I stared at the young man standing at the doorway. He had a smile on his face, which in turn made me smile back.
"Sure" I replied
He walked over to my side and sat next to me on the bed.
"How do you feel?" he asked in a soft tone.
"Better" I answered "I'm sorry if I can't remember you" I said apologetically.
"It's alright, I know you will soon, I just have to be patient" he said "Oh yes....Rodrigo instructed me to hand your phone over to you" he added
He then reached into his pocket, and he pulled out a phone and he placed it in my hands.
"Here it is"
"You remember how to unlock it right?" he asked
"Do you?" I asked in reply
"I do, you showed me" he answered
I wonder if I knew how to unlock his phone as well.
I looked at my phone, surprisingly, I remembered how to unlock it. I unlocked the phone, and the first thing I saw was a picture of Lorenzo and I, as my home-screen wallpaper. We both looked happy.
"Did you change my wallpaper?" I asked rudely.
"No" he instantly answered
If I had him as my wallpaper, there is a 50% chance his pictures flooded my gallery. I think I'll check that out later.
I went to my phone book in search of Arthur's contact. I found an Arthur and i immediately put it on speed dial.
I turned to Lorenzo. He looked completely lost.
I was sure he wondered what I was doing.
I held the phone up to my ear, and I patiently waited for Arthur to answer.
Someone answered, but he didn't sound like the Arthur I was looking for.
"Arthur" I said
"Yes ma'am, so you want me to come pick you up?" he asked
Pick me up? Who was this guy?
I turned to Lorenzo and he whispered "He's the uber driver"
"Oh no, no, thank you Arthur. I'll call you later" I said and I hung up before he could say anything else.
"Who are you looking for?" Lorenzo asked, but I ignored his question.
It feels weird trying to call my boyfriend, in the presence of my supposed to be 'fiance'. That's quite rude, the way I see it.
I scrolled further, and I came across a familiar name- Kevin
"Oh my gosh Kevin" I gasped and I immediately phoned him.
It rang a few times, but no answer. I guess he wasn't with his phone. I tried again, third times the charm right.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this wonderful phone call dear damsel?" Kevin asked.
"Kevin" I called excitedly
"How are dear?" he asked softly
He sounded different, I could hear the base in his voice.
"I'm fine" I answered
"Are you still at the hospital?" he asked
"No, I'm at Rodrigo's place" I answered
"I came early this morning to see you but I left an hour later. I had an emergency to attend to." Kevin explained
"No problem. How have you been? You sound so mature now, and your voice is deeper" I said
Kevin was silent for a while. I wondered why he kept me quiet.
"Hello" I said
"Elena" he called softly
"Yes" I answered
"How old are you right now?" he asked
"Well I feel 18, but the doctor and everyone else says I'm 26" I answered
"Are you serious" he burst out surprised
"Yes I am" I answered
"Is there any side effects from the lightning accident?" he asked
"The doctor said I have amnesia, but its only temporary" I answered.
"Whom do you remember?" he asked
"My brothers, my parents, you and Jana" I answered
"What about Lorenzo, do you remember him?" he asked in a worried tone.
"No, I was about to ask you about him." I said
"Well is he next to you?" Kevin asked.
I turned to Lorenzo and answered "Yes he is"
"Alright, it was nice hearing your voice . I have to go now, I'm busy at the moment, send my regards to him. I know you have some questions, we would discuss later okay. Love you dear."
"Love you too" I said and I hung up.
"Kevin sent his regards" I said turning to Lorenzo
"I hope he is good?" Lorenzo asked
I nodded slightly in reply.
Just then, Lorenzo's phone rang. "I have to take this" Lorenzo said and he left me by myself in the room.
******************************
"Lorenzo...dude...you okay?" the called firstly asked in a concerned voice.
"Dude I don't know" Lorenzo answered in a sad tone.
"Is she next to you now?"
"No, she's all by herself in her room." Lorenzo answered " I have a feeling she remembers Arthur instead of me"
"Why would you say that?"
"Well right before she called you, she accidentally phoned the uber driver, thinking he was Arthur. I sensed the disappointment in her voice once she found out it wasn't him." Lorenzo explained
"How can she remember Arthur and forget what he did to her that night?"
"Kevin, I don't know" Lorenzo said in frustration.
"Pull yourself together, you sound like you're about to cry" Kevin said
"Give me a reason why I shouldn't. Put yourself in my shoes, it hurts that she doesn't remember me. She doesn't remember me being her fiance, and friend. I can tell she has noticed I'm hurt, and she's just being nice towards me."
"You still love her right?" Kevin asked
"Yes I do"
"Good, you know she hasn't changed. She's still nice remember. The young lady in that room is still the same lady who would join us to watch the football game even when she didn't want to, in the past and even till date. The same sweet, kind and caring Elena we both love and care for. Maybe this is fate just trying to test your patience..." Kevin paused, while Lorenzo listened attentively. "....Look, I honestly don't understand what you're going through at the moment, but I know it hurts. I'm here for you brother. Feel free to talk to me any time okay. I just called just to know how you were faring. I'm busy right now, let's talk better at night time okay."
"Alright, thanks Kevin" Lorenzo said.
"No problem....cheers" and the phone call ended.
*************************
"Lorenzo" a soft voice called from behind
Instantly Lorenzo turned and answered, "Yes"
"I'm hungry" I said.
"What would you love to eat?" he asked softly
I lowered my head, "I don't think I want food in particular, can I have tea instead" I said in a low voice.
