The Journalist

Chapter 18: I Can't Forget It

That said, the meeting of Jack and Rose that took place on the Titanic for four days, touted as a true love story. Just as Rose couldn't forget Jack until he was old, I refused to forget Ameena. Our short interwoven story, has not stopped here ....

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I was shocked to hear what Yuna had just said. Back to Tokyo? I should be happy, right? In fact, my heart refused.

"Yuna-chan, can you take my phone? I want to call uncle. I still want to be here. He didn't have to bother asking me to be pulled from here" I said as I tried to get up.

I saw Yuna's eyes look surprised. "Key, don't you want to go back to Tokyo?"

"It's not. I've been here a month. Not much information I managed to dig. I can't leave my friends."

"Don't worry about your friends. They understand your situation. If they were in your current position, they would also definitely ask to be repatriated."

"I'm sorry, Yuna. I don't want to go home right now. The incident I experienced was just a risk from my work. I hope you can support my decision. Go home .. and tell my mom's dad I'm fine and I'll come back when it's time."

Yuna looked at me with a helpless look. He certainly knows my character is hard, persistent and can not be influenced by anyone. He knew that persuading me was futile. Hence, he could only nod without asking any further. That's how he is! Always support whatever is my decision.

Seeing him quiet, I felt a dilemma. Did my decision disappoint him?

"Yuna-chan, sorry ...." I feel lost for words right now.

Yuna shook her head while showing her pure smile. "It's okay. Anyway, I'll be here too."

I gasped and showed a confused look. Don't tell me Yuna won't come home if I don't go back to Tokyo.

"Actually when I found out you were stationed in this country, I immediately enrolled into MSF as a volunteer doctor. The decision will be announced tomorrow. If I pass the selection, then I will also settle in this country according to the contract" he explained. Yuna's radiant face radiated and her hands further tightened her grip on my hand.

(Ket: MSF international medical organization of doctors across borders)

Unlike her, the shock caught me back. Where can that be!

When I first set foot in the country, the first news I received was that a surgeon from the organization had died in the war. The job was riskier than us who could still play cats on duty. They were even assigned in the middle of an ongoing war. I don't want to put him in such a dangerous position just because I want to be with me.

"Jonica-chan ...."

"Sstt ...." Yuna won't let me talk. "It's my choice!" emphatically.

He stood up and directly packed his medical equipment. "Hey, Kei-kun, I'm so relieved to see your face again. People say you may be dead, but I'm absolutely sure you're safe. I know, Kei-kun is not that weak to survive," he said, developing a smile.

Yuna's love for me is so great, it makes me helpless. He is continuing his education as a surgeon.

"What about your father? Does he know you're volunteering here?"

Yuna shook her head. "I'm not a kid anymore. My life is my choice. I'm not gonna mix it up."

"Your father would probably blame me if he knew his beloved daughter would volunteer in a war country" I said with skepticism.

"Don't think negatively! I was worried when I found out you were missing in a refugee camp. He even tried to send his army to look for you here."

The door of the room suddenly opened in tandem with So, Eiji and Aoba entering. Apparently, they just got home from covering. They came straight at me with happy expressions.

"Ayano-san, you finally came to your senses! Are you all right?" ask Eiji worriedly.

"Don't worry! I'm fine and ready to join you again."

Yuna took a break out because she didn't want to interrupt our conversation. That opportunity was used by my friends to ask what had happened to me.

"Ayano-san, tell us what you've been through!"

"Are you being held hostage by the rebels?

"We were really surprised to find out that the place you came to was attacked."

"What about the girl you brought there? Is he still alive?" ask So quickly.

I was stunned when they mentioned Ameena. My lips were too close to say something. For a moment, the room was suddenly quiet. Perhaps at this moment they could clearly see the sadness that flashed through my eyes.

Aoba slightly bowed near me, whispering, "Ayano-san, for these four days, you were with her, right?"

My eyes were spontaneously directed at Aoba who was waiting for my answer. My heart rippled, feeling the sensation of pain and tightness all at once. I felt my body petrified as this brain went back to flushing through our separation. Her eyeballs covered in tears came back to my mind.

"When you're unconscious, you hold tightly onto the veil Ameena was wearing. We even had trouble taking it out of your hands. Yuna asked me, but I said it was yours. You bought it because you thought it was a scarf."

"Where's the veil?" I asked quickly as if I was afraid of losing the precious thing that Ameena left behind.

"I'm keeping. Ayano-san, is that girl ...." Aoba did not continue his sentence. I'm sure he's thinking about the worst possible event.

"Ameena .. she has left" I said in a husky voice that almost whispered.

I told them about what I had with Ameena for four days. But not completely. Some incident, I didn't tell you because I chose to keep it as a memory that only the two of us knew.

Two weeks passed since the incident, I returned to work as usual. Although I have not recovered much, I forced myself to cover with my team. Moreover, our coverage this time about the attack on the territory of the rebels. As soon as I found out that the Syrian military special forces were carrying out the attack, I immediately remembered Ameena. Is it possible that he was there? That's what makes me determined to cover the chaos that happened in that place. Yes, I have to admit, my mind is still occupied by it.

This battle has been going on since three days ago, but we were only allowed to cover it today after both sides had agreed to a ceasefire. When I arrived at that location, my eyes shimmered all over seeing the already-torn location leaving a white ash plume and fire that was still burning at some point.

I walked through the rubble. Ameena's veil wrapped around her neck like a scarf. To be honest, I don't want Ameena to be one of the victims of this attack, but on the other hand my heart hopes to find her here.

I saw medical teams begin to evacuate some civilians who were victims of this attack. I immediately ran there, then arrested some of the injured and still conscious victims.

"Do you know Ameena? She's a young woman in her twenties, her height is on par with me, her skin is pale white, her eyebrows are thick, and her eyeballs are bluish in color" I said in a hurried tone.

The man I asked was even frowning in pain. Shit, I forgot they might not understand what I said. No matter what, I asked the victim who was still lying with a burn on her hand. I repeated the same question and explained its features. The victim I asked even grimaced in pain and held my hand as if asking for help. I can just call the medical team and have them handle it immediately.

I was busy walking through the rubble, hoping to find it as it was at the beginning of our encounter. So came up to me and said the camera was ready. My eyes looked far away. Grasping all my courage, I ran towards the rebel stronghold, where their fighting cars were seen across the street. I can't believe So stopped me instead.

"Where are you going? There's the rebel defense!"

"I want to come to them. I'd like to ask you where they took Ameena."

"Are you crazy?! You want to die at their hands?" so shouted while holding tightly onto my shoulder.

"I was able to deal with them. I'm sure one of them must know me!" I said while still going there.

So back in my arms, this time he pulled my collar. "Do you think the rebel forces are only dozens of people? Nah! There are thousands, maybe even millions. Not necessarily who is there knows you, also knows Ameena."

"Ayano-san, what So said was true. Calm yourself! We understand how you feel, but it's not your fault that Ameena took them. You've been trying to protect her" Eiji patted me on the shoulder.

"After all, we're here to cover the news. Look, your lover over there is fighting to save lives and you're just here trying to track down another woman." Aoba raised his chin towards the volunteer emergency tent.

I was silent with dimmed eyes. Aoba's words really slapped me. Right, I shouldn't be like this.