Chapter 3: chapter 3

The sky is cloudy and dark.Rei is driving the car, while I lean my head on the window and watch the buildings and trees sprinting backwards. We both are silent. The only sound in the car is coming from the radio, a female weather forecaster's voice. I don't want to think about what happened thirty minutes ago because the itchy feeling is not yet gone from my chest. What was it in my words that caused Rodas to react like that? I only thanked him. Well, It doesn't matter anymore. I might not see him again.I glance at Rei who is focusing on the road ahead. I think he is also nervous to initiate a conversation with me and I'm not able to form words, right now he is a complete stranger to me, no matter how much time I must have spent with him in the past.Was I a good lover? Were we happy together? How far have we gone? I somehow want to know but I dare not ask him. Maybe once I get a bit comfortable with him. Rei pulls the car to the side of the road, I look around thinking we have reached but I only see a small flower shop and a gas station."Wait for a minute!" Rei says with a smile before getting out of the car. My eyes follow him to the flower shop. Is he buying flowers? Two minutes later, he walks out of the shop with a bunch of yellow roses. He gets in the car and gently places the flowers on my lap. "Welcome home, Elie" Elie... Is that my nickname?"Thank you so much..." I whisper, taking in the beauty of those flowers. I'm really grateful to Rei. I know he must be hurting seeing me like this and I hope to know about him all over again if not remember what was in the past."They are beautiful!" I say, hugging the roses close to my chest."You're beautiful too..." Rei whispers, leaving me with hot cheeks.Fifteen minutes, and I feel my nose itchy. Then I feel it in my eyes and cheeks. I wipe my face with a handkerchief thinking it's just the wind but sneezing follows and my eyes become watery. "Are you ok?" Rei asks but when I start coughing.Rei stops the car and takes the flower off me. He cradles my face between his palms and looks at me. His eyes widen immediately. I get away from his touch. He immediately takes out his phone and starts typing something. I grab the water bottle and gulp down the water. My skin is turning red. I'm continuously coughing and sneezing.Rei turns the car around and starts speeding up."Just five minutes... We are going to the hospital" he tells me in a trembling voice.-----I think my life is more rotten than it looks. I wonder how it was before?I've been laying in the hospital bed for at least five hours now. The doctor who treated me was the same one who looked after me at Rodas's house.I wonder if they are all related but what bothers me most is the fact that Rei didn't know I'm allergic to flowers. Even though he said we were lovers and lived together.Or maybe it didn't cross his mind because he was so happy to see me? I don't know why I am finding excuses for him.Rei is sitting on the edge of the bed, looking so guilty and scared.He keeps apologising to me saying he messed up and failed to be a responsible one. "It's ok, Rei... You forgot" I console him.He caresses my hands, shaking his head."I'm so sorry..." He whispers."It's ok... The allergy is gone!" I slowly pull away my hands from his grip."I promise I won't be careless anymore," I chuckle and nod."Fine... Now when can I get out of here?" Rei's face brightens a bit."Thirty minutes more..."One hour later, when we walk out of the hospital it's already getting dark.So, Rei suggested we should eat our dinner outside today. I agreed.After that, the rest of the way, I fell asleep. It's only when Rei nudges me on the shoulder have I wake up. "We are home..." He announces. I rub my eyes and get out of the car to face a deep green farmhouse-style house. It has a huge driveway and lawn grasses surrounding it. I look around and find no neighbour houses. Only some eucalyptus trees. I cannot see much since it's getting dark."You wanted to live in a less populated area and with nature. So, when we found this house... You were so happy" Rei says, coming to stand beside me and looking at a house with admiration as if he is seeing it for the first time. I'm amazed at myself."Aren't you happy?" Rei asks.Am I happy? Yes. Probably. "Was I not a people person?" I ask as Rei starts unlocking the door. He laughs lightly."More or less...let's go" he pats my back, leading me toward the entrance.He opens the door wide and switches on the lights, I immediately see a piano by the window side. And a huge bookshelf beside it with a single couch. "It's your living room," Rei says. There's a big portrait of Rei and me holding hands and laughing while pointing at the camera. For some reason, my chest feel tight and I avert my gaze away.I go to the window and pull the curtain, I can see the dark woods from here. I imagine myself playing the piano in the morning and getting lost in the sight of the woods as the golden rays of the sun penetrate through the branches, producing a truly magical sight. How dreamy.I sit on the bench and my fingers brush over the black and white keys. Then they dance producing an unknown piece of music. I don't know how but my fingers are moving on their own. I'm familiar with the keys, the notes and the tempo."Guess some things cannot be forgotten no matter what, you remember your skill so well," I hear Rei say. He is sitting on the windowsill and watching me. I stop and look at my hands. He is right. I can feel the thrill of playing this instrument. Like it's running in my blood, it's refreshing. I smile widely. "You're right!"