I drove into the quiet roads with Eve, her head resting on my shoulder as she sleeps against me. I take a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief, for the moment things are calm. The road is quiet with the snowflakes falling from the cold sky above.
The radio is playing softly, however it is not loud enough to wake Eve up even if she is snoozing. The song is a slower tempo of some singer I am unfamiliar with. It is soft and melodic, making me relax even more as I drive through the empty roads.
Warmth fills my body as the car is filled with the heat from the heater vent; it feels like a small oven in the car. The streets and roads are snowy as we pass through them. However, the vehicles in this forever doomed weather are built to adjust themselves accordingly for the winter season. It is not rare to see cars driving along the snowy streets with their all four tires spinning to have a grip on the icy ground.
Through some unknown technology after the recovery from the global cooling, many metropolis cities and a few wealthy towns are given a complete makeover of the cars. The tires are made from rubber that is heated up to withstand the low temperatures. In addition, the engines are reinforced to be able to endure cold weather, while the windows are coated with special material that resist ice and snow.
How do I know that? Let us say that I studied about it during my high school years. However, how the authorities were able to produce oil is still a mystery, even for me and my history teacher. Technologies work in mysterious ways.
Finally reaching our home, I carefully drove in the open garage before turning off the engine. I could see that Eve is still sleeping peacefully on my shoulder. Her eyes are closed and a small smile on her lips, like she is dreaming of something pleasant.
She appeared to be enjoying this moment; a moment of relief from the troubles in her life. I wanted to wake her up, but instead I let her sleep more to clear her mind and soothe her soul, allowing myself to stare at her and contemplate about my past events.
Gazing at Eve’s sleeping face, I think about the terrible things I have done. I think about all the people that died because of me; including the people in the mental asylum who did not deserve to perish from the explosion and my willingness to use others for my own selfish gain.
Eve stirs, her eyes opening to look at me with a sleepy expression. She yawns and stretches in the front seat of my car, waking up completely from her long slumber. She is looking at me with a curious gaze, perhaps wondering why I woke her up. “I want to let you know that we are home now,” I told Eve as I looked back at her with a gentle smile. “It’s time to wake up.”
“Okay,” she simply answered while still looking at me. Her voice is a little sleepy and sleepy-eyed, but not the slurring of a drunk person or drugged-up individual that was kidnapped from somewhere. Nonetheless, we silently exited the car and approached the house, entering through the front door with my keys.
We are finally home.
I sighed, relieved that we are now safe and sound; but I am also still disappointed at myself for not being the good man that my adoptive father wanted me to be. It is harsh to say for me that I do not think that I am incapable of being one, although it does not hurt to try in vain.
Having already entered the house, Eve said, “do you want anything for me to cook?” She politely asked while looking at me with a curious gaze. It was a little hard for me to answer her question, since I am currently occupied with my mind.
“I will eat anything you cook,” I told her with a comforting smile. “In the meantime, I am going to take a nap in my bedroom; come when you are finished preparing dinner for us,” I said while heading to the staircase, leaving her in silence.
As I walk upstairs, the known presence of someone inside my room is irrefutable no other than Clover himself, the little Irish leprechaun who was rightfully still mad about me not getting involved in helping a rape victim from being assaulted by a homeless man.
Knowing that he is in my room, waiting for me to open the door and start conversation; I deeply wonder what he would say since I did not see him eating breakfast with us in the early morning. Regardless, I would like to get this over and listen to whatever he has to say.
It is better to struggle and endure my mistakes than run from them, after all; I am only human and I am not perfect, just like most people are not perfect. In fact, I might even be considered as a failure by society’s standards because I was not as righteous as I wanted to be. I just did what I believed was right for my future, rather than running away from it and caring the passing judgements of people who I will never meet and give a shit about.
Finishing my walk from the stairs before stopping just in front of my bedroom door, I grab the handle while exhaling the air out of my lungs. The door opened with ease, revealing Clover himself; casually sitting in the middle of the room, looking at me.
“Lad…we need to talk,” that were his words to me. Clover’s current expression says a lot about the given situation. And judging both the tone and facial features, the little guy is currently experiencing guilt and shame not towards me, but to himself.
Presumably from the night when he was stalking me and Eve before I given her information about my upbringing. Creepy as it is to stalk and invade someone’s privacy, I understand how he was suspicious of me, knowing that what I did had warranted his distrust and contempt for me.
“Sure, what do you want to talk about?” I asked, pretending to act clueless as I closed the door from behind despite knowing what the conversation would be about. All I want right now is to end this conflict between us and hope that Clover will let me off his hate towards me.
“I know about your past arty… about how you were raised..” Clover started, his tone serious while staring straight at me before looking down at the floor in shame, “and I just to want apologize for everything I said to you,” this was expected from the leprechaun, but I guess my decision of not wanting to get involved with a stranger’s life or problems had resulted in me having karma biting my ass.
