CHAPTER 2 -Wet shirt and Misunderstandings

" Human emotions complicate things by protecting their pride and so-called kindness. They will never admit that they commit unfair things to others."

-Sia, Color Them Yellow

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to, you know who you are :) I didn't intend to update this fast but you encouraged me to do so. A big thanks :)

Enjoy guys!

CHAPTER 2- Wet shirt and Misunderstandings

Thank goodness I removed everything before my skin touches that pathetic woman's coffee.

If it is another situation, I definitely would not just run away without giving her some curses and punches. We are both women anyway! But hell no, it could have been worse if I didn't immediately leave the scene and put some ointment on the parts of my chest and feet. They are already swelling as I am just a few steps away from the drama.

Upon the touch of that liquid, I had no choice but to go to the nearest restroom. I just hide inside the cubicle while rummaging inside my backpack bag where you can find all kinds of a topical cream.

There had been few breakouts already. Luckily, it had not been too severe. Still, I had the dose of my antihistamine to assure my not-so-stable heart.

I gathered all my things as fast as I could. I prepared to go home as I wear my boots again. I so freaking miss the comfort of my bed during these devastating situations, especially dealing with people. This time, thankfully, I have a spare shirt inside my ever-handy bag. I wear it carefully as I am trying not to touch the swelling parts with ointment.

After a few hours after arriving home, it's dinner time. Most of my meals on today's menu is a vegetarian food pack. It is being delivered to my house every three days from the main house known as my parent's household.

Growing up, I have never been fond of vegetables. However, ever since I was diagnosed with this allergy to water, I also need to change my diet so that my body would not produce too much oil. So, my ever-hated carrots, bottle gourd, and mustard leaves had been part of my meal now and then.

As much I love carbs and sweets, with tightly closed eyes, I cut off most of it. I can't exercise that much because I might sweat heavily. Sweating, definitely, is a big no for me because it can mean a bit fatal to me, so here I am. I am enjoying my vegetarian dinner heated straight from the microwave.

'Luca, this lettuce tastes great, right?!'

I scoff as I told Luca that lie. I continue eating everything included in the food packs using my disposable utensils. Yes, you guess it right. As many dreaded washing dishes, I can always refuse to do so by simply saying,

'Hey, I can't touch water, you know?!' Well, you are quite envious of me right now, huh?'

(A/N: Shout out to those who are always the family's human dishwasher. Lol.)

After dinner, I went to the bedroom. Because of that allergy attack earlier today, even though it is not that severe as those previous ones before, I still can't help but be quite sad about my situation.

I got reach out for the picture frame on the bedside table; they are smiling at me. Those four faces of happy people on that frame are too unreal.

It is as if it never happened in any reality I have in my life. My mom, dad, and older brother are looking at me right now. Also, there is this long-haired kid who is sitting on the lap of my dearest mother. She is a kid that has a smile that can make all the problems of the world disappear.

The girl in the photo is the nine-year-old me. She is far opposite to the current reflection of the 20-year old version of herself. My grown-up self doesn't contain any sparkle in the eyes anymore nor the hint of vibrant I once had during my younger years.

Third Person POV

The woman in the mirror, Sia, is having that same gloomy eyes she had been bearing a few years back. It is the kind of eyes that is strong and slightly mischievous on the outside. It is the type that when you look at it closely, it is about to cry anytime on the inside but still fighting to portray a fighter.

Her hair is a bit longer now than the few month's chin-length rounded bob cut. She needed a haircut. She can't have the same long hair the girl on the portrait has. She will not be able to manage because of her condition.

At first, Sia still manages to have long hair the first time she had discovered that she was already allergic to water five years ago. However, as her symptoms become severe after one year of knowing her condition, she decided to cut her short and cut her interaction with other people and even with her family.

Sia can still recall how she decided to cut off herself from all those dramas brought by her father’s relatives and all.

Everyone is claiming that they are doing what they have done because they care for me. However, why am I the only one that had been bruised, hurt and left alone at the end?

Human emotions just complicate things by protecting their pride and so-called kindness. They will never admit that they commit unfair things to others.

While hugging the photo on top of her chest, she fell asleep with those thoughts in tow.

SIA's POV

I have been hiding inside my room for a few days now after that incident in the grocery. I just ordered online the things I needed, and in the first place, it is the right thing to do instead of attempting to go to the store by myself.

After days of recovery, to refresh my mind and to forget that another attack, I decided to do some sketches. Thankfully it's Sunday. It is my schedule to take a bath. Mind you. I only limit myself to taking a bath with cold water within five minutes twice a week.

After finishing the song 'Sorry' by the Korean band 'The Rose,' I too had finished my quick bath. I had my meds before this, and I quickly dried myself to lower down the swelling all over my body. I need to wait at least 30 minutes to make the swelling go away.

