Chapter 52 - 53 Encounter II
"He is right, Em. I was taken to another place, in our dimension, too," I told her, "Yeah, I was still here, but there was something that made us unable to know that place and to go there anytime we wanted to. In other words, only certain people can do that," I tried to speak slowly and clearly so that it was easy to understand. Emma was quiet, looking in disbelief.
"I feel that you are hiding so many things from me, since you were chased by the wooden doll that turned out to be your own friend, is that also true?" She sounded disappointed.
"I am sorry,"
"I am sorry," I felt sorry for her, "At first I thought I would be able to finish it myself, but ended up like this," I took her hands which were on the table and put them in mine, "Thank you so much. You are always a great help for me. But to tell you everything I need more time," That woman smiled at me and patted my shoulder to comfort me, "All was quite confusing me because it all happened in a sudden. I also had difficulties taking it in the beginning, but eventually I knew that I had to go through it whether I like it or not. But to be able to tell to someone else, I am not ready yet,"
Emma nodded, "I understand," She said thoughtfully. She was about to get up from her seat when something suddenly crossed her mind, "Oh! I almost forgot. Your mother was looking for you a few days ago. She said she wanted to pick you up for ---em, I forgot. She she came here in person at that time,"
"Hm, then?"
"I told her you did not go home for several days and I told her that I had made a report of missing person to the police, but she was just quiet and left," Emma explained, "Does she always behave like that?" I smiled to see her irritated face.
"I don't know," I replied half heartedly while enjoying the fried chicken Emma bought for me.
"You both are just the same," She got more irritated after listening to my answer, "I can not be too long, my daughter is waiting for me. Eat them all, okay? I will come here again tomorrow. By the way, don't worry about your cat, I have taken care of everything. Let him stay at my home first, my daughter loves him," Emma stood up from her chair and left.
I waved my hand which was smudged with hot cheese sauce. This chicken tasted extraordinarily tasty after so long having a meal served by Hana which I never knew it was made of. I did not want to think about my mother who looked for me because I knew she would ask me to hand in Zie to father.
I would lose my appetite if I thought about my parents. Indeed, I did not really understand what kind of relationship they had and how their mind worked.
The following day, after I collected all my revised report to Mr. Heong, I asked Kerberos to take me to Zie. I knew I did not have much time left in this place, so I had to do it fast.
When we arrived there, I could see Zie was helping Mr. Oka watering the flowers in front of his shop. I waved my hands cheerfully from distant. I smiled widely when that wooden doll walked to my direction as soon as he saw me. His moves were stiffer than the last time we parted.
"Tha, been so long you did not show up here. I really thought you have forgotten me," Although his expression was flat, I knew and I could imagine the sadness he held for me, especially the tone of his voice was suffocating me.
"How can I forget you if it is you always in my mind?" I smiled to comfort him, I reached his wooden fingers, "I am so sorry, I have to run some errands. I just have time to see you. Be patient if you miss me," I teased him and tried to make him happy.
When I ran my eyes around I saw some creatures I had never seen before wandering around with Lichens. Perhaps they were guards sent by Azalea.
They were like phantoms assigned to catch me. It was just that they had a bigger form with two horns sticking out of their head.
"Eventually my place will become a shelter," Mr. Oka complained while watering his flowers.
"I am sorry Mr. Oka," I said as I smiled to him. He just asked me to go with Zie.
"Let us watch a film! I have bought two tickets," I said enthusiastically, "We can go to the park we ever planned to visit at that time. We will ride Merry Go Around, okay," I was so excited to see Zie was enthusiastic with the plans I made for today. We walked to the portal where Kerberos had been waiting.
I was twenty seven years old, and that might be pathetic if I called this my first date. There was one thing hard to admit that I liked Zie. The word 'like' for him was just like pieces of memories that would always exist, no matter how often I picked them up from my heart and my mind and threw them away, they would never really go away.
One, two or sometimes three memories of our togetherness as two normal people always crossed to my mind every day. 'Why do I still cry when I recall that memory?' yes. I often cried anytime I recalled it, instead of smiling. Either happiness or sadness that came on, there would always be something wet on my cheeks.
You would meet some girls who looked for another after she was abandoned or left by someone she liked, but I was a bit different. There got to be something wrong when God set the program in my brain. Although he had gone for years, I still believed he would come back one day. And even though the door of my feelings was tightly closed for him, I kept looking at that door, unable to move an inch. I always believed that one day, that door would be opened again by him.
And, that belief, right now at this moment took me on my first crazy date. Kerberos took us fly low, gliding over the river. I could feel the cold water and the scent of it heated by the sun very well.
I was a just stupid could not predict when all this magical things would happen again in my life. I had no strength to refuse all this happiness. I just went with it although I was blind about the coming fate I might face.
When we arrived at the cinema, Kerberos did not take me down at the lobby of the cinema but to the roof of the building. We were running down and held hand in hand tightly. His cold and hard fingers did not scare me but I held it tighter in my hand. but when we arrived the film was on already and we were not allowed to go in.
"Please let us in," I begged to the entrance keeper, "There are only two of us, we are not behind too long,"
I was still trying to persuade the cinema keeper until I could feel Zie pull my clothes to leave that place, "you are twenty seven years old, Tha, not ten years old, but you behave like a child. Why so?" he complained as he poked the tip of my nose
"I am just trying," I denied, "Anyway it is just for the two of us. Why is he so stingy?" I glanced at the entrance keeper standing in front of the entrance of the theater.
Little laughter was heard from Zie, before he reminded me, "Not being a stingy, naughty kid. That is the rule. We are late. He is just doing his job,"
I looked at him in annoyance, pouted my lips sullenly. Then I replied, "Don't be too stiff with the rules. It is not healthy, you know,"
He chuckled again, "What kind of wise saying is that?". I ignored him and I was really upset. I left the theater.
…
Our plan for watching the film really fell through because the theater assistant did not allow us to go in although we were missing only a few minutes. Finally we decided to go the food station.
That place was an alley full of sellers selling different kinds of food, from heavy food to snacks. They were opened from two in the afternoon and would end at eleven in the night every day.
A red Toori welcomed us. Ornamental red lights hanging over along the street made the atmosphere really aesthetic. It gave such a boost for visitors to have a good appetite to eat much. It was such a heaven for me who loved eating but was unable to gain more weight.
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