Heartbeat by Iem_Aivlis

Suddenly I was shocked because I heard someone else's voice besides me and my daughter. 

"Why are you still here?" I asked him in surprise.

"Mom, Uncle Christ went home earlier. But he came back because he wanted to return Mom's bag that was left in the car." Bie explained while filling noodles into the empty bowl he was carrying using a fork.

Didn't I put my bag on the sofa in the living room? Oh, I forgot. Earlier, perhaps all I brought was a paper bag containing my work uniform. Because I was in a hurry to pee, I didn't realize it.

"Mom, I've filled your bowl, baby." I handed her the bowl filled with noodles.

"This is for Uncle Christ, Mom." Bie handed the bowl to the man who was still standing behind me.

"No need, Bie. I'm already full." Christ refused.

"He doesn't want to eat, maybe because he's not used to this food, Bie. Let's eat." I started to sit down and took the bowl that Bie had offered earlier.

"Who said I can't?" Christ snatched the bowl that I had almost put on the table.

He started to sit on the chair to my left. He started blowing on the noodles that were stuck to his fork. After he felt it was warm enough, he put the noodles into his mouth. Why did I see him eating? I better eat too. After a few minutes, Bie and Christ started fighting over the remaining noodles in the big bowl. Every now and then they laugh. Because one of them got the vegetables or whatever was in the instant noodle soup while they were fighting over it.

"Here, let me wash it." I tried to grab the sponge from Christ's hand.

"Let me do it, you've already cooked for us." Christ pushed the sponge away from my hand.

"That's right, mom should just rest." Bie was seen rinsing a bowl filled with foam.

I gave up too. I handed my used bowl to Bie. I walked to the living room. I grabbed my bag that was on top of Bie's comics.

"Why don't you put curtains on this window?" Christ was already near the window.

"We don't have one. Besides, there's no pole above this window to hang a curtain on." I pointed to the top of the window.

Christ looked in the direction I pointed. He looked over the edge of the first window to the edge of the third window. Maybe he was trying to find something to hang the curtains on.

"Okay, it's getting late. I'll go home first." Christ turned to face me.

"Yes. Be careful on the road." I started walking towards the door.

"If possible, before there are curtains, you better turn off the lights in this room." Before stepping out, Christ told me.

What does that mean? Didn't I say that this window doesn't have curtains?

"Why?" The word just slipped out of my lips.

"Don't ask too many questions, just follow my orders!" Christ said.

Christ was still staring at my face without any intention of moving his feet.

"Okay, I'll do it," I said finally.

Then Christ started walking towards the exit. Suddenly he stopped in front of me.

"Good." He said while rubbing the top of my head.

Deg! Why is my heart beating so fast? I froze as I watched Christ leave. The car started to drive away from my yard. Suddenly I heard the sound of the door being closed firmly. The voice woke me up. It seems like Aunt Jane closed the door too hard. I also closed and locked the door of my house. Because Christ had already given me a message, I turned off the light by pressing the button on the wall.

 ***

This afternoon before going home I stopped by the supermarket. I bought some groceries. Last night while cooking instant noodles, I realized that the food ingredients in my refrigerator were almost gone. All that remains are a few kinds of vegetables and mushrooms. It's also finished, yesterday I used it as a complement to instant noodles. With two hands carrying shopping bags, I walked towards her house. There is a car parked in front of my house.

Whose car is this? Then, why is my door open? Why is Bie careless? I have to reprimand her. What if someone has bad intentions? I said in my mind.

"Not that one but a slightly smaller one, Bie." A man's voice was heard by me.

I stepped inside and was greeted by the sight of a messy living room. There was a long cable on the floor that extended all the way to the back. It looks like it's to take the electric current through my room. I can see Christ climbing using a wooden chair located in this living room. Bie was standing on tiptoe handing something to him. Christ bent down slightly to grab the object from Bie's hand. What is he doing in my house?

"Mom!" Bie hugged me from the front.

Suddenly Christ turned to me from the chair where he was standing.

"You're home?" Christ smiled at me.

Deg! Why did I feel awkward seeing his smile? I could feel my cheeks heating up.

"Bie, let go, mom's body smells fishy." I said to Bie while wrinkling my nose.

Earlier, besides buying vegetables, I also bought fish, shrimp and squid. The fishy smell from the fish market must have stuck to my body. Moreover, there I also touched the shrimp and fish. I touched it to choose good quality. For me, good quality is seen from its size and freshness.

"What are you doing here?" I asked Christ after Bie let go of his hug.

"Putting up curtains." He replied while continuing his activities.

I also know he's putting up curtains. I mean why would he do that? Does he have nothing else to do? Wasn't it just yesterday that Bie accompanied him to the bookstore? Really, he is bored every day? Is he unemployed? But, how can he make money? He has a car and he just gave Bie a cell phone. Yesterday I also saw that he had quite a lot of banknotes in his wallet when he was at the bookstore. Let him be, wouldn't it be better if he and Bie spent some time here. That way I can keep an eye on him.

 "I'll help you later. I'll put this in the kitchen first." I said as I walked towards the kitchen. 

"No need, Bie can help me. You cook something. I'm hungry." Christ spoke a little loudly.

Maybe he thought I wouldn't hear his voice. Then I'll just take a shower first. My work uniform smells fishy. I happen to have another pair. So I can wash the uniform I'm wearing now. After finishing my shower, I filled a glass with drinking water. I took a sip from this glass. Finally my thirst has disappeared. It looks like Christ hasn't had a drink. I didn't find any glasses on the living room table earlier. I stepped towards the living room. Bie sat on a chair reading her comic. Usually Bie would read her comics in her room, maybe because Christ would need something so my daughter was right there.

"Here, drink this first." I lifted the glass filled with water towards where he was standing.

"Thank you." Christ bent down slightly to take the glass.

From below I saw the bulge on his neck move up and down as he drank. He took a big sip. It was obvious that Christ was thirsty. Why didn't he ask Bie for a drink, if he was thirsty? Using his sleeve, he wiped away the remaining drops of water above his lips. He was wearing a long shirt, but he rolled up the sleeves of the shirt to his elbows. The muscles on his arms were clearly visible under the clothes he was wearing. Christ immediately got down from his chair. He stood right in front of me.

"Are you fascinated by me?"

Then he handed the empty glass back to me.

I became flustered. Christ smiled mockingly because I was caught staring at him. I immediately took the glass he offered me. I accidentally held his fingers which were still attached to the glass. Deg! I felt my heartbeat beating irregularly. What is wrong with me?

*Continued*