Rose Kana & Maya Thornbrook

Circling my finger on the glass of the window, I rested my head over the wall as I watched dozens of busy people heading somewhere down below. With the thawing of my breath over the cool window, I exhale a sigh as I am bored out of my mind. 

It was my nineteenth birthday today and yet, aunt Amelia is stuck in traffic. As my natural dark red hair fell over my pale cheeks, I stared at my glare in the windows reflection. Noticing my deep blue eyes, I scoffed as my appearance was often the subject of everyone's attention. Being bullied almost since birth, aunt Amelia eventually pulled me from public schools and worked two jobs to enroll me in a prestigious private school that utilized a K-12 system. 

My parents passed away after I was born and my aunt was the only one left who took me in and raised me on her own. My grandma had a mental breakdown when I turned three from what aunt Amelia told me. The strain over my mother's death hit her the hardest and eventually, she broke. I occasionally visit her a few times every couple of weeks at a retirement home in the countryside. 

I had finally finished high school and was on my way to the university I had picked out to attend. Being the last day in my home and room, I looked at the clock on the table as it read it was almost midnight. Resting my hands over my lap, the silence raised my beating heart steady as I stood up. 

Taking my luggage, I left a note on a slice of cake I bought before hand from the bakery on my way home from my graduation ceremony yesterday. I wiped my eyes as I walked over to the front door and slid on my winter boots. Wrapping my hair into my a bun and putting on a matching beanie, I sniffed my nose as I opened the front door and was left utterly speechless when I raised my gaze. 

"Hey! Rose-... Saying… goodbye… without me?! "My tears broke free from my heart as I effortlessly cried while abruptly hugging her tightly. "Sorry, Im… late! Sweety. "

As she held out her arms with mine, I looked up to meet her gentle smile and exhaled as she handed me a present around her arm. Handing me the bag, I took out a small case and opened it to see a pair of bland glasses. Gasping for air, I looked at her and covered my mouth as she confirmed they were my mothers precious glasses. Trembling in excitement, I wrapped my arms around her excitedly as I knew finding them after all this time was like a needle in a haystack as all of moms things were either sold or thrown away when they last moved. 

"Apparently, an elderly couple had them after they found the case in a ditch a mile from where we used to live. It was at a train stop twenty years ago that was out of commission at the time. It was on a morning jog that the elderly woman found the case near a bench no one used anymore. It was sheer coincidence and luck to have found them and even more so to track them down in the countryside after all his time… Happy birthday, Rose! You are my and your mother's light. "

Hugging me again, the phrase, 'light', was a term she always reminded me every day. She spotted my luggage and closed her eyes as it was time for me to go. Taking off her wool white scarf she once made for my mother, I was honored when she wrapped it around my neck and smiled as she wished me for the best. As overwhelmed as I was, my reaction was genuine as I didn't want to let her go while we parted for the last time until I finished my studies abroad in the States. 

"Don't be a stranger, sweety… Stay safe. "Turning to the door, I smiled and thanked her for everything she has for me. "Go see the world, kiddo. "

Turning around and leaving to the main road, I hailed a cab and headed to the airport where I caught a flight to the United States an hour or so later. 

~

Walking to my seat in the commercial flight, I sat near the window near the front as people walked inside to take their seats. Plugging in my ear buds and listening to the latest music of rap and hip hop, I reached into my handbag and took out my sketchbook where I then continued on my portrait of a woman I had never met before but felt an odd familiarity with. A few minutes soon passed me by and as a person took their seat beside me, she took off her large coat and laid it over her lap. 

Turning to her coat and then to her chest, I was taken aback by her large breasts as I found myself absorbed by how big they were. 

"Um… excuse me? Can I help you? "Lifting my head twice, I then fell in love with her at first sight as she felt to be a gentle person at heart. 

"Uh-huh… " Meeting her gaze, I was completely speechless as she was one of the colorless people I often came across in my daily life. "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to stare it's just, to be honest, you have such amazing breasts! "

"O-oh… uh, thanks? " Sliding her coat up to her chest awkwardly, I found myself bursting into a quiet laugh after seeing her flustered expression. 

"You can just ignore me, auntie often says I speak my mind more than I should. Don't worry, I'll fall asleep pretty soon anyway. Sleeping is somewhat of a struggle for a hyper energetic person like me, though, you'd never guess that just by looking at me, right? "

"Um… " Seeing how uncomfortable she was, I smirked and correctly apologized as I turned to my sketchbook. 

