A bustling sidewalk beside a heavy traffic…..
“Nooooo…….”,someone shrieked.
“….Help!!”,a feeble voice could be heard…
The busy office-men passing through didn’t stop in their way..they just took a glance,only some students still in their school uniforms,probably returning from their homerooms,stopped in their way to take a look …some were even seen taking videos, but no one-not even a single-man among the onlookers dared to jump into the scene and help the old woman in the wheel-chair, stuck in the middle of the traffic,unable to leave it, probably because she was physically challenged,and to make matter worse,had lost the control over her mechanical support.
But it was not like the onlookers had lost their humanity…since, the vehicles were barely but still, missing the old lady,there were some who were waiting for the traffic light to change..but reality is harsh..it is never kind…a huge truck ,covering about 2/4th of the road and that too coming through the middle(the road was a one way pass),was getting closer to the scene. With every passing second the colour of the faces of the onlookers was starting to change …they could imagine what was going to happen, will be a scene straight out of a tragic-movie….but it turned out to be a scene from a superhero?—no—a super-woman movie.
“Watch out!!”,a girl,probably in her early twenties,screamed..She jumped into the scene,some gasped and the rest could only stare at this other-worldly scene of self-sacrifice….She pushed the lady out of the road and was about to jump herself.. when…… a bike..thank goodness it was not the truck..barely missing her passed through, but this,ironically, caused the girl,still mid-air of her jump lose her balance and as a result her landing,her head had suffered an injury,she was lying on the road… bleeding…
“Hey-..are you alrigh-…the ambulan- is-- it—way”,were the words(the person was probably crying ..as he fumbled a lot)she barely heard.... before fully losing her consciousness...
….the next thing she knew she was in the general ward of a hospital,three days had already passed,…and she was with a fuzzy memory of what had happened.
The only thing she now knew or was told by the Doc. was the fact that she will,probably,never be normal again,that she won’t be able to feel what everyone could, that she won’t be able to sense her surroundings..that she had become neurologically handicapped….that she had lost her sense of touch.
According to the reports,it was some sort of an auto-immune disorder that she was diagnosed with(they had diagnosed her without her consent because she was not responding to any sort of stimuli when her injury was being taken care of)after she was brought to the hospital to treat the wound she got from the earlier accident…According to the Doc. the shock she was in,due to what happened, somehow triggered the early appearance of the symptoms…again it was ironic but the doctor felt that the early detection was a god-send.
The Doc. said that,”I am not sure,we will have to examine you a bit more”.
”………………”
“We know ,it must be difficult for you,but ,please don’t lose your hope..nothing is clear yet..we think that ,you losing your sense is kind of a side effect..it may be curable..so,we need to talk to your parents for you-“…..’for your future.’was probably what he was going to say when,
”Is she Ok?”
“Sorry?”,the Doc. was startled by the question the girl asked…anyone will be!This was the first thing she said and the fact that she was told about her potential sense-loss but still,she had asked about the well being of someone else…was not normal….
Still,as if, unware of the inner turmoil of the doctor..“Is the lady ,who was involved in the said accident, alright?”,the girl posed her question with a straight face devoid of any expression.
“Ah!Yes,she is.She just suffered a mild concussion ,due to her age,the amount of pressure she was under ,probably took a toll on her body”,the Doc. answered with a professional smile on his face.
“…hah”,the girl let out a sigh of relief….”I am glad she is alright”,this time she was smiling..it was warm..
“Sensei..”she asked..”Yes?”….
“Please continue with your check ups,my parents are de-dead”,she choked a bit..”Oh!I am sorry for your loss”..the Doc. gasped..”no..that is ….I am already an adult so,I am allowed to take the decisions for myself…and please don’t worry about the money….that won’t be a problem”,the girl said,this time in a firm voice….
“Is that so?...well then I will send my assistant with the necessary papers, please go through them….”after saying this the Doc. left her alone to this the girl bowed gently …
After the necessary procedures were over , she was allowed to go home but somehow she was silent throughout her way back…actually she hadn’t expressed herself throughout the month she was in the hospital recuperating from the head- injury she got due to the accident and ofcourse taking the necessary checkups to fully diagnose her disorder…she just smiled warmly when the old lady,with her son,had come to visit her…they were really thankful..they even took care of the money matters for her,of course she denied but, the pressure applied to her by the old lady with her aura of You-are-my-saviour and Let-your-grand-mother-take-care-of-you she eventually conceded.(Ofcourse,she made sure that they only paid for her injury,……..everything else was confidential.)
