MILK & WINE

CHAPTER 06: FIERCE INNOCENCE

What piqued his intrigue in her was how she was meek as a lamb. Docile, soft, innocent, and most laughably the prey of the wolf. However, she proved that she might seem like an easy prey but she was far from it. There is another side to her that emerges when she is truly threatened. She was not the one to be taken lightly. The duality of her made him confused yet ever more intrigued.

It had started to snow when I got out of my condo building and took my seat in the car. I had to drive slowly to avoid sliding over my car.

I walked into the house at 3 am against my words. Mom and Dad were not at the house then. Still not sleepy, I decided to sit in the garden and smoke. After binge-smoking the whole packet, I stood up and took a stroll in the garden. Minutes later I looked up to see a girl opening the door of the terrace walking into it, and looking from side to side. 

She's not hard to look at when she takes that thing off her head.

This time I could see her hair. They were tamed in a loose bun that rested at the base of her neck. I saw her shuddering hurrying inside. 

I stood up from the chair in the garden and went inside. I took off my jacket and lay on the couch in the living room. Taking off my phone I started to play games. 

I was playing games when I heard the front door unlocking.

Are Mom and Dad back already? I thought as I picked up my jacket and slipped my phone into my pocket. I stood up and went to the front door only to find it ajar. 

Someone has gone outside.

I hung my jacket on my shoulder and went out only to see our guest walking barefoot on snow. She was staring at something near our Christmas tree. I walked up behind her and she didn't even notice. 

Stupid girl. Is she even worth my time?

I leaned beside her ear and said; "It's too cold here to be barefooted, Cinderella." She snapped her head towards me so fast that I thought that maybe her neck had broken. She looked at me with her big brown eyes that carried disbelief of the whole world. She blinked as if she was not sure I was standing there.

"Don't you think so?" I added she looked so shocked, I was having the time of myself. I was laughing like a lunatic inwardly.

I talked to her for a few minutes just to break the ice only to discover that her family was dead. 

I felt guilt climb up to the base of my throat and scratch it. I felt the good angel inside me, who had been dead for many years, revive and shake his head at me. I didn't know what to say and she fell quiet too. It was the most awkward moment of my life. I wanted the ground to open and eat me up the whole. Until.

Achoo!

I turned to look at her only to find her staring at me with those big brown eyes and pink cheeks, with hands over her mouth. She looked sheepish as if she had done something wrong. I smiled and hung my coat over her shoulders telling her to go inside. I could tell that she wanted to reject therefore I placed a finger on her lips telling her to oblige.

After Fatima went inside I went to the study to work while my brain refused to shut itself. At around seven am I heard someone in the kitchen. I went to the kitchen to see who it was. I saw a figure trying to reach the cereal box. As soon as she reaches it, I realize who she is.

"What are you doing at seven am in the kitchen?" I asked turning on the lights

She turned to see me and she looked flustered and guilty. As if, I had caught her dealing drugs.