Chapter 6 - Something Is Wrong

Drrttt…ddrrttt..

I reached my phone from the desk beside my tablet, put it against my ear.

“Halo?” the gentle voice from the speaker took another heart beats of mine, Andrea how could you do that to me?

“Halo Andy”

“I’ve booked the flight tickets… for tomorrow”

“Okay Andy”

“Okay…”

I was about to hung up, then “What are you doing right now? Are you busy?”

I nod my head slowly, still gazing straight to my tablet, my hand is busy drawing.

“Not really, I am working on my comic right now”

“Mmmm okay..” he murmured, “See you soon” he added

“Okay, see you at the airport”

I was about to press the red button on the screen again but then, “Wait, do you need me to pick you up tomorrow?”

“I’m fine, I’ll take the bus”

“Okay..”

I pressed the red button on the screen immediately. I took off my glasses and put it on the table, frowning confusedly. A vacation with stranger I just met few weeks ago because of my stupid amnesia. I wonder, how much I’ve forgotten.

I turned my head looking at the digital clock on my bedside table with numbers 15.00 glowing in yellow, I stretched my arms up to the air and cracked my fingers, grossed out by the sound of my bones popping. I haven’t take a bath since morning cause I was too excited to continue my comic. I stood up, heading to the bathroom.

I stepped into the shower, toes flinching as they touched the chilled ceramic floor. The water pours down, it drips by my side, as my mind fades into dullness and everything is a foggy illusion. The sensation of the steamy water

calms me, it takes my mind of things. My eyes fell closed over and over, each time showing me the images of my dreams and memories I barely remember like photographs ... Alana.. how could you forget Andy if he was that precious to you.

“Ani.. I afraid you won’t like it later”

That words gave me the chill. Another sparks of memory like a video playing in my head, the early memory of a man saying sorry, I assume it was Andrea? If that so, what makes him so guilty?

I closed my eyes to the water as the heat soaks into my skin, I lean against the cool tiles as my weak legs threaten to buckle. The moment he kissed me was the best things I have ever had, it was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. After that I was addicted, I couldn't bare not to be with him and could barely breathe when he was around. Those kisses were my salvation and my torment. I lived for them and I would die with the memory of them on my lips.

I finished my shower, as I came out with a towel wrapping my body, the doorbell rang. I peek through the peephole and that’s Andrea with a plastic of something in his hand. Today he is in casual. My heart’s beating fast, I can feel an abnormal sensation in my chest.

“Andrea?”

“Hey..” he lifted the plastic. “I bought Sushi”

(*Sushi (寿司) is a traditional food from Japan)

“Give me 5 minutes, gotta change!” I speak vaguely

“Okay”

I unlock the door and it clicks open, Andrea stepped in and took off his sneakers, arranging them on the shoe –rack. I grab the plastic and rushed to the kitchen to prepare some plates and drinks. I put them on the table as Andrea came in to the kitchen, offering some helps “May I?”

“Sit down and wait, that’s what you have to do” I spoke curtly which makes him startled. He sits back and pouted, something on the corner caught the afternoon light. Andrea gazes towards the pack of emptied vodka and beer, then narrowing his eyes on me.

“damn” I talked to myself, I pounded my hand against my forehead, I forgot to throw them away.

“Are you okay, Ani?” sarcastically talking to me.

“I- I am fine” I rolled my eyes and continue arranging the Sushi.

Andrea cleared his throat and say “pretty sure you gonna remember something once we arrived at the S.E.A.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe”.

Andrea looks at me with a smile across his face, a gentle and sincere smile as he saw the Sushi arranged neatly on the plate, he looks really excited. He dragged the chopsticks and pinch a Sushi,

He clears his throat, “Ani..”

I lift my head glancing at him, “Yes?”

“Are you sure? You are okay with it?”

I quirked an eyebrow “With what?”

“We have a dark past. You aren’t gonna like it”

I slammed the chopsticks on the table, I didn’t know it gonna sounds angry to him, he flinched, staring without a blink, I didn’t purposely do that.

“Andy.. I am not gonna regret anything for the sake of the truth” I flared my nostrils and continue “I want to remember the best moment of my life”

“The best moment of my life”

The words echoing in my ears, this time with extremely painful in the head. Then I saw mom.

“Mom?” my voice wobbly.

Mom held my hands, “You have to choose…” she looks sad.

I clicked my tongue and moaned, “Mom, I’ve made my choice..”

Mom closed her eyes and inhales harshly “Ana, which one of them gave you the best moment in your life?”

“ANI!!”

Andrea shook my shoulders, I blinked rapidly, the sparks disappeared but it let scars in my mind. He lifted my body and let me lay on the bed immediately, then rushed to the kitchen to bring a glass of water.

“Are you okay?” he sounds worry to hell.

I gulp the glass of water and lay down on the bed. Tears dripping down my cheeks,

then it soaked my pillow as I throw my gaze away from him.

“I miss my mom” I sobbed. I rose from my bed, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Andrea pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me. I could feel the warmth of his skin through his thin shirt. For just a moment I allowed myself the luxury of closing my eyes and soaking up Andrea’s comfort. I just need someone

to comforts me right now and I think Andrea is the right person, I wrapped my arms around his neck. “It’s okay Ani” his breath hot against my ear. Then I imagined what it would be like if it was my mother comforting me. My tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down my face. I feel the muscles of my chin trembling, I can't-can't stop. I pressed my fingers against his back, I can feel him holding the pain, Why can I not stop crying? He gave

me a gentle pat on my back, his arms are tight and calming. He tightened his arm, leaning on my head, smelling the rose fragrance of my hair. I pulled abruptly away from Andrea, wiping my eyes.

