My Mr. Perfect, Imperfect

“Make sure you pick out the weed like this, okay?” A young lady in a colourful floral dress instructed her students. “Yes, teacher!” They replied to her with a cheerful smile and focused on gardening. Her multi-colored, mid-length floral dress swayed a little in the wind direction. She beamed down at her lovely students and the corners of her eyes wrinkled to show she smiles a lot. Her crystal blue eyes sparkled while the sun reflected on it, highlighting the little specks of joy in her eyes. Her Auburn hair was up in a neat bun so that it wouldn't disturb her from weeding. Anyone could see that aside from teaching, being in the garden was something she loved to do. It was a small garden outside the school compound. Sapphire had been working there for a couple of months; though she planned to get a better job and possibly meet with an educated agriculturist to take care of her father's farm. Well, that has been her parent's plan and prayer since her birth. To get married to an agriculturist to inherit their farm. This way, farming would linger around their generation. Lost in the thought of how she would meet with her next arranged date, who was also an agriculturist. Sapphire heard the shilling noise of a fall. It sounded like it came from a distance around them, while the rustling sound of crumbuling, dried leaves sounded again. “What's that?” She jerked at the strange sound. Her students glanced at her with curious faces. Nervous to know who and what it was, Sapphire stood up and took off the rubber hand gloves from her hands. “Umm... I'll be right back. Everyone stays here, okay?” She said to them gently, trying to calm them down. “Okay, teacher.” They replied to her and continued picking out the unwanted crops. Like a wolf looking out for its mate, Sapphire rushed into the woods, which was right after the school compound. She ran faster, as fast as her legs could carry, tracing the voice as it whimpered. Her puzzled eyes searched where the noise was coming from. It felt as if she heard someone panting, closer. She looked around, though, and then she saw a man roll over a slope and fell into another part of the woods. Tensed about if he would make it, she ran after the stranger's weak body that finally settled on a big wood. On getting there, she saw he was an old man. He looked ancient and wretched, with gray hair and wrinkled skin. Blood and mud stains painted his white shirt and the clothes on his skinny body tore. Everything about him spoke about poverty. 'This old man must come from the farm.' A voice rang in her mind as she rushed to him. Sapphire observed him for a while before moving closer. His fingers were still moving, but he couldn't mutter a word. “Hello, Mister! What happened to you? Are you alright?!” she questioned anxiously. Yet, there was no reply. Sapphire turned him over with the little strength left in her tiny body, but with the very touch she made; he moaned in pain. As if he got slashed on his entire body, it bruised. A turn to his neck, she noticed blood dripping from the collar of his shirt from the back of his head. It must have been from the fall. "A...are you okay, sir?" Sapphire's voice trembled over his body with tears clouding her sky-blue eyes. Filling up the space in her eyes, she tilted closer to hear him speak. The elderly man tried to speak though, but no words came. It looked as if he was being choked on his words. He looked so weak and out of breath that he couldn't speak. Although he tried to say something, it came as a guttural cough. The poor man gave it a rest as his dark eyes looked upward to the sky. Although his vision was way too blurry to recognize anything, he could get a clear look at Sapphire. Staring into her blue eyes, he noticed it was the exact color of the sky and that of the sea of dreams he'd always wanted. As if he saw an angel in her, a gentle smile spread across his chapped lips. “Are you alive, sir? Say something, please!” Sapphire cried to him. Slowly, he closed his eyes and passed out.