Down the Alleyway

Chapter 17

Layelle

"So it turns out-- Viane, doesn't need my help after all!" I lifted a big black cat up the street and tossed it at him.

He yelped and catched it. It wiggled against his grasp but he still tried his best to hold it, cradling it like a baby.

"So what happened to the money that you brought?" He tried to keep up a conversation even with the cat trying to scratch his face. Oh... he just dodged a claw.

I laughed.

I was still outside the alley, my foot didn't crossed the line into his domain so he's the one who made the adjustment and stood at the very edge of it, near enough to engage a conversation with me. I'm still at the same place as before--where establishments closes up early--so there's no harm of talking to him openly.

"I used it to buy everyone food. It didn't go as planned but it's a happy ending nonetheless." The plan was for me to pay the money Viane owed that girl Marriane. I just wanna help but I know it'll put a rock between us. I'm relieved that Viane got to her first. And just as expected, her blunt straight to the point assault is way more superior than mine.

Money can't solve everything afterall. And it's a bit sad that that's all I could offer.

I quickly flashed my camera at him. He was startled by it, so was the cat; making it jump out of his arms.

"I'm glad you had it all sorted out," he said as he covered his eyes from the continuous flash. Every shot made him flinch.

"Miss Layelle, what brought these up all of a sudden?" He kept on hiding his face behind his sleeves.

I stopped taking photos and handed him a donut. It flopped on his hand and he gave me a what-is-going-on look.

"Take a bite," I urged him.

He stared at it for a moment, squeezing it's golden crust as he examined it.

"Come on, Mr. Wae. Take a bite!"

"Miss Layelle." His hand that's holding the donut layed limp by his side.

"What?" I blinked.

"Can you please stop."

What.

My bouncing attitude took a 360, it like a bucket of cold water was thrown at me.

"I know what you're doing," he said as he kept the smile going. He's smiling but I could feel something boiling inside him. I can't tell what it is but I felt like I just trespassed a place I shouldn't have. "You're collecting data that could support the possiblity that I could exist outside this alley."

I looked down, shame filling up my chest as he got everything right.

He bended his knees to match my height.

His eyes looked at me with sincerity. "I don't exist outside this alley and that's that." He tried to make me understand.

He opened his palm where the donut was. I took it and pit it back in the bag; signaling that all my try outs are over.

I released a breath and went back into staring at his eyes.

"Mr. Wae, everything you do and all the wishes you grant could only exist within the bounds of an alley. Everything about you was designed to leer us in. Frankly speaking, you're baiting us into entering your den because you yourself cannot leave." My hands balled into fists. I wanted to ask these questions to him all this time. "You wanted to keep us in. Why is that?"

I know he doesn't do this just to have company. That had been established in my mind in my several visits with the others. I know there's a hidden agenda behind it. And I trust Mr. Wae. I do. That's why I kept on convincing myself that nothing is suspicuos about all of this.

I perked up when I heard him clap.

"Splendid observation, Miss Layelle. Although you and Mr. Adam had different approach; you both have similarites and that is analytical thinking and deduction skills. And as for your question, I'm afraid I can't answer that."

"But why?! Just tell me that you don't have the slightest intention of hurting us and I'd believe you. You're my best friend and I trust you. Just please... tell me what I'm thinking about you is wrong." I took a step.

"Your answer to the question will dictate my action in the future."

What was that supposed to mean?

"So, when I asked you the queston make sure that you'd answer wisely," he added.

"What question?"

"You'd find out soon enough." He smiled.

-----

I was back at my house and was sitting on my bed, admiring the moon from my window. The doctors just finished hooking things up on me and running some chekups. What they do exhausts me the most. I don't like being here. This is not even my room anymore. It was a makeshift hospital in courtesy of my parents. But I'm thankful for it though. I could still maintain a small part of normalcy in my life and that is going to school-- something I wouldn't able to do if I'm fully admitted to a hospital.

I took my eyes off the nightsky and raised the photo of Mr. Wae that I just developed.

It was empty. All that's cropped in square was pitch black, no guy in a pink shirt.

So, he really doesn't exist.

But that cat could touch and see him, though. Is it because it was in the alley? Or because Mr. Wae chose to be seen?

I put the photo down and released a sigh.

There's no use moping.

For me, Mr. Wae is a good guy. From the very beginning all he did was make me happy and I hope that would go on.

"Yong lady, it's time for your medicine." Someone came in and I hid the photo underneath my pillow.

"Oh, Ellise it's just you." I smiled at her. She was wearing a black suit as always, she refuses to pair her uniforn with a skirt making her the only girl attendant of the family who wears pants. Her face was always straight and it's hard to tell what she's thinking most of the time. Her long black hair is tied into a tight bun. I may be the only one who knew this but when she let her hair down she could pass as me. She's a bit taller by inches and she was two years older than me but even so, you could still tell the similarities."

"Thank you." I noded and she placed the tray by my bedside table. I took it and stared at it for a while.

"Hey, Ellise."

"Yes, young lady?"

"Do you think..." My fingers played with the tablets and capsules. "These medicines will cure me?"

There's a pause.

"I think there's a possibility."

A pang hit my chest.

I'm tired of hearing  possiblities. Eveyone had given me different percentages of my survival; starting from 0 to 100, no one had given me past 30 percent.

I ignored the pit in my stomach  and popped all the medicines in my mouth in one go.

I smiled at her.

"It's bitter."