Lumanti (Memory)

Memory Flood

As she lay down on her hospital bed, unconscious of the whole world, the first memory slipped from her amygdala to her conscience. The time when she fell down from a bicycle tumbling all the way downhill. She had to take a bed rest for whole week and had to cast her right arm. This led her to fall behind on her school assignments and her dance lessons. She also stopped going to her dance classes after that but she started dancing on her own room once in a while, six months after the accident.

Then one after another memory came back, her first crush, her disappointment at things, teenage years and trauma related to it and her first heartbreak. Lumanti was lying on her bed in her pink pajama set, crying while talking with Rianne over phone.

"I just can't believe it Ri; he dumped me for that cheerleader. You know what he told me? He told me that we should start seeing other people as well."

"Ah! The nerves, what did you say?"

Lumanti wiped her tears and while sobbing, she said, "I said no of course but then he said he cannot do this anymore and here I was thinking I am in love with him."

"Don't be stupid. He does not deserve you. You deserve someone much better than him."

"I know but I really thought he was the one."

"Seriously Ray, we are just kids, now. There is a life ahead of us. You really think that one guy could have been the one. You will meet more cool people in coming days and you will find that special one okay. Don't fret over it."

"I think I will never love anyone again."

"You will change your mind when we go to Uni."

"I am serious and I am just so sad, Ri."

"Aww, babe, do you want to go somewhere? Lets go grab that ice-cream you like so much. Then you can come to my home and I will make you a your favorite ramen with buk choy."

"Aww, Ri, thank you so much. Lets do that. I need to get out of this room and get some fresh air. I love you so much. Ah, only if I could meet a boy version of you."

"Ah, and only if you weren't so straight, I could just simply date any version of you."

They giggled and the memory took to the day when Rianne got her first heartbreak right after their high school graduation. This time Rianne was crying and Lumanti was hugging her and consoling her. In the heat of that moment, they shared a kiss. Rianne was feeling very low and heartbroken when her first love decided to bail on her in fear of her parents. She left Rianne alone in the middle of the road and Lumanti drove to get her from that place. Lumanti hugged her and helped her felt better and in the moment Rianne leaned towards Lumanti to kiss her but as soon as their lips met, they parted away. They didn't face each other that day and got home silently.

Later Rianne apologized and Lumanti joked by saying, "No worries, you can use me for your rebound kiss anytime." She winked. "Shut up, Ray."

"Ok sorry but hun, it is ok. You were hurt and I am sorry but I know that your someone special is just around the corner."

"I guess you are right. Lets see where life takes me."

"Hey remember, you said that we will meet more cool people in Uni to date. We will surely meet someone."

Rianne smiled and this time she kissed her in the cheek and thanked her for being such a nice friend and also said, "I am glad, we are getting out of this town. New faces, new people, new friends, here we come."

And with that, Aaron made his way towards her mind from the memory jungle. She remembered now the day; she saw him for the first time. She was intrigued by him. Like him, she also felt something tugged in her heart when she saw him smile, that's why the girl who never visited any stall in the fair, decided to make herself get in front of this bee guy. Even that night at the Unibar, though she made it look like coincidence, she had the whole intention of striking a conversation with him. That went smoothly for her. Many times, they found some reason or other to see each other.