Above Cloud Nine — Chapter 38: ANDREI OR ME

"Andrei!" Kamilla exclaimed happily. It's as if she couldn't believe what she saw. It's been more than a month since they last dated.

Karen pulled her inside the room and shut the door. The room is a bit private that's why the three of them enjoyed their company together.

"Cous, long time, no see." Karen nudged his shoulders. Andrei's cheek flustered right away because Karen teased her in front of Kamilla. He just scratched his head as he shyly gave her the bunch of flowers.

"Thank you,"

"I missed you so much." He sat on the chair beside her bed as he held her hands.

"I..." She hesistated saying the next words because Karen's giggle resounded the whole room.

She cleared her throat after Kamilla frowned at her for trying to ruin their 'sweet moments'.

"Guys, it's just me, okay? Calm down. Just imagine that I am not here in this room, alright?" She said as she continued giggling nonstop. Andrei couldn't help but chuckle because of his cousin's being silly.

"How are you?"

"I've been feeling great."

"Well, she's frowning and she's always in a bad mood, but that's before you came."

"Karen..." She mentioned her name with a hint of warning.

"What? I am just saying the truth."

"I am willing to be present here just to lighten your mood."

"Gosh, for the record, you're being the best cousin so far."

"Yeah. I mean it. I want you to get a speedy recovery so that we can go back to our dates." Andrei was a bit surprised when Kamilla hugged him tight.

"Thank you so much!" She could hear her best friend cheering from behind them. Kamilla thought that from this day forward, she will be the happiest. Having this new life, and most probably the new love of her life if ever.

"My cousin missed you so much. He's been asking me for countless times if how are you doing now."

"I am trying to get a lot of rest for me to recover very fast. I want to get well soon so that I could get out from this hospital. I am sick and tired of looking at the white background and four corners of the room."

"I will be here to support you, Kamilla." Karen cheered when she noticed the bouquet of flowers he just gave her.

However, everything that happened between the three of them were kept in secret from Elizabeth Rose. This is the only request of Kamilla since she felt that Andrei is the only man she has for herself. For her, Andrei is the only person whom she can call her own.

----

Days turn to weeks and weeks turned to months. Kamilla and Elizabeth Rose talked and restored their friendship. This time, they were even closer because Kamilla decided to take the course that Elizabeth Rose wanted to take. The family even requested that they will be in the same class so that Kamilla could help Elizabeth Rose in everything.

"Mom, we will be in the same class with Elizabeth Rose."

"Make sure you will take care of your sister. Be responsible and make her happy always." She replied coldly.

That's always the scenario if ever they were alone together.

"Don't you dare tell them about this or you will regret it, Kamilla."

"Y-Yes, mom." She looked down as she avoided her gaze to her. At that moment, she tried to stop her tears but her mother didn't care about what she felt. She only looked at her and said nothing. Her tears are not worth to be noticed by her mom. She knew that her mom only loved her turned father Bernard and Elizabeth Rose. She happened to be her half-sister. What an irony.

She glanced at the window in their living room. She could see Rose waving her hand as she smiled at her. She didn't face in her direction, instead, she's waving to where their entrance door was located.

Bernard, their father guided her hand to wave in front to where she is standing right now. She saw her mom stood near her, pinched the back of her arm secretly. It's as if she wanted Kamilla to wave at them also.

"Bring the packed lunch to Elizabeth and Bernard."

"M-Mom..."

"Don't you ever dare to call them your sister and father whenever they're not around."

"W-Why mom? Can't I tell them about that since they already treated me as family?" Kamilla tried to reason out and her mom chuckled mockingly in front of her.

"Wow. Don't you ever dare to do that. Remember, they only treated you as family because I already have you."

"Mom?" Kamilla can't stop her tears from falling. She can't believe that her mom could able to tell her about this one right in front of her face.

"Just follow what I am telling you so that you may live longer with us, in one roof. If only I have a choice, I will choose Elizabeth Rose over you. I will always do it." She said while pointing at her fingers to her forehead.

