Ch. 4 - Confusion Part 1

Theme song: "Only You Can Love Me This Way" by Keith urban.

“Rose, don’t panic, okay? I'm in the Police Station.” 

“What?”

“Why?”

“They arrested me for breaking in into Mrs. Ivy’s villa.” 

"Breaking in? But... you didn't... . She... Wait, I will go there and tell them what really happened.” 

“We don’t have any evidence, Rose.”

“I'll - I’ll bring Pierre with me. You said he was there.”

“Yes, he did. I have to hang up now. I only have five minutes to call you. They have come to pick me up. Bye.”

After the phone call, Rosaline asked Pierre to be their witness, but the police didn’t accept his testimony. 

Feeling devastated, Rose stood outside the police station -- confused, worried. The officers who took the night shift told her to come home, but she insisted on staying there.

"Rose, are you okay?” asked Pierre when he arrived.  “Listen, it’ll be better if you come home. Val will be worried if he knows."

 

But ... "Aargh..!!!" 

"Whoa, chill out, Rose!"  

 

“Sorry, Pierre. It's just... I'm so upset. This is my  fault.” 

"Rose, relax. It's not your fault."

"But - but I should have reported about the kidnapping to the police. I should have not trusted Mrs. Ivy. I should have heard what Val had said."

"Rose, we don't know if this is going to happen. There's nothing useful from regretting about it. We should find a way to solve it instead."

"How? I don't have that amount of money to bail him out." 

"I don't have it too, but my dad has it. I will ask him."

"Pierre." Rosaline looked at him. He had been a good friend. "I don't want to trouble you or your dad. It's not a small amount."

"I know, but don't worry. We should help Val getting out of the prison. I know my dad will help him if I ask him."

"Pierre...I don't know what to say. Thanks."

 

Rosaline slept on a bench that night. She wasn't alone. Pierre accompanied her and in the morning, Annabelle came. She heard about Val. Like Rose, she was also surprised hearing the news.

"She's been sleeping out here from yesterday?" asked Annabelle,  staring at Rosaline sleeping on the bench.

"Yeah."

"Poor Rose."

 

"What happened anyway? Why did Val get arrested?"

"It's a long story. I don't know what to explain, but don't worry. My dad has bailed him out." 

"Thank goodness. When will he get out of there?"

"Today perhaps." 

Annabelle and Pierre chatted while they were waiting for Rose to wake up.  

"So, you're studying Art too? What course are you taking?"  Pierre asked Annabelle.  

"I'm taking Sculpture. What about you?"  

"Acting."  

"You want to be a movie star?"

"Not really, I just love to perform different characters and learning about cultures."  

"That's cool." 

"Really? I want to learn how to make a Sculpture. Could you teach me? You know in Bali, there are lots of unique sculptures that represent different meanings, mostly about their beliefs."  said Pierre passionately. 

"I wish I can go there. I'd love to teach you about sculpting, but I am still learning how to -"

Rosaline awake for hearing their conversation. She woke up feeling so uncomfortable with the stiffness on her neck and sore on her back. No wonder, it's because she slept on the bench  without a blanket or pillow under the cold night breeze. She put her hands on her stomach, feeling so hungry and tired. After putting herself back together, she quickly arose from her seat and  ran.

"Wait, Rose!" Annabelle ran behind her.

Before she could go inside the police station, Rosaline found the person whom she had been looking for. He was standing right in front of her.

"Val!!" She called his name full of relieves.

"They've finally let you go!" She embraced him with a warm hug. That morning was like a bright sunny day after a stormy night.

Valentin was relieved for getting out of  jail, but then he noticed the look on Rosaline's face. "Are you okay? You look... tired."  

"I'm okay. I'm just worried, but I'm so relieved now." Her eyes became wet. Her heart jumped by the beating of joy. 

"Have you eaten yet?" asked Valentin.

"I will... after we got home." Rosaline smiled. 

Valentin smiled  back at her, "Come on, let's go home." He held her hands. He could feel Madeline and Pierre were staring at them. 

 

At night while Rosaline was reading a book in the backyard, Pierre sat beside her and looked at her cautiously. He had been wondering about her. She seemed a bit weird the entire evening. Even though, Valentin had been freed from the prison,  her face was still fully clouded with despondency --and it seemed her mind was somewhere else. 

 

 "Why are you  looking so sad, Rose?" Pierre finally plucked up the courage to ask her.  

 "Nothing. I'm only tired, Pierre." Rosaline arose from her seat. 

"Rose, we've been friends for almost two years now. I could differentiate when you're feeling tired and when you are sad. You can talk to me about anything. We're friends, right?" 

Rosaline stopped when she heard this. Holding her emotions in front of him, she could not hold the burden any longer.

"Rose?" Pierre approached her as he saw the changes in her face. "Are you okay?" 

Her eyes were starting to gloom.

"I'm okay. I don't know... I don't know what to believe now. It confuses me."

"When Val got arrested, I know I should  have not let that happened. She's right. I bring bad lucks. Now, he will never get a job at the police department."

"Hey..." Pierre patted her on her shoulder. "You're not bringing any bad luck. Don't ever think about it."

"In fact, for me ... you're my best friend and I - "

 

"Rose, for me you are more. And I've been thinking. Could we - "   

Pierre was about to tell  her something, but... 

"Annabelle? Why are you bending like that?" 

 Valentin's voice interrupted him. 

It was an embarrassing moment for Annabelle.  She never thought that it would happen to her in front of Valentin, Rosaline, or Pierre. She was trying to hold it, and was searching for Valentin to ask where the toilet is, but it's too late now. She could only laugh. "It must be from the leak sprinkler." She hoped they didn't notice it, but stupid her... by saying that they had already noticed her especially Valentin. "Valentin, you must get it fixed soon! Bye." Annabelle ran, leaving the house. 

Running for miles, she screamed. "Stupid, stupid, Annabelle. How am I going to show my face again." Covering her face,  her cheek burned like a boiled shrimp.  

Valentin who was still standing in the backyard behind Rosaline and Pierre turned around. "Thanks, Pierre, and...  to your father as well. It's already late now and ... about the money." Valentin said, bowing his head down." I will return it as soon as possible." His steps were weak as he walked inside the house.

"I'm sorry, Pierre." Rosaline said. "Val's right. It's already late now. Perhaps you should go home and once again, thank you." Rosaline gave him a friendly hug. 

Once Pierre left, Rosaline ran outside their house, heading out to the graveyard. 

 

"Mom, I really wish that you are here to tell me the truth." 

Standing in front of her mother's grave, Rosaline's mind  filled with the memory again. The memory when she was being held in Mrs. Ivy's villa.

To be Continued...