ROSES

7:00 AM

The sound of the phone ringing woke Yago up. It was only then that he realized that he has fallen asleep on the couch. He was so eager to complete the files that Roy required that he forced himself to stay awake til very late. However, he was only able to finish before four o'clock in the early morning, and he was too tired by then. He decided it's better to just stay at the study room and take a nap at the couch first.

Yago got up and reached for her phone that was sitting on the desk, but by that time, the ringing already stopped. The caller ID showed that it was Carl calling. Did he call to ask him about Arianna? They were able to suppress the rumors about her, but being unable to get in touch with their daughter, surely, they will start to suspect something wasn't right. Should he tell them?

Yago put down the phone and sat on the chair. He then turned on the computer and checked if there's any new e-mail from Roy Vander. He already fulfilled one part of the deal by collecting and sending him the files he needed. He wondered if he'll keep his promise.

Sure enough, Roy Vander kept his word. He received an e-mail and Yago was stunned by the contents. There wasn't any message. Sitting there was just a photo without any caption whatsoever. In the photograph, a woman was lying on a reclining bed. Her head was propped up with cushions and her long wavy hair rested on the white pillows. Her facial expression tells how frail she was at the moment. She was wearing a cold expression but helplessness can be seen through her languid eyes. How is she? Is she doing fine?

Yago dialled Roy's phone number but he rejected his call. He wanted to know more about Arianna's condition but it seemed like Roy Vander wouldn't tell him anything else. Although seeing a photo of Arianna alive and well, recuperating in a luxurious room made him happy, he was still worried about her condition. And he missed her so much. Even just her voice, he wanted to hear so much!

While Yago was contemplating about what to do next, his phone suddenly beeped. It was a message ringtone. Yago thought it was Carl but when he opened it, the message turned out to be from Roy Vander. "Not convenient to talk right now. Still busy with my wife. I'll call you later." was written on the mail. Yago frowned at the message. He didn't know Roy had a wife!

***

Jenny pushed the door open and entered the room quietly. She was about to announce her presence when her gaze swept over the woman sitting on the bed and those sad, vacant eyes made her froze. Such a beautiful woman has to lose her eyesight. She just sat there like a statue, seemingly lost in thought. Who knows how long she's been stock-still like that?

"Why aren't you coming in?" All of a sudden, Arianna turned her way. Jenny was instantly startled. How did she know she was standing there?

"I heard your footsteps." she added.

Jenny was amazed. She thought to herself, can blind people read mind? And then she laughed at her own crazy ideas.

"No. Blind people can't read minds. I'm just extra-sensitive." Arianna uttered. "Please come in."

The nurse was so surprised that she couldn't move. She just proved her ability to read mind, didn't she?

Arianna smiled. "You're so interesting." she commented. "Stop staring at me. I'm just blind. I don't have that kind of superpower."

Even before Jenny entered the room, she already heard her footsteps approaching. Only two people has been to her room, and the nurse visited her frequently so she has gotten used to the sound of her footsteps. She heard it when the door opened, and also when she halted her steps. She just wasn't sure why she stopped.

After a while of silence, Arianna heard her sigh. Then she sensed her approaching her bed. There was some rustling sound as she felt something landed on her lap. Carefully, she reached for it and studied it with her fingers.

"Thanks." she said after she recognized the present. She held it in her arms and touched it once more.

"Master Dylan sent them." she replied.

"Oh! Please thank him for me. I like roses." she stated.

Jenny frowned at once. She guessed it again, she thought as she stared at the bouquet of roses in her arms.

Arianna chuckled at the nurse's silence. "Silly. It's very obvious. Won't you know what a rose bulb feels like when you touch one?"

Jenny nodded. She's right. Roses are unique. It should be easy to tell.

"How are you now?" she asked.

"I'm bored. Talk to me for a while. You can talk to me about anything." She knew that the woman has been feeling uncomfortable around her. Arianna actually didn't like the feeling of being pitied. It was annoying.

"Alright. Then let's play a guessing game!" she said. "Though I don't know if it's alright because....."

Arianna chuckled and then shook her head. "No, you're not being insensitive. It's alright. You can ask away."

Jenny widened her eyes as Arianna finished her sentence. The young woman really makes her curious. She's so strange. She has never met someone like her before. Is she really blind? When Jenny saw Arianna smile after that question popped up her mind, she suddenly shivered a little.

"Kay.... so... you already know you're holding a bunch of roses. Now... try to guess what their color is." Jane pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat there as she waited for her answer. Arianna tilted her head and then touched a rose bud.

"Are they pink?" Arianna said.

Jenny gasped. Was it just a coincidence? She's actually right!

"Then, what kind of rose do you think it is?"

"The climbing rose type. It should be.... generous gardener rose, yes?"

Jenny's eyes widened. "You're a clairvoyant! That's amizing!"

Arianna laughed at her reaction. "Of course not. Have you ever been to the Green Valley country club? They have lots of different flowers there, specially roses! Look at this..." she explained pointing at a stem. "This is thornless and it smells a bit like vanilla. You still think I'm amazing?" she teased.

Jenny sighed. So that's why. She wasn't superpowerful. She was just intelligent. But that's something commendable, too.

"Yeah. You're amazing. You can smile like this even though you're going through such a crisis." she remarked.

"It doesn't matter how I'm doing right now. I've just woken up and the thing I must focus on right now is how to regain my strength. I'll start bawling my eyes out when I have the ability to leave this place." Arianna answered.

Jenny didn't know what she meant. She couldn't understand how the brain of strange people like her work. Yesterday, when the doctor came to check up on her, she calmly talked to him and asked him about her condition. There wasn't any sign of hopelessness in her eyes even after the doctor told her gaining her vision back was next to impossible. Was she being in denial? Or was it plain courage that has kept her going?

"Jenny, thank you for your assistance. I'm living a carefree life because you're here for me." Arianna uttered.

"It's my job." she replied. "So, shall we continue?" The nurse paused for a while then looked at her eyes. "How old do you think am I?"

Arianna thought for a while. "Twenty five?" she guessed.

"No. I'm thirty six." the nurse revealed.

"Oh!", she exclaimed. "Why are you still single?"

Again, Jenny frowned. "How did you know I'm single?"

Arianna chuckled. The woman was very amusing. She's very simple minded that playing with her was too easy. With her here to keep her company, she can kill time while waiting for her wounds to heal. There are so much things she wanted to do but she doesn't have the ability to execute them yet.

"Say, Jenny.... Do yoi know if I was wearing any jewelry when I was found?" Arianna asked all of a sudden.

"All of your belongings are kept in another room. I'll bring them to you later." she answered.

Arianna nodded. She wondered what will happen to her in the future. A blind woman like her, how can her life be the same? She's not suited to Yago anymore. She will only be a hindrance... a burden....