CHAPTER 6

KEVIN's POV

She doesn't recognize me. Was that woman not her? Or... She was just pretending not to know me?

Right. Maybe she is pretending not to know me. Because I am certain that she is my best friend, that she is my childhood first love, that she is Joy.

I can feel it. No. I am sure about it.

"Hey, won't you answer me?"

I was distracted when I heard Nathalia's voice. Presently, we are here in the parking lot, we just arrived.

"Huh?"

"Jeez. I've been talking here and you're not even listening. So, what are you doing here? I saw you pulled Zaira away. What was that? Why did you do that? Did you know that her fiance saw what you did to her? "

"Nath,"

"What?"

I turn my head towards her. "Don't you find her strange?"

"What? Are you talking about Zaira?" Confusion travels her face.

"Yes."

"What do you mean strange?"

I looked away. "When I was in your place a while ago, I decided to watch a movie. But an advertisement showed up. I saw her being interviewed." I looked at her again. "I saw the design of the bracelet she made and..." I showed her my left wrist where I was wearing the bracelet that Joy made for me. She looks at it. "It's the same as the bracelet I have."

She looks back at me. "Wait, wait, wait. So, are you saying that Zaira is Joy?"

"Yes. Her voice, her smiles, the sounds of her laughs, and her eyes look like Joy. That is because she is Joy."

Nathalia laughs. "Okay. That sounds ridiculous."

I furrowed my forehead.

"I understand that you are desperate to find her and you miss her so much, but Kev, she's not Joy, okay? She's Zaira Lou. She lives in Paris and just came here for business. She's engaged with Pierre Laurent so how come she is Joy? And if she's Joy, she should know you right away. "

"But what if she just pretends she doesn't know me because she's mad at me? Because maybe he thinks I left her the day we both had an accident. I watched her interview. She was asked about her first love and she said her first love abandoned her. Don't you find it similar?"

"Uh? Well, you know that doesn't make sense. My first love also abandoned me - my feelings. Everyone has first love and doesn't work."

I let out a sigh. Damn, why can't she understand my point?

"Come on, you don't understand, Nath."

"I do understand, okay? Look Kev, I really don't think that she is Joy. So, stop your illusions. Because you might regret that when the real Joy comes back to you."

No. I saw how she was a little bit shocked when I introduced myself to her a while ago. I am certain that she is my best friend. I will find a way to prove to myself that she is the woman that I have been searching for.

"I think you're hungry so are you thinking some ridiculous things right now. Come. Let's eat. I also feel hungry."

"No, thanks. I already ate. I'll just go home."

"Are you sure? Where did you eat?"

"I already ate. Go inside. I'm going home."

"You're so stubborn. Okay, then. Get home safely and text me. Okay? Good night."

"Yeah. Good night."

She then walked to the elevator and I left as well.

-

[FAST FORWARD]

ZAIRA's POV

"It's me. It's me, Joy. Kevin."

"It's me. It's me, Joy. Kevin."

"It's me. It's me, Joy. Kevin."

"It's me. It's me, Joy. Kevin."

"It's me. It's me, Joy. Kevin."

It keeps on echoing in my mind and I keep on remembering his face when he says those words. I can't stop thinking about the expression he gave me. The longing. But my heart is hating him.

But how did he conclude to himself that I was Joy? How did he recognize me? How? Am I that obvious?

No way. I am no longer the old Joy. I changed, I know.

"Are you okay? It looks like you are thinking so deeply."

My thoughts were ruined when Pierre asked me a question. The exhibit has ended and we are presently on our way home.

Turning my head towards him, "yeah. I'm okay. Just a little bit tired." I answered as I lean my head on his shoulder.

I didn't receive a response from him and silence enveloped us. I lied because something was really bothering my brain. It was Kevin.

Why? After long years, I didn't expect to see him again. Actually, I no longer want to see him again because I am okay, I am happy, and most of all I have forgotten the bitter thing that happened to me in the past.

But why... Why does he still have to show up? Why do we have to meet? Why do the two of us have to meet again?

I let out a sigh.

Pierre doesn't know about Kevin because I didn't tell him. And I don't know if I have any plans to tell him about Kevin. Perhaps it's better not to tell him. Things might go wrong. Besides, I don't want to go back and be a part of my past again.

I slightly heave a sigh again.

After a few minutes, we reached home. Pierre walked with me to my room.

"Are you sure you're not gonna eat?" He asked me when we got in front of the door of my room.

I nodded my head. "Yes. I'm good. I need some rest. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night."

"Okay. Have a good sleep. Good night." He hugs me and kiss me on my forehead.

