Hidden Heart: A Saga Of Redemption

Who'll Be The Coach?

[She narrowed her eyes and gave him a wide look.]

Amelia: (smiling and teasingly) 'Everything?' So, where was your 'Everything' Victor, when you have blamed me for the accounts mishap? (Gestured as if praying to God) All thanks to Jesus for sending Oswald on that day. If he didn't come or touch me....(stopped)

Victor: (frowning) Shut up! Do you have  any idea that we are blabbering from the night and it'll be dawn after sometime.

[She was about to speak when Victor stood up, stretching out his hand towards her, his fingers were gentle and almost hesitant.]

Victor: (gently) Come on. Let’s go inside. Otherwise you'll gotta catch a cold.

[Amelia blinked at his outstretched hand. Despite the redness in his eyes, the weariness from all the tears and confessions of the night, there was something undeniably tender in his gesture. Slowly, she took his hand, and Victor helped her stand, steadying her as she rose from the ground.]

Victor: (slightly smiled) Let me take you to my room.

Amelia: (shocking and i mind) What! What did he say? Talking to his room!

[Amelia blinked and surprised by his offer.]

Amelia: What? Where?

Victor: (casually) My room.You can sleep on the bed.

Amelia: (widened) What about you?

Victor: I'll sleep downstairs.

Amelia: (hesitated) Wait… She (swallowed) You don’t sleep in your own bedroom… because of me?”

[Victor didn’t answer at first. He just looked at her, his lips were curving into the smallest of smiles, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.]

Victor: Amelia, it’s okay. You need proper rest.

[Without waiting for her to argue, he gently guided her down the hallway, ignoring her protests. Once they reached the room, Victor didn’t give her a chance to object. He carefully guided her toward the bed, and with a tender gesture, he made her lie down, his touch was gentle but insistent.]

Victor: (murmured) You need to sleep.

[He pulled the white blanket over her with a soft sweep of his hand. His fingers were brushed against her skin, lingering for a moment longer than necessary.]

Amelia’s heart pounded in her chest as she looked up at him, her voice was faltering.

Amelia: Victor, you don’t have to.... (Stopped)

Victor: (interrupting) Shhh.. (Firm but soft) Just rest.

[With that, he turned and left the room, closing the door behind him quietly.]

[30 or 40 minutes passed.]

[Amelia lay there, staring at the ceiling, her mind was spinning with everything that had happened. Time passed, but she couldn’t sleep. No matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept drifting back to Victor. She shifted under the blanket, sighing softly. How could she rest when he was out there, alone, carrying so much weight on his shoulders? She thought about his past, the injustice he had faced, and the guilt that gnawed at her for being part of the reason he stayed away from people, from his own comfort.]

[Finally, unable to bear the thought of him suffering alone, Amelia quietly slipped out of bed. She tiptoed downstairs, her feet light against the floor as she searched for him.]

[When she found Victor, he was in the guest room, where she once watched Doraemon. Her memories were still fresh. But soon she came back into reality and watched him lying on the bed. His arm was draped over his eyes, his chest was rising and falling slowly, as if he had found peace in sleep for the first time in a long while. His breathing was steady, the tension that usually haunted his features absent, replaced by a serene expression that made her heart ache.]