A LITTLE TOUCH OF ROSE - EPISODE 29

Sakura’s standpoint

The party was a blast! Though I woke up from everyone screaming downstairs over how they ended up, it was great for me. The dancing, the music, the celebrities, the games, the sex. Everything was awesome!

Isaac dropped me back home and I received a mini exam on how the party ended and if I knew about what Rosita wanted to tell her. Mom was curious and Reece escaped her grasp by going to stay at his friend’s. Rosita didn’t return home, just called mom and told her that her father sent her something and she was going to check on it. Since then, it had been silence, and it was Wednesday already.

I was at work, sitting behind the counter, my eyes fixed on the cute younger girl eating her donuts as she typed on her phone. I normally wouldn’t care, but something attracted me to the espresso haired girl with emerald green eyes: the sparkly charm bracelet on her wrist. I knew that bracelet like I knew every single inch of my palm. The charms were specially and specifically made by my grandmother, a one of a kind creation made just for Reece. She gave it to him to pass it on to the first girl he really likes, the first that would make his heart beat and change his mind about dating. And if the girl liked him too, the charms would immediately turn to different shades of pink and red.

They were different shades alright. But what was it doing with her?

I was still staring at her when Rosita walked into the cafe, catching everyone’s attention instantly… Almost everyone. She wasn’t wearing her cat-eye glasses but cat-eye shade instead. She wore a cream-white boucle knitted sweater paired with ripped white jeans and zebra printed slouched boots, the black more prominent than the white. She had her hair up in a lazy and loose ponytail and a cute little frame bag in her hand.

She nonchalantly made her way to me, swinging her bag carelessly and a deep frown on her face. Immediately she got to me, she smacked her bag on the counter and took a sit.

“Will you have rum if I ask?”

I chuckled out a “no” which made her grumble. She dropped her hands on the counter, her white gold statement bracelet making a rather loud clanking sound at the impact. She wore a cocktail and graphic rings on her left fingers, “roses” the word on the graphic ring. She had a snake-popcorn combo chain bracelet before the statement bracelet. Her right wrists had a Jacob and co billionaire watch on it.

She usually didn’t flaunt her wealth unless she was pissed at something and didn’t know how to control it. I looked to her ears and smiled at the two-sided earrings, it was pink. Rosita would never subject herself to such torture for no reason.

“Blossom, water, now,” she said exhaustedly. I chuckled again.

“Let me guess, you and Zed had a fight again,”

“You can’t imagine,” she sighed dramatically, making a funny waving gesture. “Just give me something before I pass out,”

“Coming right up,” I slid the cup of now warm chocolate I was drinking over to her. She took it and emptied it within three seconds. “Aigoo!” She exclaimed, slamming the innocent cup down, “I’m so tired I can kill him right now. Do you know what he did? It’s unbelievable!”

“And what did he do?”

“Zeddick is crazy. He was telling me he likes me and want me to give him a chance. Can you imagine? What kind of joke is that?”

“Maybe it’s not a joke, Neesan, maybe he is telling the truth.”

“I am not opening my heart to Zed and letting him break it again, ever,” she growled. I was shocked by her words.

Again?

“You once loved Zedekiah?” I asked with wide eyes. She pressed her lips into a tight line and looked away.

End of conversation.

I wasn’t going to end it, I was ready to argue when I heard a small frightened squeal. I look towards the owner of the scream to see that it was that girl. Five girls were harassing her. Two held her up as she sobbed while one harshly whispered to her face.

“Weaklings, I hate them.” Rosita spat.

“It’s not just that. See that bracelet on her wrist? My grandmother gave Reece the exact one to give to the first girl he really ends up liking or loving. There’s no other like it so I’m surprise that she has it on. Could it be that Reece…”

“Just stay away from Reece-kun! Stay away from my boyfriend! Just because you are the only one he talks to in school, doesn’t mean you get to throw yourself at him. Akari, I won’t warn you again!”

Rosita’s and my eyes immediately locked as a smirk spread across our faces. Rosita stood up first and walked over to them while I followed.

“Teenage girls are so dramatic and stupid,” she started, placing her hands on her hips.

“And weird, so weird. Why do they always claim boys that don’t even like them?” I asked rhetorically.

“I wonder. Who do you think you are harassing her over her own boyfriend? Don’t you have better things to do with yourself like actually studying like your parents are paying for? You walk into someone’s business place and start throwing bundles of bullshit into someone’s face? Oh come on, grow up, children!”

“And who do you think you are?” The leader growled. She’s probably Reece’s age or older. “Reece-kun is my boyfriend…”

“That’s funny, because the last time I checked, my little brother don’t double date and that girl is the only one he has ever brought home. So tell me, beetle witch, who are you?” I asked, sneering at her.

