The Love of An Invisible

[Aya Millenis, vision]

“Here,” my sister hands me a mug with hot chocolate.

“Thank you,” I take the mug.

It’s been two hours since I got back from work and I feel down, the first thing I did when I arrived was to call my sister, she came immediately and the first thing she did… That’s right, she made me take a shower, a cold shower… It helped, but I still feel bad.

“Come on, tell me what happened,” she sits down next to me, also drinking hot chocolate.

I sigh and run my index finger over the rim of the mug, Iuri comes into my thoughts… He gave me an order, just told me to meet him tomorrow to talk, what will happen? Remembering how rude he was to me hurts me, but I can’t feel anger, I treated him much worse in the past, now I know how he felt when I said and did those things to him without even caring how he was feeling.

“Iuri… He is back…”

“And, is he still a skinny spindly guy?” I remember when she used to go to social functions and say that the bosses’ son was weird.

“No, he is a man now, tall, full of muscles. He has a dominant presence and is thick! There is nothing left of that teenager you and I knew.”

“This makes me curious.”

“I’m sure your chin will drop to the floor,” I give a forced laugh. “He is no longer a teenager suffering with puberty.”

“You are also no longer the teenager he knew, nor are you in a moment of fragility.”

“Yes…”

“Is there something more to your sadness?”

“Heloysie,” my chest hurts just to pronounce my little girl’s name. “I only had until four o’clock this afternoon to find a way not to have the orphanage close its doors… I had hoped that Mr. Gustam would buy it… but when I got to his office… I knelt down and asked…”

“You knelt down to ask for it!?”

“Yes… I know it’s humiliating, but in anime that’s how they ask for help!”

“You’re not in anime, Aya!”

“I know, okay? I regret this bitterly… He wasn’t alone… Our parents were there, along with the entire management of the company and the new president… Iuri looked at me in a way…” her eyes come to my mind and I close mine tightly, I shake my head to keep those cold eyes away. “I can’t hold back the tears before that look, I run away…”

“Oh my sister,” she hugs me tight, I cry some more.

“And what’s worse, now it’s too late, my little girl has probably already been adopted by a couple… What a pain, sis… I want her so much… Our hearts have chosen each other,” I squeeze her and close my eyes just feeling the tears that come out of my broken heart in several pieces.

Why have things gone so wrong? Now all I can do is cry, that’s all, I lost the daughter I wanted so much. Why is it that every time I think I am taking one step forward, I am actually taking five steps back? I can’t stand to suffer so much anymore, it’s not possible that I haven’t paid for all the wrong I’ve done!

“Come, let’s go to bed,” she helps me up.

I can’t control my tears, too many things happening at the same time, life has once again made me go to the canvas, from where will I draw the strength to continue now?

I lie down on the bed and close my eyes, her smile comes to my mind, how I wish I could have seen her at least one more time. I sigh and close my eyes, it is too late now. I hope the day will dawn soon.

[ Iuri Stevens’ Vision]

I will leave the apartment more properly over the weekend, my first week at the company will be very busy and I need to catch up soon. I look at myself once again in the mirror, everything is in its right place. I remember that when I was a teenager I didn’t mind my messy hair, I even thought it was cool, but now, I just walk around with it neat, my beard well done and that’s it. The teenager who didn’t care about his appearance has given way to a very vain man.

I check the time on my wrist watch, it is seven o’clock, just like my father, I will be the first to arrive at the company and the last to leave. I will do everything I can to be the best in the business and invest in several other sectors.

I start the car’s engine and begin to drive it, it takes no more than fifteen minutes until I reach the company. I take the keys from the front door and unlock the tinted glass doors, the air conditioners are off, but it’s not hot in here. I know the cleaning staff will arrive in ten minutes, they are the first to arrive to leave the company in order. I go to the private elevator and in a matter of a few minutes I am on the top floor, a floor reserved just for me. I need a secretary, and I need someone who already has experience and preferably someone who already works here… I know, I’ll put the good and the bad together, so it will be even easier to get her to bed.

I unlock the door to my room and sit down in my super comfortable armchair, turn on the computer and start organizing what I have to do today, this is the secretary’s job, but since Aya has not arrived yet, I will have to do it myself.

