“Am I a bad person?” Angie asked Lindsey.

“Why would you say that?” Lindsey turned to her friend who has lost all the color on her face, eyes welled with tears and hands shaking. She gently patted her hair, tucking some lose strand to her ear. “You are just tired and scared. Best if you go home in the meantime. Would you want me to drive you home or I will call --”

“No. Please don’t call my mom. She will worry again about me.” Grasping Lindsey’s hand, shaking her head. “It’s just that--”

“What?”

“My heart ached because I saw him there. But I turned a blind eye.”

“What do you mean?”

“I saw Vince in the police station earlier,” her head bowed down her head.

“Vince?” she turned her head towards Angie with brows arched, “Is this the same Vince, the fiance of the woman who donated your eyes?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know why he was there?”

“No. We left, remember?”

“You didn’t say anything about him earlier. We could have stayed--”

“The truth is I saw this coming,” Angie interrupted her.

“I don’t understand.”

“Remember what Madam Rose told me about the warning on upcoming dangers? I believe these are those dangers she was referring to.” Lindsey looked at her with a bewildered look trying to make sense of what she heard. “Remember when I told you about the woman and man I always see in my dream?”

“Yes?!” her tone was bordering between sure and unsure.

“The man I saw was Vince. All I need to confirm at his point is to ask Vince about his fiancee’s face. And Madam Rosa mentioned that the ghost was asking for my help.”

“Are you sure about this? Why don’t you give her a call again?”

“I might do just that. Do you think I should help Vince or something?”

“Yes and no. Yes because if not for them, you won’t have your eyes back. No, because what if he is a bad person. You should seek help from your dad and mom.” Lindsey’s stoic expression gave Angie confidence.

“Mom, I am home,” Angie yelled as she stepped inside their house. But, no one responded. Then she remembered that it’s the first Friday of the month. Both her parents are outside tending to their own business. Normally, they would go home late in the evening after attending different activities.

She dragged her feet up the stairs into her room. Dumping all her bag and scarf on the nearby couch, she flung herself on the bed. The last thing she wanted is to lie down on her bed. But, Lindsey was right. She was not in the right state of mind after the traumatic incident.

Remembering her dream, it meant she only completed one mission. However, she was not at ease at the thought of helping Vince when she doesn’t know the whole story. The accident has left a toll on her that she felt all her energy drain out in a flash.

“Why on earth should I help him?” she asked herself. The typical Angie who does not want to get her hands dirty in other’s business. Normally, she wouldn’t give a damn. But, this story is different. And, somehow her heart twinge at the thought of Vince lying on the cold floor. How could she leave a person who gave a new meaning to her life?

But, she was not someone to take the matters in her own hand. So, she called her father instead and explained what happened. Her parents are “influential’ in Quebec because of their numerous connections. Mr. Hernandez was a renowned real estate agent who now owned and runs his own company. Mrs. Hernandez, on the other hand, is very sociable and active in civic and religious organizations. Together.their phonebooks are worth gold. When she called her father about Vince, all it took was just one phone call to bail him out.

Not wanting to be scared and lonely, Angie sat on her working table going through some of her sketches. She was determined to finish the mock-ups and samples by the following week. Lindsey will be bringing her to a business trip to the Philippines to check their factory. They will be out for a week which meant she only has limited time to help Michael put all the pieces together. She was too immersed in her sketches and mock-ups that she didn’t notice her parents coming home. Her design kept her up until 2 in the morning.

The next day, she woke up rather late, at 10:00 am. “Thank goodness, it’s Saturday.” she blurted out. Her face swollen from the lack of sleep, she massaged her face with the jade roller. If there was anything that she never let go of even when she was blind, it was taking care of herself.

“Angie, breakfast is ready,” her mom shouted from the kitchen. On the first Saturday of the month, the entire Hernandez clan start the day late after all their rendezvous from the previous night.

After hearing this, Angie stretched her arms and legs, head downstairs to join their brunch. “Good morning,” she said giving her mom and dad each a peck on the cheeks.

