Weiβ Traum - White Dream

Chapter 4: Vertraut - Familiar

Addressing one human need makes the other needs seek for attention also—like finding an indoor plumbing.

I put the tray on top of the side table next to my sweat-coated crumpled blindfold and swung my leg off to the side of the bed. I’m sure I could find the commode without any help. I slowly edge myself off the bed, and then I suddenly remembered my right leg in a cast. Great, now I have to hop around the house trying to find the restroom. I looked around the room trying to find something that I could use as a walking stick, like an umbrella, a baseball bat, or a cane, but unfortunately, nothing. I guess I really have to hop. For now, I used the back of the chair Aya’s been sitting on to balance myself.

Standing, I could clearly see myself now. The cast felt heavy and awkward on my right leg but at least it’s not hurting as much as I anticipated it would.

As my eyes assessed everything else, it dawned on me I am no longer wearing my pajama. I clearly remember before they put me to sleep when they rescued me and even before I was kidnapped; I was wearing my red Bermuda short with Mickey Mouse on it. And my top was a matching T-shirt. Now, my short is missing—thankfully I still have my panty on. The top I am wearing was an oversized polo-shirt and nothing else under, my arms crossed protectively in front of me.

I felt a ball of heat rose up from my chest and planted itself on my cheek. Being unconscious in the hands of strangers was never a great idea. It robs you of your memory and pieces of your clothing. Who changed my pajama? Did that Aya-guy did it? Oh my goodness, he saw me naked!

My knees are shaking, I could feel panicky and I’m almost on a verge of tears when the door suddenly opened. Before I realized it, I was already screaming at the top of my lungs with surprise and utter terror. I collapse on the floor with shock.

“Don’t scream! Don’t scream! It’s okay. Everything is okay. No one’s here to hurt you. You’re safe now.” He pleaded. His hands are up with both the palms of his hands facing me as if showing his unarmed and he mean no harm towards me.

I gasped and chocked back another bout of screams. My whole body vibrated with shiver and a high pitched whimper escaped my lips. I could feel my eyes bulge out with disbelieve of what I’m seeing; that brown hair almost up to his chin, a little wavy and partly tied to the back; that half-moon sunglasses that his always wearing even indoor. That smile that makes you think of a mischievous child. I know that face. I’ve seen it over and over again. I’ve drawn him with everyone else. How can he possibly be standing in front of me?

This can’t be true. How? I felt my brain gave a thump as it hit a blank wall. There are no probable explanations as to how he could be standing there.

“Youji Kudou?” my voice was barely a whisper and I almost choked on his name.

“Ah… Yes, that’s me. Wait, how did you…” He looks as confused as I was when another person walks in the room.

“What happen, Youji?” This one is slightly shorter than Youji with a short brown hair and if he would be smiling now instead of looking concerned, I know he has the most carefree smile.

“Ken Hidaka!” I gasped; my hands instantly clasped my mouth to hold my scream bubbling out.

Both of them looked at me suspiciously, neither tried to approach me as I’m sprawled on the floor trembling with both hands covering my mouth.

“Is this what Manx was talking about that she will know something about us?” Youji asked Ken.

“Maybe, but we don’t know anything about her. Omi can’t find any information about her in the system.”

What are they talking about? They don’t know anything about me? But they did save me, how can they not know?

My mind riled a cart-load of questions and dumped it on my lap. I feel like I'm drowning with what I'm witnessing right now, light headed and out of breath, I still can't believe what I'm seeing. Am I dreaming? To test that I pinched my arm really hard and it hurts. It even left a bruising mark on my forearm.