Eliza's POV
"Eliza, here is your food" Claire said as he put a cover on table. "You need to have medicines so eat first, okay "he said. I just stared at him, my head leaning towards the wall and i was sitting in my bed. We are already in my home."I am not hungry. You should eat now. You didn't had any food" i said and looked away "don't bother about me" i continued.He came near and sat beside me. "Eliza, look at me" he said.
"What? "I asked
"Don't pretend you're okay. I know you're suffering. Cry it out" he said
"Stop caring about me, Claire " -me
"Stop pushing me away, Eliza " -him
I looked at him. My eyes started to fill with tears but i stopped them.
"I can't give what you want, Claire. Stop making efforts for me." I said. I couldn't stop it, i tried hard but still a tear fell from my eye. I looked away and wiped my face with my hands. He stared at me for a moment and gently placed one of his hands on mine. That made me look at him. "Do you know what i want? Hmm?" His voice was soft and it held a sense of care. I am not familiar with affection and care. That's why i feel strange when people are nice to me. I just felt i am not worth it that was how i comforted myself when faced with mistreatings. "I want you to be happy. I want you to be succesful in life. I want you to be with me." He continued. "If you're happy, i am happy too." He said. "Why? Why Claire? Why are you caring about me? Is it the promise you made to lily? I don't want it. Focus on your life" my voice was raising and a bit shaky. I felt weak again but i handled it. He tightened his grip on my hand and said "you think it's that promise. Can't you think it's love?". That made me skip a beat. Love? I don't deserve his love."Claire, why is it love? Why do you love me?" I asked,this time my voice was soft . He shook his head "you won't understand " he said "eat now." He handed me a plate and put food for me. I divided it and asked him to eat. He accepted with a heartfelt smile and ate from my plate."Why did you doubt there is something wrong with you identity? " he asked. I looked at him. "I mean, you said you know your parents abandoned you. Then why are you insisting on knowing more about it?" He continued. He know the answers. "Usually, all the orphans in an orphanage is named by the orphanage head or sisters, if they are a kids especially newborns. Their last names will be a saint's name or the orphanage's name. I ended up there just after a day of birth. I was just a flesh then. Why is my last name Lores? A specific name. There's something wrong." I said and he looked at a frame of my photo. And we both continued eating. He didn't let me wash dishes. He insisted on washing. I planned to stay away from him as much as i can. I walked towards my cupboard and picked a gift i bought for him. Tomorrow is July 24 our birthday. He is turning 17 and me? 16. I handed him the shirt i bought. "Claire, Advance Happy birthday " i said my voice was still weak. "Thank you, Eliza " he accepted my gift with a pleasant smile. "Let me open it" he said and opened. His experience changed into amazement.
It was a black shirt with a embroidery of a lion's roaring face in silver thread on it's side. He hugged me with excitement and pulled away. "Tomorrow is your birthday too -" he was cut off by me "and Lily's last day. I won't celebrate it" i said. His smile slowly faded. She is his sister why did i said that?Is it sadness or sympathy? I felt an instant guilt so i looked away."Let's celebrate it together " he said. "I have a gift for you too. I will give it tomorrow at school.". "I won't come tomorrow " i said. He panicked "You're not okay? Don't you feel well?" He asked. "No, i just don't want to come tomorrow " i said. During these 3 days, a lot has happened. A lot has changed.I want to visit Lily's grave tomorrow before or after her family's visit. "Then, can we meet tomorrow evening? Let's celebrate it together " he said "Claire, i don't like celebrating birthdays" i said while matching his height. He laughed at that then he patted my head. "Hey! I am not a kid. Don't pet me" i said. "I will. What will you do?" He said and continued to pat. I rolled my eyes then folded my hands and walked back to my room. "Go home, it's already late" i shouted from my room. He laughed and shouted back "Okay, fine, Bye, Good night ". I ran back to hall before he leave."Claire, You owe me explanations" i became serious again. I want to know what happened. "I will tell you tomorrow " he said. I shook my head "You are a procrastinator" i commented. "Bye... See you tomorrow " he said while waving. He started his car and waved again. I watched as he drove away. I felt my home became empty again.His presence was a light in this house. It is already night. I sat on the sitout and looked up at sky. Full moon and stars. The most beautiful things ever. They still shines in dark. No matter they are alone or not, they still shines to give light to earth.
When i woke up, it was already 5 am. I just checked my phone. And checked yesterday's messages.School is cancelled for today. Rain didn't seem to give up. I opened my window. It was still raining. Everyone lost internet connection.
There was another message from an unknown number
From: Unregistered number
Hey!Eliza. Happy birthday. I was waiting for you my daughter.
It was delivered at 12:00 am. Daughter? Who is it? They dare to wish me? I chuckled at that message. It is a New york registered number. I ignored that message. I need to go out.