CHAPTER 1: New Neighbor
The wide hallway of Etobicoke Hospital greeted my line of vision as I moved out from the white Hammer. Only few people could be spotted on the parking lot which was reasonable because of the strict protocols implemented by the highness. Also, this hospital was a private property, built exclusively for Filipino-Canadian citizens. Most Filipinos who resided in Canada went here for their health care.
Accordingly, Etobicoke was owned by a doctor named Patrick Holsin. The doctor was a half blooded Canadian and Filipino. Inorder to help his fellow countrymen, he supported both parties in terms of the profession he was at. My father Bob Jacques told me that after I asked about the hospital he was working.
The marble ground of the parking lot greeted my boots. The fighting warm and cold air filled my nostrils. It was a one fine day of August which screamed summer, almost welcoming the autumn season.
"Hey, should we cancel this session?" I suddenly blurted after I saw how uneasy Zeiko was. "Pwede namang bukas na lang. You're nervous," I added.
Speaking the same language as my boyfriend didn't give a hard time for me. When I was little of my age, my mother trained me to speak their native tongue language in case I could met one of them. I was really thankful enough about it, because I could easily understand my boyfriend's language, as well as speak it fluently.
"No, I'm fine. Everything's fine when I'm with you. Just seeing you gives me motivation to still continue this," he bickered. I shrugged my shoulders and laughed a bit while eyeing him.
I nudged his left shoulder lightly, before I linked my arm on his.
"You are making me blush," I said, giving his arm, that was linked on mine, a light peak.
Seriously, he was really shaking and I didn't know if it should worry me or not at all. From prior meetings he had with Dr. Roberts, his psyche therapist, there were numerous times of aversion after. Drawing back his lost memory was what Zeiko wanted so Tita Gaia, his mom, enlisted his son a monthly session to Dr. Roberts.
And the thought of meeting his therapist was surely the reason of his anxiousness right now. However, the various sessions from the past two months didn't make him less nervous. That was why I attended some of his sessions.
Zeiko was a Filipino citizen. Two years ago, I met him in this hospital too, because of my father Bob. Actually, Bob Jacques was Zeiko's private nurse during his recovery period after his coma. Zeiko was in dilemma that time after not knowing his past life, so his mother insisted for monitory assistance.
From then on, dad became his private nurse for three months. In that sense, when I visited dad during his shift, Zeiko already knew me. After all, dad was a big talker, so I shouldn't be surprised.
As common as it was to hear, we became good friends. I would pay a one hour visit on dad's working station, which happened to be my routine every vacation, and create valuable talks.
The frequent laughs and talks we had during my visits, linked as into a more concrete bond of friendship. I must say we were good friends, at first.
After three months in hospital, Zeiko was able to live away from the white four-walled room. It was a great opportunity for him, and it was also his fortune to confess his feelings toward me, which I already half-expected.
"Aster," he called my attention after we're done watching Twilight Saga in my living room.
My father had a night shift that time, the reason why Zeiko insisted to stay for awhile to secure my safety. It wasn't a problem to my father especially knowing he had an invisible bond with Zeiko. I even heard Zeiko said they were bestfriends. I must say, it was weird, really weird.
I groggily asked, "Yes?" after I suppressed a yawn. It was past midnight, the wind was gushing cold, with crickets joining the eerie darkness of the night.
I felt his intense stare, so I met it with confusion. "What? Tell me if we'll need an evacuation or something," I joked.
He answered it with a sigh before he spoke, "See that painting?" He pointed the abstract painting on the gray painted wall.
I nodded twice. "Yup. And what about it?"
He shifted his gaze from the abstract painting down to my awaiting curious eyes.
"That painting is splattered with darkness. An enigmatic darkness that is hard to decipher due to its complexity. For some, it's useless and boring. But how can we discover light without darkness?" His voice became shaky and later did I know, his shoulders did too, while his eyes welled with tears.
"At first, I thought darkness was where I should be, and I should accept it as my fate. It's hard, and crushing me into pieces being stocked in a vortex of darkness. All I could think is to find the light, and free myself away from this unending darkness," he weakly said.
