HEART FOR HIRE ✓

Forty

When I finish putting the last piece of cloth in my travel bag, that's when the situation finally hits me.
I'm going back home.

I remember the day I left home. It was a random decision I made overnight. I remember how miserable my parents looked when I told them that I wanted to leave home. I had no idea where I was going. My whole family, relatives and friends are all in my hometown and I knew nobody out of town. So, after counting the money I had saved from my home allowance, I started looking for cheap apartments outside my hometown.
In short, I had no idea how my life was going to be when I left home.

And here I am, returning.

I sure don't have a lot I have accomplished but I can now afford to buy gifts for my family without worrying about the price tags. I can get a train ticket and still not get a single dent on my bank account. I'm not bragging because I managed to get a rich man, I am saying that I am now better than how I left home.

And that's the goal. I left home to change home.

Talking about the rich man, he is currently sitting on my bed, his arms folded on his chest and pouting. I can't believe that a man of his age - which I later found it is twenty seven - can be this clingy.

"Can't you let me drive you?" he asks again. And he has been asking since I told him that I'd be going back home for Easter holidays.

"Zion," I sit next to him and put my hand over his shoulder. "I know you mean well but no, you can't drive me. I've told you this very many times."

"And I can't understand why!"

"I can't just show up with a man driving a ridiculously expensive car, Zion. I am not ashamed of you or anything, I just don't want my extended family asking me questions and judging you without even getting to know you. You understand, right?"

"Yeah," he replies in a small voice. "But you'll call and text, right? Because if you don't, I'll personally drive to your home and check up on you."

"You are so clingy," I snort. "I can't even shake you off for one week? What are you, a little bird?"

"Excuse me for wanting my girlfriend to show me love."

"Okay, how about this. Will you feel better if you drive me to the train station?"

"Yes," he stands up immediately, picks up his jacket and puts it on. "I'll drive you to the train station and we'll have a meal together before you board. Deal?"

"You know that I'll be back in just a week, right?" I laugh

"Yeah, after one miserable week. I told you Natalia, I never want to be away from you," he purses his lips. "What will you bring for me from home?"

"What would you like?"

"Surprise me."

****

Vegetable village (or East Ville, my hometown) hasn't changed at all. I notice as I struggle to come out of the train with my luggage. In addition to the big travel bag, Zion wanted me to bring some wine for my parents' party. Hence the extra luggage.

The town is still as quiet as I remember. The unfinished building opposite the train station is still unfinished, the road to my home still has potholes and no matter how quiet, the people there still gossip as they used to.
They point fingers at me upon seeing me getting out of the train.

"Isn't that Nathan's daughter?" a woman whisper-yells at her friend, not even trying to be discreet.

"The one who dropped out of high school?" the friend replies and the first woman nods enthusiastically. "She looks even more skinny! Does she not eat?"

"Or, maybe she aborted!"

What? Why would they think that I'm being starved, or that I aborted? Don't they have anything better to do other than spreading gossip?
With the way I know this town, this rumor is going to spread within no time.

I instead block out the noise and plug my earphones in my ears as I wait for my dad to pick me up. I still notice them pointing at me but that's the least of my worries.

Some minutes later, I feel someone tapping my shoulder. I remove the earphones and  turn to see who it is.
The frown on my face completely disappears when I see who it is. The man after my own heart.

"Dad!" I jump and wrap my arms around him. He immediately hugs me back and brings me even closer - I can swear that I'm about to have difficulty in breathing. "Dad, I can't breathe!"

"You see me for the first time in two years and all you care about is your breath? You are a selfish girl," he laughs and releases me.

"I miss you so much dad," I hug him again. "And mum too but I missed you more. Don't tell her that or she won't cook my favorite food."

"Of course darling," he pats my head like he used to when I was little. "I'm always on your side!"

"Aw dad," I rub his arm. He is getting bald but still as strong as ever. He picks up my travel bag and slings it over his shoulder and holds the package with the wine in his right hand. "You are getting bald!"

"And you cut your hair," he looks at me with an accusing look. "I liked it longer."

"But my friend told me that the haircut makes my eyes pop," I whine. It's not true obviously because my eyes aren't that good but this is my dad. It's fun to mess with him.

"Well, is that friend of yours a he or she?"

"A he," I squeak

Dad look at me suspiciously.
"Are you now choosing men over your own father? Who is the man? Why didn't he come with you?"

Why did I even tell him that there's a he?