Chapter 10 - ARTHUR

Cayenne stared at the man beside her. "Arthur?" The man smiled happily when she spoke his name. "You're back? How are you?" "I'm doing fine," Arthur responded, still wearing that beautiful smile on his lips. "I got back three months ago and found out that you moved out." Cayenne averted her eyes from him and stared back into the pond not far from where they sat. "Things happened, and we needed to cut expenses here and there. Moving out was another option." "I'm sorry to hear that." Arthur looked down at his hands, which he had been fiddling with since earlier. He was nervous when he saw her again after five long years. "Did you change your phone number?" "Hn." "Can I ask for your number again? I wanted to help you back then, and now, I still want to. Is that fine?" Cayenne didn't look at him, but she stood up with her back facing him. "There's no need for you to involve yourself in my problem. We are doing just fine. Thanks for your concern, though." She didn't wait for his response and left, leaving the man once again just as she had five years ago. They weren't exactly in a relationship, but he was the man who had been kind to her, who always helped her, who looked after her siblings when she was not around, the man who could be relied upon. It would have been fine if they had stayed that way, but she hated it when he told her about his feelings. She felt like she was abusing him because of his feelings. Even when their classmates were spreading rumors that she was using his feelings to take advantage of him, he didn't care about any of that, but Cayenne was different. None of the things they said was true, but she still felt guilty because she was indeed indebted to him countless times. Arthur was her neighbor's well; their house was two blocks away, but he would often visit them to see how they were doing. Her brothers like him, too. Five years ago, when he confessed his feelings, it was on a day that he had to leave for the States. He was going to study there with her older brother. Perhaps, he knew that there wasn't any chance for them, so he decided to say what he felt. Sure enough, Cayenne rejected him. He liked her since they were young, and he didn't care about her situation or her status in life. He just wanted to be with her. Sadly, Cayenne didn't feel the same, and it was the same five years later. The woman he liked still wouldn't look him in the eye. Arthur stood up and ran after her. "Yen, wait up." He ran as fast as he could and grabbed her wrist to stop her. "Yen, I...I...I will..come..and find you..again." His statement was broken as he tried to catch his breath. People were looking at them already, but he didn't want to let go of her yet. Cayenne just watched him until he straightened himself and let go of her. "I will gladly welcome you as long as you won't help me." "Why?" "What 'why'?" "Why don't you want me to help you?" "Because I don't need it. If you visit just merely for a reason to see us, that would be fine. That or just don't visit us." Arthur nodded his head in agreement. As long as he sees him, any conditions of hers will be fine. He will gladly follow them. "Can I see your mother?" "Hn." She went back to her mother's room with Arthur walking beside her. She didn't want to accept his help, not because she didn't need it, but because he just didn't want such help to come from him. When the two of them showed up, Kyle and Luiz were very surprised as well. Her mother was also happy to see a new visitor in her room. "When did you get back, Arthur?" Kyle asked him while giving him the chair that he was using. "Not long ago. I'm glad to see all of you." "No, it's you who're happy to see you. How are you?" Cayenne's mother became a chatterbox when she saw him, and they talked about so many things. Cayenne could only roll her eyes at this reunion. It was as if they saw the long-lost relative. "Come to think of it, how did you end up here?" she asked Arthur the question that she didn't get to ask him. "My sister-in-law gave birth to her firstborn son, and everyone came to visit her. I was just about to go home when I saw you in the garden." "What were you doing in the garden? It's getting cold outside, you could've called your supervisor here," her mother scolded her, not knowing that she didn't go out to make a call. She just wanted to get some air and clear her mind a little. Think about some stuff and sigh to herself. That was what she did outside. Arthur didn't pry on her privacy and didn't ask anything about her work. They were all catching up with each other's life events in the past five years. After two hours, Arthur had to leave since his mother wanted him to buy something on his way home. He bid his farewell and promised to visit them again. He even exchanged numbers with Kyle and Luiz to make sure that he can contact them or they can contact him. He didn't bother exchanging numbers with Cayenne since already refused her m few times earlier. Cayenne and her brothers went home as well before the sun set. They were going to visit her again next weekend, since tomorrow was the day they needed to do some general cleaning at home. "It's good to see Arthur back. Don't you think so, sis?" Kyle stated not knowing how troubled her sister was whenever Arthur's name was mentioned. "Hn. It's good to see him back," she responded unenthusiastically.