Andrea didn’t say a word, he puts both hands on my face sticking his forehead to mine as his thick hair covered

my sight. I can only see his sexy rosy –lips. “Andy?”

“How do you feel?” he asked, his hands touching mine, his face mere inches from mine. I give him a thin smile, nodding my head and say “I feel…safe”.

“Come here” his voice low and husky, he gave me a warm smile, then open his arms wide. I fell to his arm. “Just remember, I will stay by your side no matter what. I promise”

I lifted my head looking at him, my chin is leaning on his chest. “Andy, would you stay the night?”

He threw his gaze away without saying a word. He looks pretty shocked, and there’s a soft pinky shades on his cheeks.

His mouth hanging open, “I..”

“Just until I fall asleep. I can’t sleep well recently” I cut him off, to fix the misunderstanding.

I point my wardrobe with my thumb, “A spare key inside the wardrobe, lock them when you leave, returned it back someday”

He bit his lower lip and nods, “Okay..”

I tightened my arms around him. His hug was a simple enough gesture –affection to me, perhaps the fragile beginnings of love I felt. I flatter every time I see him, all I want to do is spending the time with him. The arms that held me are soft, yet strong.

I slept earlier today, he stayed the night until I fell asleep. He sat beside me watching One Piece’s movie as it was my sleeping lullaby.

***

We take a flight to Singapore, visit the place I dreamt about or it wasn’t actually a dream, cause Andrea admitted we have ever take a short trip just for the two of us.

We arrived in Singapore. Andrea stood beside me, gazing at his watch. I texted Vivi to let her know I’m not in town,

but I didn’t tell her I go with the architect. Vivi hasn’t reply me, she must be really busy doing her works.

I rewind myself about the memory of my mom, did my mom’s death related to my amnesia? Did Andrea and Jason related to my amnesia? Does Vivi know all about it? Why Vivi never tell me about this? How worse is my past? I have plenty of question which is still a big question mark.

The sky is bright and sunny, I narrowed my eyes as if the afternoon light is burning my retinas. The sun appears to contact the local celestial meridian, reaches its highest point in the sky. The airport is crowded, people are rushing here and there making quick movements.

“Ani, we are heading to the Aquarium now. You and I were there during noon too”

I nod my head, he knows the best cause he remembers everything. I wonder how worse we ended up like.

The taxi stopped by the drop off, Andrea lifted his luggage and mine, put them inside the trunk.

It took around 30 minutes to arrive.

There’s so much to see here, I only remember the moment I visited here with my mom when I was 5. The surroundings are made of glass as if we are inside the ocean entering the world of sea. The Aquarium is admirable with more than 800 species of marine animals, it is the home to Manta Rays, Goliath Grouper, Sharks, Napoleon Wrasse, Moray Eels and many more sea creatures. The view of the coral reefs are my personal favorite. The marine life exhibited in this place is just mind blowing.

I can’t hide a smile, I lifted my head staring at Andrea which is busy enjoying the view like I do. Then he turned his head towards me, smiling timidly. He paused, gazing at me, his hands touched my shoulders.

There’s something in his eyes like a cue to some intimate desires, my heart throbbing inside my chest.

“Ani.. are you sure you want to remember a thing?”

“Yes” He is too pessimistic when it comes to a clue to my past memory. I’m actually pissed but my heart won’t stop jumping. Andrea could be such a b*tch sometimes.

“Are you sure? No matter how?” he took a step closer, put his finger under my chin,

lifted it so I had to meet his eyes.

I nod my head slowly, I can hear every single pound of my chest, drowning it out in the ears. This great pounding, this great pressure.. every beat a turbulent push from within pushing as a giant placed within the chest.

Andrea held my eyes for a quiet long moment and that spark between us flared, he pulled me closer and at the same time he brushed my hair away from my face, his breath fanned my lips. His mouth parted and the kiss deepened. I want my heart to stop beating fast. It knocked hard against my chest, this is nothing like Jason. This is different.

A flashed of memory, Andrea with the same shirt he is wearing today. My heart beats echo in my ears. Andrea pulled me to his chest, whispering “I…Love..You”

I tiptoe to reach his lips, wrapping my hands around his neck and kissed him playfully. Andrea leaned his head forward and about to bite my lips, but he nearly missed, his lips a tad too far left and his nose bumping against mine, but he persisted. His eyes were closed, but he could hear the crinkling of my smile as I maneuvered my mouth into position, tilting my head so that our lips could meet firmly at last. I was breathing right into his nose each time I

exhaled, tickling his nostril hairs and making him giggle, which started I giggling too. As he pulled back sheepishly I nibbled on the tip of his nose, then kissed it, and his eyes opened to see me blushing.

“Andy.. we ever date?”

Andrea leaned his chin on my shoulder, I can feel his breath onto my neck. His arms are tight around my body, like he won’t let me go. “Andy?” I called him, I want to hear his answer. “Yes” he exhales a harsh breath, “We ever date”

“What year?” I asked. Andrea didn’t look like a High School student in my memory, he was a young adult like today.

He flared his nostrils. “Ani.. let’s enjoy this break” and that’s the moment when I realized, something is wrong with my past.

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