If only he didn't.

CHAPTER 8, MEMORY THAT HAD BEEN REMEMBERED (HERO'S POV, AGAIN)

I woke up, earlier than usual, it was a Sunday morning. Sun, the word reminds me of something, no, someone...And, it was as usual, the house was being terribly quiet, it was approximately 6:30AM. If I was in my college dorm, I would be awake and at least one of my roommates would be too. 

I went down the stairs quietly, however it was impossible to do so as the floor usually creaks louder than a damn construction site. After I was down the stairs, I went to the kitchen. I made myself some black tea, tea is my favorite in the mornings, I started drinking it often instead of coffee because I heard it was healthier for the body and wouldn't harm you at all. I stood silently as my tea was getting ready, my ears rang and hurt just from the silence of the whole house, but then it went away as the kettle was the only sound and it was LOUD.

After my tea had been drunk, a shower been taken, I sat on my bed just staring into the clock as the time passed slowly. As a way to pass time, I changed into my freshly washed clothes and went outside for a morning jog. Nothing was out of the usual, I didn't check the neighboring house to our left because I had no reason to anymore. I wish I did. But, I jogged through the whole neighborhood 3 times before going back home. As I took my shoes off and put them on the side, I suddenly passed out (or so I believe?) onto the floor out of what I assumed was exhaustion...

"You know, HERO, I used to put bugs in your desk!" MARI chuckled, sitting on the sand.

"Wait, that was you?!" I turned pale then immediately shook my head and smiled, before looking at the watermelon that was now absolutely empty. I remember that the watermelon was delicious.

"Yeah, it was me...I can't believe you didn't know!" MARI chuckled and smiled once again, I miss her comforting smile.

"Well, that's embarrassing, ain't it?...It seemed obvious now that I think about it." I touched the sand, it was soft and warm.

"Anyways. I'm glad we matched bags today! So cute! I'd love to wear it every-day with you, but my father might be too over-protective of that, even if it's about bags. Makes me kinda mad, but I can't really do anything about it..." She played with her hair before looking down as the smile slightly faded.

"Yeah. I respect your father, MARI, but I'm just afraid to even talk to you or hang out with you at your house." I looked down at the sand as my smile faded too, thinking about how strict her father was, he was like the type of person to tell his daughter that having a boyfriend wasn't allowed until marriage.

"Oh, don't worry. I don't mind, I understand! But, let's be optimistic today, yeah? Such good weather! We should bury SUNNY in the sand sometime, I bet it'll be funny and totally worth it! He might as well be comfortable!" She looked up again and probably imagined the outcome, I remember how comfortable and soothed he seemed buried in the sand.

"Hah. He would be happy, wouldn't he? Sand guardian SUNNY, guardian of the sand." I held MARI's hand, I miss how her hands were always warm, even in the coldest of colds.

"By the way, did you like the watermelon? It must've been so hard to carry, but I bet you were able to do it with your big, strong muscles, weren't you, HERO?" She looked at me from the side, as I heard my own heart-beat louder than the birds flying in the sky or louder than the waves collapsing and forming yet again. 

"Gosh, MARI...Not now...Hah! But, I liked the watermelon a lot! So flavorful. Maybe I should add watermelon in cooking recipes? Also, I couldn't have carried the watermelon without your beautiful voice of encouragement, MARI." I blushed and gazed into her eyes, I remember when I believed my only purpose of having eyes were to look at her.

"Awh, HERO!" She leaned onto my shoulder slowly, putting her hand on my lap. Her warm skin felt warmer than the weather as both our eyes closed. 

I miss going to the beach with them all, but it felt better with her.

"HENRY? Est-ce que tu vas bien? Tu étais allongé sur le sol pendant un moment, je pense. Je t'ai porté sur le canapé. Peux-tu m'entendre, HENRY? (HENRY? Are you okay? You've been laying on the floor for a while now. I carried you to the couch. Can you hear me, HENRY?)" I heard my mother mumbling a blessing and my father speaking in French. I could feel the softness of the couch and warmth of multiple blankets. (My father was born in France, was taught French but his mother or my grandmother was English. My mother was born in Mexico, she was taught English and Spanish.)

"Oui... Je vous entends. (Yes...I hear you.)" I was barely able to speak, unaware of how long I've been passed out or if I was dehydrated. My father often speaks French in the morning or when he's worried. 

"¡Dios! ¡Hijo, te has desmayado en el suelo! Estaba tan preocupado por ti. (Oh my god! Son, you passed out onto the floor! I was so worried about you.) Do you want water, my dear? You look dehydrated." My mother went to the kitchen to pour some water into my tea-cup. She speaks Spanish in the mornings, she also speaks Spanish when she's mad or worried.

"Please and uhm, thanks." Water was all that I needed, water for hydration and water for tears.

"Here, son, please drink." She gave me the cup of water, it would've tasted normal usually, but at that moment, it was heavenly and kinda dusty.

"Thank you, mom!" I drank the water quickly, wiping my mouth with a handkerchief before giving back the cup. After I finished drinking, I stood up, but immediately fell back...Iron deficiency...

"Oh, HERO! Don't stand up too fast now, dear." My mother shook her head and went back to the kitchen.

"HENRY, be careful next time you're sleep-walking or something. If you want to talk to KEL, he's asleep, if it wasn't obvious. The time is 9AM. I think you can go back to sleep if you wanna."

"No, thank you, dad. I'm not tired. My head just hurts..." I put my hand on my fore-head. That's what I get for face-planting onto the floor.

As the vacuum-cleaner started its loud routine, my mother shouted from the kitchen "IT'S CHORE DAY TODAY! ALSO, HENRY, DEAR, IF YOUR HEAD HURTS, YOU SHOULD GO GET SOME ICE OR SOME VICKS VAPORUB, YES?"

"Okay! I'll get some medicine and then I suppose rest." I stood up and went upstairs slowly as my dad followed me.

"HERO, man...I know it's been hard, we all understand. It's the pressure you get from Med School. But I believe in you, we all do."

"Thanks, dad." I got some medicine from the bathroom and downed it before going to my room and going back to sleep.