"You too." I smiled forcibly. Moving my body away from him, I get inside my room.

I lock the door of my room and let out a heavy breath. Walking towards my bed, I sat up in my bed and gasped again.

I felt guilty towards Pierre because I just lied to him. I am not really okay because I saw the person I hate the most again. When I saw him, what happened before came back to my mind, the pain that was ignored and how he left me where I needed him the most. He left me all alone and I really hate him.

I really hate him for abandoning me.

Closing my eyes, a droplet of tears fell from my eyes. Slowly, I lay down on my bed and buried myself in the thick blanket.

-

KEVIN's POV

I am here now outside Zaira's house. After I take Nathalia to her condo I go straight here. I don't know which of the windows on the second floor of the house is her room, but I am staring at the window where the light is still on.

I don't know what happened to you, Joy. I don't know why you didn't show up and approach me.

Are you really angry at me? Or ... Did you forget me?

But it is okay. I will understand. I will accept it. I will go after you again, Joy until you remember me and come back to me again.

I will never give up on you. I will never let situations separate us again.

I smiled. "Good night, Joy."

-

I park my bicycle when I get home and walk inside. As I expected, mum was in the living room, sitting on the sofa. I didn't greet her and I just continued walking toward the stairs.

"Where have you been, Hiro? Why aren't you answering my calls?" She asked me before me I could take one step on the stairs.

"Somewhere," I lazily said and walked upstairs.

"Did you eat dinner? I cooked you a food..."

"I've eaten. I'm tired. I'm going to sleep."

"Hiro," she called but I ignored her until I could enter my room.

Tss. No matter how well she treats me, I still hate her.

[FLASHBACK]

8 YEARS AGO

AFTER THE ACCIDENT ~

"Joy!" I screamed, gasping, wandering my eyes around to find Joy. Where is she? Where am I?

"Hiro, my son. Calm down. Calm down." It was my mum who approaches me. "Please call the doctor. My son is already awake." She ordered someone. "It's okay, my son. Hang on. You're safe..."

"Where's Joy? Where's Joy? Is she safe? Where is she?" A droplet of tears fell on my cheeks.

"Calm down, Hiro. You need to be treated first..."

"No. Where is she? I need to see her. I need to see her, mum." I protested, trying to get up from the bed but she stopped me. The doctor came after a few minutes with the nurse and they helped mum to stop me.

"Calm down, Hiro. You are not allowed to get up first." The doctor.

"Doctor, have you seen my friend? She was with me during the accident. Have you seen her? Are you treating her too?" I asked the Doctor, but he did not answer me. So I looked at mum.

"Mum... Where is she? Please find her. Please." I begged.

"Okay. Okay, I will find her. I will bring her to you so stay calm. Okay?"

"Promise?"

"Okay." Mum nodded her head.

"Thank you, mum." Then the doctor injects me with something that makes me lose my consciousness.

-

I woke up again from my deep sleep and I saw my mum beside me.

"Sweetheart, do you need something? Are you hungry? I have prepared food for you."

Slowly, I got up from lying on the bed. "Mum, did you find her?" I asked her again about Joy but she didn't answer right away.

"Mum? Did you find Joy? Where is she? Is she okay? Is there a Doctor..."

"Hiro, sweetheart." She cut my line. "Forget about her now."

"W... What?"

"Joy is dead."

"W... What?" I stuttered as if I was deaf to what she said.

Wait, did I hear it right? No.

That is impossible.

"N... No. No. That's not true..." I stuttered, tears formed immediately in my eyes. "That's not true." I keep on shaking my head and my tears are already flowing down my cheeks.

"Joy is dead, Hiro. So, forget about her. She left you. She left the world."

"No. No, no. That's impossible. No way. She's not dead. Joy is alive. She's alive..." My voice starts to break.

"Hiro!" Mum holds me in my both arms. "Go back to your senses. Forget about her. Forget about that child. She's dead! She no longer lives in this world, Hiro!"

"N ... No. No." I keep shaking my head, uttering the words no. My tears continue on flowing, but believing that she is not dead. She won't leave me, I know that. "She's not dead! Let me go. I will see her. I need to see her. She's not dead!" I started going crazy and mum called the doctor and nurses to hold me down.

"Joy! Joy!!!"

[END OF FLASHBACK]

My tears flowed as I looked at the picture of Joy and me on my phone and as I watched her I remembered the woman I saw earlier in the exhibit.

I miss her so much. I want to see her. I want to hug her so bad.

Closing my eyes, "I miss you, Joy. Please come back to me," I whispered.

-