December 2022
Amidst all cheering and noises, the host announced “and now this year Grammy award goes to JANE HARPER!”
“As expected another record-breaking song lead Jane to another award. Harper, can you please spare another singer to grab some awards? You have occupied the trendy searches for almost three years because of your back-to-back blockbuster songs. Even YouTube has to bow down to you because of your crazy fans.”
“Thanks, Misterrrr (evil smile)…..well, I mean thanks, Mr. Host, for the compliment, and as usual thanks to myself for working hard.” After saying that Jane left the stage without any further ado.
Host: …………… “That was a savage one” (awkward smile).
In the dark room, a woman was sitting on the hospital bed staring straight at the television. Her complexion was pale because of her long being laying on the bed but her apricot eyes were shining and she was smiling without being bothered by her poor condition. She picked up the phone and started counting “one, two…” on her third count the phone rang “ANA! Babe, I got another award mwahaha, you don’t know how nervous I was when that cheap host was announcing this year's Grammy award. I want to retire now if it were not for money”
“It’s okay! If not, you can always go back to your boring Archeology department of America” I teased.
“No, no, no absolutely not. I am not meant for it. I have tried to find the secret of that black Orlov diamond but in the end, that project was closed by saying that it’s just a beautiful diamond nothing else. You know how disappointed I was, I still think that it still contains some mystery, you know something related to spirituality…… (Sigh) In the end, they sold in an auction for 80 million. I have now realized my dream and I am pursuing it. Although I fell in love with that job now I don’t care and I am not blaming you for buying it now. It’s over and I don’t want to lose my babe for that diamond.”
Stolen novel; please report.
“I know,” I said recalling all the fights we have done over that Black Orlov. That year Jane was still that young genius archeologist and I was still trying to make a name for myself for the latest research on glutathione which was a breakthrough in the history of dermatologists and the makeup industry. My company solely occupies all the Asian and African regions in the industry. Things are going well, Jane and I were busy but still stole some time for ourselves. But things changed when Jane’s project was closed by her superiors and it was bought by me in the auction. Jane was devastated by how the project was closed. She quit her job and started to try out things that she wanted to do in her teenage. She calls it all destiny. However, I still don’t understand why she was so obsessed and terrified of black Orlov. She never told me why it was scary and at the same time obsession for her.
“Ana?” Jane’s voice broke my reverie.
“Hmm?” Ana tuned playing with the little diamond.
“Jesus, how many times I have called your name, did you even hear what I said just now?” she sulked.
“No” Ana answered honestly.
Jane: “……forget it then. When will you be discharged?”
Ana: “tomorrow morning.”
Jane: “Alright, don’t overexert yourself next time. You are in your late twenties, you should find a boyfriend for yourself. Look at me, Mike and I are dating for a while. I am enjoying his company so much that I want to leave my work and spend my all time with him.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Ana smiled.
“Okay, I have to go now, good night sweetie.”
Beep.
Ana threw away the phone and stared at the black Orlov which was hooked to the silver chain on her neck. “Spiritual or cursed? Mystery? You do give others a lot of speculations about you.” She shrugged and continued her self-talking with that diamond. “In my opinion, you are nothing but just a decoration. You are with me for almost five years but I don’t feel anything from you.”
(Sigh)
Ana closed the TV and went to sleep unbeknown to the light emerging from the diamond that engulfed her soul.