hands I caress the mark that signifies ownership to an artist. It is located in the lower left almost at the edge of the paper, a letter G and beside it are a pencil and a sketch book.

‘You like it?’ Klive ask me. I’m surprise that he is now standing behind me.

‘I love it.’ How couldn’t I? It is a very nice art. ‘The first time I see it, I feel in love with it…’ I feel in love with him, I continue my sentence.

He chuckle. ‘The artist was my friend and somehow a business associate too. Photography was his hobby. I bought this to one of his exhibits. At first he was hesitant to sell me this art because this picture means a lot to him and to his girlfriend. But I didn’t give up and with a good price I bought this picture.’ He said with a smug smile on his lips. ‘I’m fond of collecting something like this and also paintings.’ He informs me.

‘You-You’re talking about that friend of yours. What is his name?’ I ask just a confirmation to what I’ve suspected. ‘I would like to meet him someday.’

‘Oh him? Gareth Evans.’ He said simply. ‘But he died months ago from a car accident.’

My knees become weak upon hearing his name and my throat suddenly dries up. So the two of them became friends and business associate, what a small world!

‘Hey,’ he calls my attention from the picture to him by holding my hand. ‘the flowers had been delivered and the chopper’s ready. Let’s go.’

I nod at him and stealing a last glance at Gareth’s work before I started walking with him.

The trip home is quite fast. It only took us thirty minutes compare to an hour or three on a road trip. Immediately after we arrive I visit my Nana’s tomb. I put the flowers on top of it and pray. After praying I also put the Carnations beside Nana’s burial place.

‘That’s your friend?’

‘Yes.’ I then said loudly at the tomb. ‘Hey, it’s me. It’s been long since I’ve visited you.’ I pause as if thinking for the right word to say. ‘I’m sorry for what happen.’ I started and I see Klive look at me with surprise written all over his face. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t stop Oliver from killing Nana…’ I trailed off as if I couldn’t say a word anymore. I silently pray for her and for Nana.

‘I want to see Oliver.’ I declare to Klive. We are on the way towards our hut.

‘Are you sure-’

‘Of course I’m sure.’

He nods at me and we both heading to the police station. There I see Oliver’s waiting for someone. He becomes thin and pale with mustache and beard in his face. The Oliver I see now didn’t look so close to the Oliver I had seen before. The air of arrogance around him subsides. He sees me walking towards him. I could see from afar that he is surprise upon my appearance.

‘I’m so glad to see you Avie. I’m glad you’re okay.’

His sentence darkens my mind and before I could stop myself, I slapped him so hard his head jerked sideways, and then I glared at him, my chest heaving with fury. ‘You are a heartless evil monster!’ I shouted. ‘You killed my mother and you almost killed me and you have the NERVE on asking me that question.’ I said ignoring the increasing pain on my left chest area.

‘Avie-’

I slapped him again. Oliver attempts to speak but I slapped him again and then again than again and then again.

‘Avie that’s enough.’ Klive said to me calmly.

I stop and look at Oliver furiously. I see one of his cheeks turn red, satisfied I turned my back on him and I walked out. Inside Klive’s car, my tears fell freely. I didn’t cry in front of Oliver a while ago because I didn’t want hi to saw me crying from what he’d done to me and Nana.

Klive stops the car just at the side of the road. He hugs me. ‘It’s okay… Let it out.’

I buried my face to his chest and cry. Even though I’m so upset about Oliver, I can’t help but noticed Klive’s scent. It is a man’s cologne but the weird part is that it brings me comfort and assurance smelling his scent, knowing that he is beside me and... I immediately pull from his embrace and wipe my tears. ‘I-I want to go home.’ I said looking at the window.

He first look at me, then wipes the fresh tears that had fallen into my eyes before he restart the engine without a word. We arrive in our house. I immediately enter my room and lay down t my bed. I let my gaze room around. I’ve missed this place. To that my eye lids becomes heavy.

I felt a presence inside my room an hour later. I slowly open my eyes and finds out that it is already late in the afternoon. I hear something on my right side so I turn to look at the noisy. To my surprise, it is Klive looking at my sketch book. I jumped immediately and grab my sketch book to his hands. ‘What are you doing?’ I said furiously at him. One sheet of paper falls from my sketch book.

‘I’m only looking at your sketches. You’re pretty good. Had you thought about putting it on an exhibit before?’ he asks me curiously.

‘No. And what are you still doing here? You’re not supposed to be here.’

‘I’m not going anywhere not unless you came with me.’ He said, then he leans to pick the paper. He looks at it intently. ‘Who is this?’ he ask in a tone that he has all the right to do it.

My brows meet at the center and I took the paper from his hand. My eyes literally widens as I look at the sketch.

‘I’ve seen him in almost all of your sketches. I’m just curious that’s all. He looks so familiar.’

‘He- he is my close fr-friend…’ I lied.

I hear him sigh. ‘Let’s go.’ He said but I have a feeling that he didn’t buy it.

‘I don’t- put me down!’ I said as he carried me outside the hut. My hands involuntarily wrap around his neck. ‘Klive I said put me DOWN!’ I shouted furiously at him but to my dismay he just laughs at me. Without much of a choice I climb towards the chopper with him.

Minutes later we arrive at the rooftop of The Thompson’s building. Still I didn’t say any word to him nor look at him.

‘Come on… I’m so hungry. I bet Mom’s cooking a nice dinner.’ He said gaily at me, waiting for me to dismount. I didn’t know his reasons but he had been in a good mood since he carried me outside our hut.

I ignored him.

‘Hey.’

I still ignored him and this time I roll my eyes on him.

He chuckle. ‘Come on!’ He clears his throat. ‘Avie, you know that if I let you stay in the island your life might get in danger because of Oliver. You know how influential his family can be and they can do whatever they want to you. They can even blackmail you or something.’ he said seriously at me.

I look at him as if he cast me a spell. My gaze locks into his grey ones. I sigh in my defeat and again roll my eyes on him and I started to moved. Klive laughs at me that I’ve accepted my defeat. He offers me his hand to help me get off, still laughing.

We are silent on our way to his office. He is still holding my hand.

‘Honey! Oh my God. I miss you.’ Says a very sweet voice from our back, I look at the owner and find out that she is referring to the guy next to me, holding my hand. On instinct I pull my hand.

‘Denise? What are you doing here?’ ask Klive in a voice that clearly state that he didn’t like her presence there. He moves forward at the girl he calls Denise.

The girl sweetly smiled at him and wraps her hands in his neck and kisses him on his lips right there.

My mouth fell open and then I turn my back on them giving them their privacy.

Klive pull his mouth free. ‘What are you doing?’ he asks looking at me.

‘What gives? I’m your girlfriend I have the right to kiss you.’

Girlfriend?! I echoed silently.