Two knocks on the door catch my attention, I look at the clock and it is exactly seven thirty, what a punctual old man, I like that.

“Come in,” I say self and he opens the door, with a huge smile on his face.

“Good morning, young man,” he says when he is next to me and extends his hand.

“Good morning,” I shake his hand and he sits down.

“I brought with me the papers for the sale of the property,” he opens his suitcase and takes out the papers.

“You work very fast,” I comment.

“Time is money, son, we can’t waste even a second, here,” he hands me the papers.

It takes me twenty minutes to read each line written there, I even read the fine print. It is very stupid to sign anything without reading, it is understandable only in cases where the person can’t read, otherwise it is stupid! After everything is checked, I take the pen and sign with my initials on every page.

He smiles, one more card up his sleeve to use on Aya.

Mr. Lucas takes his cell phone from his suit pocket and makes a call.

“Mrs. Silva? Yes, I called to tell you that the orphanage has a new buyer and that he will be there soon,” he looks at me. “When will you be there, Mr. Stevens?”

“In half an hour,” I answer.

“In half an hour the new owner will be there, that’s all, goodbye,” he hangs up the cell phone.

“It’s been a pleasure doing business with you,” he shakes my hand once more and puts the papers away.

On the computer I make the bank transfer.

“The money is already in your account,” I say finally, and he leaves my room.

I go back to organizing things, in the morning I am free, I have a midday meeting and then just review the contracts that have arrived. The day is not full today. I look at the clock and it is already eight o’clock in the morning, the employees must have arrived by now. I pick up the landline phone on my desk and call the RG department, where they check their wallets.

“Yes, what can I do for you?” a male voice speaks.

“Has Miss Aya Millenis arrived yet?”

“Yes, she has just clocked in.”

“Have her come to the President’s office now,” I hang up the phone.

I take from the table the copy of the orphanage’s deed and put it in a drawer, five minutes later I hear a knock on the door, I tell her to come in and Aya enters with her head down, with short steps she comes slowly closer. No matter how much time passes, I will never be able to see her in any other way but the most beautiful of all, even though I know I will only have contempt for her. Fuck me.

“I-I thought you were only going to talk to me at the end of the…”

“I didn’t call you to talk to you,” I cut you off rather roughly.

“So, um, why did you call me?”

“To let you know that as of today you will be my secretary.”

She finally lifts her face, and in her big eyes there is confusion, still so beautiful and seemingly innocent, too bad I know there is nothing innocent about her. Although they are now looking sad, it is surely her frame.

“L-l-like sir?”

“I will not repeat myself, just get your things and settle in front of my office, make my schedule for today and be quick, now I will leave and when I return I want everything ready. Now you can leave,” I look at the computer again and pretend that I am working on something. I hear her sigh.

“Yes, sir,” she leaves my room.

I wait two minutes and leave too, go to the private elevator and then to the parking lot, start the car and in less than ten minutes I am in front of the orphanage. Which is in ruins, it urgently needs a renovation here.

I walk briskly and the door is open, but before I can touch the handle, the door is opened and a couple walks by, we greet each other with a nod of the head and I enter. A woman wearing only a simple dress and you can tell she is pregnant. She looks at me in a sad way.

“Good morning, are you Mrs. Silva?” I ask politely.

“Yes, and who are you?”

“I’m Iuri Stevens, the new owner,” I speak and give a small smile.

“I-Iuri? My goodness gracious!”

I look at her confused, I don’t remember ever having seen her before.

“You don’t recognize me, do you?”

I nod my head no. She sighs. She sighs.

“I’m Luana, the last time we saw each other was when I called you to help Aya.”

The memories come back to that day and I look her up and down once more, she looks completely different. She is not so short now and her hair is short, her face round.

“I didn’t recognize you either, but I’m glad you’re all right,” she smiles.

“Well, I’m happy for you too,” I say, to be cordial.

“I am surprised, Aya managed to…”

“Don’t tell her I bought it, I will tell her personally.”

“Okay, I am very happy to hear that you are getting along well. Come visit the orphanage.”

She walks ahead and I follow her.