Ria

Episode 17

THEME: I’M IN LOVE! ?

♣ BEIKE EYE CENTRE ♣

IAN POV ?
A nurse we met at the reception led us to a office. An aged man with a glasses on sat at the desk. He stopped up immediately we came in.

“Mr Bryant I guess” he stretched his hand for an hand shake. I nodded my head
“Doctor Lui” he said again
“Nice to meet you..and this is Ria Robert” I introduced then Ria shake hands with him too
“Good to have you at the centre..please seat”

Ria and I settled in the chairs facing him directly

“I spoke with Doctor Alisa last night. She already explained Miss Ria’s case to me and I’ve looked into her eye results which Doctor Hawn mailed to me days ago..” He paused and clicked on his system
He continued

“Stem cell Therapy is the new treatment in China to cure certain types of blindness. It like a breakthrough to vision – recovery treatment for different types and stages of visual function impairments. In Miss Ria’s case undergoing pioneering Stem Cell treatment is the best option”

“Doctor can we at least know how the treatments works?” I asked
“the stem cell treatment could be the answer as it works by implanting a ” patch” of stem cells over the person’s damaged part of the back of the eyes. Stem cells are special cells with the potential to repair any damaged tissue and organs. The therapy involved using these cells in injections and tissue transplants to heal injuries and treat injuries. And close to 15 people have taken the stem cell transplant. Like a two years girl was diagnosed of Septo optic Dysplasia, so we had to take stem cells from an umbilical cord and feed into her forehead to allow her see. After just 3 weeks of Stem cell treatment she can now see,her eyes are tracking together and she is now able to recognize people and objects without touching them. So I believe the stem cell treatment will work for Miss Ria too”
“Doctor will she feel pain during the transplant?” I asked him again and Ria turned to look at me

“She will be awake during the surgery and will be given oral medication before the procedures so she is fully relaxed and feel no discomfort during the Cataract Surgery. Here at our center we believe that our new approach will result in Paradigm shift in Cataract surgery and it also offers patients a safe and better treatment option” Doctor Lui adjusted his eye glasses

“And also Stem cell transplant patients will go through conditioning treatment which includes chemotherapy,mouth Sore -”
“Nausea,vomiting,fatigue, dry moth,hair loss and breathing problems” I completed his intended statement

“Doctor Alisa already informed us about the conditioning treatment.. But will she be better after all this treatment?”

“Yes.. we are going to administer drugs as soon as the surgery is done”

“So when will the surgery take place?”
“In three days time”

“Why three days? I was hoping she would undergo the surgery as soon as we get here”

“No Mr Ian.. The stem cell from a human embryo was converted into a patch of a special type of eye cell and it is being grown in our lab. So that what we’ve been working on ever since Doctor Hawn called”

“Will she be admitted till that day?”
“Yes..but not today. We give our patients enough time to prepare for the surgery and process”

“So then tomorrow?”
“Yes”

“Thank You Doctor Lui” I stood up and shake hands with him
“You’re welcome Mr Ian”
I helped Ria up and we both walked out of the office with my hands clasped around her waist to guide her.

“Are you alright?”
“Yes..I’m fine” I asked when we were finally settled in the car

“Will you like to visit some places in China?”
“No..I want to rest at the suite” I nodded
“To the Suite” I ordered the driver. The engine purred to life and the car moved into motion.

♦
AT THE SUITE

RIA POV ?♀
Ian carried me from the car to the suite and placed me on the couch gently.
“Would you like to drink something?.. Tea,coffee,water -” Ian asked

“Water please”
“I’ll be right back” he left.
Seconds later he placed a glass in my hand
“Thank You” I drank it and gave it back to him

“What would you like to eat?”
“I’m okay”
“You’re okay?”
He asked and I nodded
“Ria you haven’t eaten anything since we arrived -”

“I’m not hungry”
I sensed him close. He held my hands in his.
I withdrew gently but he held them again
“Is there anything bothering you?”
“No I’m fine”
“Then why won’t you eat?”
“Because I’m not hungry”
“Is this about the surgery?”
I didn’t respond
I don’t know what to say! Don’t know if it about the surgery it or what’s going on inside of me? This weird feeling I get each time he is close like this
“Listen Ria..the surgery will be successful and I also believe that you will be able to see the world”
He said softly

I felt him touch my checks. His other hand still holding my right hand

“You just have to believe..Ria and overcome whatever fear you’re feeling”
He paused

He waited for a response which never came
“Doctor Lui said you have to prepare for the process and be strong. And I also want you to remember that your kids are waiting for you..waiting to see that you can see and recognize them too”

I only nodded slowly since my voice failed me
“So let’s be strong okay?”
“Yes” I managed to say
We lapsed in silence for few second until he spoke up again

“I will place an order now”
He moved away from me
“Pasta please..” I said in a low tone
“You want pasta?” I nodded as I fiddled with my fingers

I listened to Ian as he made the call. The doorbell rang seconds later. I heard Ian exchanging words with whoever was out there

