It's Unfolding

Jiro called for Zai-zai and Merry. They were in his study room with her telling them about Airi’s persistent dreams.

“It breaks my heart seeing her suffer from nightmares. I know those are all connected to her past trauma her therapist tried to suppress,” he said.

“That’s why she told her to come back here, for her to naturally remember everything,” Merry said. “You were just unlucky that most of the painful memories linked to that trauma include you.”

“How about we tell her the truth? ” Zai-zai suggested.

“Do you want her to detest us? Forever?! ” Merry paced back and forth before glancing at Jiro. “It’s your plan for us to pretend that it was you who had the temporary amnesia when in fact it’s her! ”

He remained silent.

“We can ask her psychologist to undo the hypnosis. And voila! Everybody is happy! ” Zai-zai said.

“That’s not how it works,” Jiro finally spoke. “Before Aunt Lu passed away, she insisted that Airi should forget what happened… even if it’s temporary. She didn’t want Airi to blame herself for what happened to Uncle Tenian and her.”

“The purpose of that hypnosis was to let her forget the trauma. That’s why her therapist suggested that her healing should be natural. Let her remember what really happened so she can forgive herself and truly heal,” Merry added.

“But seriously, Jiro. You can just tell her that you two are…”

“We are what? ” Airi’s question cut off the rest of what Zai-zai had to say. They all froze. Only their eyes moved in an exchange of worried glances. “I didn’t know the two of you would be here. Jiro and I have a writing schedule today.”

“We want to pay you a surprise visit,” Zai-zai said. “How long have you been there? ”

“Just now.” She looked at them straight in the eyes, one by one. “You seemed to be talking about something serious. Why the study room, though? ”

“We’re talking about the incident at the mall,” Jiro said. “But don’t worry, they’re about to leave. We can proceed as scheduled.” He then glanced at the two, hinting for them to go.

*

Airi and I were no longer classmates in third year. But I still liked her a lot. Not just like… I was in love. I knew it.

Frea was teasing me while we were dancing. She knew what I felt for Airi all along. In fact, we were just dancing because I planned to make Riri jealous. I saw her not far from where we were dancing.

"Is this going to work? ” she asked.

“I hope so, though I’m not sure. Even though she crumpled the letter I gave her, I still like—love—her.”

“You’re infatuated.” She laughed and even flirtatiously hit my arm. She did it on purpose when she saw Riri looking at us.

It worked! I saw Jaypee gesturing something. When I checked where Riri was standing earlier, she was gone.

“I have to go. Riri’s gone. I need to find her.”

Frea tapped my shoulder. “Good luck, dude. Run after your jealous princess.”

She was really a friend of mine. And I knew her secret—she had always liked women.

As she turned to a corner, I saw her talking to Marlon. Something pinched my heart seeing her smiling at another guy. I was more stunned when I heard what he had to ask her.

“Airi? Are you going home? It’s still early.”

“I—I don’t feel really well,” she said and went on.

“I was supposed to ask you to dance.”

“I’m sorry. I have to go.”

A smile painted my lips when she rejected him. Not to be rude, but, of course, who would cheer for a competitor?

I only stepped out of my hiding place when Airi rushed to the gate. I came face-to-face with Marlon, almost bumping into him because I was in a hurry to chase my love.

“Why in a rush? ” he asked.

“I’m running after my destiny,” I said. I didn’t check for his reaction to my statement. However, in the bright moonlight, I caught a glimpse of his pale lips and stunned face out of the corner of my eye.

I ran as fast as I could, but I wasn’t able to catch up with Airi.

Jiro nodded as he read Airi’s output. “You know what, it’s a great idea that you included a portion of your dream about your J.S Prom. At least, I was able to share my side of the story… I mean, my experience.”

‘It wasn’t a dream. It actually happened.’  Those were the words Airi wanted to voice out, but she opted to remain silent. “Why do you want me to stop writing this part? ”

He frowned and averted her intense gaze. “I’m not sure how to process the succeeding events yet. I mean, the next few chapters mark the most poignant part of this novel. I don’t think I’m ready.”

“Shall we stop writing, then? ”

“No! I can’t afford to stop this. All my effort would go to waste! ” His raised voice startled Airi.

She covered her ears with both hands. Moments later, she was shaking her head and crying. Her heart felt like exploding due to the roller coaster of emotions. The sudden shift in Jiro’s tone triggered a fear inside that caused her to tremble uncontrollably.

Jiro, realizing what he did, hugged her and rubbed her back.

“Shh… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to burst. I’m sorry.”

She sobbed under his embrace. Head throbbing.

He grabbed his phone on the table and dialed a number.

**

Jiro had Airi’s therapist go to their resort via chopper. He told Airi that he paid for the therapist’s hotel accommodation and her salary threefold to convince her to stay.

“I thought I was only sad and heartbroken after my parents’ passing,” she said. “But why do I keep seeing recurring vivid images that weren’t part of my memory? ”

The therapist took a deep breath. “Those are the memories you’ve been suppressing,” she said.

“I don’t even remember having them.”

“Of course you don’t. That’s the purpose of the therapy you went through, which, unfortunately, I can’t disclose.”

“I don’t remember having therapy for forgetting things.”

“I can’t go into details about that. That’s why I told you to go here, for your memories to return naturally.” She lovingly stared at Airi, like a mother longing for her child's recovery. "You can't escape your past and the truth forever."

Airi didn’t respond. Her mind was filled with questions, but she didn’t know where to find the answers. Something inside her was throwing a fit of rage for unknown reasons. Her silence cut so deep that it was almost too painful to handle.

“I’m sorry, but can I rest? ” she asked. “I am about to have a splitting headache.”

After the session, the therapist went straight to Jiro’s study room, while Airi was told to rest.

“I don’t understand why you still keep this façade,” the therapist said. She wasn’t even seated yet.

“I’m not yet ready for what will be the outcome if she remembers everything,” he said.

“You can start by being honest about you not having amnesia. So, when the time comes that she remembers everything, you can fully support and help her.”

“It’s not that easy, Auntie.”

The therapist smiled, hearing the word. “Just like that. You just need to drop the act.”

The therapist was none other than his Aunt Mari, his mom’s sister. She also happened to be a good friend of Airi’s mom, although she couldn’t remember her. In order to maintain the privacy of their relationship, she also kept that information from her so that it won't interfere with Airi's treatment.

“After reading about what she remembered during the prom night, I just realized something,” he said.

“And what is it? ”

"I feel like I'm to blame for her being abducted in high school."