The Face Of The Enemy

Chapter 9

Two weeks later

Life was going well for Lucas Haven. Surprisingly he hadn't passed out anymore after that day and he didn't even feel depressed. It's like a switch had been turned and he felt greater than he had ever been. He even had written a few songs for his new album.

Also, Annie had been pestering him, even though she promised she wouldn't, about the world tour. Lucas wasn't ready yet but he was trying his best to prepare himself. And he had a roommate, Denny. Denny was Annie's cousin and since Annie had already one guest on her apartment, she couldn't afford another one. Plus, those two were like cat and mouse.

Denny was nineteen and he was in his second year as a college student. He didn't want to stay on the dorms and since he didn't have a job, he couldn't afford an apartment on his own. Lucas didn't mind having Denny as a roommate, he was a nice guy and he felt in debt with Annie.

Currently, Lucas was on his studio working on his newest song. He was alone, as always. Loneliness helped him sometimes, it helped him focus on what he was doing and his best hits always came out when he worked alone. He had his guitar on his lap, playing the chords gracefully. He thought it was a good idea to publish an acoustic version of his new song and if his fans liked it, he would make a video clip.

He was just finishing his singing when the words got caught on his throat. His eyes locked on a pair of brown eyes, which he thought he had forgotten. But they were right there, staring at him like they always did, except this time, they didn't recognize him. These eyes felt so familiar and so strange at the same time.

The other person couldn't stop staring at the young man behind the glass. He felt like the time had stopped and the only thing that mattered was that young man. He wouldn't care if an apocalypse happened, he just wanted to look into those golden eyes forever.

"Ronald?" Lucas whispered so low that even he couldn't hear himself. What was he doing here? How did he find his studio? Lucas didn't remember giving him the address. Unless...

Ronald snapped himself out of his trance and looked away from Lucas. He saw the latter put his guitar away and open the invisible door which lead him to the room where Ronald was. Suddenly, Ronald began feeling nervous. What would he say to Lucas? How would he explain the reason he was here?

"Ronald?" Lucas called louder this time. He saw the man jump before getting a hold of himself.

"Uhm... hi!" Ronald greeted nervously. He wanted to slap himself for sounding like a wimp.

"How are you doing?" Lucas asked.

"Fine. What about you?" Ronald could still feel the nerves.

Why am I so damn nervous?  He asked himself.

"I'm alright." Lucas answered. "What brought you here?" he didn't want to ask the classic question 'what are you doing here?' because he didn't want to sound rude.

Ronald decided not to beat around the bush and just come out with it. "I need you."

***

Lucas regretted the second he felt those words leave his lips. It wasn't because he didn't want to help Ronald, it was because he wasn't ready to face them. They were at the backseat of a cab, heading to Ronald's family. Lucas gulped as he saw the familiar scenery from the window. It had been almost five years since he had last been here and he couldn't say he didn't miss it. He had spent three years of his life here, ever since his parents disowned and kicked him out.

On the other side, Ronald felt nervous. He was going to meet his family, which he didn't remember. Sure he saw the photos when the detective brought them a couple of weeks ago, but he didn't know them. He hoped that when he actually met them, it would maybe trigger some memories.

Why he had asked Lucas to accompany him, he would never know. The only thing he knew was that he felt comfortable around the younger man. Plus, Annie was busy and he didn't want to go alone. The cab stopped and Ronald paid the man. His mother and sister's house wasn't too far from where the cab had left them.

Lucas walked towards the street where the house was without asking Ronald for directions. He knew this neighbouring very well. Ronald followed him. "How do you know that we should go this way?" he asked Lucas.

"You'll soon find out." Lucas simply said, looking around the neighborhood. It hadn't changed much from when he last was there.

After five minutes of walking, they were in front of Ronald's mother's house. "There it is." Lucas pointed at the house. Ronald nodded and walked the steps, but not remembering anything. Lucas though, remembered everything.

Ronald rang the bell, waiting for his mother or his sister to open it. The house was a yellow two story house, and seemed homey from outside. The door opened, revealing a short woman, on her late forties, wearing an apron and her hair a mess on her head.

Victoria de la Cruz had been widowed when her husband Miguel had died on a car accident. She and her son had been on the car with him that night, but they had survived. Victoria thanked God that her son was safe and sound and promised to him she would never let anything happen to him. But when two police officers appeared in her door two years ago, she felt devastated. She didn't keep her promise.

At that moment, when she saw the man in front of her, she believed miracles could happen. "¡Mijo!" [Son!] she threw her arms over Ronald, hugging him tightly. "¡Estás vivo!" [You're alive!]

Ronald remained frozen on his mother's arms, not knowing what to do, how to react. He awkwardly hugged her back, not wanting to hurt the woman's feelings. She was his mother after all and she didn't know he had lost his memory.

Lucas watched as mother and son hugged each other and his heart ached. He wished his own mother would hug him like this, but she hated him. Lucas shook the sad thoughts away, he didn't want to ruin the moment, mostly for the woman's sake.

As mother and son parted from each other, a gasp came from inside the house. A head of curly hair appeared at the door. "Ronnie, is that you?" she asked, staring at her brother, not believing what she was seeing.

"Uhm... " to say Ronald felt awkward in those moments would be an understatement. He didn't know what to say, but he gave his supposed sister a smile.

Camilla couldn't take it anymore as she hugged her brother tightly. Her brother was alive. After two years of not knowing anything about him, she was seeing him again. "I missed you so much." she cried on his shoulder.

Lucas smiled, Ronald had always been Camilla's weak point. Those two had been inseparable for as long as he knew them.

"Lukey?" Lucas flinched at the nickname, but smiled at Victoria nevertheless.

"Good afternoon, miss Victoria." he said politely. For as long as be had known her, she was a lovely woman and she cared about him even more than his own mother did.

"How many times have I told you to just call me Vicky?" she hushed him. "You know miss makes me feel old." she smiled.

Lucas gasped when a pair of arms wrapped themselves around him. He had been so distracted by the woman, that he didn't realize Camilla had thrown herself at him. She loved Lucas just as much as she loved Ronald. "You and me will have to talk later, mister." she said on his ear, making a shiver pass through Lucas' spine. When Camilla said she wanted to talk, she meant business and Lucas knew what that was. He didn't know if he could answer her questions though.

"Come inside." Victoria said when all the hugging was done. The four of them entered inside the warm house. Lucas hadn't realized how much he missed being in an actual home, he didn't consider his apartment as home, just a place to sleep. This house had been a home to him, regardless what had happened.