60 3.17- The Visitation... (2/2)
”Thank you so much Aki-sama; Chomi-san. Thank you for visiting Akira, it would mean so much to her. I also wish you to pray together for Akira's recovery. You should know how much I care about her and all I wanted now was her to open up her eyes and be well...I love her so much and I would not leave her side... Aki-sama; Choi-sama... ”
Tears began jerking my eyes once more as I deeply bowed to both the landlord and his wife. I truly meant what I said and they both knew how sincere I was when declaring to them.
They took out a small cloth bundle and presented me their homemade bento. Their thoughtfulness struck a chord within me as they somehow knew I had neither taken any meals since last night till just. They told me to eat while they attended to Akira.
I thanked and bowed deeply to them and took the bento to the side. I was in no mood to eat but it is customary to have one's meals when someone brought over to you out of concern and pity. I opened up the bundle and the opened the bento box and the sight and smell of it salivate me as I quietly wolf it down while it was still warm. Its a simple rice meal with several dishes but it's more than enough as I stuffed them down my face. I didn't know I was that hungry.
Not a morsel of food was left when I handed the empty bento box to them. I thanked them again and told them to make a fuss about me the next time. I explained that the hospital has a 24-hour vending machine that serves hot bento meals and beverages.
After staying for the next half hour, the landlord and landlady excused themselves as they need to attend to their dormitories since they can't afford to leave them unattended for so long. I thanked them again and held both of their hands and told them I will call them when the need arises.
They soon left me in the ward alone accompanied by the steady beeps from the ECG machine that was kept switched on beside Akira's bed. I sat down on the chair alongside her and took out the heart-shaped origami that I had replaced them in my shorts pocket. I took a piece of thread from one of the sutures pack and hung it at the glass window and it twirl when a gust of air-con breeze blew on it.
A few hours passed and there was a knock on the door. I called out for them to come in and the Principal and Vice-Principal of Asahigaoka's entered.
”How is Akira-chan's doing...? Has she made any progress? How long have you been here and have you eaten yet? Akira-chan's next of kin had been notified, hasn't she? Will she be here so we could straighten some matters pertaining Akira-chan now as part of her guardian?”
All sort of questions were aimed at me and I answered them one by one without skipping a beat. I rest assured to both the Principal and Vice-Principal that I would be here and not leave Akira by my side.
”How about your school...? Akira-chan is in this kind of condition, we don't want you to neglect your other responsibilities, Shiro-kun. Forget about the Juku and the ECA, we would like to have you back in school latest by Wednesday or Thursday. Pick yourself up, young man...! If you do care about Akira-Chan, go to school and spend time after school with her. We both are sure Akira-Chan would want you to do so, are we right to say that? ”
I hung my head down, it's not that I am ashamed of not going to school but I felt embarrassed to have people whom I had to relate with, suddenly showed their care and concern towards me.
I looked up, tear-stained and I nodded in agreement with what the Principal and Vice-Principal had suggested and I bowed my head low and thanked them.
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”Your wish is my command” or ”Anata no kibō wa Watashi no meireidesu”
Soon afterwards Akira's classmates entered the ward in threes and brought with them some get-well-soon multicoloured helium balloons, fruit and flower baskets, a miniature bonsai plant and even 2 Ikebanas that they arranged themselves at the florist nearby. The atmosphere of multitude burst of colours brought life to the otherwise dull solitary room.