POV (Point of View)

Chapter 35: Shallow

"If one does not understand a person, 

one tends to regard him/her a fool."

- Carl Jung

"...na."

"Sarina." A certain busy black-haired almost jumped out from what she was doing when she heard her father who is eating call out to her.

"Sorry, Pops. What were you saying?" Then, she momentarily put her palette down and paint brush.

"I was asking if you would like some croissant that Asami-chan sent us. You haven't had your breakfast, right? Here, eat with me. It's really good." The brown-haired patient says and offers his daughter the box from the Kina's Cakes and Pastries. Yes, Asami couldn't come visit her best friend's father since she can't be seen in public too much. But that doesn't mean that she's not concerned. Hence, she sends food, water, and other basic necessities for the patient.

"It's fine, Pops. You can have it. I ate breakfast at home before I left. Besides, I need to finish this now so I could submit this on Monday." Replied Sarina with a smile. But the happiness that should come with her child's usual happy expression is absent. And that didn't go unnoticed by her father.

"Give yourself a rest, child. Today is Saturday. You still have two days. You will get sick if you go too hard on yourself. Is Sumire-sensei pressuring you that much?"

"Oh, that's not the case, Pops. No one is pressuring me. I just wanted to finish this as soon as possible because Nana-chan and I have plans today until tomorrow. Also, this isn't the manga that I have been working on. I already submitted advanced chapters for Sumire-sensei to proofread and finalize. A different sensei is waiting for this on Monday." Smiled Sarina who then turned her work to her father's direction...who then made a shocked expression.

He thought that her daughter is busy and too focused with her writing. Turns out that what she's doing...is another gift that she naturally has.

"What do you think, Pops? Do I pass as a painter?"

In the patient's presence is a beautiful landscape with the gorgeous view of a vast sea with the sunrise. Every color present in his daughter's work is carefully chosen and meticulously used that made the scene seems like it's real and alive. Looking at it made Saburo Samidori quiet, but for two reasons.

"Pops? Are you okay? Does it not look okay?" His pair of brown orbs quickly turned to her child who had a slightly worried expression.

"That's not it, Sarina. It looks so beautiful and breathtaking that I got lost for words. I can't believe that you got so good at drawing. Since when did you start painting?" With that, the artist finally smiled. And finally, the patient felt glad that his child had a positive expression. Contrast to how she looked for a week now.

"Four weeks ago. I actually feel great and alive doing this, Pops. It makes me happy that you like it." And as she said this, she had a certain expression...that made his father's heart happy. So happy that he blurted out something that made her child happy as well.

"You have always been a gifted child, Sarina."

"Thank you, Pops. You really are the only one who thinks of me that way." Responded the black haired who turned back to her work.