“Have they caught the guy from Athena’s hit and run yet?”
Alex looked up from his laptop at my sudden question. “No, the license plate was a fake and the nearby cameras caught the image but he was wearing a cap so his face is not visible.”
I sighed, slumping down the couch beside him. “Why would anyone target Athena?” I put up my legs on the table and crossed my ankles.
Alex lightly slapped my thigh. “Feet off the table. How many times should I tell you?”
I twisted my lips in annoyance but reluctantly kept my feet back on the floor.
“I am not sure. But we are tracking it down.”
I scratched the back of my neck, staring the plain glass table in front.
“What?”
So lost in my thought, I jolted when Alex’s hand touched my shoulder.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.” I lied.
Alex glanced at my fingers which were still on my neck, lightly forming tiny lines.
“You do that when you are anxious.”
My hand instantly dropped down. I let out a breathy embarrassed chuckle. “I didn’t know that.”
“So?” Alex probed.
I sighed, biting my button lip. “I have a guilty confession.”
Alex groaned. “What else did you hack now?”
I narrowed my eyes at him in disbelief, twisting my lips. “Nothing. I didn’t hack anything else.”
“Then?”
“Well.” I started, smacking my lips. “You remember how Athena had got a call and that person said Ray was bad?”
“Yes?” Alex drained out the ‘s’, not liking the direction of this conversation.
I smiled guiltily. “That call was from me.”
Alex closed his eyes and leaned back, letting his head drop on the headrest of the couch. “What should I do with you, Myra Collins?”
Unconsciously my hand reached behind the back of my neck. “Forgive me?”
Alex shook his head, clearly stressed about the problems I was starting to cause. “Does Athena know?”
“Why do you think she hasn’t talked to me in four days?”
“She must be pissed.” Alex stated.
Pissed would be an understatement. If she could shoot when angry, I would have died over a hundred times by now.
I clearly remembered the day I told her about it – four days back while sipping coffee, unfortunately in a crowded café.
“How are things with Evan?”
“Sexual.”
I choked on my coffee, patting myself on the back. I shook my head at her bluntness. How was I still stunned by her words? I should be used to it by now.
I sighed, deciding to change the subject. I’ll just ask about it, to Evan later.
“How’s the work?”
“Better now that you are fired.”
I gaped. “I was not fired!”
Athena looked up straw hanging from her lips. “That’s what they all say.”
“I quit!” I corrected her. “I quit.” I repeated.
Athena just shrugged. “Don’t care.”
I blew a heavy breath of air. Why do I even waste my time meeting this woman? I could be with Alex right now, watching some Netflix series and stuffing caramel popcorn in my mouth. But here I was, staring down at this woman completely dressed in black –as usual.
“When is your birthday?” I suddenly asked her, thinking of a perfect gift for her.
Athena paused her drinking, blinking at me. “Why?”
I smiled, trying to come off friendly. “Can’t a friend ask that?”
Athena raised one eyebrow. “When did we agree on being friends?”
I bit back a sharp yell of insult. “Do you normally sit and drink coffee with strangers? Aren’t you usually just alone?”
One side of the lip turned upwards at my sarcastic comment. “Touché.” Athena went back to staring at her coffee cup. “It’s on 19th August.”
I nodded, I had a couple of weeks. “Great mine is on 26th October.”
“I didn’t ask.”
I couldn’t help but smile at that. “I don’t care.”
Athena just rolled her eyes.
“So, I have a small confession.” I started, knowing it was high time I tell her the truth.
“Did you do drugs?”
My lips twisted at that and my eyebrows furrowed. “No. why would you think that?”
Athena blinked at me. “Are you from outer space?”
I sighed, closing my eyes and breathing out. “No.”
“Then I don’t care.”
My fingers pressed against my forehead. I could feel a headache creeping up from her words to my brain.
“You know that call you got when you got hit by the car?”
That got her attention. Her eyes focused on me and her back straightened.
My shoulders slumped as I finally let out the guilt I had been carrying out. “That was me. I didn’t want you seeing Ray.”
Athena didn’t move, she didn’t even blink. Not a single word was spoken for a few minutes and it shook me to the core. Athena without a retort was a rare sight.
