Forbidden IV

Eric missed his 7:30am bus. He didn't have a clue how that would change his life. He had to take the 8:00am bus to work. It was not the best situation he would want to get himself into; late for his court hearing and his client has been ringing his phone like crazy. The judge isn't going to like his late for bus excuse as well. There was nothing he could do anyway.

Aboard the bus, he was reading a ton of papers stuffed in his suit case when the a man approached him. "That would be twenty mister." He then realized that he didn't have any stash with him. He left his wallet. Not a single cent with him. He only had his credit card with him. Of course, no bus would be willing enough to accept a swipe.
"I think I left my wallet." He didn't have any other words to say as the man looked at him blankly.
"We've heard that excuse a number of times already mister. It's either you pay up or off the bus."

"I'll pay for him.", the woman in front of his seat suddenly declared.
"Excuse me?", Eric asked. "You really don't have to", he added.
"I'll pay. I don't want any ruckus happening. And I wouldn't want to be late for work if they have to stop to kick you off."

The man made no objection and got the twenty from her. Eric, stumped, moved right beside the woman as the man continued his collection with the other passengers.
"I'll pay you back."
"Let me see. Twenty? I think I have enough for me to not to starve. I think I can manage.", the woman said as she continued going through her magazine.

Eric immediately noticed how beautiful and attractive the woman was. Her legs were crossed in a pencil skirt, showing her as white as snow legs. He really didn't have anything else to say. He remained quiet in the last fifteen minutes of the ride. Finally, the bus reached its destination.

"Is this your daily bus?", Eric inquired. "If you take this same bus tomorrow, you will know."





Eric took the 8:00am bus the next day, not a good idea for him as he will be again be bombarded with questions and demands for explanation from his client and the judge, not to mention the firm he works for. For some reason, he thought that paying the little money he owed is more important than his job. And he wasn't disappointed. The same girl who saved him the previous day was there. Seated in the same place. He sat beside her.

"I guess I now have an answer to my question yesterday."

The woman just smiled as she turned her attention from her magazine she held in her hands to him. Eric reached for his wallet.
"Here you go. Thank you.", as Eric handed her the twenty.
"Is that your daughter?", she asked. Eric gave a puzzled look.
"I'm sorry. I just saw a picture of a lovely girl in your wallet."
"Oh, her?", as he realized that she was talking about the kid in his wallet. "She is actually my niece. I'm taking care of her since her father passed away.", he declared.

"That is sweet.", a lovely light suddenly brightened up her face as she said those words.
"You have a kid of your own?", Eric thought of throwing a question as he thought it was the polite thing to do.
"In fact I do." She reached for wallet in her purse and showed him the picture of a little girl closely resembling the woman's angelic face. No doubt it was her daughter.

"She is lovely. I think I know where she got it from. My name is Eric"
She answered with a shy smile. She extended her hand to him. "April."