The Journalist

Part 36: Relationships in the Finish Line

I thought I was the one who left, I was the one who was left behind. I think I let go, it turns out he's the one who let go. I thought I was the cruel one, but it was fate that was cruel.

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Yoshizawa and I sat next to each other in the Hospital waiting chair with their bodies covered in blood. Just moments ago, a bomb exploded inside a passing car. Yuna and a number of medical personnel were also victims of the explosion. It still looms in my vision, even though I close my eyes. Perhaps, this will be a bad memory that I can hardly forget, where I have to watch the woman I love get seriously injured.

We've been here for hours waiting for confirmation from the doctor. Yuna's head was severely injured by bomb fragments and bounced several meters. The doctor had to operate on his head to remove the debris.

Other than me and Yoshizawa, this corridor was filled with several other Japanese Self-Defense troops on guard. I had heard from their conversation, that the commander was on his way here using a state jet. Sure enough, three hours later Yuna's father and also her mother arrived at this Hospital.

His presence was certainly welcomed by the entire squad that was on guard. Yoshizawa came up to him while saluting.

"Commander, please punish me! I'm not looking after Yuna properly" Yoshizawa said with a full bow.

"You've worked hard! Get up and stand up straight!" yuna's father's orders. He even patted Yoshizawa on the shoulder.

Yuna's father's gaze turned to me who was standing not far behind Yoshizawa. With a firm step without a smile, the man who became the supreme commander of the army approached me. I just stood there, ready to greet him with respect. However, just as he stopped in front of me, his five fingers first swung to my cheek causing a very loud noise. The entire crowd in the corridor spontaneously turned to look at me.

"How dare you show up here after endangering my daughter! If it wasn't for catching up with you here, Yuna wouldn't have experienced something as fateful as this! I swear, if anything happens to her, you're responsible for all this." Yuna's father's voice girdle hit my eardrum, also tore my heart apart. Not to mention the prints of his hands that were still felt on my cheeks.

Sick? Obviously, but not on this cheek, but in my heart. Being slapped in front of a former peer is certainly very embarrassing and lowers self-esteem. However, it means nothing compared to being asked directly to leave his daughter's life.

Seeing me still reluctant to move on, Yuna's father ordered the soldiers on guard to drag me away. At first they hesitated to do it to me, but since it was an order, they immediately forcibly withdrew my body. I shook off the hands that were trying to touch me.

"You may hate me, but you cannot forbid two people who love each other and want to be united unless you are God" I said in a loud voice.

"Love? You can still say that stupid thing after my daughter's situation like this?" My words sparked the man's anger. "If you really love her, you shouldn't have taken her life and all her dreams!" with fiery eyes.

The words that jumped from Yuna's father's mouth hit me so hard. Right, I'm the one to blame for what happened to Yuna. If only he hadn't caught up with me here, this wouldn't have happened. If anything happens to him, I will never forgive myself ....

I went back to my place in a powerless state. Friends immediately swarmed over me and asked Yuna. I do not know what to answer, because until now he has not gone through a critical period.

Aoba then said in a slow tone. "Ayano, the editor asked us to write a chronology about Yuna who was hit by a car bomb. Remember, he is the son of the great commander and also the only Japanese citizen who became a victim. I know, maybe .. it's hard for you to write down the details of the news that befell your lover ...."

"It's okay. I'll write it now!" cut me. As Aoba said, it felt really hard to write news about my own lover. However, I must remain professional and put aside personal matters.

"Then ... What about the news of the rejected investigation?" tanya So who then groaned in pain. I can only guess Aoba purposely stepped on her foot, so that she wouldn't offend the matter now.

"I'll still try to keep releasing at all costs." Instantly, I remembered my promise to Zaheera.

A few days after that incident, I couldn't see Yuna. The hospital care is very strict. Journalists and journalists are not allowed in. Damn again, I had to get out of Damascus to hunt for news of attacks in a number of cities that had been controlled by extremist groups. This makes me even more unable to take care of Yuna during her critical time.

Every time I passed the house of worship in the city where I was covering, I always stopped just to pray for Yuna. I only dared to stand straight parallel to the entrance of the house of worship. An agnostic like myself doesn't need a special place of worship to make a wish on God.

"We-sama, please don't take Yuna's life! Take everything I have instead!" I repeat that sentence every time I go through the house of worship.

A week later, I returned to Damascus after busy covering here and there. I got word that Yuna was awake. It makes me look forward to seeing him. With great determination, I came to the Hospital with a box of pasta that I ordered from Jordan and I warmed up again. There was a trembling taste mixed with thumping as this foot stepped in. It turned out that Yuna and Yoshizawa's mother were also in there. No matter who is inside, my goal is only to come for Yuna.