……………………….
Ten months,three weeks and six days later….
The girl was working on her computer,in her office..the label on the door to her chamber read,CEO.This young girl,just at the age of 22, was the CEO of one among the largest corporations in her state, Hope Co. a company her parents started and she built ,ie. upto it’s current position..So, that is to say ,when she had said that “money was not a problem”,she was not just putting a brave front.. …Well ,leaving that aside for the moment ,the truth was she was a business tycoon ,who was ,revered by many.
After she lost her parents…work was everything for her..she wanted to fulfill her parents dream.. that was to help as many orphans as possible live a life of their own…in the 21 years of her life ,which she spent with her parents, she was blessed with love from parents… after she lost them 6 months prior to the accident..she had immersed herself in work…her company was responsible to built NGOs in her state to upgrade the process…
Her sleeping time,schedules for her regular health checkups,her meals,had become erratic ….one of the reasons she was not that shocked after she heard about what had become of her was because she was aware of what might have been the cause…over-work,anxiety and whatnot that too for six full months…but still reality smacked her hard…but when she worked she sealed these thoughts in a corner of her mind.
Due to her job,she was social to begin with but was never intimate,with her dignified aura and an impeccable wall she created ,so as to not let anyone reach her heart,she was an admirable professional ..but after that incident, about an year ago,the wall increased by ten-fold and she became somewhat cold…her work results showed an exponential growth..so,it didn’t have any effect on her work..hence nobody asked..truth to be told, she wanted to fulfill her dream even by a second ..faster…she knew that she didn’t have all the time of the world….she had become desperate.
………………….
She was lost in her work when her phone rang,and she was brought into reality,the song was’GARNiDELiA [SPEED STAR]’,she hummed a bit..in the past too and even now animes had been an irreplaceable part of her life…but after she lost her parents it was one among the two things which made her feel alive or more like became a way to escape from her inner loneliness and turmoil,the other being work……….. but since nine months ago it was one among three.
When she saw the caller’s ID her eyes had an unusual warmth to it,she abruptly picked up.
”Moshi-moshi,Hikaru-san?”,she asked
“Hai!....Sorry to disturb you when you are working,but,is it alright to talk for a bit?”,the man on the other side of the phone asked ,a bit, timidly.
“You are not disturbing me…I was just thinking of taking a break”,she said in a such a hurry, with all her might, so ,as to deny everything that was told to her ,except for the last part, that she lost her breath…an erratic manner of breathing was perceived by the man named Hikaru on the other side of the phone.
“Are you ok?...Are you feeling alright?..”,he was frantic..he really cared about her a lot.
“Ahem! Ahem! “..after clearing her throat she continued…”Please don’t worry it’s really nothing..I am totally fine…”
”Are you sure?”
“Daijoubu-desu,I am really fine….so what did want to talk about?”,she said politely.
“Ah!Yes,I wanted to ask if you are free tomorrow?”
“Hm.… tomorrow….just a sec….---- Hikaru-san?”
“Yes!”
“Tommorow,I have a boards meeting in the morning, after that I am free…so,do you need something?”
“Yes,well then,can I ask you to accompany me to a place tomorrow for lunch?”,he asked her using keigo.
“…….I don’t mind going but…can I ask you something?”,the silence was because she was a bit dumbfounded.
“Yes,what is it?”,he was still talking like that.
“um…Why are you talking like that?...”
“Well,since it’s a request and I really want you to be with me tomorrow.…so is it really ok for you?”…,this time his voice was like usua- no the way he said that, even over the phone ,she knew that he was making the ‘abandoned puppy face’.{Kyahh…>////<…it’s moe}
“Ye-yes!”,she barely took hold over her heart..
“Thank You… I will mail you the location in a sec…..Have a nice day”,he voice had an excited air to it.
She could imagine all kind of flowers blooming beside him’…hah’…she sighed in her mind.
“You too.”,she cut the line..
