Chasing the Sun

048

It didn't take long before I got discharged from the hospital. Tawan, on the other hand had to stay for a couple more days until his head injuries had recovered. My mom arrived early enough to accompany me during the discharge, so I didn't feel alone leaving the hospital. 

"All set?", My mom asked as she stepped out of the comfort room. 

I had changed to my casual wear and my things were already bagged and are on the bed. I stood in front of the window and looked at the Birch tree out front. The branches no longer scratched the surface of the window pane, it looked like the torrent from last night snapped a few of the tree's twigs. 

So much for the new life it symbolized.

"I'll head out first and settle our bills, you can come right after.", My mom said as she took one of the bags and made her way out of the room.

My eyes darted to the plastic bag of 7-11 on the bedside table. It was the food Tawan got for me. It's true the hospital food tasted awful, so I ate most of it. I didn't want it to go spoiled, so I figured consuming it would be the best thing to do.

I left the room just a few moments after mom left, and as I walked past the hospital corridors, I saw Tawan's room door slightly opened. I stopped midway track and decided to take a look at him just one last time. When I peered through the door, I saw a middle aged man standing next to his bed. He sat on the mattress, his brows meeting each other as if he was arguing with the other person in the room.

"I did not transfer you to that school just to involve yourself in another fight! You wanted to go there didn't you? You begged me. You told me you won't get into fights again if I let you transfer here. And I did. But what happened now? You got yourself involved into a clash again!", The old man scolded him. He looked very masculine for his age, his eyes exuding a very fearsome aura. I guessed that he was Tawan's father as they both wore the same intense gaze.

"It wasn't my fault. I didn't want to punch back, but my friend--"

"your friend? oh, so you're acting like a hero now eh? Stop giving me those useless alibis because I won't believe them.", His dad said as he stormed out of the room.

I quickly reverted and stopped peeping through the door as his father opened the door. He was stunned seeing me standing right outside the room, but I guessed he did not mind it a lot as he only gave me a quick glance before disappearing through the hallway. 

I looked at Tawan once again, and he was staring right outside the room's windows as he sat on the bed. He didn't seem to be admiring the view though, it felt more like he was staring into nothingness.

It's all for the best. I sighed, and met my mom on the hospital's lobby and took off.

After a 30-minute car ride, we finally reached home and I immediately dozed off on my bed. Maybe it was because my health was slowly deteriorating, but lately I'd been feeling drowsy and sleepy. It didn't help that I stayed at the hospital too, because my body was not accustomed to sleeping at the hospital bed even though I did fell into a trance a couple of times.

When I woke up, the Sun already set and the view outside my window showed the stars nestled in the night sky. A faint smell of a familiar food lingered the whole room and into my nose, and it reminded me of someone. It smelt of curry, something so mundane but also foreign to me. I've only had it once, but I knew it smelt of Khao Soi. It was the dish Tawan cooked for me before, and it remained an acquired smell in my memory after that.

"I hope you eat Khao Soi.", My mom said as he prepared the dish on the table. It felt both weird and confusing that she said the same exact words as Tawan when he introduced the food to me, it almost sounded like he was the one who spoke just moments ago.