Chapter 2: A ghost?

Katia's POV

The alarm clock beside my bed awakes me. I instantly get up and sit on my bed.

"Ouch!" I whispered as I touched my head.

Why does my head hurt so much? Wait! I went out last night, right? Am I that wasted? How did I go home? Did my friends drive me home? Did someone fetch me?

I massage my head while getting off the bed. My heart and body stopped, my eyebrows collided, and my eyes were about to pop out.

"Holy sheesh!" I shouted as I remembered how I got home.

"Holy! Kathrina! What have you done? What did you say to him‽" I whispered, angry to myself.

I don't remember some of the details. All I know is I screamed. Did I?

"Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t!"

Kenji's POV

I'M here in the kitchen now. I'm helping Ms. Fe prepare breakfast. Some of the kitchen maids are on their days off, so I decided to lend my hand in the kitchen. Honestly, I should've been sleeping at this time. My eyes are too tired because of what happened last night. I picked Ma'am Kathrina very late last night. Ms. Fe just woke me up to deliver Ma'am Kathrina's breakfast upstairs. You know, she's old and exhausted as well. So, I just help her out.

Ms. Fe is still cooking some of the foods. I was just preparing the plates while sitting when I remembered some details last night.

"Ms. Fe?" I call her.

"Hmm?" she simply answered.

"Is ma'am Kathrina sick?"

"What? Is she sick? Wait! I'll check her—"

"Hold on! Hold on!" I stopped her.

"Calm down, Ms. Fe! She's not sick! Let me finish my word first." Ms. Fe calms herself.

"What I mean is, does Ma'am Kathrina has a disease history or any diseases?" I added.

"You are really something, Kenji! You made me jump. Of course, none! Your Ma'am Kathrina is very healthy. Her heart is just a little weak, but she's firm and healthy," she explained. I just nodded.

"Why did you ask anyway?" she asked me while putting the food in the silver tray.

"I don't exactly know, Ms. Fe. But yesterday, I was waiting for her in the parking lot. But when I delivered the message, the 'seen' thing appeared. So, basically, Ma'am Kathrina saw my message. I don't know if she's the one who opened the message or her friends. But the thing is, when I saw her walking in the parking lot, she seemed very drunk. But she's crying and talking. I don't know if she's talking to herself or someone on the phone. But no ones in there," I seriously explained. I'm curious about that.

"What are you talking about? She's drunk, remember? Maybe it's just an effect of it." Is she really just drunk? I'm also confused, but maybe Ms. Fe is right. I'm just curious for nothing.

What do you think, guys? But seriously, she's alone.

Katia's POV

I SLOWLY opened my eyes and closed them again. I didn't notice that I dozed off while thinking about what I did last night.

"Good morning, ma'am!" I smiled while opening my eyes. But suddenly…

"Waah! Who are you? What are you doing in my room? Security—"

"Ma'am! Chill! Don't shout! It's me! I'm just fresh right now. It's me, Kenji! Nothing changes in my face, ma'am. I just took a shower."

Kenji's POV

"MA'AM! Chill! It's me! I'm just fresh right now. It's me, Kenji! Nothing changes in my face, ma'am. I just took a shower," I explained while simply smiling. I just took a shower. What's wrong? Why didn't she startle yesterday? I didn't take a shower for two days yesterday.

"It's your fault! Why are you delivering my food here? Where's Ms. Fe?" she asked while simply covering her body with her pillow.

"Ms. Fe might be resting right now or went to the market." She just frowns while I'm handing the food tray to her bed. I give her a big smile.

She's really beautiful. She's so gorgeous even though she just woke up. Fresh! What's your skincare, girl? Snap it! You're masculine, Kenji! I'm just kidding, guys! Ma'am Kathrina is my childhood crush. She just didn't notice me, but we were childhood friends. It's been a long time, so maybe that's why he forgot about me.

But did you know, guys? Ma'am Kathrina used to be very enthusiastic and cheerful. She's always smiling and always has the energy that no one can have. She used to be like that even before we graduated from college three years ago. I know a lot about Ma'am Kathrina since we are batch mates and in the same school. She used to be genuine, but not after the breakup. Then, just a few weeks after break up, we just received the news that poof! She had already flown away from the Philippines.

Before she flew, she had a big smile that you could even see genuinely in her eyes that she was happy. Now, everything about her seems so lonely. Maybe it also flew away?

"Enjoy your breakfast, ma'am!" I said while waiting for her to eat her food.

"Are you going to watch me?" She's so mean. I slowly turned around. She just quietly ate her food.

"By the way, ma'am! Do you have plans today? There's a nice view near our hometown. Do you want to see it? I promise I'll accompany you, ma'am! That view is really worth it. Let's—"

"I don't want to go anywhere," she said and didn't even let me finish. I turned around and looked at her. Why? Her vacation will waste if she will just sit around the house.