The name of this guy was Hikaru Westwood.He was the heir to the largest Conglomerate in town,Westwood Co.,23 years old.They met at a party,two months into the accident,and easily became friends....not only were they close in age, their social status,interests,hobbies and even the fact that both were halves.. closed the gap between them to almost nothingness in a very short amount of time.
After casually, as well as, formally meeting for over nine months they had become really close,so much so that,just like now, they could talk over their personal phones without earlier appointments,well,for her standards, it was pretty intimate.
……………..
When her parents died, she didn’t shed a tear,it was not that she didn’t feel anything..…the amount was so much that, if, she had let it out… she would have broken down… without any support… Even after that accident she hadn’t confided herself to anyone let alone cry even a single time..she bottled it all up and was searching a way to somehow”Delete”them…unable to feel anything…she didn’t just lose her sense she had also lost her heart or so she thought,but,…..during her parents first death anniversary ,she broke completely….unable to suppress them any longer… she cried..she wailed ..she let it all out…all the feelings she had bottled up inside herself ..she poured herself out..she was unable to control this overflow…she bared herself naked...But she was not alone..He was beside her..He didn’t ask anything…nor did he chided with her..He just stood .…watching her every move…without asking ,without going …he didn’t hug her..well even if he did ,she wouldn’t feel it,not that he knew….but he didn’t ..he stood beside her, not out of pity..he said that, he wanted to be her strength..if she ever felt like it and was able to tell him everything herself..he was ready to accept it all…….
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
For the time being,for him to be by her side was enough for her..the warmth filled her voids..she didn’t knew why he cared ....she didn’t ask …she was still insecure..she knew something was growing inside her…
“Is this ,Love?”she asked herself but..
She couldn’t accept it,she thought she didn’t deserve him….she hadn’t let anyone touch her since that day..she was scared to admit it ..she was scared to feel it,as much ironic as it may sound,she was scared of not being able to feel it.
The Doc.had said that her disease was neither life threatening nor inheritable..after the surgery she took..except for some light concussions once in a while there were no problems..She was asked not to do anything strenuous ,because her sense of pain could be somewhat off too..though due to it’s nature, the disease itself ,couldn’t be cured but under proper medications,diet and rehabilitation she might be able to regain her sense…still to-date no sign of regaining it was found….Since, she is unable to feel it ,she started using gloves so as to ,decrease the amount of time she has to directly touch something,everytime she touched something with her bare hands..unable to feel it she became scared……She had gotten used to using keyboards and writing-pens again …but she still felt the guilt when meeting people..she felt bad for deceiving them, not that she could help it ,but to ‘him’ too, she hadn’t said a word about it. She was deceiving him…she was taking advantage of his kindness..or so she thought.But unable to distance herself from him ,their relationship, still in a stand-still ,continued….before she could do anything he had gotten himself inside her guard…she had unconsciously let him in…nothing could be done now..
………...........
The next day came really fast..…she was hurrying herself, following the GPS,to the place indicated in it..Just then she remembered, what had happened exactly one year ago…it was not the same place....where ‘that’ occurred….. nor the same time or situation …..but still the fear remained..that day when she saw ‘that’ scene…..she had reflexively tried to save that lady…Her parents died in an accident..she didn’t want anyone else to feel what she had felt that time…so,before she knew it ,she had pushed the lady out of the road .But then,. as if, her blood had turned into lead her body stiffened… she felt the fear ,she succumbed to the fear of death...She got scared ,well,of course,she did..she was not some super-woman ,she was just a normal human …..and this delay caused everything…she didn’t blame anyone because it had already happened..she didn’t complain because neither it could be reversed nor it could be helped..she had already given up ...and if not for ‘him’..she might have turned soulless by now…he was her savior..someone she admired someone she lov-,’she was still trying to deny it.
They met infront of a café,it was introducing a new dessert to it’s menu..He had said that he liked this café….and the fact that he had a sweet tooth,blushing heavily ,during one of their previous conversations. {>//w//< kawaiii..}
But at his age it took some guts to enter a café,with a huge female fan? following(ie the café had mostly female customers) and since she was the only one he could ask…he asked her……She somehow had gotten used to this whimsical prince, even she thought it was weird,…but Hikaru was this kind of guy ,he didn’t hide anything ..he was kind to everyone…But she was probably the only one to whom he showed this side of his…he wanted her to spoil him.. he himself wanted her to act spoilt around him….it was mutual….(By the way another reason for her to accept it was because her sweet tooth, too ,was no joke)
But this time it was not the only reason for him….
