Alone

Someone is poking me.

I opened my eyes slowly and the first thing that I visualise are blue eyes staring right into mine. I lean back in surprise to see that I overslept.

Caius is already home! I searched for the clock and I see one next to the bed.

6:34 pm

"Oh shit. I slept too long!" I gasped, sitting up. Caius stood straight and crossed his arms. He is not wearing his coat anymore and his clothes are still properly neat like how he left this morning.

I was going to sit up quickly but he stopped me as he places a hand on my shoulder. "Claire told me that you barely ate your lunch? Didn't you like the food?" He buries his hands inside the pockets of his slacks.

"I like the food, it's delicious." I straightened up my back and leaned my back on the headboard.

"What? Homesick?" He asked, taking a seat nearby and brings out something from his pockets then threw it at me.

I caught it in the air and looked at it with confusion. Is this man messing with me? "Candy..."

"Dr. Thompson wanted to give you that."

Jonny...now that he mentions him. I kinds missed that man's jokes and annoying voice. He always know how to take away my boredom. And now, I wonder how he was doing at the hospital.

"Are you going to eat dinner?" I asked him, placing the candy on the bedside table. I never lied candies anyway but I appreciate the thought.

"I already ate dinner before I went home." Caius stands up then without any second thoughts or warnings, he removed his shirt and walks around topless. "You? you want to eat?"

I shook my head. I'm not in the mood to eat right now. But I really don't eat dinner most of the time though and it's kinda bit of a hobby, as crazy as it sounds.

"A therapist will come tomorrow to start your sessions. She will help you walk again."

"Alright." I murmured, crossing my arms across my chest then sigh deeply. I still feel so dizzy though. "The maids are addressing me too formal here in your household. I'm not comfortable with it." I started.

"They should address you just the way they should treat their boss. They are here to serve you, not be friends." He answered, straightly.

I expect that he would say that though. He seems to be the type of man who wants people to do what their roles are.

"I got the chance to talk to Claire, she's nice. She seems to know a lot about your family."

"Well she doesn't have the right to tell some stories about my family." His facial expression darkens. "Did she said something about my family?"

"No, all she said is that she has been working for the Bateman for more than forty years." I answered, playing with my fingers, slightly being scared of his reaction. I don't want someone to get in trouble because of my curiosity, especially Claire who did nothing wrong. She just answered my questions.

"I better talk to Claire to zip her mouth before she starts to say something." He jeered.

"Don't! She didn't say anything beyond that! She said that because I asked her! After saying that she immediately stops talking." I stopped him, didn't expect that he would be this angry about it.

Is this how he really treats his staffs? Claire knows him since he was a child, for sure. But why he does he treats her like crap? She doesn't deserve that in the first place. In Dad's house, where we all grew up, I treat everyone even the maids like family. I let them join us for holidays like Christmas, and even birthdays. I never seen someone so harsh on people.

"Are you really like this to them?" I asked out of the blue. I wished I could have just shushed my mouth.

Caius was obvious that he didn't like my question. So instead of answering, he scoffed and changed his pants into pyjamas, still without any top on.

"I'm tired. Don't ask any more questions. You can watch something but make sure to keep it down." That was the only thing he said before getting under the covers beside me and rested his head on his pillow, facing the opposite direction.

Okay, guess he doesn't like personal questions. Better keep that in mind if I want to be comfortable around him. I need to get out of his nerves or it would be hard for me to cope things up.

The next day, true to his words. A therapist came in the house to do the sessions. There will be at least 3 sessions a week and how it will last depends on how quick I will regain back my balance and if I can walk straight without feeling any more pain.

The first meeting is more on massaging and stretching some of my legs while I lay down. The problem is it is a man. Caius said first that it will be a female therapist but it turns out that it changed.

I am still not that comfortable that a man is touching me especially on my thigh and legs area. He guides my legs, stretch them then bend. Just a normal exercise.

Caius is not here the whole day and as usual, he instructed someone to help me, which is Gwen. He told Gwen to assist me throughout the therapy and she will be like my assistant to put me on wheelchair, and any others.

