THAT WINTER, THE WIND BLOWS (JENLISA)

CHAPTER 2

"CEO of Kim Industry, diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. Mr. Kim with his imminent death, what will it cause to his only daughter—"

An overheard news report on a television, suddenly stopped when a middle aged woman turned it off, with a black jet hair hanging loosely on her shoulder. Wearing a white polo and a black pencil skirt leveling on her knees. A calmed face with a bit of wrinkles shown on her skin. On the other hand, she noticed the sound of tread mill and a set of feet running on it.

Observing the woman running, with sweat from her forehead, to her nape up til her chest.

"Your Dad wants to talk with you, young miss." She straightly stood, waiting for the younger girl's response.

Suddenly, the tread mill stopped, and so as the running of the woman gazing in only one direction, slowly blinking her eyes as if it was born to be bored all the time.

"I'll talk to him after I take a bath." Wiping her own sweat with a towel, walking on a straight gaze as if she already memorizes the place, leaving the old lady in the room alone.

*Jennie*

I hurriedly walked towards the bathroom, with a blurry eyesight, seeing only patches of color on my surroundings. And for me, this is a daily struggle but as each day passed by it became a normal thing for my part. I am a blind woman for almost 13 years, what's the purpose of regaining my sight if the only thing I could see is seeing my father digging his own grave. Being blind was enough for me to prevent myself from more sufferings and agony for the people I love. Losing my mother and my sister at a young age, I don't even have any idea if they are still alive or what. My hatred for them grew more as I grew up. So many questions were built through my mind. Why? Why did you leave me and father? Why you didn't look for me? Why do you have to hurt us in this kind of way?

A cold floor crept onto my feet, telling me I've already reached the bathroom, giving off a faint smell of a lavender. White ceiling and a gray wall which completely describes my life, lifeless and boring. I glanced on a mirror, looking at my unidentified reflection which left me unfazed. When I was a kid I remember every mole I have on my body, my brown orbs, my lips, my nose, my body structure. But now, I can't even describe myself, like I don't even know who's this person standing in front of the mirror staring at me oblivious of the face she's showing.

I walked on a large tub, twisted the tap of the shower and a sudden release of warm water covered my body made me gasp in surprise. Laying down on the tub, gave off a feeling that eased up my muscles, completely letting my mind and body relaxed.

"CEO of Kim Industry, diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. Mr. Kim with his imminent death, what will it cause to his only daughter—" The news report started ringing within my thoughts, my hands started to clench.

"Even I, don't know.." I whispered between my breath, sighing deeply and closed my eyes for a moment.

After taking a warm bath, the old lady was waiting for me on the side of my bed.

"Mr. Chairman was already awake, he's waiting for you on the other side of the room." She gently squeezed my hands, guiding me on our destination.

"Didn't I tell you to not touch me? You know how much I hate it. I can handle my own, just walk and I'll follow you." I harshly removed my hand from her, as I felt my eyebrow began to narrow on her direction. She bowed and gave an apology, then continued on walking.

I heard the door opened, a blurred reflection of a middle aged man, wearing a white satin shirt, sitting on the bed with a wire thing injected within his body. I sat beside him on a chair, he held and gently caressed my hand.

"How was your day Jennie?" he asked with a calm tone.

"Secretary Wang told me, you wanted to talk to me about something." I spoke with gentleness.

The atmosphere became quite for a minute and heard father clearing his throat.

"Jennie, you know how critical my condition is—"

"Then what do you want me to do?" I interrupted him as I became aware of what he wanted to tell me.

"Please let me finish, Jennie.. You're the only precious thing to me, the most important person in my life. And god knows how much I love and treasure you as my daughter. But please, listen to me." He took a deep breath and I could feel my eyes began to damp.

"Each day, my condition gets only worse. All the pain within my body, I can feel every inch of it. It hurts me seeing everyone of you feel sympathy towards me. Seeing my lovely daughter gets hurt because of me. And it's an everyday torture on my part. Jennie, before I reach that day, I want you to keep the company for yourself, take good care of it." He held both of my hands and felt a tear dropped on it, it wasn't me. It was father. Sobbing as he gasps deeply for air.

"No Father, I don't want the company." I lowered my head, not wanting to stare in front of him.

"Jennie.." for a while he stopped crying, and held my arms.

I don't want to inherit the company, refusing my father's offer was the only thing I could do, like refusing his creeping death to come. The more I think about it, the more I felt agony within my chest. I barely catch my breath due to my unusual heartbeat. Preventing myself from crying I held my unfazed look and left the room there was no reason for me to stay there.

I went to my bedroom, not bothering to open the lights expecting my eyes to be fully pitch black within a year and that'll be just the end of me. I deeply sighed as I lay on the bed, slowly squeezed my eyes shut feeling a little tired from the conversation my father and I had. Suddenly, a knock on a door was the only sound I heard inside the room.

"Young Miss, any plans for dinner tonight?" a muffled voice outside the room was heard from the old lady.

I shifted from my bed, and let out another sigh.

"No Secretary Wang, I don't have the appetite to eat any food tonight." After that, a deafening silence crowded my room. and fell into a deep slumber.

The next day, a sun ray slipped between the white curtains, wrapping my legs in a warm state. I stood up from my bed, walked towards the bathroom to wash my face, then slowly went downstairs, squeezing the wood handrail of the stair as a guide for my sightless being. A figure of a woman awaits me on the dining table.

"Good Morning Young Miss, breakfast is already prepared." A pleasant smile plastered on her face

I took a seat, observing my area, no one was there to eat with me. Due to father's current state, he can't stand nor walk. So, his food was delivered on his room. Which leads me eating alone. Each day passed I felt more and more numb, gradually letting go of emotions I no longer feel. A pitch black hole growing within my chest, it was too much, It was unbearable. Suddenly, I heard running footsteps pacing on our direction and a loud bang of the door was build within the area.

"M-Miss Wang! Mr. Chairman.." a familiar voice of a guy stuttered, as he gasps for an air.

Secretary Wang, hurriedly walked towards the guy's direction. She closed the door and saw her head glanced at me for the last time. I felt a heavy tension, my hands started to tremble when a thought came to my mind. I could barely touch the food anymore, and sat there blankly filled with deep thoughts and mixed emotions. Not knowing what to do. I waited for Secretary Wang to come back, I was too afraid. Afraid of what I will hear. I placed both of my hands to my ears trying to silence my rambling thoughts, shut my eyes closed and felt my body fell to the floor.