SUNDAY MORNING, Mrs. Levine invited Zoe to attend the mass, but Zoe couldn’t leave her daughter. And her mother suggested then that she would call Helios and let the man watch over her daughter.
‘Helios again,’ she thought.
What does her mom want? That she will entertain Helios again? That fast?
Zoe doesn’t like it; Helios must exert some effort to win her.
She doesn’t want to think about them because of what she saw at the mall the other day. Should she tell Helios or not? But she promised herself that she wouldn’t bother Helios.
What if that man would bring trouble to her? The way the man looked at her, it seemed like he wanted her dead.
“Mom, I can’t go with you. Hela also has not been baptized yet, and don’t try calling Helios. You’re just going to bother the man again.”
Her mother laughed. “Oh, you’ll still end up with him, trust me. So, why prolong the process?”
“Mom… some things shouldn’t be rushed. Just go, mom. The mass will be about to start. Don’t let aunt Millie wait for you a little bit longer. Just pray for us, okay?”
"Are you sure you don’t want to go to church?”
Zoe nodded.
“Why? You also need to go to church and confess your sins,” said Mrs. Levine.
"Mom…"
"Alright, alright," her mother approached her and kissed her on the cheek. “Bye.”
Zoe heaved a deep sigh when her mother left. She glanced at her wristwatch. It’s 7: 48 in the morning. The second mass will start at eight o’clock. She wanted to go, but she couldn’t be at ease when she left her daughter to somebody else. She has been used to taking care of her daughter since then. Her mother wants to hire a nanny for her daughter, but she refuses. Besides, she has no work. So, why bother?
Her daughter was still asleep, so she took the opportunity to clean her room. She started vacuuming the carpet and picking up the scattered toys.
Hela Selene is growing fast. Sooner, her daughter will be able to walk and run, and so on.
She replaced the bedsheet and the pillowcases. She leaves the curtain as it is because she just changed it the other day.
Zoe cleans her room. Her time revolves around her daughter and the household chores—like cleaning their room, cooking breakfast for her daughter, feeding, and playing with Hela all day. Her father invites her to work in their company, but she sets her daughter as her priority. Work can wait. Maybe she will just work again when she’s run out of money.
She doesn’t want to depend on their living with her parents, so she uses her bank account. Helios is also helping her. The man buys Hela’s vitamins and milk. Even diapers.
She shook her head because of the thought.
When she finished cleaning, her daughter woke up.
“Good morning, my Hela Selene Lincoln. How’s your sleep, my pumpkin?” she baby-talked.
Her daughter giggles. It seems like she knew her name—her complete name. She followed Helios’s surname for her daughter—it’s the man’s right, anyway.
She picked up her daughter, and they sat down on the bed. She lifted her dress and began to feed her daughter. She started humming when someone knocked on the door.
“Come in!” she said. And she was surprised when she saw the person. “What are you doing here?”
Helios closed the door. “Visiting.”
“You’re too early for it. aren’t you supposed to be at work, Helios?” she asked, seeming pissed. “You always visit us. Why don’t you just pack your things and stay here?” she asked sarcastically.
Helios chuckled and walked near her. He sat down at the edge of the bed. "I have work, but I'm the boss, so I can work whenever I want to. But you and the baby are more important than it. Besides, I do have lots of zeroes. I'm still rich even if I don't work every day."
“And you’re still the same Helios —arrogant.”
"You can tell. But I'm just stating the fact."
She rolled her eyes and pushed down her shirt. As her daughter got up and she stared at her father. Her daughter knows it. She can’t stop the blood rush.
"Hello, angel," Helios greeted.
"Da-da."
Their eyes both widened when the baby talked. "W-What did…did she say, da-da?" asked Helios, seeming happy.
“No. She said, go out,” she stood up and pushed the man. “Just go out.”
"No, I heard it. She said da-da to me."
“No! You’re just hallucinating Helios.”
Helios looked at her thoughtfully. His eyes began to ice as if he hated something.
“So, please, get out of my room and go home. Please."
….
LUNCH WAS made when her parents arrived home.
“You seem anxious, sweetie. Is there something wrong?”
“Mom… I’m scared. What if he takes away my daughter?”
Her mother held her hands, “Everything happens for a reason. Just like I’ve always said, talk about it. The two of you need to talk about it and settle your misunderstandings. We are always here for you. We will support you, no matter what. And Helios is a responsible man—he’s kind. He will surely understand your reasons. Problems will be settled through good conversation. Lower your pride. He has the right to know. Don’t wait for him to find the truth by himself.”
Zoe hugged her mother. Tears fell from her eyes. “Thank you, mommy.”
Maybe her mother was right. She needed to talk to Helios. For the sake of her daughter. Whatever the risk, she’ll take it. Besides, the truth will set you free. She hopes that they can already settle and fix their problems. She hopes that destiny will give her the happiness she sought.
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