A Change

The walk Eru and Reena take and their conversation.

I thought to myself,I should apologize first to Eru and tell him honestly,that I am not used to socializing one on one with peolple. Maybe I can get to know Eru better on this walk.The other time he was quiet and still seemed sleepy faced.As Eru approached me,I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to him and said "I really am sorry for how I acted in there,I'm not used to talking or....getting compliments..I know I over reacted.."Eru cut in "It's okay,I probably surprised you and maybe shouldn't be saying things like that when you barely know me"He gave a grin and I knew that he could tell that I really didn't not mean to sound as harsh as I did.

He turned to walk and nodded his head for me to follow."You have a really nice two-story house"Eru started saying to me "It must be nice having all that space...a place to put a Christmas tree and all.." I added in  "But you have a houseboat!It's so cozy and you could travel anywhere!"  Eru gave a low chuckle and said "Yeah but it's so cramped,and it has such a small kitchen,only two people can be in at a time!Hard to teach Rebekah how to cook while in it!" Eru was his all smiles again,he looked good when he smiled,he looked especially bright when he talked about Rebekah and then I felt bad,know what she was doing behind his back.

"There's only so many people that can live in it too" Eru continued saying "My brother and I share the room and I Rebekah have the whole other room to herself,you know a girl's gotta have her space n all' ".I was able to keep up with Eru's pace and was on his right side,I didn't realize I was staring at him until he turned his grinning face to me and asked "Miss Reena do you know how to cook?" I must've looked baffled because he started laughing and said through his laughter "Why I keep meeting girl's who don't know how to cook!It's an art and a survival need!"

I realized,most of the foods I ate were microwaved or instant foods,never anything home cooked unless I went to Roger's diner. Eru fell silent,he must've been able to read my face,I was looking down and quiet.When I started to say "My mother...she worked ever since I was little..she was....gone,she never taught me how to cook..my dad stays at a hotel in the town he works at,my older sister...she used to tell me I would never have a need to learn how to cook as long as she...."I began to choke on my words,tears forming at the back of my eyes.You never noticed the things you really loved until they were gone,it was always the little things that seemed like such big moments to me.

Eru saw my struggling expression to hold face and came close to me and put his arms around me and began to say "If you need to cry it out or talk about it,it's fine,I'm here Miss Reena and you can-" I cut him off,throwing my arms up to shrug him off and said loudly with my wavering voice "I don't need to talk about nothing,I am FINE!" and continued to walk ahead even faster.I asked Eru in a demanding and firm voice "Where are you parent's anyways?How old are YOU,how old do I really look to YOU?" I was trying to distract myself.

Eru who was still standing behind me,started to jog to catch up to me and added "Well to me,Miss Reena,you look about sixteen.My parents moved from their country before my brother and me were born,shunned for marrying against their family preference they lost all ties to their family.You see they kind of eloped together,leaving their arranged marriages behind in their home country,so upset and insulted noone ever talked to them again.And for your curiosity I am eighteen Miss Reena."He turned hr head towards me and gave a grin "Does that satisfy your curiosity?".

Out of the corner of my eye I looked at him and question in a calm steady voice "But what HAPPENED to them?Why aren't they with you now?Rebekah said they gave you the houseboat.."As I finished I could see Eru's face went fro grinning to serious.He responded "They went to see a play at an old opera house.The damned thing got a fire backstage and well,,,most people didn't make it out,my parents included."His voice thoughtful,like he was about to drift to a memory,or maybe the possibilities he could have done to make them stay and not go off.

"You mean that big grand burnt down building downtown?They never fixed it after that did they?That opera house had too many fires..."I said and Eru turned his face back to me,surprise in his eyes.I continued to say "My older sister...She loved historic things,she would keep going on about how she wish they would rebuild it,make it look like it did in it's old glory days,and how when,if they did she would get the courage to go,well...that is if only I went with her..."I looked down as I finished my sentence.

I then stopped walking,still looking down,Eru,taking notice stopped too and looked at me."I don't want to go home right away."I said. Eru then looked up and around "Maybe we should go view the wharf,see if we can see any sea creatures?"He said turning to look at me.I smiled,feeling abit more hopeful that maybe we can cheer each other up,maybe I can know why he likes cooking so much and why rebekah said he helps many people with problems,maybe he wants to be a cook,a psychologist?I smiled and nodded at him "Yeah,that'd be nice,to see what nature has to offer in beauty."