Once is More Than Enough

Chapter 7

"You had Hanahaki once, you know." 

They had moved to the living room, each sitting on opposite ends of the couch, facing each other. Alhaitham sits silently, waiting for Kaveh to elaborate.

"We've been living together for about 6 months now. A few months before that, almost a year from now, you were coughing up Mourning Flowers. When I found out, it was already too late and you had already done the surgery. I guess you hid it better than me."

"Wait. How come I don't remember any of this though."

"The doctor said that due to the intense trauma, your brain might've just repressed the memory to protect you. And I don't know if you know but the side affect of the surgery is to forget about that person and no longer love them."

"Then... Do you know the person that I loved?" 

Kaveh, who was already uncomfortable with this topic, seem to get even more uncomfortable, looking anywhere but Alhaitham. He takes a deep breath before saying, "It was me." A hint of red spread across his cheeks from embarrassment.

Alhaitham just stares at him, not saying a word.

"So yeah, you forgot me and I was really hurt by that, you know? We were pretty good friends before all of that happened. After your surgery, I had to get close to you again and somehow managed to convince you to let me live with you," Kaveh rammbles, unable to handle the silence. "That's also why I know that you don't lvoe me back anymore," he mummbles under his breath, too quiet to be heard.

"I used to like you. So much so that it caused me to gain Hanahaki. And being the logical person I am, I got the surgery, forgot you, and stopped liking you. What kind of bullshit illness is this." Alhaitham felt like laughing. He felt like he was going crazy because everything was kind of starting to make sense. In fact, someone of his memories were starting to come back. The time they went to a festival together, or when they celebrated Kaveh's exam mark. Alhaitham was even starting to understand the feeling he's been feeling since about 2 loops ago. It was the same feeling he had in those forgotten memories of him and Kaveh. But that's not possible. "Who was the doctor that operated on me?"

"Zakariya. The one that works at Bimarstan. Are you going to visit him?"

"Yes, I have a few questions I need to ask him. Would you like to come with me?" Alhaitham stands up and holds out him hand; it was an opportunity and an apology for them to try and repair what they had.

"...Alright." He takes Alhaitham's hand and allows him to pull him up, quickly letting go after. "Let's go."

They walk in silence on the short walk there, unsure on what to talk about. 

"Could you tell me about the person you like?" Alhaitham asks uncertaainly. "You don't have to if you don't want to."

"He's smart, but you'll never meet anyone else who's as infuriating as him. He knows perfectly well how to appear friendly and likable to others, he just doesn't want to. If he ever gives you the impression that he doesn't really have a temper, or that he's rigidly logical like a machine, then you just don't know him well enough yet. He definitely has a personality, it's just... too big a personality. Most people wouldn't get it. But he helped me out a fair amount recently. If we were still as close as we were during our student days, then I'd be thanking him every chance I got. I guess you could say our relationship is something of a mixed bag these days? Honestly, with everything that's happened, it almost feels like the universe has been playing pranks on us... I will say that it's not every day that you get to know someone like him — I just wish he could rein in some of the worst excesses of his personality. Okay, yeah, that's never gonna happen." 

Kaveh rambles on, and this is the most lively Alhaitham has seen Kaveh since he's been sick. Alhaitham wishes that Kaveh would be that happy talking about him, although he knows that Kaveh would just be swearing and complaining. He tries to guess who Kaveh is discribing but most of the people in the Akademiya are genuises and infuriating, so it doesn't narrow things down that much. But, he's also one of the options. As much as he doesn't want to call himself infuriating, he can't deny that he is. It would also make sense why Kaveh knows that the other person doesn't like him back. Kaveh stops talking as they reach Bimarstan, and they head in to find Zakariya.

They stop him walking down a hall and quickly chase after him, not wanting to lose him. "Zakariya!" Kaveh shouts, getting Zakariya to notice them but also a few other patients around them. "You have time right now to talk?"

"Kaveh, Alhaitham. What brings you here?"

"It's about my surgery. Do you remember?" Alhaitham asks.

"Oh. Yes, of course. Come with me." Zakariya leads them to his office and closes the door before gesturing them to sit. "What did you want to talk about?"

"After Kaveh breifly explained to me what happened, I've been getting my memories back." 

Kaveh turns to look at him, something like hope shining in his eyes. "Really?"

"I remember someone set up a stand on the street saying that for each handmade keychain they sold, a child in poverty would be given a meal. You bought at least a dozen. ...This is Sumeru, where even healthcare is free."

"Augh! Stop it. Why did you have to remember that!" Kaveh whines out of embarrassment. 

Zakariya stares at their interaction, raising an eyebrow. "Did you come here to flirt in my office?" They both whip their heads towards him.

 "First of all, we're not "flirting." Second of all, no. I cam to ask you about the side effects of the surgery. I apologize for getting side-tracked." Alhaitham coughs, and if you look really closely, you would see a hint og red on his cheeks while Kaveh... You wouldn't even need to look to tell that he was red. "I wanted to know if it was possible to fall in love again since I seem to be getting my memories back."

"Ohhh. Hmm. Hm hm. Yes yes. Of course, it's possible. Since cases of the Hanahaki disease is rare, we don't have much information. In some cases, they didn't lose their memories or fell out of love. Of course, being unable to love is just your body protecting you because what would be the point of doing the surgery if you're still in love with the same person? But then again, in some scenarios, it could lead to a better ending." Zakariya winks at Kaveh. "Anyways, you guys sort out your problems, I'm busy and need to work so get out." He pushes them out.

"Did you get all the information you need?" Kaveh asks as the walk back.

"Yes." He looks at Kaveh. "It seems it's possible for me to fall in love with the same person again." Alhaitham smiles slightly as Kaveh became flustered, only adding to his suspicion.

"Oh... Cool. That's good? Let's hurry up and get home, I'm tired." Kaveh coughs and starts walking faster.

Alhaitham laughs slightly as he walks behind Kaveh, and for once, he feels at ease.

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