“What do you know? How dare you? You don’t even know him you fucking… Wait, little brother?” Rosita folded her arms and smirked at her. She gulped as her cheeks flush.

“I ask again, who are you? If Reece is double dating, then I guess the jokes on you because he has never mentioned you before. This person…” She rotates her eyes, trying to remember the girl’s name. I tried not to laugh at her forgetfulness.

“Akari-chan,” I completed.

“Yes, what she said. This person is important to our family so back off, witch, or I’ll get our youngest sister to beat the fuck out of you. Sakura-chan, get them out of my sight.” Oh, I love this part.

I furrowed my brows and gave them the glare. “Out.” And like rats, they scurry away. Rosita went to the girl and dried her tears.

“Thank you, Oneesan, thank you,” she sobbed. “And, it’s Asami,”

Oops.

“Stick up for yourself, I don’t think I’ll like my brother dating a wimp,” Rosita said coldly. Her eyes widened. Rosita smirked. “What? You thought we were kidding when we said we are his sis… Speak of the devil,” she purred. I averted my eyes to who walked in while typing on his phone. Bloom was with him.

Heh, heh, heh.

“Bloom, come see Reece’s girlfriend!” I shouted. She squealed without even asking.

“Where?!” I pointed to Asami. Reece raised his head up immediately and his eyes widened.

“Bursted,” Rosita sang. Bloom squealed as she ran to Asami and tackled her down with a hug.

“Asami-chan, thank you for accepting to date him, mommy will be so glad to see you. In fact, I’ll take you to her right now.”

“What! No! We aren’t dating, we are just friends!” Reece shouted with red face. Bloom pulled away and gave him a bored look.

“Didn’t you confess your undying love for her last week? I was there, remember?… Okay, I was eavesdropping, remember?” Rosita and I giggled.

“Asami-chan, do you want me to get you donuts? Cake? For my brother’s girlfriend? It’s in the house!”

“We are friends, she doesn’t like me,” Reece murmured. I grabbed her wrist and waved it, reminding him of the magic bracelet by our priestess grandmother. His cheeks reddened more, causing Rosita and I to giggle mischievously. She took a picture of stunned Asami and grinned wickedly.

“Say I can’t send it to mom, I dare you,”

Reece’s face paled out. I nudged her rib to send it anyways, and she did before turning the phone to him to see. “Oneesan! Why!” He cried. Rosita bent her hips forward so her face would be itches away from the blushing girl.

“Welcome to the family, penguin,” and as expected, Reece’s phone started vibrating. He gulped before raising his accusing eyes to us. We giggled. He answered it and her squealing startled the customers.

Rosita and I laughed as we went back to the counter, leaving Bloom to hug Asami as Reece dealt with squealing mom.

“Look at her, that white haired girl, she looks exactly like the one Yuki-sama uploaded,” I heard someone whisper.

“And the picture Zed-kun uploaded on Monday, it’s her!”

“Oh, great,” Rosita murmured, “time to bail,” and with that, she was running off to the exit door.

“Wait! Lady! Wait!” The girls started shouting, but laughing Rosita was already out of the door. I brought out my phone and sent mom a message. She was the only one who could find out now.

“Something happened between Zed and Neesan, mom, but she won’t say. Please find out.” I dropped my phone in the drawer of the counter with eyes fixed on the doors. It was about time Rosita stopped denying herself what she really wanted. She needed a strong push and that push I would give her.

I picked up my phone again and sent the girls a message in the group chat Yuki created and Alyssa claimed ownership, I told them that something happened between those two but Rosita was in denial. We needed to formulate a plan that would finally make her accept her feelings for Zed. And to think of a way, I needed someone with reasoning higher than all of ours and who knew how to read people.

My smirk settled on red faced Reece. This would be easy.

Rosita’s standpoint

I walked into the building, eyes scanning the building as I twirled slightly. The agent was raving on and on about the good quality of the building and all it would benefit me. Of course, I knew it was the perfect place to open mom’s dream Salon, but I wasn’t going to just accept if the building didn’t meet up to my expectations. By that, I meant it structural foundation.

I ignored him and went to a wall I was suspicious about. I placed my palm on the flat surface and felt the cool moistness of the debris. I ran my hand down to the bottom and felt the bumpiness and up to the side. I started walking as I felt it, stopping with a flinch when I felt a strong electrical shock zap me.

“Shit,” I growled, nursing my jerking hand. The guy rushed over to me with concern written allover his face. “This building is poorly constructed, poorly wired and clearly have multiple burst pipes pumping water into the walls. Romi?” I called for my best friend.

Yes, she was in her android body, bending over as she inspected the wall. She wore a really short skirt and crop top, her fake boobs popping out from the surface. Romi might be an intelligent life, but if she was a human, she would be a real tease. She knew what she was doing to the agent’s company. She innocently lifted herself up, slowly and seductively.

