The Charm of the Pirate

Open up your Eyes

Pace Island, January 1500.

Even today the sky was clear, the sunlight was warm, and the air felt very fresh, really calming the soul.

Richi surrounded the Rose Pavilion, he took out a sprig of red roses and stuffed them into a glass of water. Richi takes her inside and puts her on Sofia's bedside table.

Sofia's eyes were still closed, two days had passed but she was still unconscious. Richi was always waiting for him and did not depart from the Rose Pavilion in the slightest. He drew closer to her and clasped her hand gently.

"Arise Esme..."

"You're gonna love this place..."

"Open your eyes..." Richi stroked Sofia's hair.

"I promise I'll take you home when you're cured..."

"So..."

"Please, wake up.."

"Gear at Me.."

"Maki Me.."

"Recher me.."

"I don't care.."

"Please wake up..."

There was no response from Sofia. Richi's heart felt so tight, he felt so sick deep down.

"It hurts so much..." Richi rubbed his chest repeatedly.

Someone walked towards Pavilion Rose. The sound of her footsteps approaching, before long Joy was seen coming with a tray with a bowl and a glass on it.

"Good morning.."

"Mr Richi..."

"Eat first.."

Joy moves a bowl of warm soup and a glass of milk onto the table.

Richi smiled, but he said nothing.

"If you eat and finish this Soup and milk, I promise I'll make this young lady wake up." Joy smiled gently.

Richi said nothing, quickly taking the bowl of soup and finishing it in seconds.

Joy smiles to see Richi eating all the food she brought.

"When will Esme wake up?" Richi wiped off the rest of the Soup that was stuck at the corner of her lips.

Joy smiled and patted Richi on the shoulder.

"This Young Miss will open her eyes when she wants her Master." Joy laughs at Richi's already very hopeful expression.

"You're playing me Joy.." Richi was upset to hear the old woman's answer.

"I tell you the truth, sir. The bullet hit the right gut, lucky that it didn't hit any other vital organs, so I can take the bullet out pretty easily and keep it, do you want it?" Joy raised both eyebrows.

"You can keep it, I'm not interested in seeing it one bit." Richi replied coldly.

"Miss Esme would have lost a lot of blood if you hadn't pressed the wound back then."

"But... I'm sure there's a lot of blood coming out."

"Yes... It's a good thing you pressured her, otherwise I don't know what will happen Sir, maybe Miss Esme will go into shock and be very life threatening."

The mood turned silent.

"Then, is Esme okay now?"

"Yes for now. But Miss Esme was in a critical moment a few hours ago, but it's past." Joy tries to smile to make Richi calmer.

"really? Is she gonna be okay now?"

Joy did not answer, She just nodded her head.

"Thank God...." Richi breathed a sigh of relief.

Richi kisses Esme on the back of her hand, kissing her several times before hearing Joy coughing beside her.

Ekhm

Joy just smiled looking at Richi who looked embarrassed.

"That's all I want to say.. " Joy came out and closed again the door of Rose Pavilion.

"Thank you Joy.."

She smiled, Joy could hear it even though it was behind the door.

* * *

A week has passed since the shooting of Sofia. There was no sign of Sofia opening her eyes today. Richi keeps waiting for him and doesn't go anywhere.

Richi keeps asking Joy about her progress, and it's almost frustrating not to see Sofia open her eyes.

Joy responds casually, as Sofia's body temperature is normal and her wound is almost dry despite still bleeding.

Richi always changes the bandage in Sofia's stomach, but Joy has told the waiter to replace it, but she still insists on doing it herself. She feels very responsible because Sofia was hurt from protecting her.

"Every day you look thinner than Esme..." Richi grasps Sofia's wrist and wipes it with a warm cloth.

"You've been sleeping too long.. "

"Wake up..."

"God.."

"God.."

"God.."

"Are you playing Doctor and Patient?" Hades laughed to see Richi wiping Sofia's hand.

"Go if you just want to make a noise. Esme won't open her eyes if she hears your voice." Richi replied coldly.

"Geez, maybe Esme knows that you're always next to her, so she keeps her eyes closed." Hades laughed heartily at Richi's annoyed expression.

"Damn!" Richi threw the cloth he was holding towards Hades' laughing mouth.

YUK!!

"Suck!" Hades threw the cloth into the corner of the room.

"What do you want?"

"Ah, I almost forgot. Several military ships approached. The old grandmother knew it."

"It should. He's constantly monitoring the situation." Answer Richi.

"You must prepare and meet them."

"No, I'm not leaving until I see Esme wake up."

"Ah jeez!! I'll take care of him for you. So you go."

"I left Esme alone with you? No, never will!"

"Come on.. I'll wait for him until he wakes up."

"Who knows what's inside your head, God doesn't want to know." Richi said coldly.

HAHA

Hades laughed heartily at Richi's words.

"God.. What's wrong with my head." Hades shook his head.

"Once you have to bang it, who knows what's out."

"Yes.. Yep.. I'll try." Hades laughed again.

"Stop laughing, you're gonna scare Esme."

Ekhm..

Hades muffled his voice quickly.

"Ah, one more thing."

Richi looked at Hades without any curiosity.

"What about Gerald?"

"He's alive?"

"Sure! I don't want to dirty both my hands." Hades patted both his hands.

"You can get even dirtier Hades, I'm looking forward to it." Richi replied coldly.

"God, HAHAHA you always comfort me, sir.." Hades laughed again at Richi's cynical words.

"I'm going to kill him with both hands, but the old Grandma won't like it."

"Sure! You have to keep your position! The matter must be uprooted to its root." Hades looked at Richi.

"ah! SURE DID! They all have to pay for it, one life won't be enough." Richi's gaze turned cold.

"I waited for him until then." Hades and Richi looked at each other.

"Yes, for now I'm going to let go. However, if something bad were to happen to Esme, she would regret having me let her live this time." Richi looked at Sofia who was lying on the bed.

"All right, that's all I'm trying to say. Ben and Bamus stand guard in the next room. They'll run when you call him." Then Hades walked out of the Rose Pavilion.

"******** it will get a reply." Richi exhaled in annoyance, He looked back at Sofia and stroked her cheeks which were already getting more and more tyrannical.

"Wake okay? There's a lot I need to hear from you, and there's a lot you need to know.." Richi kissed Sofia's forehead gently.

Suddenly, Sofia's fingers moved several times. Richi was surprised and retreated a few steps back.

"Itsme..."

"Itsme..."

"It's me..."

"Open your eyes..."

Richi approached and clasped Sofia's hand tightly.

Nggh....

Sofia tried to open her eyes, she blinked a few times.

Richi runs towards the window and closes his curtains so that the sunlight will not enter. She walked again towards Sofia and stroked her hair.

"Itsme..."

"Open your eyes..."

Sofia can hear Richi's voice clearly, she tries to open her eyes, but her eyes are tight and hard to open.

Richi took a rag, then wet it. He wiped Sofia's eyes and blew on her.

"Can you open your eyes?"

Sofia tried it again, slowly she was able to see the light from a distance, and then it became clearer and clearer. And very clearly, Richi's face was right in front of him.

"Rich..."