Mikasa Ackerman
Walking through the little bridge, I knew we were near Mr. Jaeger's house. It's a cabin which is quite far from town but near the mountain and a river. It was such a beautiful place despite the looming night. As we advance, I thought I was just trembling from my nervousness but it was the intense coldness that even reached my tendons and bones. I rubbed my hands together and placed it on my face, attempting to give myself some warmth. However, what I did was obviously not enough. It was numbing. It was a breezy, freezing evening.
I observed my companion, Mr. Jaeger, who is a tall young man wearing a worn-out black coat that reached his knees. He was walking straight to the front door and looking for his keys inside his suitcase. He did not seem to be bothered by the cold. Or maybe he was ignoring the cold. I just followed and stood beside him holding my bag, already shivering to the bone. Waiting as he inserted each key he has, trying to find which one fits, until the door was unlocked. He twisted the door knob, swung the door open and turned on the lights.
As we enter Mr. Jaeger's little cabin, he looked at the things displayed in front of him. The windows, furniture, cabinets, bed, couch, carpet, table, chairs, utensils and plants. These objects fit in this simple tiny home. Watching him closely from the periphery, I stayed silent and saw his eyes trail on each item he pass by as if he was recollecting certain memories from it. Before he roam further, he left his suitcase and jacket on the small dining table. It was only the footsteps of Mr. Jaeger tapping on the wooden floor that I heard that night. It made me feel uneasy.
"Mr. Jaeger." I softly called him out, "...do you want to eat or drink something? I'll prepare something for you." I asked and smiled at him as I fold his coat and place it in the cabinet thereafter. He was already sitting on the bed, touching and running his hand through the sheath. He glanced at me as if it just came back to him that he was with someone, "Yes, please if there is tea, Ms. Ackerman." He paused then offered. "Make one for yourself too."
As I prepare his requested teas in his kitchen, he walked near the window beside the bed - looking outside, gazing from afar. Lights from town must be seen from here, I thought. But he seems absorbed and distracted from his own thoughts - blank stares, frowned eyebrows and pursed lips. Worriedly, I finished what I was doing and placed the hot aromatic beverages on the table. I invited him to sit down and drink the tea while it's newly brewed. He shifted his attention to me and approached me slowly as if he was a kitten who just started walking. Adapting to the feeling of his own home.
While sitting across me, he whiffed the scent of the beverage, gave a slight blow then took a sip. "Ms. Ackerman." I eagerly paid my attention to him. "It is a pleasure to be helped by you but wouldn't it be better to work in town? There is a higher salary there. I can barely pay you. I am not currently working." He explained calmly as he circled his fingers on his half-filled tea cup. "Mr. Jaeger, there is no worry." I reassured and smiled at him even though his focus was on his tea cup. "Truthfully, I am thankful you accepted my request to help you. I just want to pay you back since you've helped my family before." He did not respond for a few seconds and just hummed as he continued drinking the tea I prepared. Not expecting too much reaction from him, I already took that as his approval of my stay here.
A deafening, faint night that was only interspersed with clinks of the tea cups, no one even dared to speak for a long time. Unveiling my hospitality as part of my work, I broke the silence between us and gathered my strength to ask him "Mr. Jaeger, do you remember anything?" There was a deep sighed in which I knew I should not have asked. He placed his now empty cup on the table."I don't seem to remember anything. I think I've been in this place but I got the feeling that I don't belong here. I don't know. I'm not even sure." He seemed so lost and confused with everything. I can feel his frustration of desire to recall but at the same time, his need to rest. We just came from the hospital where he was admitted due to the accident. Everything must be happening too fast for him. Realizing my mistake, I apologized for asking him such question which might have made him uncomfortable. It was presumptuous act of mine to ask as soon as he was discharged. Nonetheless, he was kind enough and reassured me that he did not mind it- do not mind such trivial things. Trivial. I stood up and cleaned the tea cups and utensils we used - figuring, was everything just trivial here?
He changed his clothes in a more comfortable one since he was about to sleep. I heard his yawn while I was cleaning. When I finished my work, I saw him idling, just standing still beside his bed. He looked at me and said "There is one bed here, Ms. Ackerman. You might as well sleep in the bed since it will be uncomfortable for you to sleep on the couch." as he brought 2 pillows, leaving the rest on the bed for me to use. As his caretaker I was embarrassed so I approached and tried to convince him, to reason his suggestion that I will be fine with the couch. Despite that, he insisted to sleep on the latter since he felt more comfortable with it. Not wanting things to be more awkward between us, I surrendered to his offer and thanked him for such kind consideration. He placed himself on the couch, immediately closing his eyes as he lie down. He must be really tired today. I went to the comfort room to change to a warmer clothes. In silence, I walked then tucked myself into the bed Mr. Jaeger offered me to sleep to.