…………...
After they had their lunch..and ofcourse the much awaited dessert,which they took the world’s time to savour and finish,they decided to take a walk before going back…it was already evening now ,they were walking by the sea- shore..the cold wind which felt cold to her ,not because she could feel the wind but ,because the temperature around her had fallen....the serene beauty of the setting sun,the pounding sound of the waves..and the man walking beside him ,made her feel at ease…made her happy….but as much as she hoped for it ,she knew it had to come to an end…but just when she was about to ask him to go back…
“Um…I wanted to tell you something.”,he was somewhat nervous and flustered …it was contagious..
She was taken in by the serious change in the air..and“Yes?” was what came out if her mouth….
Just then her loosely tied hairs ,due to the wind ,obstructed her vision..next thing she saw, was a kneeling figure infront of her..just like a knight…her heart beat fastened…she had a feeling what was coming next but before she could have done anything to evade it…
“Ai-Aishteimasu…please go out with me”,his pale flesh was tinged with a pink..he had just confessed his love for her….She was just confessed to by the guy she loved…. but,
”I am sorry,I can’t respond to your feelings”,she said while she turned her back at him..”I am sorry,but it won’t workou-“,she choked,she was on the verge of tears.
“Ca-Can you gi-give me your re-reason?”,he fumbled a lot…his earnest confession was just turned down……he was also hurt.
“……….”,he didn’t get a reply.
“Do you ha-hate me?”,he still, asked .
The girl was swinging her head, from left to right ,as if,saying no,but she was still not facing him
“Then why?”,he turned her to face himself..he touched her …but she couldn’t feel it…………….her face became void of any expression….the guilt she felt for lying was killing her.But…what he saw was too much of a shock for him…
He let her go,scratching his head,almost on the verge of crying…..”I am sorry”,he apologized ,“You must be disgusted,right?”
”……….”,her eyes widened ,he was interpreting her in the worst way possible,a thought of leaving it as it was crossed her mind but ,by doing that, she will hurt him..she couldn’t allow it and that too for her own selfishness, so,……..
“Someone you thought was your friend was actually watching you with different eyes,I am r-really sor-“,he said with a gloomy voice.
“Noo...”,she shouted. “I ,too,…. love you…but I don’t deserve to be loved by you,Hikaru-san”,her voice was weak,probably because, she was forcing herself too much, in order, to act normal…
He was genuinely overwhelmed,it was one thing if she hated him,but even though their feelings were mutual,the way she was acting was weird .
“Why are you saying something like that,I love you and that is all I want from you too”,he put his hand on her cheek…the warmth welled up her heart but the place he touched she felt nothing ,she was still not cured..tears fell like pearls..
”Why are you cry-“
“How much do you kn-know about me”..her voice was a bit rash.
”Eh-“,the question, itself, was quite simple..but the answer to it was not….he already knew about her before they actually met,being in the same profession it was common sense…but after ‘that’ day …he forgot all about common sense…he fell for her,for who she was…he didn’t know much about her private life …she was keeping her distance and he hadn’t pried…he knew what she liked and disliked for him it was enough but for her it was not.
“Even though I,I love you from my soul…I can’t..I can’t even feel your hand”..she confessed
“I love you,I really do but I can’t tell if it’s real for you,…I am a coward ..if by any chance you are to let go of me now before these feelings take root in-inside my heart I will be able to forget you”,she was lying her feelings were already rooted deeply inside her heart ,they bound her ,if she was let them go then,this time for sure,she will completely break until she lost all her senses..”so,”still she continued..
”I am sorry…I was keeping a secret from you,for all this time…..one year ago, after a certain incident…I became neurologically handicap…I lost my sense of touch ..I can’t sense your love ..gomenasai…but.. ….please leave me alone …I am so-so sorry..living with the fear that you might actually not love me is too much for me to handle..I know I am being rude to you...but I am scared ..I am sorry”,she fell on the wet sand crying, still ,unable to feel even the sand beneath her.
Her face was smudged..due to her crying for such a long time…but for him it was ..all of her was still beautiful…
“Then this time I will use my everything,I will pour my body.my brain,my heart,my soul into proving how much I love you,Akira”,he gently kissed her wet lips…..
