Chapter 7

Cyrus' POV

"Ryle, baby? Are you okay? Does anything hurt? Wait, I'll call the doctor," said the girl holding my hands.

I don’t know why this girl is crying.

Does she even know me?

Why does it feel like she’s part of my life?

Why do I hate seeing her cry?

"Who are you? Why am I here? Get out of my sight! Where’s Kristine?" I asked the girl in front of me, confused. I saw the pain in her eyes from my words. It was like my words were a sword stabbing her.

"Hey, baby, what are you talking about? Kristine? Why can’t he remember me? Ryle, it’s me, Ash. Please don’t joke like this," she said as tears streamed down her face.

I woke up abruptly from my dream, gasping for air. Everyone in the clinic was startled when I woke up. I also saw that they were all there—except for Kristine. Maybe they had been watching over me for a while. It was already late in the afternoon. I must have slept too well.

"Thank God, bro! You're awake," my younger sibling exclaimed in surprise, sitting right beside me.

"Bro! Is your head okay? That girl punches hard, huh?" my friend teased, laughing.

"F*** you, Lim," I replied.

"What did you do to her this time, bro? I know Ash—she wouldn’t punch someone for no reason," my sibling asked, confused. Why was she so concerned about that girl? I was the one in the clinic, yet she was thinking about Ash. Damn.

What was it about that girl that made everyone know her? I couldn't even remember ever being friends with her. Besides, I wasn’t the type to befriend girls.

So why did everyone, especially my sister, seem to know her?

My nose and head still hurt from the punch I received. Was she really a girl? Damn!

"He just flipped the table while Ash was eating and kicked her chair. So, one punch, and he was out cold," Warren reported, trying to hold back his laughter.

Cristal's eyes widened at what she heard, then suddenly clapped her hands.

"This guy is crazy. He even dragged us into it. Good thing we didn’t get punched by that A****n," Warren joked, and I glared at him.

I looked at them, frowning, as if to ask why they were throwing me under the bus.

"Serves you right, bro. She really hates being disturbed while eating. She still hasn’t changed, haha. You should apologize to her, bro. That was really mean. Should I tell Mom?" Cristal said.

Why was she so concerned about Ash? And why did she know her so well? Why did it feel like they were so close?

"Why are you so concerned about her?" I asked, frowning.

"Because she's my friend!" she answered excitedly. But why did it feel like there was more to her answer?

Was I the only one feeling this way?

"Who's really your sibling here, Cristal? Me or that arrogant girl?" I asked irritably.

"You, bro, but I love Ate Ash more," she said, laughing. The three of them also laughed, but when I glared at them, they suddenly went silent.

It felt like they were hiding something from me. I should ask Mom later.

"Damn, go be with that girl, then!" I said angrily.

"Easy, bro, just accept it," Christopher laughed.

"GET OUT!" I shouted.

"Haha, look, Cyrus is mad. Is it guilt or jealousy?" Daniel teased, pissing me off even more.

But why was it like that? Every time I saw her, images suddenly popped into my mind. Was she someone I had forgotten? Was she part of my past? And who was the girlfriend they were saying I had forgotten?

Damn, my head hurts even more with all these questions.

*Knock-knock*

"Come in," I said.

"Hmmm? Mr. Ferrer, it looks like you’re doing fine now. You can go home later or whenever you want," the school nurse said.

"I’ll just sleep, then go home after," I replied.

"Okay, rest well," the nurse said before leaving the clinic.

---

I woke up again to people talking around me. When I opened my eyes, it was just my sister and my friends. I also saw my bag and other things they were carrying.

"Cristal, let’s go," I told her. The three of them helped me walk to the parking lot.

Christopher drove my car, while his was left at school. After recovering a bit, I went straight home to continue resting. I just grabbed the handouts from the classes I missed earlier.

"Cyrus! What have you done?" My mom rushed toward me, worried. Even though I was confused, I hugged her back. I could still feel how concerned she was.

When she let go, she looked at me like I had done something terrible.

"Why did you do that, son?" she continued asking.

"Because she irritates the hell out of me, Mom! Why does it feel like I know that girl?" My heart felt like it was about to explode. My mind was suddenly filling with scenes that felt real.

"Mom, my brother is acting weird," Cristal said, shaking her head.

I saw my dad coming downstairs, his brows furrowed. He must have already heard about what happened.

"What are you trying to do, Cyrus? Do you want to end up in the hospital again?" my dad asked in a calm but firm voice.

"I’m sorry, Mom, Dad," I said, lowering my head.

"You better not do that again. You're just putting yourself in danger!" Mom scolded me again.

"Hon, stop that. Let’s eat," she said, inviting us to the dining table.

We all ate in silence. No one dared to speak, not even Cristal, who was usually so talkative.

After eating, I went straight to my room to sleep. I thought about calling Kristine, but I decided against it until sleep finally took over.

~Ylluscion