Chapter 11: Chapter 11
Lunchtime.
Surprisingly, Van didn't talk to me about having lunch together. I was relieved at first,but it made me feel uneasy afterwards.
I realized that I must have treated him rudely this morning.
I decided to look for him. As I was making my way at the way, I heard a group of girls gossiping.
"Hey, did you know the reason behind Nao Nishikawa's adoption?" one girl suddenly said.
"Oh? What is it? Tell us!" asked the other one.
I gritted my teeth in anger and frustration. These girls are even worst than a bunch of gossiping housewives.
I strained my ear as I hid myself to the wall nearby. I waited for them to speak again.
"--You all know that my mom is working at our town's Social Services Department, right? She accidentally found out Nao's
family background!" the main gossiper blabbered on.
"Just tell us quickly!" breathed the others.
"Well, Nishikawa's real mother is a patient at a mental institution in Tokyo!"
I put a hand on my mouth to supress a gasp. Good thing I was able to stop myself on time.
"My life is ruined!" I instantly thought, while getting hysterical.
"--Where's her real father?" inquired the others.
"My mom said Nao's her father died in a plane crash.They had no idea that he left them a huge amount of debts..." responded the gossiper.
"If it happened to me,I don't know what to do anymore!" the girls sounded so shocked.
"How about jumping from the top of a building?" suggested the other girl.
"In that way,you'll forget everything in an instant!" the other girls agreed.
I closed my eyes tightly.
"Everything will be over in an instant..." I whispered to myself.
I slowly took step a backwards. And once I made sure that I was finally out of their earshot,I started to run away from them...
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Van was staring at his empty lunchbox while walking his way back to the classroom. He spent his lunchtime alone. He decided not to pester Nao, so he went at the rooftop to eat lunch there.
Van looked at his watch. Their afternoon classes will start in five minutes. He quickly walked to their classroom. Once he reached his destination, he looked around for Nao.
But her chair is empty.
Their Math teacher suddenly entered the room as well.
"What are you still standing there for, Van?Lunch time is over. Go back to your seat."
Van half-heartedly took his seat, while getting more and more worried about Nao.
The teacher started their afternoon class...
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Few hours have passed.
They are now having their physical education class at their school trackfield.
While the other students are busy doing warm-up exercises, Van is sitting all alone at the corner while catching his breath.
He's been searching for Nao around school, but he just couldn't find her.
"Where is she right now?" he worriedly asked to himself.
Van stood up again and went to the bicycle stand to get his bike. He will look for Nao...
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At the beach.
I collapsed on the sad while catching my breath after that long run. I never thought I could run this far. I stared at the ocean.
The ocean is so calm, which is the total opposite of what she's feeling right now.
A droplets of water suddenly fell at the back of my hand. I raised my head and saw the dark clouds forming in the sky. After that, countless drops of rain fell on my head, arms, and my face.
It started to pour down hard, as if the sky is crying for me.
I was starting to get soaked because of the rain, but I still decided to stay.
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"Damn it, why now?" Van cursed under his breath, as he continued to pedal his bike. He was already drenched because of the sudden fall of the heavy rain, but yhat didn't stop him to look for Nao.
He's been desperately searching for her for almost an hour already. He's getting more and more worried for Nao by each passing minute.
He reached the road that leads towards the beach. It was getting hard for him to see the road because of the rain...
Through the midst of the pouring rain,a lonely figure at the beach suddenly caught his attention.
"Nao!" he called her name.
He quickly got off from his bike and dashed towards her.
"What the hell are you doing?! You'll get sick! Let's get you out of here!" Van yelled against the strong sound of the rain and wind.
He gently held Nao, while feeling so relieved....
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Nishikawa Family Residence.
Van pressed the door buzzer. Few seconds have passed before someone opened the door.
Mika's eyes widened in surprise when she saw us soaking wet and trembling because of cold.
"Van? Nao?! What happened to you?" she asked them.
Before Van could answer,I suddenly heard my mother's voice.
"Mika?Who is it----Nao! Van! You're both soaking wet! Hurry, come inside, or else you might catch pneumonia..." my mother worriedly said, as he she guided Van and I at the nearest couch.
"Mika, go get some blankets while I give them a first aid..." our mother ordered Mika.
"Is Nao going to be alright, Doctor Nishikawa?" Van asked.
"She will be." she answered.
Van heaved a sigh of relief while nodding.
"That's all I needed to hear. Thank you, doctor." he gratefully said.
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Van already changed into dry clothes. Thanks to Nao and Mika's older brother who's now studying in Tokyo, he was able to wear his clothes.
He took a sip from his coffee mug. The warm drink made him feel better...
"What really happened to my sister, Van?" Mika asked him.
"I really don't have any idea, Mika. I just saw her at the beach, all alone..." Van answered her.
Van sat straight when Doctor Nishikawa suddenly enters the kitchen. She sat across Van.
"How is she, doctor?" Van inquired.
"She's already sound asleep." the old woman replied.
"That's good to know..." Van responded, while looking relieved.
"I know you're already aware about all the rumors on Nao's biological family, right?" the doctor asked him.
"I'm aware of it, but I don't care about her past." Van firmly spoke.
Doctor Nishikawa took a deep breath, while looking down at her coffee cup...