I commented a big smile when I saw that Yuna had regained consciousness with an improved state. He can even sit on the bed. He seemed busy choosing the row of rings that were before him. However, his focus was diverted as I went in and approached him. His eyes squinted for a moment, as if he was remembering something.

"A–ayano?" call it doubtful.

His mother approached him and asked, "Do you know him?"

Yuna nodded stiffly. "He's my classmate." Then he turned back towards me. "Ayano-kun, why are you also in this country?"

"Eh?" I was suddenly confused.

"Your friend is a journalist assigned to this place," replied the mother as she glanced at me with ominous eyes.

"really? Whoa, Sugoi! That's a job that suits you!" yuna exclaimed, but before long she raised the question hesitantly, "Ayano-kun, what .... do you ... have a boyfriend?"

"Eh?" My forehead is getting wrinkled. Even these eyebrows are almost united.

"Oh, sorry. I was presumptuous to ask like that," said Yuna reluctantly.

"He's married to a woman in this country. You were also present at the wedding at the time," Yuna's mother said in a hurry, "Right, right?" Yuna's mother turned to me with a different look as if asking me to justify her words.

I don't get it! They make me like a fool who understands nothing but has to agree with all the statements.

Yuna showed a surprised expression. "really? I didn't expect you to get married at such a young age. You used to be so nerdy." Yuna then pulled Yoshizawa by the hand and grabbed her arm. "Oh, yes, this is my fiancee. We will get married soon after returning to Japan. Maybe in about two or three days I'll be back in Japan."

My eyes are growing. Whatisthis? Is he not acting? Really am! I don't understand what they're talking about! Why is it like this? Why is Yuna being so foreign to me? Was he mad at me because I asked for our relationship to end?

I looked back at the row of magnificent rings that were before him, then saw a smile of happiness on Yuna's face. He even showed one of his chosen rings to Yoshizawa.

Mother Yuna then approached me who was still raging with confusion. "Can you get out of here? Yuna needs a lot of rest!"

I turned my head back towards Yuna who already seemed unconcerned about my presence. He was busy trying every ring on his ring finger.

"Aibi .. I ...."

"Please, leave us! Yuna like this has made us happy. As long as he survived, this was no problem either. Don't make her mind go awry!" Without giving me a chance to speak, Yuna's mother immediately pushed and forced me out of her child's nursery.

I'm still standing at the door. Rigid face. My body petrified. I still don't understand. I need an explanation for all this silliness! Not long after, Yoshizawa walked out of the room. We looked at each other for a moment before he finally told Yuna the truth.

From Yoshizawa's explanation, it turns out that the effects of severe injuries on Yuna's head caused her brain to suffer fatal damage until some of her memories disappeared. He can only remember his childhood memories to the limits of adolescence. His memory stalled at the age of sixteen or when he was still in the first grade of High School. That means he can't remember anything after that. Including the relationship we had for eight years. That's why he only recognized me as a classmate and rival. He has lost his memory for the past nine years.

"The doctor said his memory may recover in the long run, but it may never come back. Forcing him to remember forgotten things would only be fatal to his brain. This opportunity his family used by introducing me as his fiancee. Not only that, they also made the story as if we had agreed to get married before this accident happened. Yuna thinks it's all true so you can see it for yourself like that" Yoshizawa told me.

I'm aghast. My heart rippled unhurriedly at what Yoshizawa said.

"What about you yourself? Is ... are you ready to marry her under such circumstances?" manya slow.

"Actually, I'm not sure either. But ... For me this is also part of the orders of superiors. Anyway, I've liked it long enough. Our marriage was actually planned for a long time by the commander-in-chief. It's just that Yuna chose to continue the specialist lecture to buy time. That's why I'm asking you to just give up, because the commander-in-chief can't possibly let you be together" Yoshizawa said. He took a step back, then bowed fully before me before finally leaving me who was still wallowing in shock.

My eyes light seemed to dim for a moment. Crushed. Crumbed. Broken. That's me right now being betrayed by circumstances. I'm walking in an indiscriminate direction with my eyeballs moving in a mess. These feet are unable to stand up straight. My chest was tight, like I had just been hit by the ruins of a building.

Yuna's change made me realize that nature's scenario of separating us was fair to her. Yuna can forget me, without having to go through the process of heartbreak. God has granted my prayers by not taking his life, but as a consequence I and my feelings are now being forcibly removed from his memory. Yuna with her new memory, might only be filled with Yoshizawa. In the end, the relationship we were in had reached the Finish line.

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