Her heart skipped a beat,her eyes widened…she experienced her first kiss...but the emotion itself was that of shock..cause she didn't, in the real sense,experience it.
“hah…”he let out a sigh of relief…”I know it must be hard on you…but somehow it is a boon for me……Thank god, that ,you don’t hate me…for me your handicap is my trial of love,…this me who loves you for who you are..will love you no matter what…thank you for loving me…my light of hope(Jap.:Akira) this time I will become your guiding light(Jap:Hikari)”,saying this, he embraced her with all his strength but still it was warm and light…
“Hmph…”she let out a sound ,though unable to practically feel his skin ,she was still able to feel the pressure and his body warmth….her face was getting redder by the second..this position was embarrassing to be in..but she didn’t push him away…gently curling her hands around him she asked timidly,”Is it alright for me to still love you?”
”hm..”
“Is it ok for me to believe that you won’t let me go?”
“Yes,I promise I won’t let go of you..ever.”
“Arigatou Hikaru-san….I love you….I love you so much…………”,the man she loved had accepted all of her ,even ‘this’her she loathed for being a liar..he had accepted her everything...even if it was fake..even if she couldn't feel it she didn't want to let go...she loved him from the core of her heart...she didn't let go.
…………………….
After she calmed down....
The sun was on the horizon…...they were sitting side by side holding hands on the wet sand....
“Akira?”
”Hai?”
“Do you remember what actually happened that day ie. on the day of the accident?”
“Well....................",after resolving herself ,to never hide anything from him again,she continued,"..,the only parts I remember are that ,I was able to save the old lady…and the fact that I am somehow alive….I haven’t met her after that time she came to visit me ..I hope that she is doing well.. ”
“Yes,she is.”
“Eh-?”,she was shocked by his response..
“That day a old lady went for her stroll as per usual…but she decided to go a bit farther…she hadn’t come back at the usual time so his grandson went to search for her,she had dismissed her SPs before so,he went to search for her by himself…but just when he found the old lady, he saw the you who saved her while putting your own life on line…”,he started to talk,his voice was warmer than usual but somewhat serious..
“Eh? what do you mean.......then the lady is –“
“Yes,she was my Grandma...”,she got hit by a bolt out of blue..”Akira,when I saw her that day,it felt like I was pushed down into an abyss,the one who became my light, my hope was no one but you…the time was weird for this ,but at that instant I fell in love with the brave you,that day in the party I fell in love with the beautiful you,on the day of your parents death anniversary I fell in love with the weak you….”,”Akira,”he grabbed her hands….and took it close to his lips…and,as if,he was praying..
”Thank you for saving me and my grandma that day,thank you for protecting my kin,thank you for being who you are…thank you for being born to this world…thank you…I love you.It is somewhat embarrassing to say this at my age but did you know that you are my hatsukoi?”,her eyes widened,she was blushing real hard.”,my first, love at first sight…”he continued,even for a guy this was quite emotional and even though a bit embarrassing..he was crying…with his beloved in his hands….he for one, was able to feel the warmth of Akira…
……..
…and this time…It was the same for Akira too…..it had a nostalgic feeling to it …..she remembered it ,it was the same warmth she felt when she was being taken to the hospital….maybe it was him…..but she didn’t say a word…
He again kissed her soft lips,“hating you or rather ,even ,disliking you is impossible for me…so please promise me you won’t leave my side..”he begged
“Hai….I promise”,she gave a light kiss on his forehead….this time atlast she felt it ..the kindness,the warmth..and love of her lover with her skin...a tear fell out of her eyes
…and they walked into the sunset hand in hand….to start their new journey …called “LOVE”..
….this time together ..and…forever…..
Afterword…..
Thank you for reading…
This is the second story in “my dream series”.
I hope that you were able to feel the depth of the feelings of these two characters and were able to,even if a little,enjoy the story..
It all started with a dream I had where a little girl was crying alone since,she was unable to see,I improvised it a bit and it turned out like this…
###As usual..you are free to ignore whatever is written in the {}…again I was fantasizing .....Ahem!
**The cover for this story is from #pinterest(those guys are omnipotent,you can find almost every kind of picture there…)…Bows deeply….
See you next time…(smile).