New relations

I could not believe what I was seeing. The man, who left the hospital, without even informing anyone came back after two weeks. At my house, in front of me.  

“You…”  

“Ms. Serena! I’m sorry for leaving without informing you.” He apologized. “I had some work to take care of.”  

Even though I was raging, I simply nodded my head. I could not get into fights with elders.  

“How do you know my place? And, how do you know about me?”  

“I have gathered your details from the hospital staff. I have connections.” He winked.  

When I didn’t reply to him, he said “I think you are so angry at me. Can’t you forgive, thinking of me as your father?”  

Father?  

I knew it was just a word that slipped out of his mouth and it meant nothing to him but it made me smile a little. 

I shrugged my shoulders, saying “Fine! That’s okay. You must be having your reasons but it would have been nice if you have at least left a message.” 

“I apologize again.” He said and became silent for a few seconds. “Well… I am here to return your money. For hospital fees, medicines…” 

“No. That’s fine. You don’t have to.” I said.  

I might be facing money issues and crying for spending it on a stranger but I could not take back something that I have given to others or spent on someone.  

“Please!” he insisted, taking out the money from his wallet. “This is the least I can do for what you have done for me. Don’t reject it. I will feel bad.”  

Even though I was rejecting it, he couldn’t stop paying me and I finally gave in.  

“I’m sorry I didn’t even ask you to come in. Please, come inside.” I invited him.  

He sat on the couch and I offered him the snacks. He asked “How did you know about my name and age? I saw it in the hospital form. Those details about me were true.”  

“There was an identification proof in your belongings.” 

“Oh yes!” He laughed. “I forgot about that.” Then he asked “It seems you stay alone. What about your family?”  

“I don’t have a family,” I said in a casual tone as I didn’t want to make myself look pathetic. “What about you Mr. Otis? What do you do?” I asked without giving him the time or chance to pity me. 

“I used to work as a travel agent but now, I am a helper in a veterinary hospital. All my kids are well settled and I live here alone.” 

“Oh! That’s great.” I replied. “How’s your hand?” I asked, looking at the hand covered with bandages. “You should take good care of it.”  

“Don’t worry. I’m fine. It's almost healed."  

For the few minutes we talked, he made me feel so comfortable. It would have been so nice if I had a father or at least a guardian like him.  

“Let’s meet again someday. I’ll treat you to lunch.” He said before leaving.  

“Sure.” I smiled.  

New relationships might not be bad. Especially when we get the warmth that we needed from someone.  

____  

“Really? The one about whom you told me before? That handsome I*******m guy?” Mira asked, excited.

I nodded. “Yes! He said he’ll be here in a few days.”  

“Serena! Don’t miss this opportunity. He is coming into your life again. Think of it as the second chance.”

"Come on, that was just a teenage crush. Now… I don’t know if I have feelings for him.” I shrugged.  

“Those feelings come rushing back once you see him. I’m telling you, if he has no girlfriend, you better make a move. Or you’ll lose him again.” 

Her words made me think about him and I found myself blushing after imagining him with me. “Ah! Let’s see once he comes here.”   

I cut her off when she was about to speak about him again and walked away from her. Taking the flowers in my hands, I inhaled the scent of lilies before I put them in a flower vase. Their natural aroma was always refreshing.

As I kept arranging the flowers, I noticed Emma coming towards me, and it took me no longer than a minute to understand she was going to assign me another work.  

“Serena!” she stood beside me. “The location is shared with you. Please deliver the black roses bouquet to the location.”  

I was appointed as the decorator but she always made me do the works, which used to be done by others.  

“But Jasper…”  

“Jasper is on leave today and others are so busy. You can take a day off after you deliver them.” She said. “Anyhow, you don’t have any work today.”  

I didn’t speak anything as I could be able to take the day off after delivering it.  

I got the bicycle, thanks to Mira, who was into so much fitness. Taking her bicycle keys, I left for the location.  

I parked it outside of the duplex and entered inside after I was checked by the security guards. The building was so huge with a giant entryway. It had a big garden area with a fountain at the center of it. I rang the bell even though the door was wide open. I waited for a few minutes but I got no response.  

“Sir! Madam! Anyone here?” I shouted.  

A man, who seemed to be a gardener, came towards me. He asked me to wait for a few minutes after saying he’d inform his master. As I needed to know the OTP, I waited for him.  

I walked towards the garden area which caught my attention. Everything was trimmed and maintained perfectly. I wondered why someone ordered black roses when the garden area was filled with many colorful flowers.  

On the backside, there was a big swimming pool, which would look like heaven for swimmers.  

I took out my cell phone from my pocket to take the picture of the area as I loved it so much. After making sure no one was there, I started to click the pictures until I heard the voice “What are you doing?”  

My eyes widen and when I was about to turn around, the slippery floor of the pool edge made me fall into the water. 

"No!” I shouted as the flower bouquet fell into the water along with me and my cell phone fell to the ground.  

I came out of the water, taking deep breaths, and I saw the feet of a man in front of me. I raised my head to see him crossing his arms over his bare chest and looking at me with his raised eyebrows.  

“H-Hayden?”