Her electric blue eyes flickered green as she scanned the building subtly. “Got it?”

“Your observation is correct. There are multiple pipes that used to pump water into the walls before it was stopped. However, the building materials not being strong enough already sucked up the liquid, resulting to it moist state. The building is practically weak right now and it wetness gives some loose electrical charges passage. Not enough to kill a victim, but enough to rise their vital if hands are wet. The total percentage of safety is thirty percentage. The upper floors are bound to collapse in exactly a year, one week, three days, fifteen minutes and five seconds, if no activity is carried out on it. If activity is carried out however, a maximum of six months is calculated.”

“How many weight can it carry?”

“Not enough to keep it up. This building is much more worse than the rest,” I turned to the agent and smirked at him. So far, all the buildings he had shown us was bad.

“Well… Ur… You clearly know a lot about buildings…” He stammered. I rolled my eyes and started sashaying to the exit.

“Miss, wait!” Another shouted. I didn’t bother waiting, I knew that shout was for Romi. He asked her for her phone number to which she removed her head and had them screaming in fright before she joined me, laughing.

“Humans are so amusing and adorable,”

“Romi, you are a psycho,” I laughed too, “that was a badass shit to do,”

“Exactamente!” (Exactly!) I laughed as I slipped into my car. She joined me and shut the door.

“Tell dad I’ve found the perfect company for him to buy and make his. Send all the information of Moriuchi Stay In Glam, including their bank records and official business failures. Send him the full report I uploaded into your file and add the photos you took. He can handle the rest.”

“So, off to the real building you already bought for mom?”

Yup! She was calling mom that.

“Nay, off to see her so I can explain and finally introduce her to you. I know you are dying to meet her in person.” She did a air pump with a whoop that made me laugh.

I was trying to distract myself from what really mattered, from what I should be thinking of. I didn’t want to think about it, I didn’t want to have to face the emotional pain that came with Zedekiah, but I ended up thinking about it. I still couldn’t believe I told him the truth, how pathetic I was to think he would like me.

I wanted so badly to accept him, but I couldn’t let myself foolishly fall. At first, I thought it was just liking, but when he kissed me, when we had that moment, when he stopped me because he cared about what I felt, I knew that what I felt wasn’t just like. I didn’t like him, it was beyond that. He didn’t know it, but I had spent my life taking care of him and cleaning after him. Until he left for Japan, I always kept an eye on him.

I made myself believe that it was because I was protecting Hezzy’s heart. If anything ever happened to him, it would break Hezzy. Maybe it was that at first because Zed used to attract bad things before it stop coming to him. But I guess somewhere along the way, I completely fell but wasn’t aware.

The first time I subconsciously did something.

Or maybe not, but this was the biggest. Just like how I had subconsciously loved my mother and siblings and longed for their acknowledgement and affection. That was the same thing. And like them, because I couldn’t get that affection, I hated them. That anger and bitterness was because I loved him.

It scared me that moment, especially when he was going to say something similar. I couldn’t handle it, and I broke. So you see? He had me in his grasp already, so tight I could never break free. How I ended up in his snare was messing me up completely.

“I will never understand why humans never seem to pay attention to what they do or feel,” Romi spoke. I didn’t look at her but smile through my blurry eyes and the tears seeping through my lips. “What scares you the most, Rosita? The fact that he can tear down your wall and destroy you with one snap of his fingers, or the fact that you know he will never hurt you if you gain his heart?”

“Both,” I smiled, “and the fact that I don’t know how to control the situation or myself. The fact that me, Altansarnai, have been oblivious to the fact that I was in love, the fact that I’m afraid he could change his mind or really wish to be with me for the rest of his life. It’s like a fairytale but I know this fairytale is fucking real. It scares me, Romi, It scares me to imagine us together after everything…”

“You have always known you love him, Rosita, you just chose not to acknowledge it. I cannot bore you with explaining the formation in which humans and destiny works, but this is one of the rare and unique harmonic gift the universe gives. It happens to few but those few barely acknowledge what have been given to them. Rosita, my creator, sister and best friend, you might be powerful, strong, clever, but you are human. You cannot hide yourself from emotions you have no choice than to feel, it is how it is.”

“You are shocked by how lucky you are to have a guy like him. He is one of those who would never cheat or hurt you intentionally. But now the question is would you be one of those girls who are given the lovely men and yet they throw them away? Misuse and break their hearts? Would you be one to look back at your past and regret the decision of letting him go? You have never wanted to let him go and your father along with his parents knew that, just like he didn’t. If truly you didn’t want each other, trust me when I say they would have given up. But your parents saw pass the veil… The chest bolting your emotions shut. Then knew what you both truly felt.”

“It was only a matter of time,” I murmured.

