The Criminal's Rose - 2

Like a father

Rose walked towards Guren, who was on the chair waiting for his tea, and she put his cup on the table smiling. She took a seat next to him, saying “It’s for you.”

“Oh! Thank you, Rose.” Guren replied with a bright smile on his face. He licked his lips, moaning, after he took a sip of the tea.

“I guess you are a tea lover.” Rose said noticing his happiness while having his cup of tea.

He slowly nodded his head, and said “Yes, a woman introduced me to this world of tea.”

“Your wife?” asked Rose, looking at him.

Guren’s lips curved up with a small smile and his face brightened up. He shook his head, negatively, saying “No! Someone special.”

His slightly flushed cheeks but at the same time, the sadness in his eyes told her he was recalling someone, whom he had lost in his life.

Then he took another sip of his tea, and said “Michael is doing great. I hope he won’t let me down.”

Rose felt a little proud hearing those words from him and she said “He won’t let you down.”

“Even if he wants to, you won’t let him.” Guren laughed. He then stared at Rose for a few seconds, and said “He is lucky to have you, Rose, and you are lucky to have him. He acts like a kid sometimes, all crazy, stupid…” he let out a chuckle, “You should take care of him. Only you can take care of him.”

A strange feeling erupted inside her with his caring nature for Michael. She simply nodded her head as a reply.

Guren continued “He is just like his mother. He posses the same looks, same talent… except she was not a rebel like him.” She smiled listening about Michael’s mother.

“No one dared to call me Gu except her, and I kind of loved it. She was amazing, pure hearted, and not to mention her beauty…”

Rose’s lips parted a little in surprise, noticing the excitement in his eyes while talking about her, and she could notice the emotions in his eyes the same like whenever Michael looked at her.

Then he asked, looking at her with his pleading eyes “Can you do a favor for me?”

“Tell me.” She nodded.

Guren looked at her for a moment preparing himself to ask her. He was so nervous with the thought of what she would think of him, and he was unable to speak anything.

“Mr. Guren! You can tell me, I will do what I can.”

Mustering up the courage, he asked “Can you take me to his mother’s grave?”

Her eyes widened with his request and many questions started to well up inside her.

“B-but why?” she mumbled.

“She is my old student and it’s not a good thing if I leave without visiting her grave.”

His reply didn’t satisfy her but she was unable to ask more. Before she could say anything, he said “Keep it secret from Michael.”

“There is no need to keep it secret from him. He won’t…”

“Please.” Rose kept quiet with his request. “I… I don’t want him anywhere near to me when I visit her. I don’t want him to know this.”

“It’s really difficult to go somewhere without him knowing about it.” She said and a little sadness crept over his face, which didn’t go unnoticed by her. “But we can try. I’ll take you there.”

“Thank you so much, Rose.”

“Why do you thank her?” they both were interrupted with Michael’s voice and turned their heads towards him. Michael looked at them both wondering what they both were discussing and walked towards Rose, asking “What are you both talking about?”