Introspection

After making a cup of ginger tea to help chase away the cold, Arla-Rosa decided it was time for a deep self introspection. In her nineteen years of life, she had done everything asked of her but still, she would either get berated or beaten up for the smallest mistakes. She never felt the warmth of home because her parents had always told her to make room for her younger sister, Aretha.

Aretha was in all fairness just about eleven months younger than her, yet, she was treated like a precious gem. Arla-Rosa was treated like a forgotten ragdoll. She had grown accustomed to it, yet, it still hurts, once in a while. Although she was the eldest daughter of the Santon family, Arla-Rosa would only wear nice clothes that Aretha would have discarded.

To make matters worse, she wasn't even allowed to use Santon as her last name. It's said that she was lost when they'd gone to the beach when she was a year and a half old. Three years later, they had found her in an orphanage and she already had a birth certificate and a new name. Although she was supposedly a daughter of the Santon family, Arla-Rosa used Hernandez as her last name. A common name in the orphanage.

Whether this was the truth, or not, Arla-Rosa had no recollection of the past. Her parents cited not wanting her to forget the kindness of the orphanage, hence they didn't change her name. Only the adults knew the truth but Arla-Rosa had never bothered. However, the taxi driver's casual words had aroused an intent to dig deeper, in her.

Had she not won a scholarship, she might have struggled with her college tuition. Even when they weren't paying for her, her parents forced her to drop her first major, because that's what her sister, who was still in high school wanted to study. She had to drop studying business management and go for medicine. Because of her high IQ, she was shining again in that department.

Then there was Seth Robinson, a man who seemingly stood by her, through it all. Yet, why did the words of that middle-aged driver unsettle her? Since she was left to fend for herself at sixteen, Seth was the only one who encouraged her. Yet, whenever he'd comfort her, he'd also share with her his own troubles.

At that time, Seth was a twenty years old young man. His father had given him a dwindling subsidiary company to manage. Arla-Rosa became his strategic manager. And all her ideas helped Seth's company weather the storm. They became friends and two years later, when she was eighteen, they became official boyfriend and girlfriend.

However, for the year that they've been dating, Seth had never done anything to help her. She had to study, work for her own rentals and food, barely affording any new clothes. She lost count of how many projects she's helped Seth Robinson secure, yet he did not even thank her besides the usual, "Damn! My girlfriend is smart! A medical student with such intriguing business acumen. With this proposal, I'm sure to surpass my brothers once again."

If course, seeing him happy, had always made Arla-Rosa happy too. But that's as far as their relationship went. Indeed, she's been giving much more than was necessary. Seth forgot her birthdays every year yet she always remembered his. Was this what the old man meant when he told me to love myself more, before seeking love from others? Arla-Rosa mused.

What about Seth standing me up over and over again? Is it deliberate or am I just too insecure to see the glaring truth? It wouldn't hurt to test him a bit. Arla-Rosa convinced herself and decisively altered the perfected project proposal. She made sure he'd notice the errors and sent it to him, before switching off her phone.

The next day was a weekend and she has no lectures but Arla-Rosa had no free time. She was helping an eccentric man at his clinic. That's where she barely scraped enough income for her living expenses. Yet, she was grateful for meeting him. Although he was a bit aloof, he was also a deep well of knowledge. The very reason why Arla-Rosa would be graduating in a few months, way ahead of her peers.

"Pack up, lady. Today, you will be my assistant. I have a major surgery at the People's Hospital. No, no. Don't give me that look. You've observed me long enough and if I say you're ready, then you're ready, got it?" Doctor Ye interrupted her before she even spoke. She pressec her tongue on her cheek before nodding.

"Very well, Master Ye. As your dedicated disciple, I will definitely follow you, no questions asked." Arla-Rosa responded with an exaggerated bow, successfully making the old man laugh. "Alright, get my medical kit ready, today we are performing a craniotomy for an accident victim. He has born fragments embedded in his brain. I brought you breakfast. You'll eat on the way." Although he often radiated a stay away from me, aura, the old man was quite kind.

Arla-Rosa smiled, knowing how much her master cared for her. She couldn't help but sniffle and hold back tears. Master Ye treated her more like a daughter than an apprentice. The love and warmth she never felt at home, she felt it in this somewhat inconspicuous clinic, in her Master's eyes and presence. For three years, this was Arla-Rosa's safe haven.

The old man seeing her aggrieved look, patted her shoulder as they strode out. Once they were seated in the car, he gave her the insulated food box and encouraged her to eat. Of course, Arla-Rosa especially enjoyed her Master's cooking and thus she cleaned up everything before burping unceremoniously. "Heh, you spoiled brat! There's nothing ladylike about you at all." Master Ye reprimanded whilst loving patii g her back. "But you still love me, the most." Arla-Rosa cheekily responded.

The two bickered until they reached the hospital. However, after entering the operating theater, all the bickering stopped and they went into professional mode. Eight hours later, the surgery was successfully completed and both master and disciple were exhausted, yet elated.

As they rested in the designated lounge, Arla-Rosa switched on her phone. Instantly, Seth's call came in. In her fatigued state, Arla-Rosa forgot to lower the volume. "Arla-Rosa Hernandez! I never knew you could be so wicked! How dare you mess up brother Seth's proposal? You're so smart that you'd never make such a mistake! Are you trying to get back at him like this? Don't you know that yesterday he stood you up because he had to rush me to hospital? You are such a wicked woman!"

Arla-Rosa was shocked to hear her sister's voice on Seth's phone. She was dazed and didn't even remember to respond. "Aretha, stop it! Give me back the phone. Arla-Rosa, sorry about that. I'm at your dormitory with your sister. Where are you?" Seth Robinson asked, although her voice was not loud, Arla-Rosa could detect a hint of anger in his voice.

Before Arla-Rosa could respond, her master snatched the phone and through gritted teeth, responded. "She's at the People's Hospital and has just come out of an eight hour surgery, after sleeping late, drafting that project proposal for you!" With that he cut off the phone. Arla-Rosa opened her mouth and shut it, unsure of what to say.

"Master Ye, am I hopeless?" Finally she asked and the old man patted her head lightly. "No child, you're inherently selfless, and although it's your greatest attribute, it's also your weakness. It's good to give, but don't abandon yourself in the process. But what can I say? Your fate is different, child. One day, everything will eventually make sense."

Hearing her Master's words, Arla-Rosa was jolted by how similar they were to the driver, last night. What should I do? How should I handle this? Arla-Rosa could only question herself but her mind was a mess.