The Widow

Scene 54 - Ralphe was breaking down his walls

Scene 54 – Ralphe was breaking down his walls

Ralphe woke up groggily, his head pounding. He slowly opened his eyes and groaned as the light shone so bright that his eyes hurt. He squinted his eyes before fully opening his eyes.

He looked through his surrounding and frowned. This wasn’t his house.

He knew whose house was this, though.

So how the hell did he come here in Clara’s house much more to her guestroom? He didn’t even remember last night or the other night. Stupid hangover.

He sat up, turned to gaze at the bedside table and saw two aspirins and a glass of water waiting for him. Also a note, For your hangover.

He hopped out of bed, buttoning his dress shirt back on he headed to the bathroom to wash his face and use the mouthwash.

Once done in the bathroom, he walked out of the room, gone downstairs and followed the trail of the smell of caffeine. What he didn’t expect is, Clara in the kitchen wearing an apron and by the stove cooking pancakes.

He blinked a few times. This must be a dream. His mind was torturing him with memories of how Clara used to cook breakfast for him.

Clara looked up and gave him an awkward smile, “Hey, you’re awake. Coffee’s ready if you want. And we’re leaving in two hours so…”

He walked inside the kitchen, grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured himself a cup of coffee. He sat on the stool, his hands wrapping around the mug as he looked at Clara, “Why am I here?”

The thing he wanted to ask was, Why are you here, talking to me and taking care of me? But he didn’t. He was afraid to.

“Oh that.” Clara flipped the pancake, “You passed out and I don’t know if you still live at your old house so I took you here.”

“Yeah but that doesn’t explain why…”

Clara chuckled, “Why I’m here?” she smiled slightly, “Direk Ryan is furious with you. You’ve been gone for three days now and we’re behind schedule so I looked for you myself and found you drinking to stupor in Dark Alley so…”

Oh that. He left Baguio that day when he watched that stupid home movies for Manila. He needed Sadie then. He needed to talk to her about this, he forgot what happened next though. All he knew was he was so damn miserable and he needed to numb the pain.

“Thank you.” he simply said. Damn it, he wanted to get away from Baguio to clear his head but all he did is drown his misery with alcohol.

Clara shrugged, grabbed the plate and placed the pancake on the plate. She slid the plate toward him, “Eat.”