Honestly, I barely see Caius even to the next following days. He is always busy, going to the hospital then sometimes he has a three days trip, all surgeons for a gathering somewhere a bit far. He will just call me then ask me if I need anything or how I was doing.

It is very thoughtful of him to still think of me but sometimes, I appreciate it more if he asks them personally, not over the phone. Or am I demanding too much for someone who only took me in because needs something from me.

Nine sessions later, I can see the difference and how I slowly recovers. I can stand not not too long, I've been using some crutches lately and it helps me to walk. Although I'm not allowed to walk in far places. Just around the house is fine.

I started off, by slowly standing up then walk a few steps. Caius didn't see my recovery yet because he has been away for around two weeks. But my life in his house is wealthier than a queen though. Everything is set for me.

My meals, my clothes, for my hygiene, even when I'm taking a bath, when I wanted to go outside and even the security.

I'm living a wealthy life. But the problem is, I'm starting to get bored to death.

And my longing for my family is getting stronger. Maybe I can see them but hide it from Gale. I'm sure my family will understand me and they have the right to know that I'm alive. I don't want them to be in sorrow.

I will ask Caius once he gets home.

One afternoon, I was reading some of Caius books in his shelves when I have a surprise visitor.

"Good day!" It's Jonny.

"Hey." A smile forms in my face. Seriously, I need to see a familiar face! He's already enough even though he's not totally my friend. I just need to talk to someone! The maids here are too afraid to talk to me and it's getting on my nerves!

Jonny comes in, holding a bag full of takeouts. "I bought you something to eat. I don't know what you want so I just bought them all." He places them down on the desk but the maids took it from him. "Oh. Okay then. Thanks." He says awkwardly. But they leave immediately. "Okay, it's nice to meet you too."

I laughed at his reaction as he sits down. "They are not that friendly."

"Does everyone here as friendly as like their boss?" Jonny asked with his eyebrows touched his voice full of sarcasm. "And I'm not surprised if you're bored in this house."

"Well, Caius is not here for almost two weeks." I replied, placing the books back on their shelves. I carefully walk towards him while holding onto some hard things nearby to keep me balanced then sat in front of him.

"You look terrible." He suddenly complemented.

"Wow, thanks a lot." I replied, "That really boosts up my confidence."

"But I'm sure you're beautiful in the eyes of your fiancé, am I right?" He playfully asked.

Yeah, right. The problem is, he doesn't even have the time to look at me. But I do not care. He is keeping me here so that is enough for me.

"Anyway, do you want to go out?" Jonny asked, sighing then stands up. "There is this good newly opened Japanese restaurant. I was going to check it out, wanna accompany me?"

"Are you sure you want to be seen with a girl in wheels?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I can't see that's a hindrance for me to take you." Jonny offered his hand to me. "Come on, I'll take care of you."

"You sure?"

"Yeah." He grins. "I will take full responsibility if your fiancé gets angry."

"Tsk, I doubt he will know this." I scoffed. "Alright, come on."

"Good." Jonny cheers then assists me. I can walk slowly but I think it is appropriate if I use the wheelchair. And come to think of it, this will be the first time that I will be out of this house ever since Caius took me in. He never lets me out, he will just bring me foods that I want from the outside then that's it.

I suddenly felt like a kid seeing what's outside of that house. It was just months but it feels like years in isolated place and the people there didn't even dare try to speak to me as if they were afraid.

Of course they are afraid. I see how Caius treats the maids like they were slaves that didn't deserve any respect.

"You look like in deep thoughts." Jonny noticed my silence inside the car.

"No, I am just not that type of person who likes to talk." I replied, staring out of the window as we drive pass some restaurants and houses.

"And I am the type of person who likes to talk."

"Guess we are two opposite people." I murmured, crossing my arms and chuckled a lot.

"Well, that's makes sense. They say opposites do attract." He cheekily mentioned, grinning teasingly.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "I do not believe in those nonsense." Because that is how people described me and Gale. He's the strong and deep kind of person while I, on the other hand, the soft and weak one. That's how Lau used to describe me.

We reached our destination finally. The restaurant isn't filled that much of customers so there are plenty of spaces for us.

A woman assisted us to the right spot for us and Jonny arranged me to get comfortable on the table. He sat down and called a waiter.