“The food is here”
I stood up blindly and waited for him to help me to the dinning table
“I can do it my self”
I said to him when he made an attempt to feed me

“Okay” he gave me the fork
I ate slowly but I could feel his eyes on me. Staring at me as I ate my food
“You like it?”
He asked

I hummed a response
“Okay” he said

♦♦

IAN POV ?
The soft beeping sound from the system woke me up from a deep sleep. I raised my head up and rubbed my sleepy eyes. I looked around and saw that I had fallen asleep on the dinning table. How come I slept off here?..Gosh! I’m so tired! I yawned loudly
When we finished eating in the morning, Ria said that she would take a nap so i led her to the room and helped her in bed. I was busy with work all afternoon while Ria was sleeping. I assumed she was still stressed from the flight before and needed enough rest. The files Ramsey sent to my mail was enough to keep me glued to my system all day. Around 6:30pm Ria came out and said she was hungry so I placed an order for us. After dinner I was hoping she would sit around for a while so we can have a little chat about random things. But she only said her goodnights and walked back into bedroom. It seems like Ria is a woman of little words or maybe she doesn’t want to talk to me. I don’t really know but sometimes I just wished that we could sit down and talk like normal people do..just like friends.

I feel as if Ria doesn’t want me to close her but at the same time she never pushed me away anytime I’m close. It so hard to tell! What she wants!

I figured it best if I just let Ria do whatever she wants so she won’t feel pressured maybe with time Ria will get used to the fact that I want to be around her and do things for her.

The system beeped again and I saw an incoming video call from My mom.
I checked the clock – 11:00
I clicked to connect

“Good day son”
“Hi…mom it late here”
“Oh!” She huffed
The time zone is different
“How are you doing Mom?”
I rubbed my eyes
“I’m fine..you?”
“I’m good”
“Where is Ria?”
“She should be asleep in her room”
“Did I disturb you?”
“Not really..I was working on the files Ramsey sent and I slept off in the process”
“Oh sorry for waking you up”
“It okay”

“I will be at the office tomorrow…do you want me to do anything?”
“You can help me meet up with Robert. We are working on a current deal concerning the technological branch”
“Which Robert?”
“Frederick Robert”

“I thought he retired from his company”
“Yes..his son Drake Robert is the one managing the company. Since two years now”

“Well I thought you stopped partnering with Limos company”

“No mom..Frederick only withdrew his shares at the restaurants and transfered it to the textile branch”

“Okay..so now I have to make a deal with his son Drake”

“Yes..Ramsey will show you the documents. And mom you have to be careful when making a deal with Drake”
“He is cunning like his father right?”
“Exactly..they always want the best part of the deal”
She nodded

“I will take note of that son”
“I trust you mom”
“So what did the doctor say about Ria’s case?”

“She will be admitted tomorrow for some treatments then surgery takes place the next day”

“It will be a success”
“Yes I know mom. What about dad?”
“He is fine..but still mad at you for walking out on him..and for leaving your works to care for a Lady. But you don’t have to worry I already explained things to him…I mean how you feel about Ria”

“Oh mom you shouldn’t have told him about Ria or how I feel”

“I had to tell him so he would understand”
“I really don’t care If he understands me or not”

“Okay..I’m sorry for talking about Ria with him”

“It fine mom i just don’t want him to come after her”

“You dad won’t hurt Ria or do anything silly..now that he knows how you feel about her”

“I hope so”
“Yeah so now go to bed and rest okay?”

“Okay Mom”
“And check on Ria before going to your room”

“I will do that -”
“Bye” I clicked again and ended the call
I closed the system and made my way to Ria’s bedroom. I opened slowly and popped my head in to see. The dim bedside lamp provided the light in the room. I stepped in and saw Ria in bed,sleeping like a baby. She looks beautiful in her sleep, with her long hair spread out on the pillow.

I moved closer and covered her properly. Ria stirred and mumbled in her sleep but she didn’t wake up. She settled back slowly, her chest rising and falling at a normal rate signifying she was having a good sleep. No terrible nightmare today.

I watched Ria with my hands tucked in my shorts pocket. I don’t know how long i stood watching her but I liked it.. Just doing this made me smile. And once again I wished I could get to watch her like this forever.
That’s enough for tonight Ian! Go to bed!
I walked out of her room silently
I don’t know what Ria had done to me to make me like this. I sat on my bed and shook my head from side to side. There was some inexplicable something about Ria that flipped a switch in me. And when that switch was flipped it was as if I came alive. I feel alive in a way I have never had with other women..in a way I never had in my whole life. And what does it means?

When I want to make those sad looks into a happy one. I want to take away the nightmare and make it into the best moments.

Wanting to do this all for Ria could mean just one thing which I clearly know – Love!
I chuckled!

I’m in love with Ria and I’d figured that out ever since the day I met her..maybe I didn’t want to acknowledge it at first but now it so deep. I’d fallen for her and it didn’t matter if she was blind.

♪♪♪♪♪♪

“Well I’ve found a woman
Stronger than anyone I know
She shares my dreams I hope that someday
I’d share her own…

I’ve found love…”