AKENO'S POV:-
All that conversations yesterday were real. But to them it seemed like a general conversation. We revealed so much of our side but they seemed unfazed. Rather they could not believe it. Ace probably thinks we blurted non sense. It sounded like non sense though. That asshole Evan, speaks everything so lightly. Who tells people things like those eating chips? Now we seem like a joke to them.
Evan:-"where are you lost? Let's go."
"You took time fucker."
Evan:-"but now I am here, we should go."
"Yes. And stop taking things so lightly."
Evan:-"whoa! Bro. what did I do?"
"You should have explained clearly. They are just normal citizens; they have no idea of our activities. Like we do things that might make them hate us."
Evan:-"ah! I am sure you're right, but you should talk it out with ace& I will talk it out with Ria. Ace will believe you.
"And why are sure she will? Tell me."
Evan:-"just that you are softer with her than others, and she is normal with it. You should know this; she doesn't listen to anyone except you in the office. People call her your woman. And she is the target of most of the female employees. Pay more attention around yourself."
"And now this has made it even more difficult. She didn't breathe a word in front of me. And I didn't expect all this too."
Evan:-"do you still believe that she will come to you and tell you all this, on her own. I don't think she will and if you just have no intention of keeping her in that tight spot. Then make it clear. Don't go too soft on her."
"Yeah! For now let's go to the hospital. They said they will meet ichiro."
Evan:-"and remember don't go soft on her if you don't intend to. She is very professional from what I saw about her."
"Yeah. I got it. Let's go first. We are ichiro's brothers, we should be there."
ACE'S POV:-
I can see the security personnel around here, so it means Akeno and Evan are here already. It's good that I didn't come along with him. It's just unwanted uncomforting. I picked out a normal outfit because those work clothes seemed kind of rude while visiting a patient. I am more comfortable in a hoodie and denim than a pencil skirt or all black suits.
Ria:-"get the bouquet from the back seat; my hands are full with our bags."
"Yeah! I got it."
The receptionist told us the VIP suit ichiro was kept in. I am afraid at this point everyone knows of our relation with their CEO'S. But, I hope it's just because of the security personnel recognizing us. We have been around them more much to our surprise as well. I didn't pay attention that while going through these thoughts I was standing at the doors of his room. Ria slid the door open and we stepped in. I put the flowers on the side table while the nurse brought in a clear vase with water half filled in it. She placed the flowers from the bouquet into the vase.
There was a partition beyond that side table. I couldn��t see ichiro, and honestly, I didn't want to. The picture of him laying there was really horrible. But, I could imagine it thoroughly. We sat down quietly on the seats on her side of her partition. For all I could feel was guilt. All I could remember was him and sash giggling in our kitchen. I had lost both of the important persons. The nurse slowly pushed off the partition and the tears I had been holding back burst off. He was lying there lifeless, except for the slight heaves of his breathing in and out.
The tubes and wires attached to his body were making me nauseous. The partition revealed Akeno and Evan by his side, sitting right across us. They were looking up. For some reason I didn't feel the same warmth he radiated to me. But did it matter. My cheeks wet with tears streaming down to my denims.
A gust of wind blew past me. It was Akeno. He just stood up and left. Evan moved further away from us to the window, looking out. I want to talk to ichiro. My mind and heart say so.
"Hey get up. You didn't even mourn your girlfriend."
Ria:-"get up ichiro I got you flowers even."
I realize Ria is sobbing too. She holds the bedrail and shakes it a little.
Evan:-"he won't wakeup. I don't know how long this man will sleep. It's annoying me."
"Ichiro we can't let you go. So don't try to move further away. I know you can listen. Hey! Are you listening? You lost your girl. She is dead! Get up!"
He won't budge an inch. Ria gets up and leaves. I understand we are being annoying, but he is the only witness. A witness to our misfortune. He has to get up, not today, but tomorrow.
AKENO'S POV:-
If I heed to what Evan told me to do, I think I did good. More or less I couldn't just look at her cry it makes me uneasy. I came here every day since the day ichiro is here, but I never felt this heavy before. Because on the inside I knew he will come back around. The doctor said to wait and watch. But only the one who waits and watches knows this pain of looking at someone in pain and being at a total loss of an answer or a remedy.
I don't want to go inside and watch her bawling out her eyes, so I came out to the window for a puff of cigarette. I saw some doctors rush to his room. Is that right if that isn't just smoke. The anxious rushing of doctors already made me curious, adding to that Evan, ace and Ria have been ushered out at once. The worried look on their face is telling me that something's wrong, I walk up to them and wait. Evan told me that they saw him move. I was shocked. But then he said, not the whole of him, just tilting his head and fingers moving and heart rate sped up. So they called the doctors immediately.