Seeing him suffer hurted me. He was the nicest guy I knew except my father. This man shouldn't feel this kind of torture. He didn't deserve being diagnosed with post-traumatic amnesia, but his fate brought him on it.
If only I could ease his pain.
"I'm here," I suggested and leaned my head on his shoulder. I heard his rough intake of air.
"You won't be forever with me," he disconsolately said.
I twisted my neck to meet his eyes. "That's if you'll shoo me away," I uttered. I straightened my back, and looked at him confidently. "I'm always here, your friend, to be the light you need out of that darkness... You can count on me."
"C-couldn't we turn it into something deeper?" he stammered and waggled his eyes without glancing at me.
"You brought the light in my darkest life, Aster. If it wasn't for you, maybe I'm still lying on the hospital bed. You helped me slowly regain my sanity... That I should continue this life even with my lost memories," he hopefully added while finally eyeing at me, "I'm falling for you."
I was utterly speechless with his confession, while my heart rammed too much in my chest. He confessed his feelings to me!
Through the months we had spent, the feelings embedded on his soul grew for me, only for me... I felt warmth enveloped my heart and squeezed it at the same time. It was surreal.
I tapped the man's shoulder. "If you say so, let's get going then," I encouraged him.
Zeiko nodded subtly, then, sneaked his right arm in my waist. "Yeah, we better yet go before we become ninjas," he joked.
"Haha," I faked a laugh. "Nice try Mister Andrade," I teasingly added. The poor earlier anxious man scratched his nape like a little boy he was. His cute little action earned a laugh from me.
We immediately went inside the hospital. I threw several encouraging words at him before he went inside the room where Mr. Roberts awaited his patients.
"You'll be fine. I'll just wait for you outside." I gave him a reassuring smile while the latter didn't do the same. He looked really upset, like all the time during his sessions, that it worried me too.
"Or If you want, I'll accompany you inside. Dr. Roberts won't surely bother my presence right?" I suggested.
"Everything's fine. I'd be good." he insisted. All I could do was kiss his cheek as a supportive girlfriend. He smiled at me before going inside.
While waiting for Zeiko, I went to the front disk, and asked about dad's whereabouts. I would still have much time to kill before Zeiko's session would be over.
"Nice seeing you here Aster. Are you looking for Mr. Jacques?" A petite thirty year old lady greeted me situating on the front disk.
I smiled at the nice lady. "Good day, Mara. It's nice seeing you here too, and you're right. I'm looking for him."
Mara skimmed something on the laptop monitor, and then enthusiastically faced me. "His shift for today is on Room 2231."
I grinned at her. "Thanks a lot Mara."
"No worries dear. Your new hairstyle suits you by the way. Blonde and curly Aster is hot." My face burned a little.
Yesterday, I just, out of nowhere, decided curl would be a nice style. Though the blonde color of it was a genetic inheritance from my dad. Changing the color of my hair wasn't also my option due to the fact that my mother loved my blonde strands. Those times when she was still an alive and joyous housewife of two kids with a nurse husband, if only death didn't ruin it.
Upon the elevator reached second floor, my body worked its first course of finding Room 2231. It was a great timing when I spotted dad walking out from some room, the one I was looking for. He didn't look surprise upon seeing me, because he knew Zeiko's schedule to Dr. Roberts.
"Is Zeiko still in the psychiatrist's ward?" he asked while we were heading to their office.
"Yes. It's been an hour and half. He should be done more minutes from now," I replied.
"Will you head home after this? Remember about the groceries sweetie? We aren't rabbits to continuously eat carrots for a week," he reminded me. Dad was a busy man, and not a grocery type of man also. Therefore, I did the groceries every twice a month. Of course, with his shining shimmering dollars.
I understandingly nodded. I, too, was far tired eating carrots for a straight week. Not that I wasn't a carrot lover, in fact I loved it. It was the mere idea of continuous eating the same thing made me sick. Who wouldn't anyway.
"I'll buy after this dad. Don't worry about it."
