ROOMMATE 2

"You don't have to." Ms. Harley waved her hand and pushed Kaye out of the kitchen, "I'm almost done here. Just stay in the living room and turn on the aircon so you won't feel hot." she went back into cutting the spinach and radish for the last step of her dish.

Kaye went to the living room since Ms. Harley didn't want her in the kitchen. She paused for a second upon seeing the man sitting straight with his poker face. 'What a looker.' she thought and went straight to the aircon. She looked around the place and found two suitcases in a corner.

"How long have you been here?" Ivan asked when Kaye took a seat on the farthest couch from him. Kaye was startled for a bit when she heard his inquiry and took time in answering.

"I've been here for four years now." she answered him directly and ended the conversation. Ivan didn't talk for a while but was staring at her, devoid of emotion.

'Four years? I got into accident two years ago but why didn't I know her during the two years that I wasn't blind?' he talked to himself thinking why he doesn't know someone this close to his Auntie.

Kaye looked at him boldly not hiding the fact that she was studying him. 'He can't see anyway.' she thought and continued staring at him "He's got beautiful dark eyes, too bad it can't see. Red lips. Strong jaw line. Aqualine nose. Raised eyebrows. Huh? Why is he raising his brows?'

"Are you done?" Ivan smirked while his brows still raised.

"Done what?" she asked back not understanding what he meant.

"Done studying me. You've been staring at me for a while now." he said with a smile now. A genuine smile after he caught her red-handed.

"Uhh...I'm sorry. I just..." she was stuttering again. She massaged her temple not knowing what to say. "Are you really blind?" Kaye blurted out to him. She didn't really want to ask him this question but she can't tell him she was studying his face, right?

"What do you think?" Ivan asked her back as he put his hands behind his head and leaned back on the couch. He crossed her leg and looked at her. His current posture exuded a different vibe. Something like "ask-me-anything-I-don't-mind" aura.

"I'm really sorry for asking something so insensitive. It's just that, you don't look like your blind." 'Oh my gosh. I hope I didn't flip any switch with my thoughtless question.' prayed Kaye internally.

"Yes, I'm blind. Overtime, blindness enhanced my other senses. That is why I still know what's going on around me." answered Ivan without blinking. He waited for Kaye to say something but she just made an 'Oh' sound. He didn't hate her asking him those questions, in fact it made him happy that she was curious about him. "Don't worry, you can ask me anything. I'm used to people asking me questions." he reassured her when she was still silent.

"Is there a chance that you can see again?" she felt really bad when his beautiful eyes can't see anything. Her voice was low almost like a whisper, but Ivan was still able to hear it. He smiled internally hearing the sound of her worried voice. "Hn. There is a chance. But I don't want to."

Kaye didn't know what else to say so she kept her mouth shut. When she heard footsteps from the kitchen, she saw Ms. Harley standing with her hands crossed on her chest.

"Aiiyyoo. What are you two talking about?The atmosphere is very gloomy. How will you guys survive the next days, weeks, months and years?" she yelled at them jokingly while grabbing Kaye and Ivan to stand.

"We'll get along well, Auntie." said Ivan with a smile plastered on his face. 'Who's getting along with you?' Kaye argued internally to his statement. Outwardly, she rolled her eyes which made Ms. Harley laughed so hard.

"I really want to see how will your life set sail." she rubbed her eyes as tears started to form from laughing. "Anyway, let's eat first so we can talk formally and make some arrangements. You can sleep after." she patted Kaye's shoulder and walked ahead of them to the kitchen.

"Careful, at your two o' clock there is a bookshelf." Kaye said to warn Ivan of his surroundings. He was walking slowly to make sure he won't break anything. Ms. Harley smiled looking at the two interact with each other. "Five steps ahead from where you're standing, you will reach your chair." Kaye took her seat while giving instruction to Ivan. When all of them were seated, Ms. Harley clapped her hands in excitement.

"I've done the best decision in my life. I knew it. You can really do it Kaye and Ivan will have a normal life around you." Ms. Harley was so happy she couldn't stop talking. "Kaye, you wanted a roommate to save money and someone who wouldn't invade your privacy. Ivan wanted to find a place where he could stay and live life normally. So, I decided that you guys live under the same roof." she then leaned and whispered to Kaye's ear, "Virginity guaranteed. He can't do anything to you." Kaye was so embarrassed after hearing the statement that she was like a ripe tomato. "What do you guys think?" she wiggled her eyebrows at them as if she just gave them the best thing in life.

"I've got no problem with that, but you have to decide on this matter, Kaye." he turned to her even though he didn't see anything. Kaye was still embarrassed and her face felt so hot.

"I'm...I'm fine with it. We'll be in different bedrooms anyway and I have a work so we won't see each other often." she decided to accept it given the fact that he can't see any part of her.

"Thank you. Don't worry I won't bother you and I won't poke my nose on your matter. Just leave me be."

"Hn." she nod at him and smiled.

"Now, let's dig in since we've settle the matter already. I cooked your favorite Sour Pork soup and Ivan's favorite sweet and sour fish." Ms. Harley was very accommodating to them. It has always been like this since the time they met.

Kaye was looking for the apartment that her friend told her. She asked around already and she can't seem to find it. It was really her bad luck that she asked the wrong person.The first person she asked where the apartment complex was a mentally disturbed guy. He looked decent but when people saw her talking to him, they were bewildered. She only found out when someone approached her.

"Are you the new nurse of that man?" Kaye showed a look of confusion to the person talking to her.

"Nurse?"

"Oh you're not? We saw you talking to him, so we thought you are the new nurse. He's got something on his head, you know what I mean?" the person talking to her showed a gesture of someone crazy with a finger pointing on his head.

"I was actually asking him for a direction and I think he gave me the wrong one" she said.

"Which place are you looking for?" the man asked him. Kaye took her phone and read the address again. "I'm not familiar with that place." the man looked around trying to get someone who's familiar with the area. When Kaye was about to call her friend, a smiling lady approached her.

"Do you need anything?" Kaye asked the woman who was standing two steps away from her.

"You need help, not me. I know the place you want to go." the woman looked at her and she looked back.

"You know where this apartment complex is?" she was so elated she couldn't stop her smile. "Thanks god. Where can I find this?" 

"Follow me." the woman said and walked toward a parking area. She opened one of the cars and placed the things she bought. " The place you were looking for had changed. It's no longer the same so many people don't know about it." the lady gestured her to get into the car. After Kaye fastened her seatbelt the woman drove her to the place she was looking for.

The apartment complex encompassed a large area. There was a basketball court, a cafe, a pool, and a karaoke area. A place for recreation. It was a lovely place. "I'll help you see the owner of the place." she heard the lady told her so she followed her to the elevator. She carried some of the grocery bags for the lady.

When they reached the twelfth floor of the building, they went inside to the lady's apartment room. They put her things down and she sat on the sofa while waiting for her to finish arranging her groceries.

The lady washed her hands and wiped it with a clean towel as she walked toward her. "My name is Louise Harley, the owner of this complex. Nice to meet you." she extended her hand to a wide-eyed Kaye in front of her. Kaye reached her hand give it a slow shake.

"I'm Kaye Jimenez. Thank you for your guidance and please to meet you." she couldn't thank her enough for saving her day. Who would've thought that she would bump into the owner.

"Let's talk at the kitchen. I'll make lunch for us. Do you like Sour Pork soup?" Kaye was stunned when she heard her question.

"It's my favorite." was her simple answer that started their companionship.