Chapter 4
A week had passed since An woke up. On her second day, as if the terrible pain in the vast majority of her body had not been enough, she had had the displeasure of receiving a visit from her parents. She had not seen them in a while, on purpose, but of course they would not miss the opportunity of her being bed ridden to come and bother her with how much of a disappointment she had been.
The bouquet they sent her could have been enough in her opinion. She knew she should be happy they traveled all this way to make sure she was alright, but nothing had ever been that simple with her parents. They were just wired that way, and she had learned to live with it for a long time.
Their visit this time had been no exception. Within the first few minutes, her mother managed to bring up her cousin, who was pursuing a career in a New York law firm, and the dozens of jobs she and her father could have gotten her if she agreed to listen.
After that, she more or less blocked their voices and decided waiting for them to leave would be for the best. She was certain she did not need that kind of stress in her recovery.
Thankfully, Yuna, one of her nurses, had interrupted them and saved her before she had to pretend to have another cardiac arrest to escape. Since that day, the nurse and her had become quite friendly around each other.
It was not really in her nature to be chatty and approachable, but the Borderlands had taught her that a good surrounding could be key to survival. Besides, the doctors had warned her that her recovery could take a while. She was not out of the woods yet, and she figured having a friendly face around would be good.
She had learned that the woman had been recently married and had a 1 year old kid. Apparently, she had always wanted to be a nurse, and unlike her own, Yuna’s parents had been very supportive. Overall, she was very bubbly and enthusiastic. Her attitude sometimes reminded her of Kuina’s, which she was glad for.
Ann was positive that she had made the girl run away the last time she saw her. Her looks had been too insistent, or the Kuina from this world was too shy to come back. And it was not like she had a reason to. Here, they were just strangers.
Either way, she knew she had lost her only friend, and she had to move on.
Whether the Borderlands had been something her brain made up, or some kind of alternate reality, she had to try and forget it. No one else seemed to remember, and she could not let it control her life now that she had escaped. Still, the nightmares would not leave her alone. She could not close her eyes for too long without seeing a mountain of corpses, laser beams descending on the people next to her, or these damn figure cards floating in the sky.
That morning, the doctor had finally cleared her to leave her room. She could go around the hospital in a wheelchair, accompanied by a nurse. Of course, Yuna had volunteered.
It was not much but it was still a relief. She was sick of feeling trapped, first in Borderland, then from her own body, and now from the bland hospital room.
Yuna took her to the garden. It was a perfect summer day, not too hot, but still very sunny. So much so that she cursed herself for forgetting her signature sunglasses.
She watched the people go by as her conversation with the nurse went on. At one point, she could have sworn the man in a wheelchair that had just turned the corner looked like Aguni, but her brain could have just been playing tricks again.
Today was Kuina’s first check up session, she was not too thrilled to meet with the doctors again but she had promised her mother she would go. Plus, even if she would never admit it out loud, she was still curious about that bleached haired boy’s theory and she wanted to test it somehow.
Her father dropped her off before the hospital gates and she entered the building. She was glad to see that the place was much less busy than it had been when she left, it meant more people got to go home.
As she walked past the main office, she could feel someone watching her. It did not take her long to find out who.
Just a few feet from her, she recognized Ann and her nurse. The latter seemed deep in a conversation from which the other woman had lost all interest in as soon as Kuina walked in.
Kuina’s heart started to race as her eyes met Ann’s. As if a reflex had been triggered, she waved at her. She was not really expecting an answer, after all, she was still the stranger who entered her room after technically stalking her for days.
To her surprise, the other woman raised her hand slightly from her chair’s handle and waved back. It was obvious she still struggled. As she did that, the nurse raised her head towards Kuina and finally noticed her too.
She smiled politely from afar before whispering something to Ann and leaving her on the spot.
Kuina considered going on her way but Ann’s eyes were still expectantly on her so she took it as a sign to approach.
“ Hi ! “, Kuina greeted first.
“ Hi. “, Ann simply answered. God, Kuina had almost forgot just how pretty the woman was. She was even more intimidating from up close. But now was not the time, she did not want to repeat last time’s embarrassment.
“ I’m surprised you recognized me. “
Ann raised an eyebrow at her, not knowing if she were being serious. The girl in front of her was a lot of things, but forgettable was not one of them. She had a unique sense of fashion, an endearing personality and a smile that could lit up a whole building. Even without her memories from the Borderlands, Ann knew she would not have forgotten her.
“ Well, you were the first person who paid me a visit after I woke up, after all. It would be rude of me. “
“ Right… Sorry about that again, I didn't mean to intrude. “
“ It’s alright. You didn’t. “, or rather she had not minded. Kuina being the first person to visit her, consciously or not, had been the best thing Ann could have hoped for. “ But why were you there, if you don’t mind me asking ? “
“ Oh, well, it’s stupid really… You’re gonna think I’m crazy… “
“ Crazier than getting hit by a meteorite in the center of Tokyo ? “
“ Well… I guess not…”, Kuina scratched the back of her neck in nervousness, “ I was getting kinda restless in my room, so one day I decided to walk around the hospital and I stumbled on your floor… “, she deliberately left out the part where she had actively looked for the girl after seeing her being rushed in an operation room, “ And I guess I got too curious and looked inside a few rooms… “, only yours would have been more accurate. “ Then your nurse thought I knew you and invited me in and… The rest is history I guess ? “
Ann chuckled a little, ignoring the pang of disappointment she felt when she realized it had all been an accident, a pure coincidence, and nothing more. No greater forces pushed them together again so that Ann could finally catch a break and fulfill her promise of being friends with the girl in front of her in this other world.
“ I guess it is… “
Kuina could feel the distance in the other woman’s voice, but she could not figure out what she had done wrong. Still, it bothered her. Something felt wrong, or rather something felt right when she was near her… It was the fact that she could not pinpoint what that felt wrong.
“ Ann ? Can I ask you something ? “, she suddenly said, which surprised even herself.
“ Sure ? “
“ Would it be ok if I came to visit sometimes ? ”, out of everything she could have said, she had to say that. She mentally slapped herself. She did not want the woman to think she was a weirdo, or a stalker. She herself could not comprehend why she had just asked that, but somehow, it felt right. It was like instinct. She could feel she needed to be close with the woman. So far, Ann did not seem to mind, so maybe she also felt it ? Either way, it was too late to go back now, the words had already left her mouth.
Kuina wanted to apologize the second she felt the other woman’s uneasiness. She seemed conflicted, but not creeped out, which... considering the situation... was a good thing.
“ You don’t have to, but it would be a pleasure. “, she finally said after what Kuina could only describe as agonizing moments.
Kuina’s face lit up the second these words reached her ears. She could not believe the other woman had said yes, and yet, she did.
“ Cool, it’s a date then. “, she said with a surge of fake confidence she was grateful for.
Before the other woman could say anything, she added, “ I should go, I’m going to be late to my appointment. See you tomorrow, Ann. “
“ See you tomorrow. “
She left before she could see any kind of reaction from the other woman, too nervous of having said something wrong that would scare her away. It all felt like a dream and she was far too scared to wake up from it now.