53 GLIMPSE OF THE PAST III

"Hi! What's your name?" Jillyanna asked the little boy who was sulking at the front porch of their house. He was taller than her by few inches and his dark eyes were kind of sad and lonely. She had been watching him from her room but after few hours, the little was still sitting on the same spot. He wasn't even listening to his mother's call.

The little boy looked at her before looking away, gazing into the horizon like a mature guy. He seemed to be thinking of something. Jillyanna didn't disturb him but she chose to sit on one of the couch near him.

"My name's RV." a soft whisper came out from him.

"Huh?" Jillyanna asked with a confused gaze since she wasn't able to hear the words he spoke clearly.

"Everybody calls me RV. How about you?" This time he was looking at her while waiting for her answer.

"I'm Jill. Are you auntie Venus' son?" her big eyes were full of curiosity to this new visitor. It was the first time he visited their house after all.

Travis took out a small candy from his pocket and gave it to her. "I am her son. Can you be my friend?"

"What's a friend?" This question stunned the little boy but Jillyanna took the candy nevertheless before going back to her seat.

"You don't have friends?" Travis jumped down on the rail that he was sitting and approached her.

"I don't know what's a friend. I think I have none." she was innocent, cute and sweet everytime he answered his question. Travis didn't know what to say at all.

"Let me tell you something. A friend is a person you play with, talk to, share your toys or your food, help you in times of needs and someone who would accompany you when you feel lonely." Travis explained patiently to her while Jillyanna listened to him attentively.

"Oh! I get what you mean. So my mother is my friend. She plays with me, talks to me and helps me everytime I need something."

Travis was beyond speechless. He never thought that this small little girl in front of him didn't have many friends.

"You don't go to school? You don't go out?" Travis asked successively while taking a seat beside her. He was really curious in her life as a child.

"I often go out with my mother. I study as well."

"So you have friends at school, right?"

"Huh? What's a school?"

"You don't know what a school is? Where do you study then?" For Travis, it was hilarious! He had to go to different classes since young and here's a person who don't even know what school is. He thought that she was very carefree and spoiled by her parents.

"I will show you where I study. Follow me inside." Jillyanna walked back to the house with her small feet. She walked slowly like she was afraid of making sounds. She had to stop for a while and drink water time to time.

Now that Travis had observed the place carefully, he found out that there were pitcher of water and a glass almost every corner of the house.

"Why are there so many water everywhere?" Travis couldn't help but ask her.

Jillyanna finished drinking her water before answering. "I get so thirsty easily. I need to drink lots of water."

"Where are our parents by the way?"

"They're cooking in the kitchen. Would you like to see them first?"

"Nope."

"Okay. Follow me." They continued walking to a corner with two doors. Jillyanna opened the one on the left and got inside.

There were so many books and toys arranged neatly on different shelves, a tablet and laptop was sitting on a table with a study lamp. There were different coloring materials and canvas and different school supplies. It was like a book/toy store instead.

"This is where you study?" Travis asked with disbelief. How can she study alone? It's boring. That's what Travis thought while looking around the place.

"I study here with my mom. Sometimes, it would be at the hos -...Sometimes, a teacher would come and teach me." she didn't really know why the little boy kept asking her questions but she felt happy that someone was talking to her.

"What about the other room?" Travis asked while indicating the door beside her study room.

"That's my room. Father arranged the place so that it would be closer for me."

"Where's your father?"

"I don't know."

Travis was a sensitive person so he stopped inquiring about her father after seeing her pitiful expression. They sat on the floor while Jillyanna took out a coloring book to play with.

"I think I remember why I don't have friends." Jillyanna opened up while picking a red coloring pencil to use for the sketched roses.

"You don't really have to tell me, you know. I can be your friend if you want."

"Is that so? You will still be my friend even if I don't have a father?"

"You, having no father has got nothing to do with me, being your friend. How's that related?" Travis stated with a questioning look as he helped her erase some colors that were out of the lines.

"There was a time that I tried to play with other children. They all yelled at me and told me that I don't have a father so they won't play with me. After that, I hate going outside the house."

"Don't worry I will be your only friend. You don't have to look for anyone else." RV gave her a gentle pat on her head.

When Jillyanna looked up, it was a different place. RV was standing not far from her. His face was full of anger while staring at her.

"RV, RV wait up!" she was panting as she tried her best to chase after him.

"Stop following me!" he shouted back at her which made her flinched from being shock.

A dull pain started pricking her heart as she breathed heavily to fill her lungs with oxygen.

"Don't just run off on your own. Your parents will be worried." she was clutching her chest from the sudden pain but she remained standing.

"It's none of your business!"

"Why do you have to shout at me?"

"Why? Because I hate you! I hate you and your mom! I hate it so much that it made me sick just looking at your face!"

"Don't hate me please. You're the only friend I have."

"I am not your friend. I won't like you! I won't like a thief! I wish you and your mother would just disappear forever!"

A tear fell in her eyes. His words were cold and painful. Jillyanna felt a cold hands on her face. She furrowed her brows and opened her eyes.

"What are you doing?" Her nightmare was pushed to the back of her mind after realizing her situation.

Both her hands were tied to the bed's pole. Her back was covered with cold sweat as well as her forehead.

Beside her was the man who came inside the house to report something earlier. It was him who looked at her with heated eyes.

'RV, I'm scared.'