“Good morning, honey,” Mrs. Hernandez chimed in. “How’s your little friend?”

“She is fine now, mom. Lindsey called yesterday saying that she attended her ballet lesson shortly after. She was a brave little girl.” Angie answered.

“You were also brave, honey,” her dad stated. “And I also talked to the office in charge of the police station you went to. He confirmed that Vince will be able to come out today. He was quite drunk yesterday and cause a scene at a bar that’s why he was detained. Nothing serious.”

“That’s a relief,” Mrs. Hernandez sighed. “He must have been lonely since he does not have any family members here. He only has five acquaintances here in Quebec including us. Poor soul.”

“Okay, mom. I will visit him today.” With that, Angie finished her breakfast and went upstairs to her bedroom. Tucked away her designs and brought out her journal. Her therapist has encouraged her to keep a journal to unleash her pent up emotions. She even has a braille diary a few months back. Different events have unfolded right before her eyes. Things happened too fast that she barely had time to jot them down on her notebook. To help her loosen up, she jumped into her workout clothes and head on to their personal gym. She needed to clear her mind before she meets Vince. Vince might find her crazy. She was trying to rehearse some scripts that will make sense and without instigating any painful memories from him.

Angie remembered how hard it was to lose someone that was dear to you. For her though, it was not someone but a trusted pal, Ferry, her pomeranian. Ferry was like a son and a pal to her. He had kept her company even when she lost her sight. So, when he left because of a sickness, she was heartbroken and stayed in bed for a week. She can’t imagine how difficult it was for Vince who was going through the loss of his beloved fiancee.

After her workout, she dressed up and walked out of her house at 2:00 pm. An uber car was already waiting for fo her outside the house. They drove to the same precint to meet Vince. Angie brought nice clothes from her father. They were clothes that she had sawn when she was younger but were not to her father’s liking. She was happy that he did not dispose of them. And, now she can give it to someone who might be able to wear them.

“Your benefactor is here. Lucky you,” the investigator said to Vince.

“Who?” he asked.

“Her--” pointing at a woman with a long black wavy hair dressed in Fuschia pink pantsuit under a beige trench coat. She was holding a brown paper bag. The investigator patted his shoulder.

“Good morning,” he smiled. “Did you bail me out?”

“Not really but I guess you can say that. Here, I brought some clothes you can change into. I designed them myself.”

“Wow! Lucky you. She is a very famous designer. I am glad you are back Ms. Hernadez.” The investigator tipped off his cap.

“Thank you so much. You didn’t have to,” he grinned pointing at the brown paper bag.

“Don’t mention it. That’s nothing compared to what you have given to me. Shall we go for a meal after?”

“That sounds good. Let me change for a while,” Vince replied as he headed on to the bathroom to wash up and change. He looked unsightly and stinky. He could not thank her enough for looking after him.

A few minutes later, he went out looking fresh with face shaved and in new sets of clothes. “Thanks for this. I look human now,” he chuckled showing off his dimples.

Angie stood there with eyes wide. She rubbed her eyes and blinked multiple times wondering where the old Vince went. Here was this man standing 6 foot tall with broad shoulders, buffed muscles, and sunkissed skin. Without his beard, his prominent jawline stood out giving him the chiseled look. His smile accentuates his almond eyes that disappeared when he smiled. He was tall, dark, handsome and Asian. None of them weren’t evident until that moment. And, for a second, Angie’s heart skipped a beat.

“How do I look?” Vince asked consciously.

Angie tucked her hair behind her ears, cleared her throat, bit her lips and answered: “You’re okay.”

“Shall we?” he gestured towards the door, shifting between his legs, massaging his ears feeling a bit off. It had been a while since he cleaned up himself. “I will get these back to you after I wash them,” his tone uneasy, attempting to break the silence between them.

“No. It’s okay. They are yours now. My dad never wore them and he said it’s not up to his standard anyway,” she grinned. And for the first time, Vince noticed her dimples and sweet smile.

