It is still early in the morning, but Thea is walking along the alleys where she lives, where people don't seem to sleep. It was four o'clock some doors on her floor were closed as she peeked and some were not, one room where a guy was fixing his belt came out, where she rolled her eyes. That's the room beside hers, where almost every night the girl renting there brings different guys and go at it sometimes the whole night. Even so, she walked past the guys who passed out in front of the sari-sari store where bottles of alcohol were all over the place. Thea couldn't care less, these are the guys who catcall her every time she walks by.
"I can't wait to leave this place." she whispered in annoyance and jogged out of the alleys where she met several people jogging on the streets, some are dressed up for work. This early, where the sun isn't out people are all over the place, although it is less crowded than it would in the middle of the day.
Sparring the time she could, she jumped on the jeepney on her way to the cafe. Her school bag is packed with her hair down still dripping from the cold bath she just had. She looked around where passengers are using their phone, *on all of the days that I leave my phone, it has to be today where it's my day-off.*
Once she get there, she hurried to the back door of the cafe, as she was about to reach for her keys, she grabbed the door knob and stopped.
"It's not lock?" She whispered. *Pietro must've came in early, it's his first day today.*
*GASPS*
"What the heck!" she exclaimed where her eyes met Simon lying on the kitchen floor.
He's unconscious, that makes Thea panic. She dropped her things on the floor and ran towards Simon. His hair is a mess, his hand is holding a bottle of tequila along with a broken drinking glass on his side. The cabinet beside him is open where several empty bottles are found. Thea panicked and nudged Simon's chest to wake him up but he didn't. She leaned her head on his chest to feel his breaths, Thea sighed in relief as she felt him breathing.
Even so, Thea picked up the broken glass on Simon's side until she heard several keys dangling on the door. Her eyes widened full of hope to see who came from the back door.
"What happened?" Dimitri asked as he knelt and tapped Simon vigorously. He took a look on what is around him and grunts. "He's drinking again." he whispered and adjusted his posture to pull Simon to sit.
"Is he okay?" Thea asked with her eyes pasted on Simon who is unconscious.
Dimitri fixed Simon's posture, he took a look at Thea and raised a brow. "Why are you here? It's your off__"
"I-I-I was going to school but dropped by ___ b-b-because I left my phone but I saw sir Simon lying on the ground and I___"
"Just help me to my car." Dimitri grunts as he pulled Simon's arm and rested it on his shoulders, instantly, Thea did the same.
While walking to where Dimitri's car parked, Dimitri couldn't help but peek at Thea whose having teary eyes and sniffing. The two fixed Simon on the backseat and Dimitri ran back inside to get his keys, and Thea followed to clean Simon's mess.
"Stop that, we'll bring him back to his place." Dimitri said as mumbled to himself as he hurriedly walked back to his car.
When he got on, he stared at Thea who is wiping her tears while running to his car. Once she got close enough, he locked the doors on his backseat and peak at the side mirror to look at Thea.
"What?" She whispered and ran on the other side but still locked, she hesitated but still did. Thea walked up to the passenger's seat to try the door and it opened.
"You really like to take your time." Dimitri said in his monotonous voice as soon as she got on and started the engine.
Along the drive, Dimitri couldn't help but notice how Thea hasn't calmed down and occasionally turns back to check on Simon which Dimitri didn't understand how it bothers him. *can she just stay put?!*
"Dont worry about him." Dimitri calmly started.
"Im not worried." Thea answered under her breath while she took a peak at the backseat.
"Yes you are."
"Well how can I not?! I came in to see my boss who's like a big brother to me and helped me a lot lying on the floor unconscious and looking like a mess____" Thea blurted out of frustration which she immediately stopped.
*Too bad Simon. Too bad*
"Hmmm." Unbothered, Dimitri stepped on the gas pedal which startled Thea with the sudden speed.
After Thea's outburst, the two fell silent only listening to Dimitri's notifications on his phone which didn't fail to capture Thea's curiosity with all the constant rings on the phone. With her head down Thea moved her eye to read the notification that eventually had Dimitri notice her doing so.
"You're being nosy." Dimitri said so annoyed not at Thea but at the notifications he's been having from his case. He frowned as he grabbed the phone and turned it off.
Thea's eyes widened to see a mansion Dimitri entered and parked his car. She was in awe of how big it is that she didn't notice Dimitri got off. Thea quickly helped out to move Simon inside, and eventually several housemaids greeted them and took Simon on their care.
Thea seemed to forget her admiration to the place that her eyes pasted as to where Simon is being brought to. Her gaze broke when the room where they took Simon closed and her thoughts snapped back to reality. Thea fixed her hair and whole appearance while observing at the surrounding, everyone is working and in uniforms, while some seems to be gossiping at them which made her think about Dimitri.
She turned to Dimitri who is talking to an old woman with similar uniform as the others, but she looked respectable with her gestures and her smile. She didn't care as to what they were talking about and looked around, it's as if like she traveled to a fairy tale scene. Her eyes brightened at the massive diamond chandelier about them and the wooded, massive stairs.
"Thea let's go."
Thea was startled at the sudden respectful tone Dimitri used on calling while his hand beckoning her to walk out of the door. As soon as they are out, the older woman followed them with gazed, Dimitri walked in front of her with work attire that she didn't seem to notice at all few minutes ago. He looks so sharp in his black suit but still a messy hair.
Thea's brow arched as she saw him open the car door for her and beckoned her inside which instantly she did so. She followed him with her eyes as he closed the door and walked to the driver's seat.
"Don't be delusional, that woman hates disrespectful men." Dimitri said as he started the engine.
"I wasn't sir____" Thea lowered her head as the atmosphere tensed and her anxiety around him came back. She fiddled on her finger looking outside as he maneuvered the car.
"Where is your school?" Dimitri asked as he started driving.
"S-sir? I-I___"
"I'll drop you off, that's the least I can do for helping me today."
Thea lowered her head in silence as he remembered how she found Simon in that state. Her worries came back and recognized how surprised she is when she saw him like, so different from how he she always see Simon, the neat, organized and kind man that he is.
Dimitri eyed on her as quickly picked up what she is thinking. " Simon has a drinking addiction. We__ me and our other friend___ thought that he stopped drinking after his rehab. You must've been surprised."
He looked at her with sympathy. "I was surprised to see him like that again " he added.
The two fell silent.
"Just a block from the cafe."
"What?"
"My school."