The Encounter

CHAPTER NINE

Shintaro staggered opening his eyes for as he forced to do so, his head would start spinning. It irritated him to be on a hospital bed and it made him feel dysfunctional and pathetic. For the past few days, he became forgetful and with some brain exercises Dr. Kew had given him, his brain cooperated only to be triggered by the same dream. He tried so hard to decipher a language foreign to him as his dream recurred. It might have only made sense if Himari had been the person he saw in his memory episodes but he believed she was a complete stranger. However, she had his wristwatch - at least - he thought so. But anyone could own something like that. He was so frustrated. He would not have been this much obsessed had Himari had not get in the picture. On the night he went back to the restaurant from Lor Bachok where he saw Himari and Henry, Shintaro suffered a tremendous migraine and as weird as it was, he dreamed again that night grimacing at the sight of Himari's face there. Why?! He heaved a deep sigh and wanted to get up.

"Are you okay? Don't move too swiftly." It was Erina. "You're getting worst." She said while assisting him.

"Yeah? That's a good word to say to a patient."

"You have post-concussion syndrome. Your physician will explain about it to you later."

He stayed quiet for a while and recalled the sameness of Himari's last words before he passed out to his last memory during the accident fifteen years ago. He remembered something! "Where's everyone?"

"Are you kidding?" Erina replied, surprised of his behaviour as if he was alarmed. "Wait, are your memories on-track now?"

"I'm not sure," he lied. For years, he had been waiting for this light.

"It's still 2 a.m. and perhaps they'll be here at daylight. Any particular person you're looking for?" She teased.

"I'd appreciate it if you keep that beautiful mouth shut."

" I expected you to shut me up rudely."

"Brain injuries actually helped me to be a good boy, you know," he scowled jokingly.

"Yes you are. Your irritations are the product of that accident. I love you."

"That's so random."

"I would always tell you that. I can't force you to remember everything at once. You don't have to be obsessed."

"I'm not obsessed."

"I've known you forever, my dear. I'm here. I'll always be here." Erina said lovingly.

"Must you always be around? I think you're the one who's obsessed with me."

Erina chortled. "Yes to both. Unless I'm not needed anymore, I'll always be around."

Shintaro woke up to a crowd visiting him that morning and he was glad to be alive so he could continue looking into this miserable mystery and get some answers.

"How are you going, sir? I'm not sure whether or not you're allergic to pollen so we brought these instead." Himari handed him a paper bag of which he accepted without any nod.

She looked enigmatic even at the simplicity of her bearing. It was odd of her to be drawn to a rather cocky man behind her. It stressed him to see Henry at this early hour of the day.

Erina was too quick to notice this burgeoning civil fight and actively attended to them instead. "That's thoughtful of your Himari-chan, err, Himari-san. Henry, thank you for visiting. No, he's not allergic to pollen or anything like that. Coffee?"

"Thank you, Aoki-san. We have just had one at the cafeteria nearby," Himari declined politely. "We wish you well, sir."

Henry didn't say anything which was better so he did not need to spat at him.