"Why, ma'am? The view is the best, ma'am! You won't regret it! I'll accompany you! I promise—"

"Of course, you're the one who will accompany me, you dumb! You are my driver, remember—"

I turned around and added "and assistant, ma'am!" while punching the air above me. She just glares at me. Is it a wrong move?

She glares again.

I slowly put my fist down. Yep! Wrong move!

"I don't want to go anywhere. Period!" she said confidently while eating her food again.

"What a waste," I said while looking at coupons.

"There's a newly open restaurant nearby. Customers said that their leche flan is delicious! Especially the lasagna. They are the only restaurant that serves good lasagna in this town." Ma'am Kathrina instantly looks at me. I know she can't resist it.

"Where?" She asked instantly. See? She can't resist a good food.

"Not far. And you don't want to go anywhere, right ma'am? Can I ask permission to go there by myself since you will just rest and stay in the house? No worries, I'll come back in a flash. I will just spend these coupons and enjoy the lasagna by myself. Shame you can't go with me." I emphasized the words. I slowly walk away from the room while she still hesitates on my offer. I know you'll give yourself an option, ma'am.

"Bye, ma'am—"

"Wait!" Gotcha!

"Yes, ma'am? Do you need anything before I leave?" I emphasized again while softly looking at her.

"I remember I'm going off somewhere. I'll come." Told ya! Is this a date, ma'am? Oops! I'm kidding! I don't wanna get fired so soon.

Katia's POV

"MA'AM!" Kenji calls me while excitedly approaching me.

After Kenji and I went to the fake somewhere that I mentioned earlier, he accompanied me to the new restaurant that he was talking about. Then we went to that nice view he was talking about.

He said I'd enjoy this view. I thought so too. I thought I'd enjoy it too, but why does it pain me? But why do I feel my heart cracking instead of joy?

"Ma'am, here's your ice cream." I immediately grab it and simply smile at him.

"It's already melting, ma'am. Try it. Trust me. That ice cream tastes so good." I seriously looked at him. I hope I can also be happy like him. I hope I can always smile without any pain.

"See? Beautiful view, right? Do you still remember this place, ma'am? They added the other benches and cleaned the area. And do you remember this bench, ma'am? This bench where we're sitting is the oldest bench among the others. This bench used to be the only bench here before. Have you gone here before it renovates?"

How could I ever forget this place? My heart beats when I saw this place, and until now, this place hurts me like it was just yesterday.

"Have you noticed how big the tree is now? It's bigger than it was three years ago," Kenji asked while looking up at the tree above us.

"Did you know, ma'am, that this tree above us is the oldest tree in the whole of Asia ...?" I looked up too.

"That's why they called this the Tree of Memories. They said that this tree had to go through many memories. They said that if you want to remember something, just go here, and eventually, you'll remember. The tree will make you remember." Kenji explained cheerfully while he kept on eating his ice cream. I just looked down. Is that the reason why I'm still hurting? Because up until now, this tree made me remember all of the memories? Not the happy memories but those memories that are impossible to come back?

"Ma'am?" he calls me while I'm still looking down.

"Ma'am? Are you alright? Did I say something wrong?" I just keep silent.

"Do you have a problem?" he asked again.

"Actually, I don't know too. I also don't know if I have a problem or if this is just natural since nothing's actually happening at all. I'm immune. I'm so immune…." I smirked.

"I also don't know what I should feel every day. I just … don't know." I just laugh ironically at myself. All of it doesn't make sense.

"You can do it, ma'am. You are Kathrina. I know that you can." I smile a bit and look at the air.

"I always feel that anytime and anywhere, I will explode. I'm tired, Kenji! I'm exhausted! I thought I was already done…"

"But I wasn't."

I felt his hands rubbing my back, comforting me genuinely.

"I hide too much pain like f*ck! They didn't tell me it was this hurt. I should've been prepared. If only they told me that it could make me explode." Then suddenly, I feel his hands on my cheeks, catching all those unnoticed tears.

"Don't hide it. It will just hurt you more if you hide it from people around you. Share your pain. That's what I do. I let my pain out. I cried. I just didn't notice that the pain flowed out together with the tears I had—"

"But how…?"

"How…? "

"If I already lost you, Red?"

Kenji's POV

DID she just call me Red?

"You are the only person who can understand me, Red." She leans her forehead on my chest. I didn't know that she's been hurt like this. I am still wondering why she calls me Red. Is it really that hurt?

"I tried to be happy, but why until now, I still can't mean it?" I hugged her, going with the flow.