The doctors don't like me and I don't like them. I am a kind of a respectable ill omen. Respectable since I am the ultimate boss here. They don't fear Evan though. I don't know why, but that's discrimination. Even Ria warmed up to him faster than expected. My thoughts subsided away as the doctor stepped out. As usual I am not going to scare the fellow.
Evan:-"so??"
Doc:-"not sure but he is responding."
Evan:-"so, suddenly."
Doc:-"maybe he wants to tell something or gained full consciousness."
Evan:-"can we talk to him now."
Doc:-"yes, absolutely but not for too long, let him rest."
Evan:-"sure."
I couldn't stand these formalities so I headed in first. He was wide awake.
"Didn't hear the alarm? Huh!"
Ichiro:-"kind of."
"You okay."
Ichiro:-"no."
"Why? You even survived from the death hole."
Ichiro:-"I heard everyone cry."
I couldn't see his face drenched in tears. I don't want him to cry, so I get up and sit farther away from him. If I talk more he will be sad and after all this drama unfolded he has many tears to shed, so I will let him save some.
RIA'S POV:-
Did he actually hear us cry, and heard us wake him up like little kids waking up their mommy. I am embarrassed and happy. He woke up because of the ruckus we caused. Or because of the fact we told him about sash. This makes more sense.
"Hey! Evan… uh... boss."
Evan:-"hmm."
"Did you by any chance conceal the fact that sash is no more, from ichiro?"
Evan:-"maybe."
"What kind of maybe is this? Don't spare the details."
Evan:-"what? I mean I can't make a person sadder that they already are. I mean it wasn't the right time. I meant to tell him sooner or later."
"You were afraid. You couldn't speak on your own. Could you?
Evan:-"what are you circling down at?"
"You must have understood by now."
Evan:-"fine. Yes. I hid it from him. Who practically forgot about him for a month or more?"
"Well you see a person was lost on my side."
Evan:-"don't be a hypocrite."
"Don't be an insensitive jerk."
Evan:-"we both know who is more insensitive."
"I can't argue with your stupidity."
Ace:-"whoa! Why are you both fighting? Calm down, let's focus on ichiro. Okay?"
"Yeah, fine."
Evan:-"I was already paying attention to him."
Ace:-"ok. I got it. I am going inside Ria. We have a lot to talk about. Don't we? Let's go."
EVAN'S POV:-
He has been very silent since we entered the room. Akeno is sitting far away as usual. I figure they already talked. Ichiro's stare can burn holes in my soul.
"Ummm. How are you feeling, you up to talk?"
Ich:-"yeah."
Ace:-"do you remember anything…. I am very sorry for being so abrupt, but do you remember, I mean do you want to talk about it? You can deny of course."
Ich:-"she's gone, isn't she? Tell me."
I didn't think about this situation. He deserved to know. I know Ria was right. I am afraid. And now I can't find words to speak.
Ria:-"yes."
Silence.
Ich:-"I thought I died. I watched her die. I already know. But, I survived. It seems like a joke. You know you shouldn't pity me. I hate it. Don't do that."
Ace:-"look… maybe we can talk later. Please don't strain yourself."
Ich:-"it's fine. I didn't get amnesia like TV dramas. But, honestly that would've been better."
Ria:-"I just want to know what happened. Tell me."
Ace:-"Ria..."
Ich:-"I will tell. I just know that it was all planned. We were attacked from all the sides and they were resorting to raising a hell and violence rather than just trying to harm us. It could've gone very silently, but looks like their targets mixed up. They definitely checked up on me, but not on Sasha. That's what I know."
Ria:-"this much is fine ichiro. Now, don't strain yourself too much thinking about it and rest up."
"You make him remember all that and tell him to relax. Wow! Pretty tactical."
Ria:-"at least I am not the one who didn't have the balls to tell him the truth. And, I am not here to see you. I met who I came to see. So, I will take my leave now, thank you. Let's go grace."
Ace:-"yes, let's go. I don't want to tire ichiro more than we already did. But, I don't like your brother's ichiro."
Ich:-"understandable. Mmhm."
I can't believe it. Ichiro sided with them. My own brother. Now, I already they are friends but, he forgot I am his brother.
Whoa! That's new.
Now, it's time for another plan.