Mind Your Heart

The Disorder

A disorder. A type of pervasive developmental disorder. Delays in the development of many basic skills, the ability to socialize, to communicate, and to use imagination. It has been a year before Hershe discovered about the real condition of his computer geek partner. They have been friends and lovers and friends again until they decided to call each other as partners. Ivan, nickname for Yasu met Hershe through an English Online School. He wanted to study English believing that he will be needing this for his future websites. He met several Filipino tutors including Hershe. For 3 months of studying, he's been frustrated and disgusted to himself. He hates himself, he graduated from Waseda University one of the prestigious schools in Japan. English is not difficult for him compared to other Japanese, he knows he's better than others but despite of all the motivation, he never improved.

"You like spaghetti?", Hershe asked with her jolliest voice. Hershe is an energetic tutor, her passion to communicate and teach is too great for a small salary that is not even enough to support her monthly allowance as a student. Like Ivan, Hershe is smart. She studies in the top University in the Philippines. But at the age of 24, she has not graduated yet. "Are you good at cooking?",  Hershe asked again. "Oh, my father is the best cook ever." She talks a lot about how much she admires her father when Ivan directly said, "Your father doesn't have work and he can't support your studies." There was silence.

They proceed to their lesson. Despite of Ivan being rude and straightforward, Hershe never canceled his lesson. She believes that Ivan needs a friend, for someone who only stays at home and spends day and night in front of his computer, Hershe thinks he's a lonely guy with no friends at all. As Ivan always says, "I have no friend. do not understand people." 

4 o'clock in the morning, Hershe is already awake. It's her usual wake-up time so she has enough time to prepare for her 5AM lesson. She checked the list of students who booked her lesson today and with all her surprise, Ivan booked 4 lessons equivalent to 2 hours. She was confused and at the same time, worried what lesson to give for two hours until she received a message in skype. "Good morning! I booked 4 lessons but I only use 1 lesson. You can take rest 1.5 hours." It's time! Hershe got online and called Ivan 30 seconds before the lesson. She's always on time and they talked again about spaghetti, an easy topic for Ivan who really loves cooking pasta. He also likes using and strictly following recipes unlike Hershe's father who never used any cooking guide. After just a month, they've become closer and more comfortable with each other. Ivan always mentions how easy for him to understand Hershe's pronunciation. Her speed is just right and her clear diction is well-known by many students.

They started opening up themselves until one day, Ivan decided to support Hershe's studies. At first, she didn't take it seriously. She never expected someone who doesn't have any relation to her would ever offer to help her. But Ivan sincerely admires Hershe's intelligence, more especially her skill to sketch. Hershe declined the offer.