Ever since Lionel got into the house, his behavior had changed he was being weary it was an understatement to even say that, the best statement was that he was feeling dreadful. Who wouldn't be after witnessing what he just did. In the living room, his pictures where hanging there, and to make it worst they were ones that was taken in highschool and college on most occasions. In as much as he needed an explanation, he didn't want to hurt his host but his curiosity was getting the best of him, he needed to know why his pictures where here more that what he himself even have. He knew by the age gap that Zaynella wasn't his class mate and that they haven't met before, so the only thing he could come to think of was that Zaynella was a stalker or something. That thought had hurt him, but there was nothing he could do to refute it.
After dinner, his questions where finally answered. All were seating in the living room watching a movie. Lionel had never felt more welcomed in his life, Zaynella's family accepted him, it wasn't pretense it was genuine and there was something else in the gaze that her parents threw at him that he couldn't say he was too occupied with his thoughts to accept such sincerity and love from people he just met,something he lacked while growing up.
Zaynella's father William was the one who brought up the topic.
'' We have been looking for a way all those years to contact you,Zaynella was really Lucky to find after years of searching''. His voice carried warmth and something akin to gratefulness, but Lionel was lost. Zaynella had already changed from the strong woman she was to a young lady that was doted upon by her family.
'' Dad what are you saying'', she spoke so obvious to her dad's teasing tone.
'' Isn't it the thing that happened'', William asked teasing his daughter.
'' He doesn't know, it was really a mistake that I met him again''.
Lionel was lost in all the conversation even Kelvin. The rest of the family seem to know something. Lionel couldn't help but blurt out the question in his mind.
'' What are you talking about?''.
'' Do you not remember?''. Zaynella was more surprised than shocked. Instantly she figured out that all those while she lived with him, he didn't even know her. That made her to think back to the times he helped her.
* * * ... * * *
.... FLASHBACK ....
A young girl sat under the tree crying in a secluded area, her backpack was turned upside down, her long hair was tied in a messy bun, she looked disrupt as she searched for something frantically in her bag and among her scattered things obvious to the rain that was soaking her up. A young boy approached him with concern he had been watching the girl for sometimes now.
'' Hey are you looking for something'', he asked out of concern once he got close enough. But the girl ignored him, it was either he never heard her or wasn't listening. He didn't get angry, rather he knelt on the wet ground and helped her pack her things. It was then that the girl noticed him.
' She is so young' he thought. The girl stared at him with her bright eyes her mind thinking of the situation at hand. The boy took that moment to ask her the same question and after contemplating for a while, she answered and surprisingly the young man helped her tidy up her things and comforted her telling her he would help her. She didn't believe what the man said. But it was at that moment that she noticed the rain and her condition, she didn't want to get sick, she had no extra cash to spare for treatment. She gathered her things and thanking the young man ran away.
She forgot her student identification card so when she learnt about it, she had to request for a new one. The next day, she learnt that her money had been cleared by a fellow student and she recalled the conversation she had the other day. She was bothered she doesn't know his name nor anything about him to thank him properly.
The second time they met, she instantly recognized him, and just like before he helped her clear her debts with his heartwarming smile, the only difference was that another young boy was with him and she didn't get time to even thank them properly or look at the second boy before they vanished like before. She was once again filled with guilt, she couldn't thank her savior properly.
The next time she saw him was at the school hall, he was holding a young girl intimately, the brown haired girl wasn't a beauty, but she had a charming personality. It was then that she heard his name from the gossiping students. Lionel Cooper the student body president and his low term girlfriend Molly Hess the only child of the one of Heise. She never felt anything but admiration for her savior she wanted to thank him but was scared to approach him. Since he hung out with rich people he should equally be rich she thought. So she never approached him even when she had the chance. She was the school beauty and the most intelligent, but they were classes apart, she was just a freshman and he was a senior to graduate in few months.
Their parts crossed again few weeks before he graduated she had fainted during PE class. She had just been elected as the new student body president and had began work immediately. That day she had overworked herself stressing out her heart. She had fainted and while others where taking pictures someone had carried her to the hospital. When she woke up, it was her parents she saw they showed her the receipt for the bill and there she saw his name again. After her surgery she learnt that they had graduated and she never saw him again. As the student body president, she had pictures of him and His college form, but she only saved the pictures to remember him with nothing more they met at the college again but they were in different categories so never actually met in person so as usual, she admired him from afar. She was able to acquire some of his pictures when she also became the school president. Since then she had wanted to thank him properly for saving her life. The doctor had said that she was lucky if the operation had been a minute late she would have been dead dye to failed heart. Her family had been grateful to Lionel and had searched for him but have Never since or heard of him. So when Zaynella met him months back she was really excited and decided to use the given opportunity to repay him when she learnt he was an ex- convict.
* * * ....... * * *
.....END OF FLASHBACK....
When Lionel heard the story he was touched, never in his wildest dream did he think that things would turn out this way. He became ashamed of his thoughts earlier. But he wanted to make something clear.
'' That year, it wasn't I who paid the bills. In fact all those bills were not paid with only my money, I did contribute, but most of the contributions was done by a friend. I was shocked to know that he paid your hospital bills using my name not his. I carried you to the hospital, and he took care of your bills, he was the one who contacted your parents ''.
Zaynella and the rest were shocked of the sudden findings but to them Lionel was also part of the reason she lived so they were equally grateful.
'' The other person, where is he'', Zaynella asked. Deep down she already knew the answer, by the behaviour of that person it was obvious he didn't want to be discovered but she still hoped.
" Am so sorry, I lost contact with him a long time ago", he said with an apologizing voice.
After every body went to bed, Zaynella called back Lionel to talk with him. Haven been told the truth, Lionel was able to open up to Zaynella. To him the young woman has completely earned his trust, she wasn't like most women he met. She wasn't like her either, she was different and unique. Lionel for the first time in his life opened up to someone. Zaynella listened with rapt attention she was dumb folded when she learnt the truth. Her second sense told her their was more to the story and before she went to bed, she promised Lionel that she would help him unite his family, she wasn't no superhero she said but it was part of the debt she owed and she would pay and besides Lionel was already her friend and it wouldn't hurt to help a friend in need.