Tenshi no Yume wo Egaku

The Second Paper
I’ve been waiting for around one hour, and I’ve been to the biology lab to check the fishes, I’ve been to the sports hall to just look around—and of course it’s empty because it’s not the day for sports, and else until Hiro’s club activity is done.
“Tenshi-chan, sorry to make you wait for so long.” Hiro said as he walked towards me.
I giggled. “It’s been always like this, isn’t it? I’m used to it already.” I replied.
I don’t know why but I saw Hiro blushed a little. But he denied my glance and got his bike outside of the bike park.
“Let’s go home.” He said, smiling.
I nodded and get on to the bike, warped my hand around his waist, and he started to accelerate it.
“Don’t forget to slow down!” I reminded him again.
“Okay, I give you a present for today, I’ll drive with 70 km/h!” He replied as he laughed and drive his bike faster.
“Hey!!” I protested.
We got past all the calm streets with the sun shines brightly towards the both of us. I love this moment… I love Hiro…
“Yosh, we’ve arrived!” He said when we finally and fortunately reached my house safely.
I got down from the bike, but suddenly I kinda lost my balance and fell backward. Fortunately Hiro noticed it and he wraps his arm around my shoulders before my head hit the ground.
“Be careful!” Hiro said.
“Ah, sorry…” I replied, trying to gain my balance again.
Okay, this is embarrassing. First, I fall off very, very, and very often. I don’t know what cause that, but I just… fall! Second, it’s been a month since I’m Hiro’s girlfriend, but up until now, I still can’t help but blush hardly whenever our faces get so close.
“You okay? It seems a little bad today, your face looks a bit pale.” He concerned my face.
“It’s pale from the first place…!” I replied. Though it heard like I’m angry, but I smiled on the face.
Hiro laughed again, and he patted my head softly. “Be more careful, you fall easily, and that makes me worry, you know?” He said.
Again, I blushed. “Okay.” I replied as I nodded.
He smiled and held my shoulder. “Then, get inside your house quickly, it’s already four PM, don’t get your parents worry.” He said.
“Hai. Arigatou, Hiro-kun!” I said as I waved to him and get inside my house.
–
I glance to my future-paper again. What should I write? I really haven’t decided any of it yet. I glance through it with empty glance, until my mom knocked the door.
“Tenshi, dinner is ready.” She said beyond the door.
I stood up and opened the door, then followed her to the first floor where my dad has been waiting already. On the weekdays, it’s just the three of us in our house. But on weekends, my older brothers usually come home from their college.
Now I decided to tell them about that damn paper. “Uhm… Okaa-san, Otoo-san.” I called them while we’re already sitting on our chairs.
“What’s wrong, Tenshi?” Dad replied.
“Today, I received a paper…” I paused. “A paper about my future.” I continued.
My mom seems understand, so she smiled. “You can decide it by yourself.” She said.
“What about… Dad’s opinion?” I asked.
“I would’ve agreed with your mom too, but you have to think of it carefully, okay?” He answered.
I smiled happily. “Arigatou.” I said.
Both of them also smiled at me. “Well then, let’s have a dinner!” Mom said.
–
Today’s morning, the sun also shines as always, getting through the curtain and shine my face. I hope today will be a better day than yesterday.
I jumped from my bed and get ready to school. Today too, I will go with Hiro like usually.
“Okaa-san, otoo-san, ittekimasu yo!” I shouted from the front door.
“Be careful!” Mom replied.
“Hiro!” I called him.
“Hey, ohayou.” He replied, smiling.
“Ohayou.” I said when I reached him and his bike.
“Let’s go.” He said.
I nodded, and we walked, heading to school.
–
“Tenshi-chan, I want to go to the basketball club, wanna join?” Ayane asked.
“Basketball club? For what?” I asked back.
“I have my crush there!” She whispered as she giggled.
I became so interested. “Let’s go then! But promise me you’ll show me the man!” I said.
“Of course! Come on, let’s ask Kyoko to join us too!” She replied.
And the tree of us walked to the basketball hall. To get there we should walk through the school park. It’s full with flowers, and the ground is covered by many stones.
“Ah, shimatta! It will end soon! Let’s run!” Ayane looked to her watch and grabbed Kyoko with her, running together, and leaving me behind.
“Ah, wait for me!” I shouted as I started to run too, following them.
