Once is More Than Enough

Chapter 6

Alhaitham looks around before touching his ear, the Akasha back on. Quickly realizing that the loop had restarted, he gets up and runs to the living room, picking up the bloody Kaveh on the floor for the 4th time? 5th time? Who knows anymore. After getting Kaveh cleaned up, and making a quick lunch, someone knocks on the door. Assuming it's Nahida, he goes to open it.

"Hi."

"Hi. I thought ripping off the Akasha would work." 

"Well, now you know."

"Ok, so if that didn't work, what now?"

"You have to find out who the host of this dream is. As they recognize that they are in a dream, the loop will be broken."

Alhaitham nods slowly. "But after I figure out how to cure Kaveh, right?" He doesn't know why but the image of Kaveh's lifeless body disturbed him too much. It's not like he's never seen someone die before. Perhaps, its because he's gotten used to Kaveh's annoying presence.

Nahida hesitates. "Fine but quickly. I can only give you two, maybe three, more loops.

Alhaitham nods. That's about a week. "Alright. I have to go see Tighnari now if we're done talking." Nahida nods and steps aside, letting Alhaitham pass him. Alhaitham starts walking but stops as he thinks of something. "Can't you give Kaveh's memories back too? It'll make it easier for him to talk to me."

Nahida shakes her head. "Since he technically dies, returning his memories to him might be too risky."

"...Alright. I understand." He turns away, heading towards Tighnari's house, this time to confront him.

"Good luck. The cure might be easier to obtain than you think."

"What do you mean?" Ahaitham whips his head back but Nahida has already disappeared. 

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Alhaitham walks the familiar route to Tighnari's house and knocks on it.

"Tighnari. Good afternoon," Alhaitham says as Tighnari opens the door.

"Alhaitham! Come in. Is this about Kaveh?" Tighnari opens the door wider, allowing Alhaitham to walk in. Alhaitham sits down on the chair provided for him.

"It is. I'll skip straight to the point. Tell me the disease Kaveh has. I know you know." He crosses his arms, staring at Tighnari. He watches as Tighnari's eyes widen and his tail starts swishing side to side anxiously. "You're a terrible liar, Tigh. So just tell me the truth."

Tighnari sighs. "I can't. It's classified information."

"Fine. Then tell me the cure for the Hanahaki disease."

"If you already know that much, why are you even asking me? Just search it up."

"I know about the surgery. Tell me the other cure. Hurry up Tigh, do me a favour. Both Kaveh and I don't have much time left." Alhaitham stares intensely at Tighnari, watching him fidget, looking anywhere but at Alhaitham.

"...Fine. But you'll think it's stupid."

"After everything that happened, I don't think so," Alhaitham muttered under his breath. "Just tell me."

"Okok. It can be instantly cured if it turns out the other person likes the dying person back. So, if the cause of Kaveh's disease liked him back." Tighnari stares at Alhaitham as if trying to pass a secret message.

Alhaitham stares at Tighnari back. Someone that Kaveh likes...?  Someone who can see Kaveh laugh and smile unlike when he's with me? "You know who it is. Right?"

Tighnari sighs, not even bothering to hide anything anymore. "Yes, but I definitely can't tell you that. So don't try. Why don't you try to talk to Kaveh."

"Alright. Perhaps it's about time I fully confronted him about this, I suppose." Alhaitham stands up, about to leave, when Tighnari speaks.

"You know, this is the first time I've seen your face so...emotional. Perhaps Kaveh is more important to you than you thought?" 

Alhaitham looks at the mirror hanging on Tighnari's wall and to his surprise, his own face is twisted into a look of such worry that anyone else might have suspected him to be very close friends with Kaveh. He quickly fixes his expression back to the stern face that everyone knows before turning back to Tighnari. "I'm not sure what you're talking about. He's my roommate." Although he's said this thousands of times to the people who know about their arrangement, his voice seems to be a bit uncertain this time. "I'll get going, thank you for the information."

Tighnari waves him goodbye before closing the door with a sad smile.

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Alhaitham rushes home, thinking about what Tighnari mentioned. When did he start to think of Kaveh as a friend? (Bitch, not a friend, you dense mf) He unlocks the door, heading straight towards Kaveh's room. He knocks twice, walking in when Kaveh opens the door.

"Hi? What are you doing here. In my room."

"I'm interrogating you. I know about the disease, the symptoms, and the cure." Alhaitham looks at Kaveh, watching as he seems to shut down, tired.

Kaveh sits down on his bed before speaking. "Ok. Why are you here then?"

"I would like to know who caused this," Alhaitham's voice softens slightly. "Who the person you...like... is."

Kaveh stares at him in disbelief. "I suppose you're the only one who doesn't know but still, this is none of your business. If you keep acting like this, I'm going to start assuming that you actually care for me." Alhaitham coughs slightly, embarrassed.

"...Perhaps I've started to think of you as a friend." Ignoring Kaveh's incredulous look, he continues. "I'm not sure when this started but we've been living together for a while. I don't hate you, as much as I seem to act like it, and it would be unpleasant if you were to die so I would like to help you, in any way I can." He looks at Kaveh, confused as to why he hasn't said anything yet. Only after another few seconds does Kaveh open his mouth.

"...I don't think you can do anything. In fact, you would probably make it worse, no offence. "

"Make it worse? How? It literally can't get any worse. You're going to die tomorrow," Alhaitham says, frustrated. Kaveh's eyes narrow as soon as Alhaitham notices his mistake. "Wait-"

"What do you mean. How do you know I'll die tomorrow? Do you really want me to die that badly?"

"Of course not! Were you not listening? Look, it's nothing, why don't you get the surgery?"

"Cause I don't want to end up like you!" Kaveh shouts, clearly fed up, tears visible in his eyes.

"...What do you mean?"

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Dun dun dunnn. I'm hoping to finish this by chapter 10 and maybe write like a sequel or smth.