Lenin is on the outskirt of the main city. Unlike the village of Musica, the life on Lenin is much slower. The sun is already setting when they arrive, the carriage pass by the town where the villager’s eyes are fixated on it.
An old man approached the carriage when horses went to a halt. The man looks out his window to see the old man and smiled. He gets out of his carriage and hugged the old man.
“You’re doing fine now?!” The man asks in surprise.
“All thanks to you doctor” The old man replied with tears in his eyes.
After such encounter, the sun has already set and he rode his carriage home. Feelings began to stir up in this man’s heart as he ponders the encounter he had with the villagers. He was in such deep thought that he didn’t notice that they have already arrived at his house. Edmund opens the door and took his bag. A maid was waiting by the front door.
The house looks well maintained with flowers blooming by the side walk and around the entire place. A cobblestone house that has vines growing from the sides adding more beauty to the place.
When he came to himself, he got off the carriage and handed his cloak at the maid.
“What are we having for dinner Margaret?” The man asks.
“There is still food given by the villagers. It would be a waste to throw them out.” The maid replies.
The man gave a weak smile and proceeded to the dining area. Various food is on the table, ranging from fruits and root crops to pastries and sweets. Edmund soon joined them at the table.
“I have placed your belongings in your room Doctor” Edmund said
“Thank you, Edmund. Please join us.”
They filled themselves from the foods that were given by the villagers. Edmund and Margaret engage in conversation on how they days went. Continuously trying to engage the Doctor to join the conversation who seems too deep in thought and exhausted to participate.
After dinner the man went upstairs while the maid and the driver cleans the table. At lights out, they all went to their own room that was in the ground floor. The light inside the man’s room is still lit.
The room was filled with books, scattered on the floor along with papers that seems not important to him. On his table is a picture of a woman and a girl around his arms by their garden. He slumps on his table while staring at the picture then tears filled his eyes.
He remembers the box that he receives from the strange girl at Musica. He took it out from his bag that was on his table. He stares at the glowing heart shape prism inside the box. As the hearts’ different colors reflected in his eyes, the sorrow that he was feeling earlier disappeared and was overwritten with feelings of mystery.
His thought was now filled of questions about the girl. Why does she sell hearts? Who is she? Where did she came from? He falls asleep with those thought floating inside his mind.
When morning came, he realized he had just slept at his table again. But unlike the other times that he had woken up, this time he was being filled with unexplained exuberance. He went downstairs and was greeted by Margaret carrying a basket of bread.
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“Doctor, another gift from the villagers.” She greeted him with a smile.
“Margaret, please tell Edmund we’ll head back to Musica as soon as he is ready.”
The old woman was surprised. It has been a while when she saw the Doctor this happy. She talks with Edmund who is outside by the garden and informs him of what just happen. They were both filled with delight.
“May this peace continue to be with him” Edmund whispered under his breath.
They arrived at Musica way before noon and went straight to the blacksmith’s workshop. Digor was taking it easy while waiting for any customer who arrives. He was surprise when he saw the horse-drawn carriage. The man got off the carriage and Digor sighed in relief when he saw him.
“Ah Dr. Stine, it’s just you. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?” The blacksmith greeted politely.
“About the young women who was here yesterday.”
“Oh Laina? What about her?”
“Well I would like to talk with her, do you know where she is.”
“I can’t say I do Doctor. You see, she goes from one place to another.”
“I see.”
“If you must see her, I suggest you go to Edo, you’ll have more chance of finding her there than here.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m sorry for troubling you this morning” Stine said as he tips his hat in respect to Digor.
Edo is a village right next to Musica, it’s distance from Musica is much shorter compared to Lenin if you were to travel from there. Edo almost has the same town composition like others, from the fountain at the village square to the lake at its far eastern part. Except for the valley in which the village is built. Cold streams rush its parts and embracing breeze covers your body as you walk through the streets.
Doctor Stine and Edmund arrives at Edo and had breakfast at a nearby inn. Stine talks with the owner to know the whereabouts of Laina. He was directed to go to the northern part of town where she’s usually at during this time. He thanks the owner and briefly ate before heading out, as well as having Edmund to wait for him while he looks for the said girl.
Laina was sitting casually at a barrel eating bread while overlooking the vastness and beauty of the valley. Stein approach the young lass still unaware of his presence.
“Excuse me.” He spoke softly.
The young girl is startled and gave him a surprised look but then began to have cheerful expression when she saw his face.
“Ah! Mister from Musica” she gleefully said.
“Yes. Uhm, if I may, can you tell me more about the hearts that you’re selling?”
“These hearts bring happiness, but only one heart per person.” She explains while showing her basket-filled hearts.
Another thought came to his mind when Laina explains what the heart does. He’s not entirely sure if he believes what she just told him, but somehow deep inside him he felt that what she had just said is true.
“Do you want me to help you sell the hearts?” He asks.
“That’s a great idea.” She expresses. “But I still don’t know your name” She added.
“Ah of course. My name is Lionel Stine, but most people just call me Stine.” He replies with kind gesture.
“Nice to meet you Mr. Stine, my name is Laina, just Laina” She replied while slightly bowing her head and holding her dress.
On they went to sell the hearts that Laina possesses. They went from house to house offering the hearts, yet they were all kindly rejected. Laina’s smile never left her face while the weary Doctor expression seems to fall.
“How could you keep a happy face despite all those rejections” He asks.
Laina looks at the worn-down doctor as if she didn’t hear the question. She looks at him with this perplex face followed by a big smile.
They have been going around the entire town trying to sell the hearts for the entire day. The sun was also about set, a gentle breeze passes through the town as if hinting of oncoming nightfall. Stine looks at his watch and was surprised that their little endeavor took the entire day.
“It seems to be getting late, we should call it a day.”
The young girl smiles at the doctor and nod in agreement. Then the both of them went to the village square where Edmund is waiting.
“Are you staying nearby, we could give you a lift to your place.”
“Ah no, I travel with the peddlers going from village to village.”
“Is that so? May I offer you a place to stay. I have enough food in my house and plenty of room to spare.”
The lass hesitantly accepted Mr. Stines offer. As they travel back to Lenin, Stine bombards her with questions of who she was and where she lives in which he didn’t learn much. She became a little uncomfortable so Stine stops prying. But all of that uneasiness left her went she saw the setting sun and it seems as if her mind wandered somewhere.