Her posture soon calmer as she quietly mixed her eyes with my own business until eventually, dozing off beside me. 

~

Waking up a while later, I was staring out the window at the rising sun over the horizon. It had begun to rise over the cloudy horizon as the vast ocean seemed to shine in its entirety. I looked over to the busty girl and open her eyes as her chest had exploded from her tight button shirt. 

Swiftly covering her with her own coat, she was sound asleep and didn't notice while shifting herself into my arms. Leaning over to my shoulder, the flight attendants passed by with a cart and were about to ask if we wanted anything when they saw us and smiled while passing us by. Exhausting a slight gasp,  the thought of waking her crossed my mind when I saw the barely noticeable bags under her eyes. 

As the sun began to reach her resting face, she sniffed her nose and woke up lightly in my arms. Meeting my gaze, I smiled helplessly and tilted my head as she blushed. 

"S-sorry… I didn't mean to fall asleep on you, sir. "Smirking with a shocked expression, I removed my beanie and lowered my scarf from my face. 

Gasping as she looked and met my dark red hair came alive in the sunlight, my appearance blew her away as it was apparent I was a girl. Hiding my appearance again, I returned to my sketchbook while I felt a guilty pair of eyes gleaming with wonder towards my right. Turning to meet her seductive positioning towards me, I leaned back as she asked why I covered myself from public view.

"Oh… uh, I dislike being watched like an exotic creature… sort of like what you are doing right now if I'm honest. "Flustered, she tilted her gaze to my knees. 

"O-oh! Sorry. I-Id don't mean-"

"Its okay. I wish I could say I'm used to it, but that would be a lie and I dislike lies as well. I'm Rose… Rose Kana. 19. Soon to attend university. "

Extending my fingerless gloved hand towards hers, she then shook it as she introduced herself. 

"M-Maya Thornbrook. I'm a reporter for Ashley's News Weekly? "Sitting up in her seat, she looked down to her chest, shocked, she blushed had squealed lightly under her breath. 

"Hmm… that's the large agency that's hot right now isn't it? "Attempting to continue the conversation as to not embarrass her any further, she simply continued as I worked on my sketch. 

"Um. Well, it is popular among the teens and early youth and I am fortunate to be employed by them. So yeah, its awesome. "

"You aren't very good at small talk are you? "Shifting my low gaze, she met my eyes and gasped when the sun hit the side of my face and turned my left eye a different color. 

"N-No… Is it that obvious?! "

"Sorry… I'm currently heading to the US to study art in New York. I'll be a Freshman at Amberage University pretty soon. "Shifting gears, she snapped from her trance and spoke.

"Amberage'? I don't think I've heard of such a University? "

"No, I'm sure most haven't. It's a relatively new University only a few years old I believe. The tuition is insane, but it doesn't change my determination in finding my passion in art and graphic design. "

"Amberage'… huh? Hey, do you mind if I tag along with you to this, University? I was considering doing an article on something and the school sounds interesting. "

"Uh, sure. I don't mind. "

"I'm a reporter and I need a story. This mystery University seems like it could be my ticket for a good few days of vacation. "

"Um, How old are you, Maya? If I may be so bold as to ask that is? "

"Nineteen in a couple of days. But I'm currently eighteen. "

"Wait? You are eighteen and work for an agency? Wha-How did this happen? "Shifting in my seat while lifting my leg, I put down my sketchbook and faced her.

"It helps if you know someone in the agency… like say, your older twin brother? "

"Okay, hold on. You mean tired tell me your older twin' brother started an agency and somehow, he did this while at a young age? He must be something else if he really did that. "

"He does… he is-smart. Like, mega omg' he's a genuine genius. A little too much if I'm being completely truthful. "Her low gaze and tired expression felt like she was sorry she wasn't like her brother. 

"Hmm. Hey, Maya… "Turning to meet my gaze, I then playfully stared at her chest. "I can see pink. "

"Goodness, I'm sorry! Wait-"Pulling a joke on her, she smiled and was flustered at the same time. 

"Though, you do have a nice pair of-" 

"Okay! Thanks, I shouldn't be ashamed of them. I get it. "Leaning closer to meet her gaze inches away, I raised my left hand held her cheek. 