I could take a bath every day but the meds I am taking every time I need to have contact with water are quite dangerous. That after-effect made that 5-minute bath feels like a little heaven and hell.

Nonetheless, after the swelling subsided, I went to my closet and just randomly pull a lightweight white shirt that can keep my body free of sweat. I get my black leggings and it is also made of cotton to keep my body cool while I still feel comfortable.

I get ready with my sketchpad and bright yellow pencil case. I am ready to go while I have my ducky backpack bag in tow.

Third Person POV

It is a bright sunny day with the wind is cool which is perfect weather for Sia to go on her sketching escapade. Her apartment is just a few-minute walk from the park where she is heading right now.

She went to her favorite place in the park. It is under a huge tree near the man-made lake. She puts down her things and pulled out a medium-sized yellow blanket (of course with little duck heads as the design) and spread it down on the grass for her to sit on.

The battery/solar-operated fan that she brought today had been placed in front of her. She can't sweat no matter what. First, because she doesn't want to have swelling skin today, and second because she is really in the mood to draw today.

She sat down quietly, put on her Bluetooth in-pods with her favorite music on then started her sketching time.

Whenever Sia decided to have her time devoted to her arts, she would be deeply immersed with it that she can't see or hear other than her pad and charcoal pencil. After a few minutes of sketching, a couple of kids are running in her direction. Their noises are indeed ruining her concentration.

As she lifted her eyes to take a look at the unsightly children, something has caught her eyes immediately.

There is this man full of sweat. Maybe, he had been sweating after running for a long time. With his fitted white shirt on, the sun rays helped a lot to make his stature glisten a lot. Sia can't help but glue her eyes towards him.

When she is still in her daydream and about to reach out as if he is just within her reach, the man suddenly grabs his bottled water and drink it earnestly. The man poured down the remaining water into his hair. The water flows from his head down to his shirt. The pitiful shirt is now slightly drenched.

Sia continues to stare without blinking. She is very much immersed in the scene that she didn't notice that the man is now also staring at her with a very cold intensity.

With that, she felt her spine shivered that woke her up from her fantasy.

'Hey?! Enjoying the view?'

The man shouted while still staring at her deeply.

As if drenched in a bucket of cold water, Sia sprang up, and her face turned red out of embarrassment and anger at the same time.

She marched toward the man with her face still red while clenching both of her fists tightly.

'What did that arrogant man said just now?! You do not know who you are dealing with!'

Sia told herself.

SIA's POV

'What did you just say?! How dare you?'

Sia shouted as loud as she could.

'You are not even handsome at all. Why would I enjoy how you look?!'

Even anger is still emitting from Sia's body. The man just looked at her coldly gave off a scoff while lifting the corner of his mouth as if mocking Sia's well-being.

'Did I ever say that you enjoy my looks? I said, do you enjoy the view cause I have seen you are holding a sketch pad.'

The man with beaming looks said in a flat tone using his deep manly voice. It could have been music to Sia's ears but the tone is mocking her big time.

She attempted to open her mouth to say something but she just chose to close it.

'But you seem to be so immersed staring at me. Maybe you are indeed enjoying a different view?'

Finally, the man said that while showing a smirk that most women will find cute. However, with my anger right now, it looks like a devil's smile hidden behind that handsome face.

'No!'

Sia abruptly said in a very high tone that made the man give an amused look as if the woman in front of him turned into a mermaid in that instant.

'No? So, what are you looking at?' The man imposes.

'Yes, I am looking at.... y..o..u...'

The woman in question had said her last word in a slow and fading tone when she realized the meaning of her statement.

She just turned her head down and cursed herself in her head.

'Alicia! Are you that insane?! How can you confess like that? But wait, what will I say?'

'The truth...' another voice in her head whispered to her.

'What are you saying?'

'Can I outrightly say that I am actually admiring how he sweats a lot without suffering from hives and pain?'

'Can I really shout to his face how I dreamed for so long to drench myself with water like that after a long run?!'

Sia reprimands the voice inside her head.

'Hey, miss? I'm quite busy. You can continue daydreaming. I will be off then.'

The man said as he strode away while shaking his head because of amusement at the woman he just met.

When Sia regained her wits, the man had already run off and she can no longer scold the narcissistic man.

'Hey! Come back here! I didn't intend to... look... at...'

Her voice trailed off as she cannot find the courage to refute the man's accusation. She is indeed looking at him but the reason is far different than what the man misunderstood!

'Ahhhhh! Annoying show-off man!'

A/N: Yey! Finally, a man appeared (for those looking for some romance like me haha).

P.S. this is a 1,700-word read (lol), the longest chap so far. I feel so accomplished right now. I hope you liked it. Thank you sooo big!

Thank you for reaching this far. If you enjoyed the chapter please do vote or comment for any reactions and suggestions! :0