Chapter 5 - Did you Forget?

MAX scanned her room again after she had eaten. A bittersweet smile was carved in her lips as memories of her innocence flashed like a movie. She saw the young Kathrina playing happily with her Barbie doll while her mother was combing her hair. She was ten when her dad decided for them to move to Manila to take care of his growing business. Since then, they had not been able to return to Casa de Oro. Both her parents were busy with each other's work, while she and Cedric had gradually become accustomed to their lives in the capital and became busy with their studies. Only Belen was left to take care of the house...

Her reminiscence was suddenly interrupted by a few knocks from outside the door.

"Kath, are you still awake?" she recognized Belen's voice.

She opened the door. "Yes, Nanny?"

"I brought you milk. Do you still drink it before bed?" she asked hesitantly.

She smiled and opened the door for her. "Of course. But no one beats yours," she replied. "Come on in."

Belen's face brightened. She laid the glass of milk on her bedside table. She took it and drank half the glass before placing it back.

"Did you like your room? I wasn't sure what's your preferences now so I just made very slight changes to what it looked like before. Just tell me if something needs to be fixed," she said as she sat on the edge of the bed beside her.

"I'm okay, Nanny. Don't bother anymore," she answered as tears welled up in the corners of her eyes due to mixed emotions that enveloped her heart again. She was so touched by the love she showed her and how she made her feel like her own child.

"Why?" her nanny asked worriedly, caressing her face. She did not realize that some teardrops has already escaped from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

She shook his head. "Nothing. I just missed you," she replied. When she could no longer resist it, she hugged her nanny tightly. "I'm sorry I just came back."

Belen caressed her back. "Shhh...It's nothing. I know you were too busy with your studies and I understand that."

She cried even more when she mentioned her studies. If she only knew what she went through at her school, and why she had to come back to Casa de Oro.

A few moments later, Belen gently pulled away from her and wiped away her tears. "Hush now. Just remember, if you need anything, just tell me. You can also ask Hero if I am not around. Okay?"

"Sure," she nodded.

"Alright, finish your milk and get some rest."

She complied before giving the empty glass back to Belen. Her nanny kissed her on the forehead and bid good night.

The next day...

BELEN was not around when she came down. She got hungry so she went directly to the kitchen. But what she saw really shocked her: Hero just got out of the bathroom half-naked with hair dripping wet on his broad shoulders, to his bulging biceps and triceps, down to his chiseled abs, and even down below that which was hidden behind the white towel.

She involuntarily swallowed her own saliva when she suddenly felt a lump in her throat the moment her eyes spotted the bulge in that towel. That was not the first time she had seen someone half-naked as Cedric always pulled his shirt off at home, but that was the first time her eyes had drank in every detail of someone's body as if she was going to sketch him later. The view was so enticing she couldn't take her eyes off him.

"Max!" Hero snapped his fingers in front of her to bring her back to her senses. "Hey, are you okay?"

She immediately turned around. "Get dressed, will you!" she complained.

"If I know, your eyes were feasting on my body," he teased her. "You were looking at me like I was some delicious meal."

Her cheeks were burning red at what he said, but she immediately pulled herself together and put on her gangster act. She narrowed her eyes and instantly looked at him with that deadly look. "Do you want my punches to feast on your body?" she threatened with her clenched fist, trying her best to fix her gaze on his eyes and not on any other part of his body....especially not down there.

"Oops! Careful! I haven't dressed yet," he warned, obviously not afraid of her threat.

"Hurry up and get dressed. I'm hungry," she ordered impatiently.

"Are you gonna eat me?"

"What?"

"No, I mean... If you're hungry then get yourself some food to eat."

"Nanny Belen said I could order you around if she's not here. She's not around, so..."

"She's in uptown. But look, you are already in the kitchen and you're not a person with a disability, so..."

"When my parents find out that you let me starve, they will scold Nanny Belen and she might even lose her job," she threatened him again. "Worst, the two of you will be kicked out from here. Do you want that? Are you going to ruin your aunt's life because of your laziness?"

"So I am the lazy one now?" he complained, obviously not wanting to lose in that conversation.

She raised one eyebrow. "Did you forget you still owe me something?"

"No, I didn't. And I don't forget your leaving me at the terminal, either," he rebutted, leveling her temper with his.

She felt her blood boiling up and she was about to explode because of him. Why couldn't he just disappear from her sight already? He's making it hard to breathe for her and she felt her knees go weak as time passed by.

She suddenly felt nauseated before she could speak again. She took a step backward and was about to fall if not for Hero's quick adrenaline rush to catch her.

"Hey! Are you alright?"

She looked at him and saw his worried eyes. The throbbing of her heart had gone wild especially when she realized how close his face was to hers and he had not put his clothes on yet.

Hero guided her towards the chair and let her sit. "I'll go and get changed. Wait for me here, I'll be quick."

He ran towards his room. In less than a minute, he was already dressed in black sleeveless shirt and jersey shorts. He quietly prepared the foods on the table and grabbed two sets of utensils.

"Come on, eat up. You don't have to scare me like that."

"Scare you like what?"

"You almost passed out because of hunger. I don't know what to do if you really did."

"I already told you I'm hungry."

"Yeah, right."

"I didn't mean to scare you."

"That's fine. Just eat already."

The two of them eat silently.

"Are you feeling uncomfortable having someone else eat with you?" Hero asked when he caught her stealing glances at him.

"No. Why?"

"You keep staring at me. Are you imagining me as..."

"Don't start me with your dirty thoughts, Mr. Gaston," she warned him, sounding more serious this time.

Hero got the message and stayed silent.

She finished her meal first. Hero didn't mind and continued feasting on the foods. Smiled and stared at him. This time, she did not take her eyes off even if she met his from time to time.

Have you really forgotten about me, Hero? I've never forgotten you since that day you saved me.

"Do you need anything else?" Hero snapped her back to her senses. He's done with his food.

"No," he replied.

He got her plate and utensils and placed them on the sink. Then he cleaned after themselves.

"So you are using Ce...my cousin's room?" she asked, trying to open up a conversation.

"Auntie said it's just your cousin CJ's hangout room," he answered while he's washing the dishes. "He's barely using it so your parents' lend it to me. You don't mind, do you?" he asked, glancing at her for once.

"No, I don't. But I'm not sure about him," she said the last words in an almost whisper voice.

Still, he heard it. "I'll move out when he comes home."

She heaved a sigh before standing up. "Thanks for the food. I'll be off to my room."

"Yeah, sure."

She was about to turn away when she remembered something. "By the way..."

He turned around. "Yes?"

"Don't tell anyone in school we're living in the same house, for your own goodness' sake."

"I won't."