Claire's Home

Chapter 3

I need for the ground to swallow me whole right now. The situation is very much overwhelming, I could die from the mere sound of the grandfather clock ticking away at the wall beside me.

I remember this feeling back when I was caught cheating on my exam when I was in high school by our teacher, and the shame I felt that time. It was clawing at my insides, it made me want to throw up.

I couldn't face my classmates and my parents for days without feeling guilty and embarrassed.

In my defense, I wasn't the only one who was doing those dirty sort of things in that particular class.

It was a time when my family went through a crisis and I couldn't manage my time well, so as ashamed as I must be, I have resorted to a not so desirable solution to make my life a little bit easier. I think desperate times really calls for desperate measures and I really learned it the hard way.

I was just very unlucky and not skilled in that area since I don't do it very often.

Safe to say, I was given a warning and a second chance to retake the exam when I explained my situation and why I did what I did.

That feeling is the same as I was feeling right now.

Okay, maybe I'm being a little too dramatic here.

In case you're wondering why I'm being like this, well, I just hit a man in the head. With a frying pan.

And not just any man, it was Mary's nephew.

The glaring eyes before me brought me back from my reminiscing as I assess the current situation.

I looked at the ground as the feeling of shame washes all over me again.

Mary's laugh broke the silence and the tension in the room.

Both me and Mary's nephew looked at her confused as to why she was laughing so hysterically.

"Wow, I'd never had a good laugh for so long," she wipes the tears that formed in her eyes from laughing.

Well, here's what really happened that Mary finds amusing whilst I just wish to disappear from their sight and crawl back from my mother's womb.

***

Me and Mary just finished preparing our dinner when she announced she'll go to the bathroom to freshen up first from all the work.

I was setting our table when I heard a rustling from Mary's front door.

It was suspicious since it's almost 8 in the evening and from what I observed, Mary rarely gets a visitor.

And if you're a visitor, you should knock first right?

The culprit on the other side seems to have trouble opening the door, so I grabbed the nearest weapon I could find—a frying pan.

Mary's still in the bathroom so I went ahead to the back of the door. I'm planning to caught them off guard, whoever it is and hit them on the head.

The door swungs open and a tall shadow figure emerged. I swung the pan right to the back of its head with full force.

The person fell on the ground clutching its head. I jumped on its back and hit him again as I shout for Mary for help.

When I felt that the person was completely helpless and unconscious, I grabbed both of its arms backwards and hold them whilst I press my knees on its back.

Mary ran from the bathroom still wearing a bathrobe curious as to what was the commotion about.

"Mary, call the police!" I breathed heavily still holding the culprit down. "He's a burglar trying to get inside your place, but I caught him!" I said feeling a little proud of myself having caught a potential criminal.

Mary stared at me in confusion and looked at the person lying on the ground. A sense of recognition flashed into her eyes and I started to slowly loosen my grip on the person under me.

She ran to our side and held the man's face.

"Noah?"

I lift myself up from the person's back.

"What happened, Claire?" A look of worry flashed Mary's face.

"There was someone trying to open your door," I say nervously as I fidget with my fingers. "I thought it was a burglar since I haven't seen anyone come at your place."

She nodded her head. "Help me put him up to the couch."

I grabbed the man's arm opposite Mary and dragged him to the sofa in the living area.

We lay him down and went to the kitchen to get some ice while Mary checked for any injury.

"Claire, this is Noah, my nephew."

I looked at the man's face briefly and just noticed that he's good-looking with those high nose and chiseled jaw.

Oh god, this is Mary's nephew? That cute little boy on those pictures? I am totally screwed. I can't face Mary now when I just tried to kill her nephew.

The man stirred awake and slowly open his eyes. He groans and tried to sit up and Mary tried to help him up.

"What happened?" He asked confused as I hand him the ice pack.

Mary looked at me like saying not to worry.

"Noah, this is Claire," she introduced us pointing at me. I smiled nervously at him as he eyed me from head to toe. "She thought you were a burglar trying to get inside my apartment."

"So, she hit me with the frying pan?" He said sounding angry and saw the frying pan I was still holding.

I tried to hid the pan from him and the feeling of guilt consumes me. I kept quiet as Mary tried to explain to her nephew why I was here and how did we met and became buddies.

Mary finished explaining and I can still feel his eyes on me whilst I still look down in shame.

The silence was then broken down by Mary's laughter echoing throughout the whole room.

We watched agape at her wondering what's so funny in this situation.

Her laugh continued on for a minute or so and she started clutching her stomach.

I stared dumbfounded at her for a moment and then met Noah's eyes who was gazing at me angrily.

I cleared my throat to try to get Mary's attention and glanced at Noah. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean that to happen. I thought you were a bad guy." I said apologetically.

He just scoffs and not say anything.

Mary then stands up and invite us over to eat dinner.

"I just came to check up on you, Mary, I'll go for now." He stands up and went to the door to leave still clutching the ice pack on his head.

He looks back at me one more time with a blank expression and closed the door.

I released a heavy sigh of relief realizing I was holding my breath for the past minute or so.

I'm totally screwed.