She also rubbed Natty’s head, she then smiled as she looked deeply at Natty. She could see Natty smiling but also feeling confused, and Gale realized that very well because she knew Natty always had feelings for Helena. Natty might hesitate over her affections, but that won’t make Gale give up. She had come this far, and now she could no longer step back.
“From now on, can you give your love that cannot be conveyed to me? I love you, Nat. “ Replied Gale as she stared and deeply into Natty’s eyes.
Natty looked confused and she couldn’t say anything. The hesitation she felt was visible from her clear, shaking eyes. Gale smiled and then kissed Natty gently on the lips. While stroking Natty’s head, she said...
“I understand if you’re yet worried, but let me approach you and do whatever it takes to convince you. You don’t have to do anything, just accept all. “ Replied Gale with his sweet smile.
Natty was silent. She was yet very uncertain about what happened, but she likewise felt happy, maybe? I don’t know. Everything taken place so fast that it was difficult for her to sort out her emotions one by one. But she couldn’t hide her joy until she smiled. During this time she always kept her emotions, not only because she was scared to ruin her friendship with Helena, but she was too afraid to admit her true self.
Although invisible, Natty has a forceful family holding on to religion. They go to church every Sunday, they are devout church members, and it is very difficult for Natty to imagine herself as a lesbian. She was never attracted to men. Love is a word that was very foreign to her before, but when she found and feel it. Instead, it falls on a woman who is her best friend and she is homophobic.
She never had the courage to admit who she was. It was very difficult for her to imagine what if her parents found out about it? They may be furious, very disappointed, embarrassed, and might throw her out. That fear made Natty unwilling to face herself and afraid to admit her feelings.
But now Gale instead cracks in and breaks the wall of fear that has been holding her back. At one point Gale had touched her heart and given her courage. As if she had already stretched the road for Natty to walk. There was great doubt shrouding her heart but the direction her art teacher had shown was too dazzling to ignore. She wanted to take the hand that reached out to her, but hesitation held her back.
“It may be fine to try, however, I want to see the end of this path.” Thought Natty.
***
Meanwhile, in the art room, some youths, including Alex, were focusing on painting, while most of the other youths were just busy looking at and admiring Alex and Helena. Their eyes sparkled with lust upon Alex’s face. Yes, Alex is charming when he is painting seriously.
His face that can be seen from the side is very handsome with a sharp chin. His face looks like a perfect sculptural pampering every eye that stares at him. Among the girls who looked up and admired Alex’s face, only Helena dared to sit beside Alex and stare at him in awe.
Although Alex said his harsh words, they were like dust that was immediately blown away by the wind. All the hateful words that were ringing in her mind and the pain that was engraved in her heart just disappeared and Helena returned to chasing Alex as nothing had happened. They say Helena is an insane girl who chases Alex shamelessly. Let them tell it all they want, Helena ignored all the rough words she heard and continued to pursue her love.
Maybe they are right, Helena is an insane girl. Yes, she is a girl who is mad about love. She can do anything and continue to pursue her love, even though she always hears cruel comments that hurt. Not only once did she hear Alex’s harsh rejection and the dreadful words people were saying about her behind her back. She swallowed all of it and put on a thick face. Standing strong and confident, all for realizing her love for Alex.
“Stop stabbing me with your gaze, it’s very annoying ...” said Alex in a flat and cold tone.
It surprised Helena, she was confused whether it was true that Alex was talking to her because Alex had only focused and stared at his painting. Alex spoke as if he was seeing her staring at Alex. Helena didn’t think about what Alex said, all she thought about was the fact that Alex knew she was looking at Alex and that means Alex was looking her. With that stupid conclusion, Helena became happy and smiled as she looked at Alex.
Alex was getting more and more annoyed, he could ignore the other girls who watched him from afar. But he couldn’t stand Helena staring at him right beside him. It bothers him and makes him unable to hold it. He had obviously told Helena to stop, but instead, she smiled and continued to stare at him. Alex was so turned off that he put down the brush he was holding so that it made a loud thud and drove everyone to turn towards him. Then he stared at Helena with an intense gaze which was very intimidating.
“Didn’t I say stop looking at me, it’s so annoying! What are you doing here if you don’t paint and just play ?! Whatever you want but don’t bother me, you bitch. “ Said Alex with a fierce gaze.
Helena could only be silent and stared down. She felt so embarrassed that anybody was looking at her. She was sorrowful that Alex’s words were so harsh and piercing to her. From the start, she knew Alex didn’t like her and was just treating her, but she didn’t expect Alex would say all those heartless words so that everyone gave her a cynical look. This time Alex had stepped on her pride.
A gentle breeze blows with a pleasant greeting of leaves and flower petals blooming in the garden. Ruby’s shoulder-length brown hair danced to the wind. Ruby, who was a little disturbed by her hair, took a green hair tie and tied her hair so it didn’t fall apart due to the wind.
Ruby also smiled while greeting the pink roses that were blooming beautifully. Ruby was very excited when she knew the blossoms she planted in the hospital garden had bloomed. She's always been, she is easy to like something and felt good. What she likes the most is seeing the blossoms blooming because it made her think there might be a chance for them to bloom again. The period where she could be the brightest, the time when she could smile. Feel free without thinking about the disease or even setting an alarm to take the medicine.
Although she had no problem taking medicine regularly, spending years on medicine also brought her to where she felt tired and wanted to leave everything. It’s very difficult to see yourself in the mirror and think you are addicted to drugs. Other people may not say it or tell us it’s no big deal, but we see in the mirror ourselves and claim that we are drug addicts. Yes, we feel bad about ourselves and torture ourselves.
From a distance, a tall and handsome man was watching Ruby. He grinned and formed 2 sweet dimples on both his cheeks. He looked pleased to see how Ruby was enjoying her day and how she grinned while touching the blossoms.
He is Ricky as Ruby’s childhood friend, who visits her and still sends flowers to put in vases to decorate Ruby’s ward. Ricky has known Ruby for a very long time, and he knows very well how much Ruby likes flowers, so he always sends flowers to fill her vase on Ruby’s table. Until one day Ruby said she wanted to plant pink roses in the hospital garden for her to enjoy, Ricky looked for pink rose seeds. It’s not a simple thing to get, but he tried hard until he found it and give it to Ruby.
Now he is overjoyed to see how Ruby is happy because she stares at the roses they have planted together that have bloomed and decorated the garden. Ruby looks so focused on the flowers she doesn’t notice Ricky’s presence. Then Ricky approached Ruby and grabbed her shoulder until Ruby turned to him. Once Ruby saw Ricky was beside her, she became very excited and hugged Ricky tightly.
“Ricky, I’m glad you visited me again! Look, the roses we planted together have bloomed! “ Said Ruby as she pointed her finger at the flowers.
Ricky smiled and nodded his head. Then he stroked Ruby’s hair until Ruby let go. Her hug. Anyone could see that there was something between them. Although they said nothing that made their relationship official. But they had confirmed everything in their minds. Even without sweet words and saying they are dating, but they have considered each other precious.
Because even if they don’t say it, they have already felt it, and they believe that it is love. Their hearts are hearts that want to love, but they don’t have the courage to walk that path yet. Ruby is always worried about her health condition.