The Swirl

Ep. 18

The shower ran and after ages, Mabea finally made up her mind. She got out, dressed and put on her wig and makeup and then went to the ground floor where the doorman hailed her a cab. The cab dropped her at the hospital and she walked over to reception where the nurse led her to Hiroto's room. It was lucky that the night shift nurses and doctors had left because she wouldn't have been let in.

Hiroto was now breathing on his own but it didn't look like he was awake so Mabea pulled a chair close to him and lay her head against his chest, a small smile on her face as she intertwined their hands. The swelling and bruising on his face had gone down a little.

"Love," she said, kissing his hand.  "Come on and just wake up. We've got places to be and people to see. Remember you were going to take me touring around your area? I've decided that I just want you all to myself." She chuckled and Hiroto's chest rose and fell as he breathed. "I know I'm being selfish but I wanted us to go to this fish market. I googled it and they have this dishes that I want to try. They look rather gross and if I throw up, you better be there to hold my hair and I mean literally because imma take the damn wig off."

Hiroto's chest vibrated and startled, Mabea stared at him and realised that he was laughing, his only fine eye that was not swollen shut, open, watching her.

Before she could stop herself, she kissed him on his bruised lips and he groaned in pain. Apologising profusely, she looked at him with a smile, clutching his hand.

"You look beautiful," he said with difficulty and Mabea stopped him from talking, seeing in how much pain he was in when he tried to talk. He motioned for her to climb into the bed beside him but she shook her head.

"I don't wanna hurt you-"

He shifted, making space for her and she eventually agreed and climbed up beside him. She kept rubbing his exposed arm and he tried to smile but it hurt so he just grimaced and resorted to looking at her as her fatigue took over and she fell into a deep sleep.

Someone came in and she stirred awake only to be met by the surprised face of yesterday's doctor. She tried to scramble out of the patient's bed but he wouldn't let her, his arm locking her in place.

The doctor surprisingly laughed. "I'm guessing that my patient is feeling a whole lot better."

Hiroto nodded. "But everything hurts," he whispered. "Can I get painkillers?"

The doctor nodded. "Everything is fine with you and if you have somebody to take care of you at home, we can release you today. Shall I inform your family? They left their contacts at the front desk-"

Hiroto shook his head. "I want only her here. Please don't let my family in. They don't like her."

The doctor nodded. "Sorry to pry but is it because she's black?"

Mabea stared at the doctor and nodded.

The doctor laughed. "Figures. It's not easy being a foreigner here, hey? The families here like to keep things 'pure'. You're a likable girl but honestly, the first thing people are gonna see about you is your skin colour. You'll get used to it, hey? Just hang in there. On a lighter note, your boyfriend can leave with you in an hour or so."

And they did leave in an hour, heading back to Mabea's room at the hotel. She made sure that he was bathed and comfortable and his phone kept ringing but he continuously ignored it, eventually putting it on voicemail. He snuggled with Mabea after texting his parents that he was fine and that they shouldn't worry because he was at a hotel.

"I'm sorry," he croaked at her. "I know I said I was gonna give you the Japanese experience but yesterday after I left, things went the other way. I'm sorry that you're going to spend your free holiday weekend nursing me."