Blind Love

Chapter 12

They were all sitting in Flora's room. The boys were playing video games while teasing each other. Ivan was letting them win the game while Mikhail held Many in his lap. Ivan had come home after work and was stunned to find Mikhail in his room. His brother had not left his room since his accident. He looked over at the bed where Sofia and his wife were chatting. They met his eyes and smiled at him.
It might seem insignificant that Mikhail was sitting with them but it was really a great achievement. He was comfortable enough to let be in their presence. He was not talking to anyone and was just holding Many but Ivan knew that he was paying attention to his surrounding. He sighed happily. His brother would be alright now.

"When are you going to bang him?" Flora whispered, tilting her head towards Mikhail.
Sofia coughed in choc. They had been talking about going to the Bahamas when Flora suddenly changed the subject. It was typically hers. Sofia shook her head, looking over at Mikhail. She really hoped that he could not hear her. The boys were being loud with their video game but she knew that his hearing was really heightened.
"What do you mean?"she said, feigning innocence.
"Oh please, baby. I've seen the way you look at him. You basically drool when he is in the same room as you."
"I can't. He is my patient. It's not ethical", she whispered back.
"That's bullshit. He is not your patient. You are helping a friend. Stop this. You just don't want to admit that you actually like him. You are scared to love him."

Sofia bit her lip in silence. She really liked him. But she didn't want to admit it to herself.
"You need to get laid, Sof."
"I am!"
Flora stared at her friend, mouth agape.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. But I've been seeing someone for about two weeks now."
"Oh Sof. You've been screwing someone just to forget him?"
Flora reached out a hand and squeezed her friend's thigh reassuringly. She could not lie to her.
"Gregorio is great. I like him but I just can't forget Mikhail. He is like stuck in my mind. It's stupid I know- but I just can't help it."
The blonde woman winced at the mention of the name.
"I have a bad experience with someone with this name..."
Many shouted in joy as he won the game, stopping Flora midphrase.

Mikhail felt the corner of his lips lifting. Manuelito's happiness was contagious. He was light weight on his lap but his innocence was overwhelming. He wanted to see his face. He heard Sofia's laugh and he wanted to see if her eyes would light up when she was happy.
"Sokhail or Mikia?" Flora whispered to her friend's ear.
She looked over at her friend, not understanding a damn thing.
"What do you think would be a better ship name for Mikhail and you?"
Sofia turned bright red and lightly tapped her friend's arm.
"You are crazy, Flo."
"What? I am rooting for the two of you. My ship will float."
Sofia laughed with her friend, shaking her head. She loved Flora with all of her heart. They synchronized on a whole level that no one could ever understand.

Mikhail turned his head, wishing he would be able to see again. Sofia made him see the world differently and he cherished the friendship that they had formed fervently. He could not help the tug on his heart or the feeling in his belly whenever he thought about her. He could not quite understand the meaning of his reactions but he knew that he needed her in his life permanently. He had never needed someone- he had become independent from a very young age because he understood that he couldn't trust anyone. Before her, he did not even know he was capable of trust. He was aware of the loyalty of his people but he had never trusted anyone; the word itself was alienated to him. But he trusted her- the woman that he knew was half his size. It would be so easy to break her but he did not want to. He realized that he was fiercely protective of her. He closed his eyes, unsure of the wave of emotions he was feeling. He had never been one who was highly emotional , he had always learned to compartmentalize the feelings. He was brought back from his day dreaming by Manuelito who was explaining to him how he had won the game.

He had always had the conviction that children should be cherished and protected. He hadn't been so lucky. Nobody had sheltered him against his father's wrath and cruelty. Everyone feared Aurelio, no- they were terrorized by him. His arms slightly tightened around Many. He would do anything to protect his family. He smiled at the sound of Juan teasing his younger brother. They were family now.
"I think Mikhail wants to bang you too", Flora whispered.
Sofia rolled her eyes and scowled at her.
"You must have a boring sex life with your husband because you keep on probing mine."
"Oh c'mon, Sof. Don't be mean to me now. I just think that Mikhail and you would make such cute babies", she pouted.
However, amusement glinted in the blond eyes as she made puppy eyes at her friend. Sofia blew her a kiss and watched as her friend drew closer to her.
"And for info, Ivan has an amazing dick and our sex life is mind-blowing"... It was whispered as the world's most guarded secret.
Sofia blushed and looked away. She looked at her friend and they both burst out laughing.
"I don't know why I put up with you, Flo", she said grinning.
"Well, because you love me. And your life would be plain boring without me."

