"No, but yeah I'm close to finishing my book. It'll take a month more maybe? I don't really know."
"Then why are you here Aoi? You must've been busy. Or did you hear about Yukino already?"
"Yeah that's the reason. But I wanted to surprise you guys. Wouldn't have expected you to be around my neighborhood."
"Oh yeah, I just finished cleaning your room a while back."
"What? Didn't Shin do it?"
"The two of us would but today it's just me."
"Thank you I guess?"
"What do you mean thank you? You owe me a cigarette Aoi."
"Okay sure."
Hina and I made our way to a convenience store nearby to grab some lunch. After doing so, we sat by the parking lot to unpack the food we bought then we started eating.
"So? Are you going to pay Yukino a visit?"
"Yeah. But I guess I'll ask uncle first to know what I should expect. It'll be hard if I don't set my mind right and just visit her. I don't want to crumble in front of her you know."
"Yeah that's true. Are you okay?"
"Am I okay? I don't know anymore. Yukino never left my mind even after going to Europe. Given the chance I would have stayed by her side but I have to respect her decisions. I know too well what she has to deal with. I've been doing my best from far away for her. It'll be unfair not to after all. "
"I guess it's been hard for all of us huh?"
"Yeah. How was she doing before getting hospitalized? Was she happy?"
"Maybe not as happy as to when you were still here but yeah she is. We did many things together and I think she was genuinely happy. Maybe sad knowing that she won't be able to do those things again."
"Thank you Hina. For making her happy even when I'm not around."
"Well, it wasn't just me but welcome I guess."
"Here, a cigarette from Europe. You might like it."
We both lit a cigarette after eating the packed bento boxes we just bought.
"What's this? This one's good!" Said Hina, surprised after she tried the cigarette I just gave her.
"Good right? I was surprised the first time but I'm used to it."
"I guess you really are living in Paris now huh? You kind of emit the foreigner vibes right now."
"You must be kidding. I'm a Japanese at heart. There's no way a month or two outside the country would change that. I guess you can't change me that easily."
A few minutes later, Hina accompanied me to Yukino's house. I just hope that uncle is home right now. I kind of want to surprise him as well.
When was the last time I was here in this place? It seems like whenever I visit a place that Yukino and I went, memories would just flash before me like a replay. And every time it does, a tear would fall down to my cheeks.
I rang the doorbell and waited a few seconds before someone opened it.
"You come back here in Japan and you're here with a girl already." Said uncle.
"You must be kidding uncle. You know Hina already. And you know she's a friend of Yukino and I."
"Of course I'm kidding. I missed you kid."
Uncle then went for a tight hug and it felt so comforting. I guess I needed to see uncle for me to realize how badly I need a tight hug. I'm sure that uncle is also crumbling inside so this hug will comfort us both. We're in this together after all.
"Since when are you back? You could've gave me a call kid."
"I wanted to surprise you so thank God you're home."
"Still as cocky huh? But yeah, you did surprise me to be honest. Come inside."
Hina and I went to the living room and sat beside each other by the sofa. In front us was uncle sitting on a couch.
"I guess you've heard about it if you're here." Said uncle.
"Yeah. How was it uncle?"
"A month or two? That's the time she has left. She can leave us anytime now."
"I see. Is she awake?"
"She is."
I felt a sense of relief after knowing that she's still awake. It means that I can give the two of us the proper closure that we need. I just don't how we will talk. It will probably be awkward considering how things ended between our relationship. But setting the details aside, I'm relieved.
Hina and I rode at the back of uncle's pickup truck as we made our way to the hospital. I guess summer really came huh? It's hot riding here as the sunlight torched our skins. Hina and I lit a cigarette as we sat in silence the whole ride.
We reached the hospital and I became nervous in an instant. When was the last time I got this nervous? Was it before I confessed to Yukino? I guess that was the time.
As soon as we entered the hospital and made our way to the room, my heart started pounding harder and harder. We reached the room and we stood by the door. I felt my heart about to burst.
"Calm yourself kid you look pale."
"Yeah. Your lips are chapped and faded as well. You good?" Said Hina.
"Yeah I'm good."
Uncle opened the door and what greeted us was Yukino sitting by the bed glowing as the sunlight shone upon her. An angel, I'm sure of it. She's still beautiful. A lot thinner but beautiful, pale but beautiful. Her beauty never changed, and no matter how many times I see her, I wouldn't get used to how beautiful she is. I would fall every single time.
Yukino looked towards us as she was about to yell "Unc-" but was then stopped by the sight of me standing beside her uncle. Her eyes wide open and her jaw dropped. It was a funny scene to be honest by I don't know why tears came flowing down my face. But it wasn't tears of sadness. It was tears of joy that I finally got to see her.
"H-hello." Said I, awkwardly scratching the back of my head.