BLOOMING FLOWER

"Hey Miss Pretty Kaye? Kaaaaayyyeee!" Jestoni was talking to Kaye about some information that they need to discuss half an hour later but suddenly, Kaye smiled and sat in a daze.

"Yes? Is there a problem?" she innocently asked him with her big brown eyes.

"Yes. We have a very big problem." Jestoni exaggerated with his hands wide open indicating herself, but Kaye was oblivious to it.

"What's the matter Jess?" she still inquired while putting away her stuff and giving him her full attention.

"The problem is, our supervisor is in love with someone and was sitting in a daze earlier for almost half an hour!" he was so exasperated and wanted to strangle her.

"Your supervisor? Isn't that me?" she questioned while pointing her finger at her.

"Yes. It's you." he confirmed without batting an eyelid.

"Jess, stop speaking nonsense. I'm not in love." she rolled her eyes and continued checking her files, but when she saw her MS Office spreadsheet, she was horrified. Two columns and four rows contained Ivan's name.

"See? Who's this Ivan?" Jestoni was observing her earlier so there couldn't be mistake. "A woman typing a guy's name with a smile on her lips and heart in her eyes. Tell me, aren't these signs of being in love?"

"This. Let me explain." she massaged her temples not knowing what to say.

"Go on. I'm listening. Your secrets are safe with me." Jestoni crossed his arms and sat on a vacant chair in front of her table.

Kaye took a long breath and exhaled slowly, calming herself before she spoke again. "Ivan, he's someone I like. I'm not sure if I'm in love or not since this is my first encounter of this emotion and he is blind which makes me like him."

"Wait. You like him because he is blind?" he couldn't help but ask her his confusion.

"Yes. I'm glad he couldn't see me so I treasured our friendship or whatever we have now."

"Darling Kaye, what if he would gain his sight in the future?" he asked her the question that Kaye has been avoiding to ask herself.

"I haven't thought of that. If he could see again, then maybe my feelings would change? I don't know." she was afraid but she could only let him go if that happens. People who've seen her true form never stayed. Though they keep it a secret for her which she was grateful for, but she could still see their disgust and horrified expression in their eyes. That is why she liked Ivan because he's blind.

"Miss Kaye, please guard your heart well. I've been to relationships, if any thing bothers you, you can ask me. I can still give you an advise or two. I hope this Ivan would stay." Jestoni was very sincere with his wishes because it was his first time seeing her genuinely happy outside the premise of family, orphanage and work.

"I hope so. Anyway, let's start our work." she informed him and so Jess went outside to get the trainees.

Ivan was cleaning the apartment room, excluding Kaye's room since it's a private area, when his Auntie came knocking on their door.

"Hi Auntie. Come in." he opened the door wider and let her inside. "Please excuse me for not being a good host. I'm still cleaning." he took the vacuum and continued cleaning.

"You're the one cleaning now? Before, Kaye would call her family to send a cleaner for her, she's always busy." Ms. Harley went to help her nephew clean the table.

"She mentioned that to me as well. These past few dah, we were really busy so she wasn't able to clean and since I'm free, I decided to do it myself." he picked up her sandals and placed them on the rack.

"That'a good. You can divide work and help each other. How's your work by the way? I heard you met Alex in the Villa." Ms. Harley asked as she arranged the place mats according to their sizes.

"The first one is done. We are currently testing another one for a corporate empire. Hopefully, it would be a success just like how other things were." he stopped for a while to wipe away his sweat before continuing.

"That's good to know. I'm glad you're doing fine." she paused and looked around. "If you would like to do the laundry, you can do it at my place." she suggested before taking a seat on one of the stool.

"Hn. I will have to later. I need to wash the bedsheets and blanket." he was done cleaning the area and was currently returning the cleaning materials when his phone rang. That ringtone indicated a voicemail from his sister. He just gave it a glance before he continued stuffing the things back to the storeroom.

"I just came to check on you. Since, you're doing fine I'll go back to my room. It's rare for me to get a day off. Just ring my doorbell if you want to wash your laundry." she stood up and walked herself out.

"Thank you, Auntie." was all he said before he picked up his phone and listen to his sister's nonsense blabber.

Around ten in the morning, Kaye came home with a big smile on her face. She was skipping happily and was humming when she opened their apartment. Ivan heard her movements and went out greeting her.

"Good morning. You sound happy today." he commented while leaning on his door, his hands on his pocket.

"Am I? Well, just a little happy." she said not bothered and continued removing her shoes and coat.

"That's good. By the way, I cleaned the room today except your room." he was about to reason her out but her next words stunned him.

"Why didn't you include my room?" she frowned as if cleaning her room should be the most natural thing to do.

"Ahh...that...I didn't have a key to your room. I also thought you might not want anyone to enter your room." he was scratching her face awkwardly for the sudden turn of events.

"Then I'll give you a spare key. Here." she gave it to him without second thought. "If it's cleaning, that is fine. Thank you for your hard work."

"I'll be doing the laundry at Auntie's place. Can you...Can you change the bedsheets and blanket?" 'Why do I feel that we're progressing too fast?' he asked himself mentally but his face didn't show any sign to give him away.

"Okay. I'll go change it in a while just give me a few minutes." then she hurries to her room and closed her door.