It was absolutely true. She would feel incomplete without her best friend. The bond that they had was one in a million. She looked over at Mikhail. The tug that she felt in her heart was the same that she had with Flora but at the same time, it was exquisitely different. She ran her gaze over his beautiful profil; he was almost too beautiful to be called handsome. It was his sharp jaws which made him appear rugged and irrevocably male.
Flora was right. She liked Gregorio but she did not feel the squeezing of her inside whenever she was near him. The sex was good and he knew how to please a woman but he was not Mikhail.

Guilt was nagging her heart as she sat in her apartment with Gregorio that night. He had decided to drop by with pizza. He looked breathtaking in his black slacks and plain white t-shirt. But he was not Mikhail. She should not be using him like that.
"What's wrong, Sof?", he asked for the fourth time that night as they ate.
She shook her head and looked at down. Her hand was nervous playing with the hem of her bright pink oversize t-shirt. It was a gift of Flora, saying that her life needed the colour.
Gregorio sighed and walked over to kneel next to her. He took her hands in his and searched for her eyes.
"What is it? You can tell me everything. Remember what I've told you before. There is no pression, no expectation. Just us living life and enjoying."
"I feel like I'm using you."
He chuckled and pulled her into a hug.
"And I've told you that I am enjoying being used by you."
She fisted her hands against him. He was warm and had only treated her with respect. Why couldn't she just love him? What she felt for Mikhail frightened her on a new level and it shook her whole being.
"It's not like me", she whispered against his right shoulder, "I am not like that. I don't want to hurt you."

"You want to stop?" he asked.
She nodded and looked at him, eyes big and watery. It was obvious that she did not want to hurt him and it made him smile sadly.
"The other man is one lucky bastard. I know people who would kill just to spend one minute in your company. You are really something else", he said, trailing a finger down her cheek. He hugged her and decided to leave. Sofia bit down a sob as she heard the door closing behind him. She couldn't risk hurting him because she knew what it meant to feel unwanted, to be just the second choice.

She plopped on her sofa, wrapped in in fluffy comforter after her sobs had finally calmed down. Her eyes felt sore but she could not sleep. She switched between the TV channels. It seemed like the program was all about love today. She decided to watch a horror movie and pulled the comforter even closer around her.
About thirty minutes into the movie, her phone rang, making her jump.
"Hi..." Mikhail said in a breathy whisper as she answered the phone.
"Hi," she said back, her heart racing.
She felt like a teenage girl with a terrible crush on the most handsome boy of the school.
"I hope I am not bothering you. I... The kids wanted to talk to you."
It was obviously a lie. The kids had to been far asleep at this time.
"Right... Where are they now?" she teased, trying not to laugh as Mikhail struggled to talk.
He heard her sighed in frustration.
"They are asleep. I wanted to hear your voice..." he admitted the last part.

She was he was bright red. It was amazing to see a man who appeared to be larger than life itself being intimidated by her.
"I was hoping that you would say that."
They both remained silent for several seconds, just listening to each other breathing through the phone. Neither of them was sure what to say. Finally, Mikhail broke the silence.
"You remember the place you wanted to show me. We never went..."
"I'll pick up up tomorrow at 10 in the morning. Be ready."
They waited several heartbeats again. They were just content being on the phone.
"Mikhail, I'm glad you called. I wanted to hear your voice too."
"Goodnight, doc," he said, grinning.
"Goodnight," she hang up smiling.
She buried her face into her comforter. The silence had not felt awkward- it held a thousand questions that none of them wanted to ask yet.