"Yes, you". He got Alvah in a tight embrace. No doubt he couldn't breathe.
"You", he leveled his height to give him a peck on the forehead.
"You, you're okay now. You're okay now I can see that". He said scanning Alvah's body.
"Relax old sage I'm not coming from the grave".
Alvah said trying to keep him cool but he just wouldn't as he doubted even in himself that he would wake up.
With a wide smile he said, "That's a death bed for a lot of people but you survived. I'm Soo happy".
"Take a seat", he said lifted his arm. they both sat down taking in deep breath looking into the sky.
" You don't know how much I'm happy seeing you awake alvah". He couldn't be any less grateful for his recovery.
"Why do you say that?" Alvah asked him shifting his gaze from the sky to his poor eyes
"Because, Vida could take a rest now, she's been so worried about you. She would stay up all night and day watching out for you". A flimsy smile showed on his face.
" I was at first worried about her but when I saw that she could actually feel this way and towards someone, I didn't mind at all if it were me as long as she cared".
" Why would she care that much for me?" Alvah asked old sage, perplexed by what he heard.
" Because..." too bad he had said too much before he realized it.
He cleared his throat harshly.
"I don't mind you telling me what I'm already aware of" he said unattractively.
" You?!..." The old sage was stunned, left puzzled.
Alvah continued, "She laid on top of my chest and fell asleep. It seemed intimate but I didn't have much thought up until now". He looked him in the eye.
"Alvah..." he called out his name.
" Old sage I'm quite tired but I can't rest. Let's gossip a little", Alvah grinned slowly.
"What's up with Vida since I was gone?". Old sage alas conversed with him.
"Alvah we both can't deny that she was a ruthless and ferocious girl at first but isn't there always the one who can melt a stone heart" He was referring to Alvah which he clearly knew.
"I've got a stone heart" Alvah spoke like an unfilled being. And his black eyes remained wide and still.
Old sage didn't believe his ears and he asked, "What?"
Alvah replied to him, "Yes!, I got my stone heart melted. Vida could get one too but not from me".
"You have a woman in your life?". old sage asked unbelievably with a hint of regret in his voice.
"Yes". He explained
" Her name's Zillah. I did all this for her, so I could be with her, temporarily. I'm there but always unavailable, if I could be available but for a short time, that's okay with me".
"But when you leave permanently wouldn't that be more depressing?". He followed up with Alvah's word.
"She's got to get her heart broken definitely that's inevitable. It's happened a couple of times though and I did nothing". He felt saddened.
"If it's something she could do I know she would but there's absolutely nothing she can do". Old sage was speechless.
"I wanna get my heart broken by her. But she doesn't tend to make that mistake. To me she's priceless, I'll do anything for her". His words were deep and sharp as a spear in old sages ears
He could finally speak, " Alvah no. Vida will be lost forever this time. What can I do?, I thought you'd be the one for her, here you are telling me about your issue". He was gravelled.
"Alvah, vida loves you. I'm telling you this honestly. I don't know how it happened but she can't deny it".
Alvah shut him off saying, "I'll talk to her".
" Please be calm" . He only could plead. "Sure, I know what it's like to lose what you never had".
'Is it just me, or is he meant to be a celestial?' old sage questioned himself.
"I Hope you can stay awake?" Alvah asked looking at his current state.
"Ha!, I don't think I can do that, I'm exhausted as you can see. He looked down at himself. You woke me up after all", he chuckled lightly.
He said to him, "Get some rest".
"Old sage" he murmured. He did just that not realizing when he got to his bed and slept off.
'Vida, I expected it. But it took a while didn't it?'. He strolled his hands through his hair.
...
It was morning and the sun was unusually bright like something good is finally about to happen.
Vida who looked like she would never wake up did and with her eyes wide open looking at the body who laid on the couch.
'How did he?. Is that?'. She vividly looked at the bed where he laid last night and there wasn't any other on the bed aside her.
She rashly stood up when she was already having eye contact with him but remained still with her heart beat loud out her chest.
She asked reluctantly "When did you wake up?" struggling to keep eye contact with him
"Last night!" he replied with a smile.
She passed out for a few seconds but she was quick to return and ask, " How did you wake up?"
"I... opened my eyes" He said looking around. I mean how else was he supposed to wake up.
She couldn't withhold no longer "My goodness" . She ran to him wrapping her arms around his neck stuffing her face with drops of tears falling onto his shoulder.
He was hesitant to hold her, "Vida you"
She spoke with emotions, " Why did you take Soo long to wake up?, you got me worried you should apologize to me". She hit his arm taking a closer look at his face.
"And you should lean back, you're too close to me". He reminded.
" Sorry, sorry". Realization dawned on her. " Silly me". She had just apologized. Vida apologized, Alvah was thrilled.
"Yes" . He didn't deny it. "Go freshen up we need you downstairs" . He released her embrace.
" Sure". She responded calmly
'Is this really her?. he got lost by her actions. She was like a new soul'.
When Alvah got downstairs Old sage didn't hesitate to ask, "Where is she?"
He replied, "She'll be down soon". He took a deep breath when he heard Alvah, "It's Okay I'll be nice". Alvah said as an assurance to him. He could only nod back.
"You know what, let me do this. I'll talk to her as her grandfather. She told me about her feelings and I should be the one to dissipate it".
" Why wouldn't your granddaughter get married to anyone?" Alvah just had to ask the formidable question.
"My granddaughter is secretive, I don't know how she ended up like that. It's like something happened to her that's causing this but..."
" I wouldn't want to see her cry so when I'm done talking you can..." His words were incomplete but Alvah understood.
" She wouldn't cry" . Alvah reassured. "How sure are you?" He asked knowing too well his granddaughter most times doesn't give a damn.
"Because..." he stopped in his statement replaying the incident that happened earlier. "Those were tears". He said in a low tone.
" What?" Old sage was confused, what is he muttering.
"Nothing. Wait!"