Letting out a lazy breath, Jasmine finished drying her hair, her eyes explored the room Henifer accorded her. Taking in the vast living space that is to be her room.
Jasmine hanged up the wet towel and bathrobe to dry. She walked over to the closet, her clothes and jewelry had been set and arranged neatly. In the order of colors just the way she prefers it.
"He has a lot of free time in his hands. I must find something for him to do," she let out, knowing that only Ander knew her well enough to have unpacked and arranged her belongings.
She ambled to the snack cabinet and took out a bag of salted chips. Jasmine popped a handful of chips in her mouth, closed her eyes, and moaned as she chewed them. She leans her head back, shaking her hair behind her.
Jasmine plops down on the couch and reach for her cellphone to check the time. An idea popped into her head, for her to use the chance to relax. Not worry about her emails or work.
She laid lazily on the couch, allowing herself to smile as she looked around the room. "This will be a good place to spend the nights with the few months I have left," she mumbled to herself. "I can see myself dying in peace here."
Jasmine reached out and grabs her purse. She took out her medicine from inside the purse and ate it with a glass of water.
She stared at the bag of chips with a lingering gaze. The habit of eating chips came after the diagnosis of her condition. She'd always prided herself in living a healthy life untill she learnt that she was dying.
Jasmine grabbed a handful of chips and shoved them in her mouth. Since she had nothing to lose from being carefree, she chose to enjoy the pleasures she once deprived herself of.
"Where is Jacob? Why hasn't he come to see me?"
Jasmine laughs standing up. Her worries for Jacob faded as she recalled his friendship with Jalana. She figured Jacob wouldn't have the courage to face her so soon.
"I should let him know that I'm not angry at him anymore," she thought.
She shoots up her head when Henifer walks in. Jasmine instinctively crosses her slim hands and looks up to her. Being defensive towards Henifer.
"I brought you a bowl of warm porridge. The doctor recommended it for you," Henifer said simply. "Come, I'll feed you."
One of Jasmine's dimple melts at the initiative. Her lips begins to curl up before she snaps a cold expression to her face. "My hands work just fine," she let out, but deep down she hoped Henifer would insist. She's never been served porridge when she fell ill and it was an experience she wanted before her untimely death.
"It wasn't a request. I insist, come," Henifer uttered. Ander had profiled Jasmine for her, Henifer did her best to memorize every detail Ander gave on Jasmine.
The boy emphasized on Jasmine's stubbornness and her unyielding personality. Henifer understood that soft love wasn't going to melt through to Jasmine's icy walls and tough love was the answer.
"I don't like you telling me what to do," Jasmine kept up the facade. She and Henifer got into a bit of a staring contest, it had been the longest staring in both their history, neither of them yielding to the other.
"You're sixteen years late to save me," Jasmine whisper before she fainted the previous day overwhelmed Henifer. Her motherly protective and caring instincts kicked in full gear.
She ignored Jasmine's resistance and sunk down on the couch next to her. Henifer dished out a spoon full of porridge, blew on it and guided it to Jasmine's lips.
Jasmine tilted her head and allowed Henifer to feed her. Henifer let's out a long, relieved breath as Jasmine ended her resistance. A surge of hopes rushes through as she gets a chance to feed her step-daughter.
Circumstances had complicated their relationship but Henifer resigned to change that. Her children had no objections to her becoming Jasmine and Jacob's guardian so she decided to raise them to the best of her abilities.
Her decision came as a shock to Richard and Monica. They were stunned to learn that she wished to take their children in and raise them along side Sebastian and Jalana. Richard happily agreed to it and signed over the custody of Jasmine and Jacob to her. Monica only signed the custody papers to please Richard and show him that her interests are aligned with his.
No ounce of blood in her veins thought twice before giving away her children. She hadn't taken a moment of her time to be a mother to them since they were born, her focus was always divided on winning over her husband, his family and Raul. They were her main priority and sole focus in life.
Since Henifer was ready to lift the burden of Jasmine and Jacob, she happily let them go. Henifer didn't mind the reason behind their agreement to her request, all the mattered to her was being there for the children. Not only Jasmine, Jacob and Elisa but she hoped to reach out to Raul too and bring him home.
"I'm thinking of transferring Jalana to your school. That should give the two of you a chance to grow close," she suggested, breaking the silence of the room.
Jasmine inhaled sharply and released a heavy sigh. "I don't want to be close to her," she blantly uttered.
"Jalana is a good person. I'm sure once you get to know her, you'll see that she..."
"Grew up in a loving home with a mother she could lean on?" Jasmine snapped. It was the second time someone was praising Jalana Infront of her, their compliments on Jalana made her feel deficient. Jasmine didn't like the feeling one bit.
She and Jalana grew up under different circumstances and it poked at her wounds to hear everyone speak highly of Jalana. "I get that I'm not nice or much of a good person but I don't need your sympathy or her pity friendship," She spoke up.
"I'm not..."
"Thank you for the porridge but I think I'm going to retire to bed now," Jasmine quickly got to her feet and marched to the bed. "Goodnight, Henifer," she added sharply before Henifer could let in a word.
"Goodnight, Jasmine," Henifer held her tongue, she had plenty of time to get Jasmine to lower her guards, after all Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was trust earned that easily. "See you in the morning."
"Only for six more months," Jasmine whispered with a heavy heart. Her tone barely recognizable but Henifer caught a whiff of it before walking out. "I'm fading away slowly, but at least now I can go in peace knowing Jacob and Elisa are in good hands. Will you cry for me, Henifer?" She thought out loud, staring at the spot Henifer once sat. "Why would you, we aren't close enough for you to miss me when I die.I can't help but wish you'd cry for me when I'm gone, though."