"That's fine, Kathrina. You really can't be just instantly happy. Happiness really takes time. That's what we should learn about happiness; that no matter how you make people happy, it will always end up in the fact that they can't always make you happy the same way you do. The world is really unfair because no matter what you do, it will never give you the same equal thing that you gave to them." I heard her loud cry while hugging me back.

I just look away. How can I ease your pain, Kathrina? I've seen you in pain for years. Those years are enough. Forget about it. If only you could love me back.

We both walk into the car silently. I look at the front mirror to check her in the backseat. Is she okay? She's just looking at the window. I can see her lonely eyes from here. When can I see you happy again, Kathrina?

WE made it back home, and Ma'am Kathrina walked straight upstairs. She's sighing in the air. Ms. Fe heard her heavy sigh and asked me where we went. I just answered her question, but I never saw this coming; she madly shouted at me silently.

"What‽ Why did you bring her there‽ "She was about to strike her hands at me, but I instantly dodged her hands and stepped back.

"Why? What did I do? What's with that tree?" Is it sacred? What did I do wrong? I just fulfill my promise to ma'am Kathrina. Wait! What's so special about that place?

"That's where everything started." Huh? What did she mean?

"That's where everything begins. Start from happiness until all the pain she had right now."

What? Wait! Do you think what I'm thinking?

"Do you mean Ms. Fe? That's where…?" Ms. Fe annoyingly nodded.

Why don't I know that? Did you all know? Why didn't you tell me? Now I feel bad for her.

I just look down and scratch my head. Sh*t, I feel guilty!

"I feel bad for Kathrina. She's suffering so much." She really does, and we need to find ways to ease that.

"Do you know something or someplace, Ms. Fe? Some favorite place that can calm her?" Ms. Fe just looks up and thinks.

"Oh, yes! I know somewhere. She loved beaches since she was young. I think it's been years since she went to a beach since she was so busy with her work in France. But I'm so sure that if you brought her to the beach. She'll be thrilled." Hmmm. Beach? I think that would work.

WE'RE currently in the garage. I'm now fixing and putting the stuff in the car while Ma'am Kathrina's questioning me.

"Where exactly are we going?" Ma'am Kathrina asked.

"Not too far. Promise you'll enjoy this, ma'am." She just frowns at me.

"And why did you tell me to wear something like this? It's so hot. What is this appointment that I didn't know? And the last time I check, I'm the boss here." I simply smiled.

"Did you just smile? What's so funny?" Oh no, she's angry.

I just cover my mouth to resist laughing. She simply smiled as well while getting in the car.

Okay! One smile down!

I went inside the car and drove off our way. This day needs to be perfect.

"Ma'am, take a rest for a while. It will take us a while to get there. I'll just wake you once we get there." She's just quiet while looking at the window. Then, I took something from the backseat and handed it over to her.

"Ma'am, here."

"What's this?" She frowns while asking.

"Open it, ma'am," I energetically said while consecutively raising my eyebrows. She quietly opens it and looks at me.

"I prepared food just in case you don't eat your breakfast. I'm glad I did. So, eat that while we're still driving. Then just rest after you eat so you could have enough energy for later." She quietly took the fork inside the tupperware and tasted the food.

"I know that's your favorite, ma'am. That's why I study how to cook that yesterday. Is it good?" I explained while smiling.

"First time?" she asked. I just nodded while giving her a big smile. Maybe it tastes so good, that's why she asked.

"That's why it tastes bad."

"Ouch! That hurts, ma'am."

"What do you want me to say? Lie to you?" She's smiling while saying that.

Oh! Yes! Two smiles down!

"That's what I'm talking about! Smile! Slay! Just keep smiling like that, ma'am! Smile!" I said while teaching her how to smile. She just snubs at me and continues eating. I know it tastes good, ma'am. I didn't sleep just to perfect that taste.

"But you know what, ma'am? You are right…" She slowly eats.

"We don't really need to pretend all the time. Especially when we're fighting about life, maybe we could pretend sometimes. We must pretend, especially if it talks about the happiness of our loved ones. Sometimes, we need to pretend that we're happy to let them see that we're not weak and we can do anything even without them…"

I notice she is slowly looking at me. I'm just looking at the road while driving.

"But like I said. We don't need to pretend all the time. Imagine if we pretend that we're happy, but we don't notice that the reason why they are not approaching us is that they don't want to ruin that happiness again? Even, in reality, we're really not that happy. We should not always pretend to be happy because they might decide to stay away from us since we're showing them that we can still be happy without them. We must always balance the situation before taking action, ma'am. And in that situation, we must not always choose something for another person. Once in our life, we should consider choosing something for ourselves. For our happiness. For our worth. So that we can say that at least for once, someone chooses us, right? Even it is ourselves."