-The next day- (Helga's P.O.V.)
Pita smiled, "Come on, Helga! I gotta show you the best stand ever in this market!". I chuckled in amusement, "It better be good.". I was wearing a light purple sweatshirt, blue pants, and my beloved boots. Pita was wearing a light blue khakis jacket over a medium green sleeved shirt, with his black pants and shoes. Pita laughed, "Oh, it's one of my favorite food stands, which contains my most favorite food ever!".
"Which is?". I asked curiously as he led me through so many stands, so many people, so many colors, that I couldn't keep up to note everything that might be of threat towards me yet I have the feeling that this town is safe and well, as I saw Pita being greeted quite happily so often.
Pita grinned, "It is not one you heard of back in Germany, but you'll love it just the same. We call it 'Fried Shrimp'.". We approached his said stand, and he nodded to one of the tables, and I smiled, walking on as I took my seat to wait for Pita as there's a bit of line before Pita makes it in front. Every person we had encountered this morning, I had introduced myself as a friend of Pita's, and that I was looking for help with my life. We were careful not to speak of everything that led me here.
"Hello, you must be Helga Katrina I have heard that my mother spoke about.". a polite female voice spoke, and I looked over to see a woman close to my age, platinum blonde hair, with teal-ish green eyes, wearing a pink sweater, with white pants, and heels. I don't know why, yet her smile seems a bit creepy.
I nodded politely, "Yes, I am her. May I know your name?".
She smiled bigger at that, growing a bit creepier which got me wary of her, "Oh, Rosalind Kherpe, but you can call me Rosa. Everybody does.". I nodded in understanding, and I asked, "Pardon me, but your mother seems to know Pita. I suppose you're one of his friends?".
"Friends, oh yes, I'd like to think so. Yet I am so surprised to see him smiling after what happened a while ago.". Kherpe said in happiness yet curiosity. I raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean by Pita smiling? He has been pleasant company once I came to town.".
A tsk escaped Kherpe's lips, "I am shocked that you haven't heard of it, but I suppose it makes sense since you're new and all. You see, Pita was married once upon a time, but that's the thing. You see, the woman Pita was in love with, she bedded lots of men in a boarding house back in the city, my, my, it was a shock to hear once that our dear deputy sheriff would marry a woman like that. I was especially devastated as I was to confess to Pita that I have harbored a crush on him, but alas, I was too late.
Then Pita found her in the backyard one day, a knife in her stomach, having committed suicide. Oh, Pita was upset and heartbroken. Over time, it got better and he buried himself into his work, yet I heard that he still visits his late wife's gravestone every night after work. So, I thought I must warn you about that, and I am concerned Pita would overreact if someone was replacing his wife. So, good luck, Helga Katrina.". She spoke longingly then she left the premises of the tables towards the market shops. Myself, I was confused yet horrified to know that Pita has gone through so much, yet having a wife who cheated on him.
I shook my head no, as I could find out about Pita's side of things as Kherpe unnerved me much. Gratefully and quickly, I hid my worries and thoughts as Pita returned with his food, a bowl for me to try as well. I will ask tonight.
-Later that night-
I enjoyed the market very well, yet my thoughts couldn't stop running about Pita's past, if anything Kherpe said was true. I unpacked a ton of new clothes Pita bought for me from the paper bag, putting them into the amazing laundry machine, and turning it on, hearing the comforting loud noise, and I headed down the hall into the living room, smiling as I saw my communal cup resting upon the table. I noticed Pita sitting in his usual chair.
I picked up my cup, the smell of coffee calming me down slightly yet I kept thinking. "You're brooding, Helga.". spoke Pita curiously. "Penny for your thoughts?".
I sighed lightly, "Someone approached me this morning at the market when you were getting the fried shrimp.".
"Who was it?". Pita asked. I replied, "Rosalind Kherpe.". Pita's face changed from a curious, calm look into a disgusted, angry look. "You shouldn't speak to her, not ever. She has been a stalker, and she is worse than you think. What did she tell you about me?".
I exhaled as I knew I had to obey his question. "She told me about your late wife, just the basics of how you knew her, and how you lost her.". Pita wrinkled his nose like he smelled something rank.
"She was in a bad situation, she didn't have any choice. She used to have a choice when her brother was alive, but she was in hell every day in that bullshit building, lost in a sea of people. I first saw her in a grocery store, hiding behind her clothes, yet I saw the signs, and when she locked eyes with me, I knew. She was in trouble and I had to do something. She didn't kill herself. I knew her too well, and she was murdered.". Pita looked pained yet angry-sad.
He held up a finger to say that I wait a minute, and I nodded, and he left, headed up the stairs, barely heard his footsteps as I waited. He came back down, holding a picture, and he looked reluctant yet thoughtful.
"Careful, Helga.". He said softly. I smiled gently as I received it from him, "No worries, Pita. You care for this picture endearingly.". I looked down to see a albino-skinned Caucasian woman of early 20s, with mocha brown hair, and sparkling sky blue eyes, in a lovely emerald green dress with a warm peach yellow wrap. She was smiling widely as like she's laughing in delight. Above her, I thought I saw lights, like fireworks.
"She looks lovely.". I complimented before I looked up to Pita who smiled bitter-sweetly. "That was the happiest day of her life next to being rescued from 'Hell'. Her name was Leana.". I smiled, "She must have been a fantastic woman.".
Pita chuckled, "Oh, she was.". I wonder if she would have liked me as well, if she was still alive.