“I am sorry. He really is a bad guy. You know it. He hacked and he has hurt people plus he cheated on you.” Athena didn’t know I was the hacker and she didn’t need to.
Athena finally blinked, looking down at the coffee in her cup. “Why the disguise?”
I bit my lower lip. “Would you have listened to me?”
“No.”
“I was worried about you. I care.”
“Myra Collins, I keep telling you that I don’t need acceptance.” Athena started. “I don’t need you fighting for me.”
“I wasn’t-”
“I wasn’t finished.” Athena interrupted, her eyes turning darker and her face emotionless. “I like that you care, but it is new to me. I haven’t had anyone caring for me for years, not even my own mother. Which is why I don’t appreciate you interrupting in my life.”
I looked down, feeling a little ashamed. “I am sorry. You probably blame me for getting hit by that car.”
“No, I don’t.” Athena stated. “That car had a fake license plate and sped away as soon as it hit me. Even without your call, I would have been landed up in the hospital. So no, I don’t blame you for that. You don’t need to feel guilty about that.”
“Thanks A-”
“But-” Athena interjected me again. “- you should feel guilty about not being yourself. I would not have listened to you but I wouldn’t have felt deceived.” And with that Athena stood up, the coffee cup in her hand. “Don’t do that again.”
And then I was drenched in coffee.
Shaking myself from the flashback, I nodded at Alex. “Oh yeah she is definitely still pissed.”
“Can’t blame her. I am still pissed that you were the actual hacker.”
I groaned. “I know, I am sorry. I had to. I explained.”
Alex smiled softly. “I know. She is the reason I started the mental health awareness fundraiser.”
“Oh.” I gulped. “I didn’t know that.”
We hadn’t talked much about his past. About his mother’s death or father’s absence in life. All I knew was Julia Brown was his cousin from mother’s side and was two years younger than Alex and if she were alive now, she would be twenty-five years old.
The sudden ringing of the bell, jolted me.
“Did you order something?” I asked.
Even Alex looked surprised at the doorbell. “Did I?” he paused to think, staring at the closed door. “No.”
He got up, walking towards the door. He peeked through the doorbell and cussed. “Dammit.”
I stood up my eyes wide. “Who’s it?”
The doorbell rang again. And again.
Alex looked at me with an awkward smile. “My sister Sofia.”
My eyebrows shot up. “No!”
“Alex you stupid boy. Open!” we heard a voice from outside the door.
“That’s why the security didn’t call. It was my sister.” Alex muttered, groaning and rubbing his forehead.
I looked around, wondering if maybe I should hide in a closet. Nobody knew about us except Zivah, Seb, Evan and Athena and we wanted to keep it that way for a while.
“What are you doing?” Alex questioned, as he saw me running towards the guest bedroom.
“Hiding.” I hissed in a low tone afraid that Sofia might hear me.
“I know you are hiding someone Alex.” Sofia’s sing-song voice rang through the door making me stiffen.
I looked at Alex with terrified eyes. Now what?
Alex closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. “Just sit on the couch. I’ll handle her.”
I scratched the back of my neck, taking small steps towards the couch. I was actually going to meet someone from his family.
I was terrified to the very core.
Alex opened the door just a little but Sofia must have expected this. She pushed the door with all her might and ran past Alex into the living room. Her eyes stopped at me and so did her feet.
She blinked, staring at me before a victory smile dawned on her pretty oval face. “I knew it!”
I smiled back awkwardly. “Hi.”
Sofia took a few steps forward, stopping in front of the couch. “And who might you be?”
“Myra.” I said. “Myra Collins.”
Sofia touched the delicate golden bracelet on her left wrist. “And what do you do?”
“I uh-” I started, but then paused not knowing what to say. I was still jobless. Alex still hadn’t agreed to let me go back to the office, he was still making me beg for forgiveness.
“She is a hacker.” Alex completed, walking towards us.
Sofia raised her symmetrical eyebrows at me. “Hacker? So you can get information on anyone? And you can hack anything?”
I pressed my lips together, not knowing how to answer that either. I couldn’t tell her that I hacked her brother’s entire IT information and that I could do it again, half asleep.
“What do you want Sof?” Alex interrupted.
Sofia turned to him and I sighed, glad to escape that question. “You didn’t call for two weeks.” Sofia accused.