“Yes, time. Rosita, I know you are afraid that you will be the one to hurt him, not the other way round. But the fear of something destroys faster. Rosita, I know you, you will not hurt him because you are softer than you think you are. You are not like your father or those before you because you grew up in love. Your father never received the love he gave you, but he gave you because he wanted you to be happy. So even if you are strong, you are soft on the inside and wish like every girl for your own perfect fairytale. Rosita, you are human.”

Human, that I am.

I parked the car and dropped my face on the wheel as I sobbed. “I’m afraid he would hate me when he finds out the monster behind this pretty face. Romi, what if he hates me? What if… What if he…”

“Rosita, don’t be afraid of that,” she came closer to me, pulling me into a side hug, “if truly you are meant to be, he would stay. He loves you, even if yours is stronger. Give it time and instead of throwing everything away because of some ifs and buts, just try and see where it takes. He wants you, you want him, so go for it and for once, be happy.”

I looked up to see her pretty caramel face, “you think so?”

She grinned, “I know so.” I chuckled and buried my face into her realistic but fake boobs. Romi had been my longest friend and deepest confider. She knew everything, she was everything and she never lied.

“Thank you, Romi,”

“That’s what friends/sister are for,” she giggled. Indeed, that is for.

_______________

I watched mom going on and on about why I should marry Zed and not give up. Immediately I came home, that was all she had been saying. She asked me what I wanted, what I was feeling and decide on it. I missed him, I longed for him, I wanted him, I needed his warmth and love. Those things was all I wanted; all I needed.

I already decided on that, so it was best to change the topic and tell her who I was. I had Romi remove my dye and eyes so I could wear lens and a wig. Speaking of Romi, mom lost her shit when she met her. And when they found out she was an android, they were all taken by her. Except mom who had more “important” things to rant about.

“Mom, I want to show you something,” I spoke in English, using my British accent. She paused for a second with excited eyes, “yes, the thing Reece mentioned.”

“Puppies really do know wushu?” She gasped. I laughed at her excitement before shaking my head. She pouted in disappointment. Everything about her was lovable. I could see why dad was head over heels in love with her, why he couldn’t bring himself to hurt her.

“Don’t freak out,” I glanced at Reece who was now paying attention to me, as well as Sakura. Bloom was still fascinated with Romi.

I stood up from where I sat with a loud exhale. I slowly removed my glasses, followed by my contact, and then, my wig. I blinked the sting away as I bounced my natural rosegold hair. I used my fingers to brush it as mom’s jaw dropped. I smiled at her nervously, glancing at the warm porcelain skin of my hand.

“Whoa! Neesan, you were wearing a wig?” Sakura exclaimed.

“Neesan, this colour makes you look sexy and scary! Very intimidating!” Romi shouted. I gave her a playful scowl, which made her giggle.

I turned my attention back to mom who was sobbing. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I just…”

“I should have known, I should have put two and two together. For example, you and Zedekiah’s closeness. He has always had something for you, but then he suddenly liked my new daughter. I saw the signs but ignored it. It was so obvious! You look like Rico!”

“Mom…”

“Altansarnai, my beautiful golden flower,” she cried and before I knew it, she got me in her hold. “You came for me, you came for me, my baby came for me.”

“Mom, what i…” Sakura was cut short as Reece leaned over to whisper what was happening while I buried my face into mom’s chest.

“I’m sorry I’ve been lying to you,”

“I’m just grateful you are here, Tanny, just grateful.”

“Please mom, never call me Altansarnai, it’s a secret name that I would explain when the others aren’t here,” I whispered. She hummed in understanding.

“Nani!” Bloom shouted.

“Rojīta wa watashitachi no nanidesu!” Sakura shouted too. Guess the cat’s out of the bag.

~

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He brushed his thumb and index finger on her picture, relishing in the beauty of the smile that spread across her red lips. She had always been beautiful, always would be. She stole his heart when no one else could, melted it and stamp her name in his soul.

Everything about her was fascinating and new, every single day she filled his life with joy, with her enthusiasm. Even in bad situations, she still managed a smile and giggled all the time. Some would call her a psycho, but she was his beautiful psycho. She was the woman who cared for him, loved him, stood by him. The mother of his precious daughter; the love of his life.

He turned his head to the calendar on the wall, one made out of her picture. The days on the calendar was slashed with red ink, red ink marking how long it would take him to go after her, how long it would take to finally yield to the force to kill the woman he loved. It was soon.

He turned his tears filled eyes to his daughter’s picture displaying on the screen, her white hair flying in the breeze. He had hope she would never find out until he was dead in the future, but she was involved now. He wanted to call her back the moment he found out she was with her mother, but he knew she was the best option he had on protecting his psycho.

Maybe, just maybe, his intelligent daughter would find a way to stop him.

“Think faster, Rosita, I’m running out of time.”