"Do you want iced tea?" He asks me.

"Sure." I replied, checking out the menu. "I would like a bento with lots of tempura." I ordered with laughs.

"Write it down whatever the woman says." Jonny told the waiter then he orders his own. It's a little cold in here though and I'm just wearing a sleeveless blouse and denim shorts. Not applicable though, should have brought my cardigan.

"You cold?" Jonny seems to noticed that I was rubbing my arms.

"A little."

"Here, you can wear my coat." He takes his coat off then wraps it around my shoulder. "The season is getting colder, eh?"

"Yeah, I noticed. I rarely go out of the house since then." I mentioned, sighing. His jacket smells a lot like him. Jonny has a very distinct smell, I mean his scent is like a bit of lemon and cinnamon. Weird but it's true. He always brings that smell that's why I knew it sometimes when he comes in my hospital room.

While Caius also has a different scent. His is like more masculine but very addicting. I don't know but I think it was his natural smell.

"Say...you mentioned about your son, right?" I opened up. "Are you and...the mother divorced or some other way?"

Jonny seems like he didn't expect the question from me but he smiled and happily accepts it. "His Mom died before I know that I have Toffer."

"Oh." That is a sad way to know. Toffer must be the name of his son. "What happened —I mean, you can tell me if only you wanted to. I-I respect if you don't want to."

Jonny laughed at my response. "I don't mind, really. Well, how should I start? Erm... His mom and I dated for a long time in med school, then we didn't work out, we broke up, then a few months later, her sister came to my house holding little Toffer saying that it was my son."

"And are you sure that it was not the sister that you impregnated?" I asked, kiddingly.

"What? Of course not." He responded, quickly. "I'm not an asshole, Shanaya."

"So, how old is Toffer?"

"He's seven." He answered, taking out his phone from his pocket then shows me a picture of a ginger haired boy with a huge smile on his messy face.

"He doesn't look like you." I noticed, looking back to him so I compare their features.

"Yeah, he looks like an exact picture of his mother." Jonny murmured, placing his phone back inside his pocket. In a few seconds, our meal arrives and it looks so delicious. Its about time that I could eat something Asian.

Caius always brings me French and Italian foods.

I literally moaned in delight when the tempura meets my tastebuds. It's amazing and I can eat it everyday. I really love eating foreign foods and having a career like I did, always out of the country, eating their foods is a must.

"Wow, you eat a lot." Jonny stated, looking at me with surprised eyes. "You rarely eat when you were still at the hospital."

That's because I was so lonely there. All of the wounds are still fresh.

"Well, lets just say that I was so different when I was still at the hospital." I said, taking a sip of my iced tea this time.

The lunch went well. I definitely did not got bored hanging out with him. He is very nice to me even at the hospital up to now. He is still very friendly and jolly. Who would have thought that I can be friends with this guy? This annoying guy who takes away my boredom. I wonder why he would be friend me?

He even visited me at Caius' places and that's something.

After lunch, Jonny takes me back. I was the one who insisted to go home though because Caius might call and he won't like it if I leave the house with someone. But, his anger won't do anything, he's far away. I can easily just brush it off though. If I can.

I don't know but whenever Caius talks to me, I feel like he always speaks with authority. Like he is always in command or anything that makes you feel afraid. But I started to get used to it. I don't feel frighten when I talk to him. Actually, sometimes I'm the one who is cutting the call. But I'm sure that terribly cause more irritation from his side.

Anyway, I shouldn't be thinking about him right now because he's not here.

"Don't come in. I can handle myself from here." I told him when the housemaids helped me to my wheelchair when as he brings me back to the house.

"Okay, I will be going now. I still have to fetch Toffer from school in a few minutes." He told me.

"Thank you, Jonny. I do appreciate it." I smiled at him. It's good to talk to someone that makes you feel comfortable. Jonny waves at me then gets inside his car then drives away. Gwen takes me inside the house and I'm back to reality again.

Caius didn't call while I was out so I'm safe. I hate explaining too much so it would be better to now just tel him about this.

Now what? I'm back here without anyone speaking to me. Great. Just great.

To be continued...