Through Your Eyes — Chapter 13

Sean and I went out of the clinic. I thought he was going to show me his office, but to my surprise, we turned right to a corridor next to the clinic. I noticed that along the length of that corridor, there were only two doors, and there were no signage attached. We stopped in front of the first door, and Sean opened it. He held it open for me, and I gasped in awe as I stepped in. Expensive furniture and appliances graced the mini living room, enhanced by the modern ceiling and lighting design.

Behind it was a partition wall, separating the kitchen and the dining room. On the other side was another door, and I could tell without asking that it must be the bedroom. Though the room was not painted with pink or red, and that its shade suggested a general preference, I could still say it was more of a feminine design. I then began to question Sean's personality. Ever since I knew him, I never heard him mention a woman. He even didn't invite someone to be his partner during the inauguration of this company.

"How do you like this room?" Sean's voice broke into my train of thoughts.

"Very nice and elegant."

"You like it?"

"Of course."

Sean smiled and led me out of that room. We entered the second room, and to my surprise, it almost had an identical design to the first, except for the shades of the ceiling and the walls. I guess it was the masculine version.

"It's time for dinner, but I'm sorry I can't take you out to a restaurant. Eric is a prominent person, and people recognize him. We might be making an interesting headline."

"I understand. I won't forgive myself if ever your name will be linked to mine," I said, too sorry for myself for starting to feel comfortable around him. A sense of humiliation must have registered in my expression because Sean's next words were a little odd.

"Sulking?" he said chuckling. "Red, I don't mind at all. I never mind at all. I am just worried that you are not ready to face issues."

"I'm not, and I mean it," I smiled and threw him a glance, pretending I was not affected.

Sean did not repeat anything until we entered the mini dining room. There were lighted chafing dishes on the table and a set of serving plates and cutlery. He then pulled out a chair for me while he seated across from me. On the glass wall across us, we could see the view in that part of the city below.

He placed food on my plate and filled my bowl with soup, something Eric never did for me. It was always me who served him because he felt he was entitled. He also poured an iced tea on one glass, and water on another glass.

"Sean, is your girlfriend a businesswoman also?"

"Hmmn...why?" he smiled and looked at me.

"Just asking." I wanted to tell him that she's so lucky to have found someone as thoughtful and caring as him.

"I'm not going to talk about who she is and what her social standing is. What matters most is that I love her for whoever she is."

I couldn't understand why, but I felt a pricking pain inside my heart. It was still improper to say I was hurting, just because I had already started to like him. The reality was that I was still hurting for Eric, and it would still take a while to heal. I liked Sean, yes, but it was just a pure admiration, or should I say, an infatuation in its early stage. And infatuation is not love.

"She lives in Sama Island, and she is the reason why I was there."

"Sama Island? How is she?" My tone was a little higher because Sama Island was where the Bronc X virus originated.

"I don't know. I send someone to check, but he still has no news of her until now. I just don't know how, not where, to find her."

I stared at him, gaping at what he said. I may not say a word, but it didn't mean I was not intrigued. Two questions started to haunt me, and that included why he didn't know how to find her, and what could be the reason why she ran away from him.

"I'm sorry, Sean. How I wish I could help," I said, and he chuckled.

"You have your tangles to unravel."

I continued to eat silently while I began to feel sorry for myself. Perhaps, I already had the answer to my question as to why Sean offered me all this kindness. Maybe, he wanted to forget her, and that he needed someone to help him divert his attention. On the other hand, our friendship would also help me a lot, but it was too risky on my part. Too dangerous, because I might fall in love. And I would start all over again.

"Red, the first room is yours, and I suggest that you stay there. You may hire someone to take care of your house to maintain it. I can help you with that."

I stared at him in surprise, trying to delve his reasons behind. Just this morning, he bought a lot of food, and now, he's asking me to stay here? What was the reason behind the quick change in his decision?

"Of course, I'm not expecting that you will agree with me, but if ever you'll change your mind, it would be your home." Sean then reached for my hand and placed the bunch of keys in my palm.

I stood up. I was about to tell him that I already wanted to go home, but I stopped when he spoke ahead of me.

"Go back to your room and check what changes you would like to suggest. Whether or not you will decide to stay here, it is still your room if you're around."

"Alright."

I left and went back to the room that Sean told me as mine. I had already seen the dining room, so I went into the bedroom. My eyes fell on the bed right away, and its location gave out a romantic vibe. It was close to the glass wall, overlooking the bustling city below. Far across the horizon were the dark silhouettes of the mountain, making me imagine what the morning view be like.

I returned to the second room to tell Sean that I already wanted to go. He was not in the living room, so I went back to the kitchen. I then got awed at what I saw. Sean was there, washing the chafing dishes!

Before I found my words to say, my phone vibrated. It was Eric calling, so I answered it. I wanted to know if he already noticed my absence.

"Red, where are you? I called the hospital, and they told me it's your day off."

"I'm at work," I said, and I'm glad I was quick to think of a good answer.

"Work?" I realized that he never listened when I first lied to him. That I would not go home because I had another work. Or perhaps, he just didn't care.

"Had I not told you that I am accepting a new job as a company doctor?"

"What?" he snarled, and I soffed.

"What's wrong? There seemed to be no problem when I first told you about it."

He sighed, but his long barking came next. "Red, do I make you starve? Do I make you run out of gas? Is there still any brand that you like that I have not approved?"

My tears were already dripping when he ended his litany. With the courage I had already mustered, I replied.

"Eric, why do you tell me all these things when I don't want to hear it anymore?"