Agonizing Secrets, Wounds Unhealed (Part 1)

Katy, me, and Victor had been waiting for about an hour, outside Ms.Aslome's room, for Evin to step out. I assumed that Ms.Aslome had a lot to tell him, however, I was rather curious about him too, I recognized him right away, even though his face wasn't very clear in my memory. He seemed to have given everyone quite the shock with his sudden reappearance, Katy and Victor seemed confused, angry, and baffled.

As soon as the morning speech was dismissed Victor came up to us completely furious, insisting that we don't let Evin get away with this and that he owed everyone a good explanation. Thinking from their point of view, I could understand why they would be mad - he suddenly disappears without telling anyone and doesn't contact anyone either, to simply come back as if nothing happened.

"How could he just turn up as if nothing happened Katy! he was also wounded all over! this is ridiculous, we were all worried sick about that brainless idiot!"

"Calm down Victor, I'm pretty sure he has reasons, but..... it is quite hard to take in, he goes away for years and just turns up...." Katy was trying her best to coax Victor, but even she couldn't control her disappointment. 

"Guys, please don't hurt him in your anger, I think he might have reasons which are quite hard to explain, just like how you guys have been hesitant to tell me about my own disappearance, don't you think so? also, he didn't seem alright.." I couldn't bring myself to tell them that I had noticed a strange sadness in his eyes, I mean, I didn't even have memory, what would I know. That was when I saw that the two of them sheepishly hanging their heads in shame as realization struck them.

"Hmm... you're right Mez, I.. didn't think of that, my anger just got the better of me...haha ironic enough, your attitude to him remains the same, I'm glad to know that you haven't completely changed."

"Huh? my attitude to him, what do you mean?"

"Mez, you've always protected him, regardless of how much he annoyed you, some things will never change I guess," Katy said with a happy sigh.

"Mhmm.....you know Mez, seeing how you seemed to instantly recognize him, and that you unintentionally still seem to behave the same towards him, he might be able to help get your memories back, you know... you two had this strange bond, that no one could explain, it was evident from the way you treated each other, you both seemed to read each other's minds all the time....and..."

Before Victor could complete his sentence, Ms.Aslome's door finally opened and Evin came out looking uneasy and exhausted. Victor went up and gave him a big hug, clearly surprising Evin, who looked like he had expected a punch instead. Victor and Katy then continued to fire him with questions, to which Evin stood there confused, deciding to whom he should answer to, first. I couldn't help but laugh his expressions, after answering  Katy and Victor's questions he came over to me and asked,

"Heyyy Mez, it's been a long time, hasn't it? I made you laugh didn't I?"

"Haha, well well, you did quite a feat alright, but first, can we do something about those wounds of yours? What happened to you, you're bruised all over?"

"Wounds? oh... that, that's nothing, I just wanted to see you."

"What? you wanted to see me?"

"Oh... uh... no, I meant your hat? hahaha!"

"Umm...I don't have a hat Evin..." I said trying not to laugh at the overly serious expression he had on his face while saying that.

"Gods Evin, you haven't changed one bit, just tell her you missed her!" Victor said.

"Victor stop stuttering nonsense please, I am not suspicious."

"No one asked if you were suspicious dude, now let's get going to the dorms, please clean up those wounds, and oh...I forgot to mention something to you..." 

"What is it?"

"Mez....lost her memories..."

"WHAT?! why didn't you tell me earlier Victor, isn't that supposed to be the most important fact!? ah..I'm sorry, I got mad...it's not like I had great explanations either, I'm glad that Mez is safe however...that's all that matters."

I was touched by his selflessness, this person here had been terribly wounded, but he was more worried about me, it was strange. I always found it strange whenever people cared for me, it felt new, and unrealistic to me. I guessed maybe that was part of who I was once, I related myself more to feelings of loneliness, worthlessness, abandonment, and neglect, all of this care and people treating me with love felt completely new to me.

I figured out on our way to the dorms that Victor and Evin's room was right opposite ours, and they had always been roommates just like Katy and me. We all went to the common room later that day, to talk things out, and clear doubts. I had a lot of things I wanted to know, but most importantly my disappearance. Katy and Victor explained about my disappearance firsthand like they had promised, for which, I truly appreciated them. Not many held promises after all. 

There had been a great war about three years ago, many institutes joined forces to fight the unknown entity by whom they were being attacked. To this day no one had found out the root evil that hid beneath those disasters. All of us were kept in from fighting as we were too young back then, but one of our loved ones had been killed, and we were all enraged by the fact we couldn't protect them.

But, our immaturity took over, and we all headed to the dangerous and ruthless battlefield. Victor seemed to be holding back tears, I had assumed the loved one we lost, probably meant a lot more for him, I didn't want to push him further to explain about the one he lost.

Amidst all the chaos the six of us - me, Evin, Katy, Victor, Isla, and Helmin had lost our ways at one point, I guessed that Helmin was the boy who accompanied Isla from one of my fragmented memories. In the end, everyone had found each other, but I had gone missing. All of us then realized we had made a terrible mistake going out on our own to the battlefield.

There was a lot of confusion and everyone began questioning my disappearance, after a year or so they had assumed I died, as no matter how hard people tried, I was never found.  As soon as Katy mentioned the fact I had gone missing, Evin's face went pale, frozen with fear, possibly from a bad memory, involving me? No one else seemed to notice that he seemed extremely uncomfortable except me. 

"We were all devastated, although I think it was probably Evin who felt it the most..." Katy said, Evin only smiled, he didn't seem to want to talk much regarding that...

Katy then said that Evin who had gone in search of me, came back terribly wounded and, took the blame for not being able to bring me back to save everyone else from getting hurt. He didn't speak for days, after which he ran away from the institute.

Evin suddenly interrupted the conversation and said that he had been called by his family for important matters, that concerned him in particular, which was why he had to suddenly leave. He had done something wrong back at home for which he was being punished, which was why he couldn't contact anyone. He apologized profusely for leaving everyone hanging.

Everyone hesitated in believing that, but we were all too tired to argue. My gut said that he was hiding something, it seemed as if he was panicking, and had just tried to cover up for the truth behind those excuses. Yet again, I felt like I wasn't one to make a judgment, with my current condition.

We then had to head back to our dorms, as it was getting late. Evin gave me one last worrisome look before we parted, he looked like he wanted to say something. Before going to bed, Katy asked me if I was alright, what I heard today wasn't a small deal after all. But she looked extremely tired so I insisted that we get good rest instead.

As I tried to fall asleep, the evening's conversation kept coming back into my head. I felt horrible for Evin, he was hated for something he didn't even do, all he wanted was to save everyone, he was terribly misunderstood. He hid his, pain, sadness, and guilt, behind his bright smile all the time, which was even more heartbreaking to watch.

The whole time Katy was explaining, I felt a sharp tinge of pain in my heart, it was almost as if... I could feel what he was feeling. I felt like I had the surrounding pieces of the puzzle but the one that made it whole was missing. The more I thought, the farther sleep went. My body was tired but my mind was very awake.

Maybe a walk through the corridors might help. Just as I stepped out, Evin also happened to be there.

"Oh, you didn't sleep yet Mez?"

"Ahaha no, I couldn't fall asleep..."

"Honestly even I couldn't sleep, hey wait a minute, now that you are here, I want to show you something!"

"Oh, what is it?"

"You'll see." he said with a wide grin, "Alright, let's go then!", I wondered what it would be this time.