They walked alongside each other under the blazing heat from the sun. The crisp air neutralized the heat giving a warm feeling as they walk along Rue Saint-Pierre. Each one would unknowingly glimpse at each other, averting their gaze when once catches on. Angie walked two steps ahead leading him to a quaint restaurant.

“Order anything you want. I am sure you are famished.” Angie spoke skimming through the menu.

“Yeah. I am hungry. Never thought that an overnight-stay her can make you lost 10 pounds,” he smiled. “And don’t worry about the tab, I’ll take care of it.”

“No. I will,” she glanced at him and immediately looked down when he tried to meet her eyes.

“I insist. Paying the tab is nothing compared to what you have done for me today,” his puppy eyes and smile were enough to shut Angie up. He motioned for the waiter to take their order. His gesture was swift, which mesmerized Angie as there’s a refined man behind those grumpy and scruff facade.

“Okay. If you insist,” Angie replied, reached out for the wallet handing him her business card. “By the way, here’s my card should you need my help.”

“Thank you. I will keep it,” he said. Her long painted nails and exquisite accessory caught his attention. Vince saw that Angie gave attention to details and might not be the timid insecure woman that she first met. Her long black curly hair tied to a half bun accentuated her jaws, her natural makeup highlighting her lips and eyes. Those dark brown eyes which were once owned by a person he loved and now, a complete stranger who might turn out to be an angel after all.

Shortly after, the waiter served their meal -- English breakfast for Vince and pancake with fruits for Angie. Each one savored the dishes without a word.

“What have you been busy lately?” Angie asked breaking the silence.

“Not much. But, I will be dispatched soon to Asia. And, I will be out for a week or two,” he retorted. “And you?”

“I just started in my friend’s boutique as a fashion designer,” Vince nodded in response which explained her sense of style in what she wore.

He leaned back studying Angie, looking at her with a new perspective. It was unfortunate that he had met her on untoward incidents. And those events were in no representation of who she was as a person. “I see,” he grimaced.

“Ahm. Vince, I have been wanting to ask you something,” Angie shifted on her seat, her eyes were fixed to his direction but was staring elsewhere. He looked behind him wondering if there was someone else there. But, there was no one.

“Yes. What is it?”

"Do you believe in ghosts," she asked.

"Ghost?" His bow arched and eyes squinted at her question. His lips twitched tilting his head to the right, "Well… I don't believe in ghosts person but I do believe in spiritual things," Vince answered. "Why do you ask?"

"It's just that a lot of things happened lately and I cannot explain period and I don't think there is any scientific explanation to them," she answered leaned closer to the table to take a sip of her coffee. Trying her best to avert his gaze.

"Like what?" Scrutinizing her face while swirling the wine glass in his hands.

"Like when you found me in the abandoned house. I couldn't remember all the details. All that was left was that I was following someone who led me to this house. And I saw a girl inside the house, set a fire on the red dress I was wearing the same day."

Silence fell. Vince was eyeing her from a distance. And Angie turned her face to the high ceiling window like she was avoiding any direct eye contact with him.

"Strange, isn't it?" She gulped her own words. "Do you think ghosts or spirits are real?" Angie whispered.

"When you see a shadow from your peripheral view, That's actually a ghost passing by. And you know the times when you have goosebumps all over your body?" Vince nodded. "that also means a ghost is lurking around."

"I'm so sorry to bring out such conversation at this time in the morning," she coughed. "You might think I'm crazy."

"A bit, to be honest," he replied putting down the wine glass. "But who isn't anyway? Even I have moments where I act hastily and crazily."

"I feel the same way. I guess we are both weirdos then," she chuckled. "Do you feel that you ate not alone at times even when in truth, you are all by yourself?"

" Yes. I sometimes have this feeling that someone is watching you. You feel that a shadow is following you wherever you go."

"Exactly," She blinked several times. "But do you think dead people can talk to you in your dreams?"

"I believe so. That's what my mom always told me whenever I dreamed of my nana, "He replied, “why?"

"Because…" she looked up once. "I think your fiancee has been talking to me in my dreams."