Staring with curiosity, she called for me as in that instance, I gasped and snapped out of it as it happened again. 

Grasping at air and catching my breath, Maya leaned in as I was caught up in a cold sweat. I sat up as Maya became worried about my health. Calling a flight attendant, I held my eyes shut as I calmed myself back down to normal as I said I would be fine. 

As the beautiful stewardess grasped the edge of Maya's seat during some turbulence, I raised my hand to stop her from calling from falling. When the ride smoothed out, I sat back and opened my eyes. 

"I'm fine. This is normal… Could I get some water please. "

~

Resting in my seat as I drank a brisk, cooled bottle of water, Maya kept her gaze glued toward my every action after things calmed down. As if tending to keep like a patient, Maya spoke to me every few minutes until we landed.

As I adjusted myself on the seat, I turned to Maya and was confused as to meeting her worried reaction. 

"R-Rose… Are you okay now? "Meeting her sharp and stern, anxious gaze, I nodded gently as she blushed while holding her worried gaze. "Good… that's good. "

Not long after, we came to a complete stop, we arrived at the airport in New York and Maya walked beside me as a hazy mist covered the horizon over the airport. 

~

Standing up, at the terminal, I picked up my belongings as I was heading towards the exit. A dark and gloomy sky suggested it was certainly going to rain. Seeing the line to hail a cab, I shook my head and sat down on my luggage while scrolling through my phone to call for a cab. Maya and I had parted ways at the terminal to get our stuff. 

Looking up as a car honked before, I held a worried face as the cold weather took a toll on my sensitive and delicate, pale skin. "Rose! "

"Maya? "Dazed, I attempted to stand until collapsing to my knees. 

Maya soon jumped out the car and came to my aid as my chest felt unbearably heavy. 

Extending her arm under mine, she carried me into her car and packed away my things in the truck. 

Resting my head from side to side in my seat, Maya buckled me in and drove me to the hospital. 

~

Seeing the hospital room door open, I looked to find Maya walking in with two cups of hot chocolate from a nearby store. The sweet scent spread inside the room. A cool and bittersweet scent of pine floated within the hospital room. 

"Hey. "

"Hey… thanks for taking me to the hospital. But, really. I'm fine. Just a bit anemic. "Maya's gaze shifted from my face to my hands as I could see hers were still trembling from when I collapsed at the airport. "-Maya. "

"Yes!? Sorry, I was… "Taking a seat beside me, she saw me lying on the hospital bed as if I was someone else. "Its-sorry. I just have a long history with hospitals and… it just… it hurts. "

Unsure by what she meant, I raised my face forward to the ceiling and waited as I then broke the silence. 

"I'm sorry you had to worry over a complete stranger. Maya. "

Shaking her head, she shivered as I could tell she was on the brink of tears with every word I uttered into a sentence. 

"Do you want a hug? "Nodding hesitantly, I raised my arm slightly and felt her warmth as kind as auntie Amelia's hugs. "There, there… I'm sorry I worried you, Maya. "

~

After being discharged from the hospital, Maya made it heed mission to care for me as I was going to rent a hotel somewhere nearby. Maya immediately shot me down and practically dragged me to her residence near the outskirts of the city. 

The area held a high-end vibe as there were gated communities on either side of the newish looking road. Turning the street corner, we stopped at a checkpoint where as Maya lowered her window and in the brisk cold, swiped an ID card over an automated sensor. Then, a tall black gate soon opened up as cameras hung on either side. 

Driving in slow over the various speed bumps, we arrived at a small home among several dozen new homes on either side. Pulling into a narrow driveway, the garage door opened up as Maya carefully drove inside. As she turned off the engine, I got out and stretched lightly while making my way towards the back of the car. 

Grabbing our luggage, Maya passed me by first as she went into her living room. I stood waiting at the doorway when she turned and smiled as she pointed to the spare room as she said she lived here alone. 

Dropping my bags, I took off my sweater as she turned up the thermostat and a warm atmosphere bounced across the living room. Setting my things onto a corner of the living room out of sight, I touched the soft, new couches with my fingers in comfort. 

"Thanks again, Maya. For letting me crash here for a bit. "Looking backwards and over to Maya, she turned away with a flustered made while nodding. 

I sat up against the plush matching white colored couch and called home to let aunt Amelia know I arrived safely. 

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