“Huh, what is this about Clover? And what past of mine?” I still acted stupid and unaware of the situation, pretending not to know anything about it. I don’t want him to think that I already the reason and how he knows all about it, doing so would likely reduce the chances of me being redeemed in front of his eyes, “just what is going on?”
He raised his head up, looking at me with a disgruntled expression and a solemn tone. “Arty, the night when you and Eve went to an empty park to talk about your problems Adam, I was there lad; watching and listening to everything that passed between you two,” he paused for a while, staring at me with a look of consideration, “I knew then that is why you always act the way you are right now. And because of this…” Clover stood up, approaching me before stopping and extending his raised hand towards me, “I am sorry for misjudging you and to hate you so much.”
“You…you saw and heard all of it, didn’t you?” I stared at him with fake shock of surprise in my voice and face, looking down at him as if I was truly shocked by what he said.
My acting was compelling to him, to point that Clover was persuaded by my performance, “You were there… watching us?” I acted shocked, almost gasping to add more dramatic effect. I just wanted just to get this over and fix this relationship of ours so we can return back to normal.
“I was.” Clover nodded, “I saw everything you did, what you said… what you were feeling. I know that is why you always act the way you do now. So please arty, would you accept my handshake as a form of apology?” His arm still raised towards me, awaiting the handshake to happen.
A genuine smile formed on my lips as I took his offer, shaking his hand to seal our friendship back. “Sure, I never hated you in the first place after what you did. Hell, I understand the emotions you felt towards me and I would say that I deserve it. However, it is nice to have you back again with me, Clover.” I said this with a warm smile on my face.
“Hey, hey… no need for that.” He pulled his hand back, returning a smile with his own, “I should be the one apologizing, not you lad, but thanks for accepting my sincerity. I am glad that we are back at being good terms with each other,” Clover said while flashing me a grin, “How was the work Adam?” Changing the topic to more normal and heartfelt conversation.
“It was fine,” I answered with a casually shrug of my shoulders, “I can’t really say anything about it, since there is nothing to say.” Truthfully, there are many interesting things to talk about regarding my job and the cases I got myself involved with, it is just that it is too long and I am lethargic to talk about every single detail of it.
“Well, I guess you are right arty,” Clover laughed, “So what will be our plans for tonight? Going out to eat in a restaurant like in the good old days?” He smiled at me with a goofy look on his face. “I don’t think so,” I said, smiling back at him, “It is a bit colder than usually since it is presumably night now and I am really exhausted after work. Besides, Eve is currently preparing dinner for us.” The mention of Eve preparing dinner had caught his full attention as he furrowed his brows, “What? Really?” He asked in astonishment.
“Yeah,” I replied with a chuckle, “she will give us a call, but we can go down and wait in the kitchen as she cooks the food.” Clover then nodded his head in agreement, “I see lad, that is a great idea!” He said, “come on then, let’s get going!” I followed him out of my bedroom and downstairs to the kitchen, seeing Eve near the stove seemingly almost finished swirling her wooden spoon in the cooking pat pan.
“Oi lass!” Clover cheerfully greeted her, “How is it going?” She looked up from the pan with a bit of surprise on her face in seeing us, especially Clover himself. “Adam… and Clover? I was wondering when you will be back?” Her eyes fixated on Clover instead of me, “Where were you Clover?” She asked with a bit of keenness.
“I was, uh, sleeping late, my lady,” he answered with a mix of goofy grin and confusion spawning on his face, “Had a bit of a long night working and all.” She nodded her head in understanding, although I know otherwise. “I see, why don’t you two take a seat and wait for me to finish preparing dinner?” Eve said, turning the stove off and setting the pan to be placed on the table after she wrapped up whatever was inside.
We both sat at the table after we took a seat, Clover looked at me with curiosity, “You know she is preparing for us Adam?” He asked. I was about to answer but Eve cut in before I could, “you two will see soon enough,” She said with a smile, “but if you really want to know, it is nothing special; just some soup and potatoes with extra black pepper, and butter with brown sugar.”
“Sounds good! You would make a good house wife Eve! Ha hah!” Clover replied with a big smile on his face. I chuckled a bit as well, Eve slightly blushed from the comment, “oh, ah, ok. W-wait here, I will go get the plates and utensils,” she replied, walking off to the nearby cabinets in the kitchen.
Clover turned to me with a smirk on his face, “You know arty, that is what I like about her. She is the woman you want to have for a wife.” His words made me feel a bit annoyed at how he appeared to be so oblivious towards Eve’s feelings.
But I cannot help and wonder if I am capable of being a family man or letting my wounded heart accept her. Perhaps as I said before, when the time comes, then I will decide whether to continue with this one-sided relationship or fully accept her into my life.
