His Eyes

HIS EYES: Chapter 22

ORLSTEIN STORMED out of the room after we talked. I sighed heavily. I knew I was wrong but it was the only way to summon Adolf though I didn't actually know how. The thought just entered my mind and thought that it was right.

"Follow your girl before somebody else does," Hendre said. I narrowed my eyes at him and stomped my feet as I went out of the room.

"She's just my friend," I mumbled.

The hallway was painted with white. There were pictures of different doctors hanged on the wall. This floor was the doctor's offices. Their clinics are found on the third floor.

I slowed down my walk when the balcony became visible. Orlstein might be here but if she's not then I had to go back in Hendre's room.

She was leaning on the parapet. Her arms on top of it. The tip of her ponytailed hair was waving to the right then left and vice versa.

"Orlstein," I called but she didn't reply. I was a few inches behind her. "Orlstein."

She didn't answer so I tapped her shoulder. She rolled it which meant she was still mad.

"I'm sorry," I uttered. I stood there for a few minutes until I decided to go back. "You need some time. I think I should go now."

"Carthik," she called. She wasn't facing me. "I lived in your house to study with you when we were in the primary. I became very close with your family. They treated me like their own daughter."

"What are you supposed to say?" I asked out of confusion.

"I really love them including you and Neo. I'm willing to sacrifice my life for them. But sometimes, I also feel pain. I'm a human too. Though I----"

I cut her off. "Just go direct to the point, Orlstein."

I didn't know what was going on with her mind. She's acting weird. She pulled something from her pocket. A crumpled paper. She handed it to me. This time, she was facing me.

"I wasted 12 years! 12 years of my life," she cried. I opened the crumpled paper.

A long paragraph was written on it but a highlighted sentence caught my attention.

I wanted you to stay away from Carthik so I needed you to research about Adolf in order to save yourself.

For a moment, it was like all things on earth that were in motion stopped. My feet were stuck on the floor and I felt like they were covered with ice. I couldn't take it anymore. We were being played. How great.

"She thought that I couldn't find Adolf that's why she used it as an excuse," she added.

I let out a deep breath. "How did you get this?"

"In your drawer. I was finding my necklace and then I found that."

"Tell me I'm dreaming. Tell me we're dreaming," I said over and over.

"I wished too."

I walked closer to her until we were facing each other. The sun was setting already. We appeared in silhouette against the sky. I held her face.

"Hendre's with us. Everything's gonna be alright," I said. I didn't care if she could smell my breath.

I leaned my face closer to us. Our lips were almost meeting each other. But I turned away and gave her a tight hug. The hug she must have been missing from her family. It lasted for a few seconds. I could smell her the fragrance of her hair. I combed her hair using my hand.

"We can do this."

~<>~

We ate dinner in Hendre's office. After that, Orlstein went to bed because of jetlag. Hendre's duty was this night. Then, I remembered the African-American guy.

"Do you know where's Room 315?" I asked Hendre when we entered the elevator.

"I'm actually heading to that room," he answered. "She has a similar condition with you. Luckily, she didn't meet Adolf."

I didn't know if it was a joke but anyway I didn't take it seriously. It was on the fifth floor. We walked along the hallway. Unlike on the second floor, the hallway here was busy. There were people walking in a hurry. Doctors were talking with other people too, those might the patient's relatives. But the busiest hallway was on the first floor wherein the emergency room and ICU was there.

We stopped in front of a wooden gray door. Hendre knocked on the door and it opened. The African-American guy together with three more people excluding the patient.

The operation was also this night. The African-American guy's name was Clark and his sister was Pratt. We stayed outside the operating room while waiting for Pratt's operation to be finished.

"Yo, Carthik. Thank you so much for visiting and helping us," Clark said. "You're still wearing your sunglasses huh. It looks good on you anyway. Like how you and your girl friend look."

I just laughed at him. "You're welcome and thank you too."

I didn't even know what I did to help him but hearing those words was amazing.

"After this, we'll be going back to Town 3. Back from the life we used to be," he said. He was fidgeting his fingers.

"If you'll come in this city, call me and then you can all stay in my apartment. Don't worry about the landlord," I offered. He extended his arms and tapped my shoulders.

"If my sister's the same age as yours, I'll let her marry you. You're such a good man," he said and grinned. My eyes widened.

"What the? I'll take that as a compliment," I said.

Was I a good man? People who didn't know you would say those things. They would judge you by their first impression. Anyway, his impression was good and slightly true.

I left Hendre a note on his table saying we'll just sleep in our apartment. Also, to check if Neo's there. I woke up Orlstein and she even looked more beautiful in her messy hair.

She contacted a taxi and we hit the road. I thought I would have anxiety because of what happened to me. I was afraid because Adolf might show up anytime.

But now that we had Hendre in our side who had connections with the SCIG, we're safe. I guess.

~<>~

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