Tracing Memories

40: B r e a k i n g

“Does it still hurt?” You asked as you dragged a table near my bed and set two plates of lunch on it.

“It's okay right now.” I said as I readjusted myself to face the table. You settled on a chair across and we began eating.

“What should we do now?What are afternoons even for?Such pointless time of the day.” I rambled in annoyance once we were done with the lunch.

“Don't say movie!” You immediately exclaimed without even looking at me as you arranged some things on the bedside table.

“Okay fine!” I huffed.

“How about a show then?” I said after a brief pause with a sheepish but hopeful smile.

“No!” I was immediately turned down.

“Then do you suggest we play soccer because there may be a little problem with that plan?” I exclaimed annoyedly pointing at my feet.

You turned to say something  but just then my phone's screen lit up, breaking our conversation. It was a text from Haruna,

“Heard you had an accident yesterday. Are you okay? Me and others are coming over in a bit.”

“Well problem solved.” I said nonchalantly, extending my phone towards you.

You read it with surprise, “I didn't even tell them about it. They must have figured it from the way I left yesterday after your call.”

In about twenty minutes, the doorbell rang. You opened the door and I perked my ears up to hear what was happening.

“Gouenji? You're already here?” Endou said. I didn't hear a response from you and then I heard multiple footsteps walk in.

“Where is she?” I heard what I guessed was Haruna's voice.

“Upstairs.” You answered and sure enough the next thing I heard was footsteps coming towards me.

“Oh hey you guys. “ I said with enthusiasm upon seeing everyone, namely, Endou, Kidou, Aki, Haruna and Natsumi.

“I'm fine. You didn't have to worry. “ I said.

“What are you talking about?! Look at it!” Aki said, horrified at my bandage wrapped feet.

“She can't even walk.” You plainly commented after sitting by the bed quietly on a chair for a long time. Everyone looked at you in unison.

“Poor thing. How are you managing by yourself?” Natsumi broke the silence again.

“Uhh... actually… Shuuya is kinda staying here with me to help me out.” I somehow got the words out glancing at you expecting you to say something but you remained quiet focusing your attention to the floor.

I looked at everyone and found their expressions frozen with their widened eyes focused at both of us.

Finally, Haruna broke the silence and loudly too, “YOU GUYS, THIS IS HUGE! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US?”  

“No, no nothing is huge.” I waved my arms defensively, “It's all temporary. “

“That doesn't matter.” The girls looked at me with purposeful smiles.

“Don't be like that.” I pulled my feet up and hid my face by resting on them. Next moment I yelped in pain and everyone exclaimed worriedly if I was okay.

“Fine we will not joke anymore.” Natsumi declared. They still remained snickering a while after that although they tried a lot to hide that.

Everyone stayed well into the evening until the sun went down. They helped prepare tea and snacks and we all talked while enjoying it. It felt like a reunion after the tough times we had seen in the near past. I felt like this turned out to be the silver lining to my accident and also the fact that you were with me all the time.

When they were gone, silence reigned the house once again. You came back from seeing them off and sat down on the bed beside me with a sharp exhale. It took us a while for us to adjust to the vacuum that's made when a large group of people suddenly leaves a space.

“They made such a big deal out of it. “ You commented after a while, your voice barely above whisper level.

“That was inevitable I guess. “ I sighed.