She sat on the chair next to the couch, dusting the imaginary dust from her knee length pastel blue dress. “I was worried.”
Alex crossed his arms. “I have been busy.”
Sofia grinned, looking at me and then back at him. She wiggled her eyebrows. “I can see that.”
I felt a blush creep up my face. She was so mistaken.
“It’s not like that.” Alex muttered.
Sofia’s grin didn’t waver. “I don’t blame you. She is hot.”
I choked on air, my eyes wide.
Alex sighed. “Get out Sof.”
Sofia laughed, a soft melody laugh as if she was taught to laugh in the right manner too. “Okay big bro. I am just glad you broke it off with that slut- Diana.”
“We all are.” Alex replied.
“Oh did you know that she is back from her shoot? She is here so I wouldn’t be surprised if she visits you. Just a warning.” Sofia said, getting up from the chair.
“I’ll handle her.” Alex promised.
“Would you like some water?” I suddenly asked, just remembering that we hadn’t even offered any beverage.
Sofia looked surprised at the question, like it was the first time she heard it.
Even Alex was staring at me.
I looked at them, noticing a few similarities like the color of their hair – dark brown and shocked expressions.
I blinked, gulping and wondering if I asked something wrong. “Um, wine?” maybe the rich drink wine.
Sofia was the first to regain, she smiled – a smile that brightened up her face. “I don’t think any of Alex’s girlfriends have ever asked me that before. They usually ask me to get them something since I am younger.”
I stared at her acne free face. “How old are you?”
“Twenty.” She answered.
“I am twenty-three. Not much gap.” She answered.
She just smiled back, her eyes scanning over me again. I squirmed at the scrutiny.
“Alex can be a horrible boyfriend. I hope you stick around and teach him how to be good.” She finally said.
“Hey!” Alex complained.
I smiled back, a small genuine smile. “I think he’s better at it than we all think.”
Sofia looked at her brother and in her gaze I could see the love and respect she had for her brother. I remembered the incident Alex had told me about – Sofia drawing the Betta fish so Alex could stop feeling sad.
And now looking at her, I could see the small seven year old Sofia getting jealous over a pet fish.
I vaguely wondered if I ever looked at Lucas with so much sisterly love. Eh I doubt he, he was annoying most of the time.
“I’ll leave now.” Sofia said, turning to go but then she suddenly stopped, staring at the corner of the couch with wide eyes.
Our eyes followed her stare.
There was the Betta fish I had gifted Alex during the aquarium date. He had named the fish after his old pet fish – Lena.
Sofia gulped. “Lena.” She whispered.
“You remember?” Alex questioned in surprise.
Sofia looked away, blinking repeatedly. “Of course.” She breathed out. “How- how? What?”
Alex smiled. “Myra gave it to me as a gift.”
Sofia turned to look at me and I could see the glaze of tears in her eyes. It confused me. She looked away in the other direction and I could see her discreetly wiping her eye. After a few seconds she looked back at me, mouthing a ‘thank you’.
I didn’t know how to react, it was just a gift. Why was she so emotional about it?
I simply nodded politely.
“I’ll go.” Sofia turned walking towards the door.
“Take care Sof.” Alex said, giving her back a soft pat as she passed him.
“Bye.” I muttered as she disappeared through the front door.
But something in me made me follow her.
I stopped her just as she was entering the lift. “I-” I pressed my lips together not sure how to ask.
“About Lena?” Sofia smiled in understanding.
I softly nodded.
“Alex actually forgot to feed her, he was away for a few days and completely forgot about her.” Sofia reminisced. “She was already dead when I threw her away. Alex still doesn’t know it, he thinks I threw her away because I was jealous. It is also why dad didn’t let us get a new one because we couldn’t take care of Lena. But Alex was so sad so I drew him a fish as a replacement. He doesn’t know the truth and I want to keep it that way.”
I didn’t know what to reply. So I just nodded.
“Sometimes we forget to take care of the things we love. And that’s how we lose them.” Sofia lightly patted my arm. “Take care of my brother. Also thank you for getting him another Lena, he really needs it.”
And then she disappeared behind the doors of the lift.
I stood there, staring at the closed doors. Her words slowly sinking into my head and heart.
Sometimes we forget to take care of the things we love. And that’s how we lose them.