78: C78 Chapter 78

C78 Chapter 78

ILANA

Was it a coincidence to encounter him here? Why was he in the mental hospital? Did one of his family members was being hospitalized here too? His eyes still locked mine. It was only when a person was about to pass through the door, we jolted back to reality and moved aside.

"Why are you here?" I muttered a question. He was trying to mask his nervousness. His trembling lips could not hide that. He did not stalk me, didn't he?

"I...what about having a coffee?" he suggested. That was not too bad as I came here to have my breakfast. I gave a slight nod and came with him to the seat by the wall on the left side of the room. This canteen was bustling at this hour. The visitor was mostly the family of the patients besides the hospital medical staff. It was a simple place with an elegant design. Big fan spinning around on the ceiling kept the room cool though many visitors were coming. The chairs and tables were well organized. The waiters and waitresses were walking around, approaching the visitors at their tables. They noted down their orders.

"What brings you here? It is not because there is one of your family members who..."

"No," he cut my sentences. "I am worried about you. That night when you kneeled on the earth and cried, I thought that something bad might occurred. So, when you scooted away and got on the taxi, I went after you. Sorry, I did not mean to stalk or something. Well, I am afraid that you were in trouble at that time."

"And you know all what happens, I guess, including my mother's condition."

"Sorry..."

"Can you stay away from me and my mother? I mean you don't have to come to this hospital for the sake of me. As you can see, I'm more than fine. Besides, I have a fiancé who can take care of me." His cheek turned pale.

"Sure...I won't come. When will you both get married? I am just asking. You don't have to answer me."

"Next month."

"That's too fast," I heard him mumbling.

"Pardon?"

"What would you like to order?"

"Fried rice." He waved his hand to one of the waiters. "I can do it by myself." I walked to the food counter and ordered fried rice and mineral water. I came back with a tray of the food. Reno intended to give me help yet my refusal brought him to his chair.

I’d been in my seat. He sipped his coffee apposite me. No verbal communication we created. We were consumed by our own thought until he finished his drink.

"Before I go, can I ask you something?" I stopped eating my breakfast.

"What do you want to ask me?"

"Did you read the letter?" His question was something I had anticipated.

"No. I lost the letter. I'm sorry."

"You lost the letter? How come?" He raised his intonation. "Sorry, I didn't mean to exclaim at you."

"The letter fell somewhere when I...." I paused as it was impossible to tell him that Kevin and I were trying to escape from the kidnapper, "returned home from school."

"I see. Now I know why you didn't contact me even after ten years. I wrote my phone number there." I commented nothing. I was not sure to call him even if I had read his letter. Nevertheless, to be honest, I could deny regret in my heart. Why did we have to meet again after a long time? In the corner of my heart, I wished that we could see each other again but under different circumstances. I should not have let such a thought come to my mind. Everything was not the same. I had a fiancé.

"So, from now on..."

"I'll go," he decided.

"Thank you for your understanding."

He went out without glancing back at me. That was better. Thus, it was easier for me to forget him. Vera might be wrong when she said that Reno had a feeling for me. That boy who had turned into a man just thought of me as a friend. I hoped I was right.

After paying the bill to the cashier, I rushed back to my mother's ward. The doctor told me that I was always on my mother's side; she probably would have more chances to recover. So, I canceled my entire schedule in Bandung and stayed in Jakarta until my mother got fully healed.

"Mom..." I greeted her softly. She did not turn to me, keeping her gaze somewhere. I did not know how long she had been sitting here, on the bench in this hospital park with a blank stare. I took a seat next to her, enjoying the solitude among the crowds of the patients' laughter or even scream. This area indented the backyard of the hospital area. Benches line up at some points, the trees protected them with their foliage. You would not find flowers here. To me, it was more like a playground than a park. The nurses chasing the patient sometimes were another view my eyes captured. "Do you remember when Reno visited our house then you served a glass of tea?" My sentences stimulated her reaction. The corners of her mouth turned up slowly. A small smile crafted up her face.

"Reno...where is he, Ilana? I miss him so much." My heart was filled with happiness that my mother let out my name again.

"Mom, you've got your memory back? Can you recognize me now?"0

"Ilana...." she touched my right cheek with her rough hand. “I want to see Reno."

"Mom...you can't,"

"Why?"

"He was just too far."

"I wished I could see him again," she mumbled. And few tears trickled down her cheek. Suddenly, a drizzle dropped on our hair.

"Mom, let's get back to the ward." I guided her to her room and assisted her to lie down on her bed. She closed her eyes. I checked the mobile phone that I left in the room. There were three messages, all from my foster mother. There might be something urgent that she called me and even sent me messages. I initiated to call her back. Shutting the door deliberately, I dialed her number.

"Hello, Mom. How are you? Sorry, I just have time to check on my mobile phone. What's wrong? It seems something matter you want to say."

"You are right." I heard that she caught a breath before going on. "Reyhan's parents cancel the marriage's plan." This news was something I had predicted. They might have known about me, the dark side of me, my past. I took a breath as much as I could. "Why do they easily cancel everything just because they found out about your biological parents? I'm sorry. It's my fault. I shouldn't have introduced you to them. I never expected that would do this kind of thing."

"It's ok, Mom. I understand." One side of my heart hurt, while the other felt relief. It was strange. Did I truly love him?

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