Chapter 98: Iris: Wabi-sabi
THE SOFT feeling of the cushions under
is so heavenly. It’s making
want to sleep so more but my morning breath is beginning to tell a different story.
I open my eyes, imdiately feeling the unnatural sense of difference. What happened last night? I don’t rember a thing except for the panic attack and Lucas driving us to his place but this doesn’t look like his room. I’ve never been here before.
Everything feels different. No, everything is different. My vision is restored to normal the mont I brush my eyes and I pause taking in the scenery of the room I was sleeping in all night long without knowing where I am.
Its minimalistic design is so...strange. Everything looks distorted and odd as if they made the design to not be aligned in any way, and yet, it still makes sense like that. Not to ntion the peacefulness the bits of green and grey are bringing into this room. I can’t help but inhale the breath of fresh flowery scents surrounding us.
"Wabi-sabi."
I almost scream when Lucas hugs
from under the blankets. I hadn’t noticed him because he was covered by the duvet, though it’s a bit strange considering his size. I should have noticed the large bump the mont focus returned to my eyes.
"I’m sorry what did you say?"
"Wabi-sabi," he repeats, scooping
from my side of the bed and placing
on his lap so I straddle it. Then he covers
with the blanket and wraps his arms around
again.
"It’s a Japanese aesthetic characterized by finding beauty in authenticity, simplicity, and imperfection, welcoming the charm of life’s natural wear and tear," he explains to
running his hands up and down my back.
Wabi-sabi as Lucas described it makes the room look curious and relaxing even though the designs are made to look far from perfection on purpose. Like the flower pot right next to the side, I was sleeping on. It looks like it was cracked before and they used gold to nd it before planting a small flower about the size of a dandelion in it—alone.
"My mother was a woman who believed in the positive and growth through ditation and relaxation. She loved yoga and planting natural herbs all over this place. And she loved using scented candles whilst getting a massage in the open house outside."
"She sounds like a goddess," I blurt out half imagining what she looked like. Maybe like Lucas but more feminine?
"Yeah. It seed that way to
too. That’s why I brought you here, so you can feel the calm and tranquility this place brings to your mind."
"I’m already feeling the effect but what about work today? Aren’t you supposed to attend etings?" I deviate from the topic but he clasps my mouth before I go any further.
"Are you sure you should be asking
that instead of enjoying your short-lived vacation? I know a hundred, no, a thousand people who would die to get what you have right now," Lucas arches a perfect brow and shrugs.
Letting out a sigh and lying on his chest, I do as I’m told and relax. But even as I try to do that, last night’s events keep running in my head like a whirlpool and only one person keeps coming to mind.
My Dad.
I don’t rember his face clearly, but I’m sure my grandparents do. My curiosity keeps telling
to ask them to tell
what he was like, but my gut knows I can’t handle it. Last night was a disaster thanks to him. I had to recollect the worst of mories at the worst of tis and risk getting Lucas in trouble.
And here I thought I had finally healed from all that. Seems like I’ll have to do more therapy sessions before I can finally stop worrying every ti I’m in a dark space. The only question left is when? When will I be able to live in the dark freely? I’m tired of this worrying and shaking in front of Lucas.
"I’m sorry about last night," Lucas hugs
tighter, adjusting his head on my shoulder before kissing the bottom of my neck. "I shouldn’t have forced you to go public with . We should have gone ahead with your idea."
"No, I’m sorry for making this tough for you."
"You didn’t make things tough, babe. If there’s soone to bla for what happened last night then it would be . I’m the one who complicated everything for you and I’m the one who took you into that dark room. So...that’s why I’m apologizing. I’m sorry Iris."
I pull away from his head, grabbing his face so I can have a close look at it. As always, he looks so sincere when he’s apologizing. It makes
wonder what I did to deserve him, a man who knows how to please a distraught woman in the right ways.
"See, you always apologize first. Let
be the star of the show for once."
"You will be if you’re the one who wrongs
first."
Ah, this brings back mories.
Kissing his forehead, I move from his lap and crawl out of bed. "I’ll try and outshine you once."
Putting on the first shoes I see by the edge of his bed, I make my way to the bathroom. Wait. Where is the bathroom?
"Luke."
"Yes?"
"Where is the bathroom?" I scan my eyes around. The room is clean to the touch. It’s not clustered with furniture or designs, neither are the colors mingling like rainbows. I can’t wrap my head around all this wabi-sabi the but it looks good.
Lucas lets out a low husky laugh as he leaves the bed, taking my hand whilst wearing his morning shoes. "Follow ."
We walk to the far right end of the room where there’s a grey door with a strange handle that looks more or less like a coat hanger. He pulls it open and we walk in, my jaw dropping on the floor the mont I lay my eyes on it.
The tree bark carved soap holders, the sky blue tiles that have just the right amount of white to make them look cloudy, making the bathroom look more or less like heaven, and the mirror on the wall adorned with what looks like flowers on a curved branch circling around it. It’s a mixture of earth and heaven in here. Mother Nature’s man cave.
"Do you like it?"
I raise my head to face Lucas. "I love it. I wouldn’t mind sitting in here all day writing. It’s magnificent."
He laughs. "That’s good. Now let’s go and get you so toiletries first before touring around the place."
I beam at him, my eyes lingering to the bathroom as we leave it behind. Lucas still has my hand in his and he’s leading the way outside when he abruptly stops on the door.
"Is she awake?"
"Yes," Lucas stands aside. Doctor Williams cos into view.
"Ah, there you are. Long ti no see, Iris."
I smile at him, glancing between him and Lucas as bits of my hazy last night’s mory return to .
What exactly happened last night for him to pop up here first thing in the morning like this?
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