"Remember what I told you. Never ever dare forget about it or else you will regret everything."

Kamilla nodded as her heart pounded fast and hard. So, it was all a show? She was disappointed how her mother treats her whenever her daddy Bernard and Elizabeth Rose is not around.

She never plan to change her treatment to Elizabeth Rose as well. She would prefer to wear a mask whenever they're around. She's even difficult to be with her sister now that they're living on the same roof this time. Kamilla could feel that she owed her sister big time. For the eyes she has given her, for a new-found loving father whom he treated her as her own as well. She took a deep breath as she held her sister's hand while there were sitting close to each other inside the car.

Bernard, their father who is driving their car said nothing. For the first time, Bernard were quieter than the usual. I tried looking at Rose and she is smiling meekly as if she has no problem at all.

"Dad? Do you have any music there? Can you play my favorite song, please?" As usual, her sweet voice touched both our hearts. I gripped her hand tightly that she also did the same.

"Are you okay?" She asked in a worried tone. Wow, she was the one who managed to ask me about it when I was the one who supposed to be asking that to her. I have a clear vision right now but I feel like having a blurred life.

"I am okay. Don't worry. How about you?"

"Well, I want to hear sounds as much as possible because I am not comfortable being so quiet since everything is a bit darker this time." She said as she chuckled. I saw our father Bernard sniffed a little. He's like trying so hard to stop his tears from falling because of what Elizabeth Rose said.

"Alright sweetheart. I will play your favorite song. Please wait a minute, okay?" Our father Bernard clicked something in front of him. I noticed he is clicking something on the built-in car radio scrolling some songs.

"Why do birds, suddenly appear? Every time, you are near? Just like me, they long to be, close to you..." So this is the classic song by The Carpenters. The voice of the singer calm my nerves as well.

As soon as she heard this melody, she sang along with it. I can't stop my tears from falling this time. However, our father Bernard tried to make the volume louder for me not to be obvious. I knew our dad got what I meant. I cried silently looking at Rose's situation right now. She was completely blind and yet her enthusiasm never changed. She's even more confident this time as if not regretting her decision to give her eyes to me.

Father Bernard looked at the rear mirror and our eyes met. I quickly avoided my gaze because I am feeling guilty about everything. For what Elizabeth Rose did and all the things resulted to that decisions that she made for herself, considering my life as well.

I am sometimes thinking, I wish I already died than to experience these kinds of things. This sight is all too much to bear. Now that my half sister is completely blind, it's as if I am accountable for her life forever, too. It's as if I owe everything to her and I must do everything to make her happy all her life after she saved mine.

I quietly sighed. I tried not to be obvious for Rose and father to notice it. We arrived in school twenty minutes earlier than the exact time for class. This is to assist Rose to her needs too, as she adjust to her new environment.

"By the way, why didn't mom accompany us?" Rose asked all of a sudden that Father Bernard and me looked at each other.

"She's a bit busy, dear. She's baking your favorite cookies at home. Also, she wanted to cook food for dinner that's why she preferred staying inside the house."

"Oh, I see."

Father assisted us until we reached our classroom. When father left, she smiled as she inched closer to me.

"How are you, dear?"

"I'm okay, you silly girl." I also chuckled. She personally requested to not treat her as a blind girl but instead, the way we used to be. She preferred that way. Rose wanted that nobody will prevent her from reaching her dreams despite of her condition. I have also learned that Andrei enrolled to the same University where we are right now. That made me feel very happy and ecstatic. I am excited that I will be with him and I will get to have endless dates with him. Although Karen enrolled in a different University because her course is Education, still she often visits us. She also ask about how Rose is.

"I am glad that you're adjusting, dear." Karen complimented. She giggled as a response.

"Thanks Karen. I will never ever forget Kaka. That will always be my favorite tandem for a friendship partners you know."

We did the high five. The three of us. We also promised that nobody could ever ruin this friendship until the rest of our lives.