FIRST NIGHT TOGETHER II

Kaye brought out the painting she bought and a red marker from her drawer. "Didn't I tell you I'll dirty your hand?" she recalled for him while placing the painting carefully on the table, the back facing outwards. "Give me your hands."

Ivan did as he was told without knowing what exactly she wanted to do. He stretched his right hand forward, Kaye took it halfway. "You're leaving our thumb marks on the painting?" he asked her when he felt the cold tip of the marker coursing on his right thumb.

"Uh huh. Would you like to get a picture of it? You know, you can look at it once you gain your sight back." she pressed his thumb on the back of the painting and wrote his name as she answered him. She did the same thing to herself.

"Can you take a photo for me?" he gave her his phone to take pictures. Without further ado, Kaye took it and capture photos of the back and front, so he could see what the painting looks like in the future.

After taking the pictures, she returned the phone back to him, went back to her room and hang the painting right above her headboard. Kaye stared at the painting for a while before coming out again.

There were still few minutes before the show will start. She sat down on her space and fiddled with the remote. "If you get bored, you can sleep first. I don't mind staying alone here." she said out of nowhere that made Ivan looked at her and she looked back as well.

"I'll leave if I wouldn't like it." he told her but he didn't have the slightest bit of intention on leaving her.

Kaye didn't say anything. It was like a normal thing to watch a movie together at night with just the both of them inside the room. She was happy, smiling like a fool to herself right in front of the television.

Ivan, on the other side, was listening to her movements and to the inhale-exhale of her breathing. Again, he was grateful that his hearing has been enhanced for a long period due to his blindness. He leaned his head on the couch and closed his eyes, trying to feel the atmosphere around them.

"I really want to see you." Ivan muttered to himself but it didn't escape from Kaye who was sitting right beside him.

Kaye looked at him with a sad face but her voice didn't betray how she feels. "If you want to see her, have a surgery and find her. Nothing will happen if you won't do anything."

"What I mean is I want to see you." he clarified it to her to avoid misunderstanding, but to Kaye it caused panic and fear.

"Why do you want to see me?" her question came out nonchalant, but her heart was stuck in her throat, wanted to come out.

Ivan didn't open his eyes or turned to look at her. His fist, hidden beside him has blue veins bulging out. "I...I just want to see how my roommate looked like."

Kaye laughed faintly as she thought boys are the same, looks matter to them. "You don't have to be curious about me. I'll tell you, I'm shorter than you, just up to your shoulder. I have a long black hair, just down to my waist. I have a dark brown skin and brown eyes. I've got scars on my left face and a scar on my legs. I look hideous without make up." she described herself to him, patching up lies here and there.

Ivan knew she was lying through her teeth. She wouldn't wear short skirts if there was a scar on her legs. She didn't have scar on her face as well. What he remembered about her, she has pinkish-white skin. However, he didn't expose her lies.

"Still I wanted to see you. It is still different if I could see you myself. Don't you think so?" Ivan found it mysterious why she didn't want to have a roommate and only accepted him because he was blind. That was something that bothered him for a long time.

"Right." was Kaye's only word before giving her attention back to the show. They sunk in silence, with only the television making noise, but it was comfortable.

It didn't take long, after their conversation, the movie started and Kaye's attention was solely on the show.

It's not that she forgot he was there, it was because he was there that she didn't mind him. It's not everyday you could watch a movie with someone you like. 'I feel like I've watched a movie with him before.' Kaye thought and gave Ivan a look who was just listening to the show, munching on the chips she prepared earlier.

"What is it?" Ivan asked her when he felt her staring at him.

Kaye blinked twice and returned her attention to the show, embarrassed for being caught. "I felt nostalgic. It's funny that I thought I've watched a movie with you before when we've known each other not so long ago." she admitted to him that made Ivan looked at her. His face showed a surprise expression but his eyes were blank.

'We had.' he answered her mentally. He wanted to say the words but he's afraid she would start doubting him and would avoid him again.

"I like you." Ivan whispered so she couldn't hear him since the show was on going. It just so happen that when he uttered those words, the show turned silent for some prelude and Kaye heard his words clearly. It was so clear that she's having goosebumps all over.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kaye exclaimed, her tone demanding for an answer or explanation. Her heart was beating faster that it hurts her chest. Her palms were sweating.

Ivan sensed her horrified expression, the anxiety in her voice. He didn't really know that the movie would enter a prelude of silence. It was sudden, but he can't take back his words. He took a deep breath and turned to her. "I...I like you. I like you for your honesty. I like you for taking care of me. I like you for not judging me. I like you for being kind to those less fortunate cause not all my friends are like that. I'm glad to make friends with you."

'I really like you and I don't want us to be just friends.' he added but he couldn't utter them.