Silence filled Michele and Jessy’s journey home. They were lost in their own thoughts. Seeing a glimpse of Nick’s photo when they got home, Michele seemed confused by the incident. However, he didn’t really care about it because Nick was just a patient with a mental disorder. Unlike Jess, who was restless all the time. Attempts not to overthink the man failed miserably. Nick’s touch, speech, and gaze seemed to stick to all the senses to carry wherever the feet stepped. The shadows gave her no rest at all.
“What happened? That’s all, is it just a coincidence? That night, my mouth spontaneously said Nick’s name and in the morning I met patient Michele who had the same name.” Jessy threw away the blanket that was spread over part of the body. A glass of water is immediately flushed after a pill enters the mouth.
Sneaking around, she saw Michele snoring in the next unit. It was a good opportunity for her to get rid of her worries, to make up for her wasted sleep. Wearing a denim jacket, she exited the building using Michele’s motorbike through the cold night. Don Bosco Chapel, the wind that blows on the clear surface of Lake Paranoa is very tempting to the conscience. Jess tucked her feet into the edge of the lake. Closing her eyes, trying to wash away the restlessness with the waves of water.
“If you were here … Nick.” Unwanted sentence again slid from the tongue. The eyelids that were still closed moved erratically. Could it be that Nick’s image had shaken her mind again? A touch she felt on the shoulder. Opening her eyes, Jess glanced back.
“Michelle!” Jess gasped to find the man suddenly behind her.
“Since when?” Smiling, Michele sat down beside to Jessy, sinking his feet in.
“Only just. You wanted to come here, why didn’t you tell me?” asked Michelle.
“Sorry, I saw you were sleeping very soundly. How could I have the heart to wake you up? You must be really tired, right?”
“Oh, Jeselyn, you are so adorable. I love my job. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I took my day off for fun. Jeselyn, your actions today really remind me that I also need this kind of little entertainment. The atmosphere here is very relaxing. Unfortunately, we were late. Had it been earlier, we would have witnessed a beautiful sunset.” The man said. He didn’t notice that he was still wearing his white pajamas with black stripes. Probably in a hurry to follow Jess, so he didn’t have a chance to change clothes.
“Hemp … you can see the sunset some other time. Sorry if I always bother you and make you worry.”
“Jeselyn, tomorrow is my day off. How about we go for a walk? You must be really bored at home.” Jessy’s gray eyes shone. What the man beside her said was true. Jessy needs a mood booster that can fix her chaotic mood.
“Thank you, Michelle.” Jessy’s plump lips parted. The moonlight that hit some parts of the body created a small flicker. The beautiful woman looked like a painting sprinkled with crystal powder. It made the smallest corner of Michele’s heart flutter for a second.
***
The next day, Jessyca was neat with the knee-length short-sleeved dress that Michele had bought the other day. Coming out of the bathroom, she saw a glass of warm milk and a few slices of white bread laid out on the dining table. One bite is chewed after drying the hair. Five minutes later, Jess was perfect.
“Jeselyn,” said Michele after they met in the doorway.
“Yes.”
“Are you ready?” Jess nodded. They walked into Audy’s car that Michele had heated up a while ago. There was a feeling of pleasure when the four wheels drove through the asphalt.
“Let’s go to the shopping center first, shall we?” Michele opened the conversation.
“Okay!” Jess turned her face to the view outside the car window. Her gaze was fixed on the tall building that had the name ‘Amora Diamond’ engraved on it. An image immersed in memory seemed to just evaporate. A curious look appeared on the face. She didn’t know what was going on in her head, she didn’t realize the car engine had been turned off and Michele had opened the car door.
“Jeselyn, what are you thinking?”
“Eng … uh, have we arrived?” Jess’ expression changed when she realized they were already in the parking lot.
“Let’s go!” Michele gently gripped Jess’ hand. Convince himself that the woman who has recently filled his days does not go the wrong way.
Entering the Park Shopping building, Michele takes Jess on an adventure to clothing and beauty supply shops such as Riachuelo, Sephora, Lojas Renner, and Zara. They choose the goods according to taste. As it was getting hotter, the woman refused to go to another shop, so Michele finally decided to have lunch. Michele took Jess to Spoleto, a restaurant on the second floor. Sitting on a shiny brown wooden chair for a while, the long awaited order finally arrived.
“Thank you!” said Michele to the waiter.
“Jeselyn, let’s eat! After this, we will go where you want.” The man said as he took a bite of the cannoli that was served.
“Oh, yes.” Jess replied after taking a sip of ice tea.
“This is delicious.” Michele smiled in response to Jess, who was eager to eat the traditional salad she ordered.
By late afternoon, they left the building with their stomachs very full. Several shopping bags filled the trunk with the car. The four wheels came out of the courtyard of the building. Michele felt a sense of relief as a small smile framed Jess’ face. Hopefully this will be the stage of healing the female brain injury that he considers still foreign.
“Where do you want to go?”
“Michele, just go to Paranoa. I want to see the sunset you talked about.”
“Okay.”
Arriving at Paranoa, Jess couldn’t hold back any longer. Refreshing, the first sensation felt when half of her hand was submerged in the water. A lure that finally made her tempted to swim until the time came for something they had been waiting for. It was a sunset, its strong orange rays shading the surface of the lake.
“Michele, it was so beautiful!” Jess was amazed.
Big star that will soon sink always give charm to the universe. Michele looked happily at Jess’ face, which seemed to turn yellow as well.
Just for a moment, when the sun had completely set, they returned to the apartment. Tired of whacking, but enough to divert the chaos that rolls in the brain. Jess lay down on the bed. Reluctant to clean up the groceries that are scattered on the floor. There was a knock on the door, the eyelids that were almost closed were refreshed.
“Yes, come in!” She said hoarsely. The door opened, a woman in a neat uniform bowed.
“Sorry, Madam. I’m Louis, summoned by Mister Michele to massage you.”
“Oh okay!” Reluctantly, Jess changed her clothes and immediately lay down again.
Enjoyed a gentle massage from Louis, which soothed for some time. Perhaps by now, she had entered the 4th phase of sleep. The reason is, the woman was delirious several times and said the name ‘Nick’. Louis smiled as she gave the nail care after finishing the massage. Michele who overheard from behind the door was surprised. Nick, who Jess is referring to?
“Does she have a relationship with a guy named Nick?” Michele asked quietly to himself and went to the next unit. Not going into Jess’ room.