I kissed Dad's cheek and bid him goodbye after thirty more minutes of talk. It was his free time, by the way. If not, he was surely reported to the highness.
I spotted Zeiko on the waiting lounge. When he saw me, his lips lifted up attempting for a sweet smile. It was rather sad. His red puffy eyes stated his pain inside.
"It's Robert's fault. His words were nerve wrecking. A true men do cry, Aster," he defended himself, even if I wasn't saying any remarks.
"That's good. Let's talk about your session while driving to the mall, alright?"
After Zeiko parked the car, we immediately went inside buying the things I needed, mainly the grocery. It took us twenty five minutes choosing and picking meat, vegetables, spices, bread, beverages, and snacks. Zeiko insisted to line up and pay for all the things we picked, so I willingly gave him my card.
"I'll fetch you tomorrow," he suggested after he helped me carry the bags of groceries.
"Hmm, If you say so," I agreed.
Zeiko draped his arms around my waist while sweetly smiled at me.
"I'll surely miss our trips together. You're now in third year. Here I am, still freshman at twenty-three," he said, almost pouting.
I touched his smooth cheeks. "Don't worry about trips. We can do it during vacation," I said.
Smiling had been impossible to suppress when his face contorted into a frown.
"Age doesn't matter, as long as you love to learn and study for your future gain. You're a smart lad, so don't waste it. Humber College is a big opportunity for you to soar high," I added.
He covered my hand carressing his cheek with his big one. He lightly pinched mine.
"I love you, darling," he said and kissed my knuckles right away.
"I love you too," I answered and kissed him full on the lips. It was just so perfect. Everything we had was damn too good to be true, like a dream.
Afternoon came and I was done stuffing the refrigerator with stocks, and prepped my things for tomorrow. A sudden boredom hit through me. It was a fine afternoon with no one to talk to. Zeiko was far gone home.
Wearing the same outfit as this morning: the black and white stripes fubu shirt fitted in me, paired with blue skinny jeans, and a navy green boots. It was perfect for some walking.
I walked towards the neighborhood, touring around like I used to. The needle-like pine trees were towering several corners of the street. I jogged in these area at times, though not constantly.
Some things really changed, especially seeing how the house for sale a month ago, was now illuminated. The one owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lark who migrated in London two months ago.
The previously owned house of the Lark family was about two-hundred meters away from ours. It was a two storey one with blue painted walls and roof, just like a smurf.
I was about to go back home, when a voice roared from inside that house. The voice wasn't recognizable due to my distance, but I guess it was a man heading towards the front door.
Being an open curious lady, I hid myself on the near trash bin while peaking inside.
"...you're going if you won't stop doing this!" The muffled voices earlier became clear.
A tall Canadian man angrily pushed the front door open. The way he wore a clean white coat revealed he was a wealthy man. From my perception, I could tell he was in mid-fourties.
"Don't cut my remaining rope of patience!" Those were his last words before he stormed outside the house leaving the gate open.
It seemed like the new owner of this house was somewhat stoic and an angry men. If that so, they were far different from Lark couple's sweet nature.
I stood my feet and dismissed the mud stucked in my jean's ass.
"Fuck you," I heared a sudden thunder of voice again. And this time, it wasn't an angry man like the person who walked out, instead, an angrier one!
I managed to peak from the inside, and unexpectedly saw his upper blessed naked body, wearing only a faded black pants. Jesus!
As if oxygen left my nostrils, when his stares glued on me, standing at their opened gate. There, I was a fool standing behind their gate. How stupid I was. I felt like a thief being caught.
But even with the shoulder-length curly strands of hair messed with his face, I managed to see his eyes... His bloodshot eyes.
Fear instantly creeped in me. My heart worked double. His eyes was piercing through my soul. It was different, hard, and deep.
At some point, I feared it. His gazes were too much to handle making my body chilly cold.
After that, I idiotically ran as fast as I could. It was a reflex out of the stimulus which was him. Looking at that man earlier, he seemed a walking disaster.
That was when I first saw him, the first glance I had of him. I didn't even know it was also the start of something different... The different version of my life.
I was unprepared.