"Green tea?" he asked and then a smirk formed around his lips.
"Yes" I burst out.
How did he know?
"How did you know?" I asked curiously
"Well.." he began to say "Its what you always demanded for only when you wanted to...."
"Relax" we both said simultaneously
He looked at me and smiled. "Exactly...relax" he said
"How long have you known me?" I asked still standing in my doorway.
"A long time" he answered
"How long exactly"
"Before high school long" he answered
"so we have been friends for so long"
"Yes" he answered.
"Alright, I would like to have the tea now." I said not wanting to question him further.
"Oh, I'll go get it. You just stay inside your room" Lorenzo said and then he hurried away.
I stepped into the room and crossed to my bed. I wanted to find a way reach Arthur. I wanted to see him again, but how? I hope he still has his Instagram account.
Lorenzo returned with a tea jug and a tea mug in a tray.
"Where do I place it?" he asked.
"By the table, I don't like it hot" I said
"I know, I already left it to cool before coming" he added
Wow, he really does know me.
He placed it on the table by my bed. Lorenzo sat next to me on the bed again. He was closer this time, so close our knees were touching, and he held my hand. He brushed it with his thumb, at the same time staring at me, with his smile.
Gosh I loved that smile. Something about it made me feel good inside.
I smiled back. Suddenly, I felt guilty.
Was this right? I'm with Arthur. I can't like a guy I don't like, it's all wrong. And Lorenzo seemed like an extremely sweet guy. I guess I'm having mixed feelings.
"Elena" Lorenzo called out to me softly, which interrupted my thoughts.
"May I ask you something?" he said
"Yes"
"Who is Arthur to you?" he asked
"My boyfriend" I answered instantly without thinking.
Lorenzo let go of my hand immediately and I felt a sudden weight in my chest, heavy, but empty.
Lorenzo looked away, but he didn't get up.
I wished I shouldn't have said that, but that's all I remember. He can't blame me. I placed my hand on his chin and I turned his face back to me.
"Did I hurt you? I'm sorry." I said apologetically.
"It's not your fault okay" he said.
He stood up to leave and I placed a restraining hand on his arm.
He turned to me immediately.
"Can you at least smile before you leave" I asked softly.
Why did i say that?
I really need to start thinking before I speak.
He sat back down and he caressed my cheek softly. "You really haven't changed" he said softly and he finally smiled.
"Thank you" I said
"You're welcome." Lorenzo said and then he took his leave.
Three hours later after Lorenzo's departure, I picked up my phone and I phoned Kevin. He missed it twice, but he called back after a minute or two.
"Elena I missed your call. How are you?" he firstly said
"I'm good, good evening" I replied
"Evening dear" he said softly
"Are you busy at the moment?" I asked
"Oh no, I just came out of the showers" he said
"Alright, I need a favour" I said
"Sure, anything" Kevin confidently said
"I need to find Arthur"
"Why" Kevin asked instantly, I sensed anger in his voice.
"I just want to see him" I answered
"What about Lorenzo? You're still with him" Kevin said
"That's what everyone is saying, but what if my amnesia never leaves. Do I have to pretend to love someone I don't, while the person I love is somewhere else with someone asides me." I explained
"Elena listen to yourself, you sound ridiculous." Kevin pointed out
"I know it's crazy, but I still love him" I explained.
"Love whom?" Kevin sounded annoyed
"Arthur" I said stubbornly
"Elena we are done talking...Are you listening to yourself?"Kevin began to lower his voice and I felt scared. I couldn't understand why. This was meant to be one of those scenarios where someone who cares about you yells at you, and instead of shouts, you hear soft voices. But my case was the complete opposite.
"Like seriously. Did you think about Lorenzo's feelings? Did you think of what he would do if he hears of this- which I'm definitely going to tell him. Do you know how hurt he is right now, because a lightning strike wiped him from your memory and who knows how long he has to wait for you to remember him. He is hurt Elena, and he needs you. And not just need you, every part of him yarns and desperately wants you. Please don't hurt him more, I don't think he would be able to bear it."
"Look Kevin, Lorenzo seems to be a very nice and sweet guy, but I don't love him the way I love Arthur...."
"Yes you do Elena" Kevin said interrupting me.
"No I don't Kevin" I yelled.
"Alright, then please tell me what you think about Lorenzo's smile? Tell me how you feel when he smiles at you. I'm sure he might have smiled at you a billion times today. Remember you always told me how much you loved his smile, right from high school." Kevin explained
He wasn't wrong. Lorenzo smiled at me countless times today.
At the hospital, when I alighted from Rodrigo's vehicle, several times in the room asides when I asked, even when I requested for tea. But that wasn't the point.
"Kevin you're missing the point" I said
"Oh really, so you are telling me his smile doesn't have any effect on you huh" Kevin said. He was starting to lose his patience.
"Are you going to help me or not?" I asked stubbornly
"You didn't even ask me how you and Arthur broke up, even if you guys weren't really dating" Kevin said
"I'll find that out when I meet with him." I said stubbornly
"Oh and you expect him to tell the truth" Kevin said
"Off course, he would definitely tell me the truth" I said confidently
"Elena" Kevin called softly "Please"
"What are you begging me for Kevin? I'm just following my heart" I said
"Think about Lorenzo first" Kevin pleaded
"Will you help me or not?" I asked again
"No Elena, I won't help you. Goodnight." Kevin said, and before I could say anything else, he hung up on me.
"Fine then" I said