"After this, what are you going to do? What is your plan?" asked Troy carefully after Rose finished her bowl of porridge.
Rose looked at Troy, then shook her head slightly. "I do not know."
Troy secretly sighed. He didn't know what to do with this girl. Moreover, she is currently losing his memory. Troy had called James and asked about her condition, but James said it was only temporary. So, at least until Rose got her memories back, Troy couldn't do anything either.
"What do you think I should do?" asked Rose worriedly.
Troy shook his head. "We'll talk about it again once your memory returns. The doctor who examined you said it was only temporary."
The girl nodded. "But, do you mind if I stay here?"
"I think it's best if you stay here until you remember who you are," Troy said. "After all, this house will often be empty. I also spend more time in restaurants than in this house. I usually come home at night and go straight to bed."
The girl nodded. "Then, while I was staying in this room, where did you sleep? There seems to be only one bedroom in this house."
"I slept on the living room couch," Troy replied. "But you don't have to feel bad. I'm used to sleeping on the couch. Sometimes after work, I'm too tired to walk to my room, so I usually crash on the sofa."
Rose lowered her head and mumbled, "Sorry."
"If you're really sorry, you can try to remember who you are even harder. I think it's best for you too," Troy said.
The girl just nodded, but she still looked down. Troy couldn't help feeling sorry for the girl too, remembering the news he'd read earlier, as well as the bad possibilities about the accident.
Perhaps, the girl knew what was after her, what dangers she had to face. Because of that, it was also possible that her brain was trying to erase those memories from her head.
All right, Troy will relent this time. As James said, Troy's hobby is helping people. Let's just say this girl is one of the people who need his help. Regardless of what danger is after her.
***
After staying at Troy's house for a week, Carol understood why James said Troy was a nice guy. Because he was a good man. Too good, in fact. During Carol's stay here, the man took care of all of Carol's needs. From clothes to food.
Every morning, the man would prepare breakfast for Carol before leaving for work. In the afternoon, he would come home for a while just to bring Carol lunch. Around six o'clock in the afternoon, he would come home again, then shower and prepare dinner. After that, he would return to the restaurant where he worked and only came home around ten o'clock in the night.
The man didn't even have a day off. For a whole week, he went to work. Even Carol wasn't that cruel to her company employees. Curious, that morning Carol woke up early so she could meet Troy.
During the week she'd only seen Troy when he was delivering lunch or dinner. If Troy leaves for work in the morning, Carol is still asleep and at night when Troy comes home, Carol is asleep. Even though Carol woke up in the middle of the night, it was the man who was already asleep.
Carol went into the kitchen while Troy was preparing food for her at the dining table beside the kitchen. The man looked surprised to see Carol.
"Are you awake? Does your head hurt or is there any other part of your body that hurts?" the man asked.
Carol shook her head. "There are a few things I want to ask you."
Troy frowned. "What do you want to ask?"
"About the restaurant you work at," said Carol. "I don't think you should just keep quiet if your boss is being mean to you and bully you."
"Bullying me?" Troy repeated.
Carol nodded. "You're too kind. How can you just accept being told to work without a day off, from morning to night?"
Troy blinked in confusion. "I am indeed …"
"I don't know who your boss is, but he's just too much," said Carol.
"Um … actually you know who he is," Troy said.
Carol blinked in surprise. "I know him?" she asked doubtfully.
Troy nodded. "The doctor who treated you was the owner of the restaurant. He's my boss."
"Oh …" Carol muttered. "But how did you know him?"
"James opened the restaurant when he moved to this village. In this area there are several villages where most of the residents are old men and women. Many have no income other than selling meager garden produce in a market a bit far from here.
"Some who have already too weak to go out just stay at home and eat garden produce such as sweet potatoes, and so on. Others have also been alone, or have been left by their children to wander and be forgotten. If there is a house that contains children, it can be said that at least the economy situation is fine enough. The children had parents who migrated and sent money for their living expenses.
"James opened the restaurant to feed the old people. He never set a price for the old people, but people would usually pay with garden produce, such as bananas, sweet potatoes, or vegetables. Since I moved to this village three years ago, I decided to work there. I thought it would be fun to work there," said Troy.
Five years ago. So, what happened to James five years after he disappeared?
"Then how can the restaurant still work if it doesn't receive payment?" asked Carol.
"This village is on the road to the summit. Bus groups will usually stop and rest here. The restaurant was famous for a stop because James always gave free all-you-can-eat meals to the bus drivers and conductors.
"Besides, James already has quite a bit of money as a doctor. Wealthy families vacationing in villas always went to James' clinic in case of an emergency. Even though he's an outrageous boss, he's also a great doctor," said Troy.
Carol cringed at that. Great doctor? That's why he killed Carol's mother?
"In this village, you will not find young men or women. After the kids, we're probably the youngest two of us here," Troy told him. "So don't be too surprised if you only meet old men or women here."
Carol frowned in surprise. "Then, where are the young men and women of this village?"
"Didn't I tell you? They go out of this village. There are no promising jobs here. Some of those who go abroad sometimes go home because their children are here, some only send money, some never even come home again." Troy's expression was sad as he said the last one.
"Whoever it is, he's a real bad guy," said Carol.
Troy smiled at her and nodded. "Yes. He's really bad. Even I'm not that bad."
"That's because you're a good person," said Carol. "I doubt you've even killed an ant."
Troy just smiled a little without responding.
"Today, can I come with you to the restaurant?" asked Carol.
"But I don't have a car and it took me ten minutes to walk to the restaurant," Troy said.
"No problem," said Carol. Hiking is one of Carol's hobbies.
"Are you sure you're strong enough?" asked Troy.
Carol nodded. "It's just that if I just lie in bed all day, my body starts to ache."
"Okay. If you come along, James can check on you at the restaurant later," Troy replied. "After breakfast, get ready. Put on warm clothes and a jacket."
Carol nodded vigorously, then sat down and got ready for breakfast.
***