But there’s something wrong with my body. I felt like it doesn’t belong to me that I cannot move any of the part of it, even my finger, and that’s including my legs. It felt so weak, like I’m a baby that’s just learned how to walk. I fell off as my face is facing the ground, and of course in front of me is all stones. There was nothing that prevents my way, but I really fell off.
A second later, it felt so hurt as my friends shouted.
“Tenshi!!” Ayane and Kyoko cried. They ran to me and grabbed my shoulder and turned my bodies.
“Oh my God, her head’s bleeding!” Kyoko cried, covering her mouth with her hands.
Ayane looked at me with worry, but then she quickly commanded Kyoko.
“Kyoko-chan, go call Okada-kun!” She said.
Kyoko didn’t wait for anything anymore, she ran quickly to where Hiro is.
“Tenshi-chan, hang on, okay?” Ayane said.
It felt so hurt, like my head is ready to explode whenever it required to. I began to lose my consciousness, when Hiro and Kyoko came back.
“Tenshi!” Hiro called as he warped her arms around my shoulders. “Quick calls the ambulance!” He said.
Kyoko and Ayane nodded, and Ayane grabbed her cell phone.
“Hang on there, you’ll be alright.” I heard Hiro said.
“Okada-kun, we already called the ambulance, they said we have to wait at the entrance. I guess we have to bring Tenshi-chan to the infirmary first. Let me wait at the entrance and tell you if the ambulance has come.” Ayane said.
“Okay, thanks.” Hiro replied, smiling. As he carried me to the infirmary. “You fell again?” He asked on the way.
I didn’t’ replied, so he continued. “Don’t make me worry again, small problem could cause you a big problem, you know.” He continued.
We arrived at the infirmary, and the nurse takes care of me there. A few moments later, Hiro’s cell phone rang.
He grabbed his cell phone and answered the call. “How is it, Hishida-san?” Hiro asked. Hishida is Ayane’s surname.
I couldn’t hear Ayane’s voice, but then Hiro closed his phone and ready to carry me again.
“The ambulance is waiting at the entrance.” He said as he carried me to the entrance and the ambulance brought me to the hospital.
I still feel dizzy and hurt as the ambulance got through all the way to the hospital, and when we’ve arrived, all of them brought me to a room. There, the doctor checked my head.
“She’s alright, it’s just a scratch on her skin.” I heard the doctor said to Hiro, Ayane, and Kyoko.
All of them sighed happily, but then Hiro said something.
“Hishida-san, Fukuda-san.” He called Ayane and Kyoko. “I need to talk to the doctor for a while, can you bring Tenshi-chan outside?” He asked.
Ayane and Kyoko nodded as they brought me outside.
–
In the doctor’s room
“Sensei.” Hiro called. “I just need to ask you something.” He continued.
“What is it?” Sensei replied.
“I’m just… worried, because Tenshi-san fell off very often and not just that… Everytime she fell, her face hit the ground directly, and her hands never had any scratch.” Hiro explained. “Do I really need to worry about that?” He added.
Sensei seems to think a bit, and then he spoke. “I will check it, just wait here.” Sensei said.
Hiro nodded as sensei walked to the room beside this room. “Arigatou, sensei!” Hiro said.
A few minutes seems like two hours for Hiro. He didn’t know why, but he felt something is gonna happen, even though he didn’t know what that is.
“Okada-san.” Sensei called.
“Ah, sensei. How is it?” Hiro replied.
“Well…” Sensei said as he putted Tenshi’s brain X-ray and other brain X-ray to the wall. “Here, look at these.” He continued as he sat down on his chair.
“What… are these?” Hiro asked.
“This one is a normal person’s brain.” Sensei started to explain as he pointed to the left brain picture. “And this one, is Matsuzawa-san’s brain.” Now he pointed to the right picture. “Do you see any difference between them?” He asked.
Hiro thought for a while as he looked carefully to the pictures. “I guess yeah.” He said. There’s something wrong with Tenshi’s brain.
Sensei sighed, and like he knows what Hiro thought, he spoke. “That’s right, there’s something wrong with Matsuzawa-san’s brain.” He said.
Hiro felt like there’s a big stone in his heart, there must be something really bad with it.
“This called a Spinocelebellar Degeneration Disease.” Sensei said, and that makes Hiro shocked.
“That… is…”
“I’m so sorry, I really didn’t expect I have to tell you this. But, you know… this disease—“ Sensei tried to explain,
“Incurable…” Hiro cut his line.
Sensei looked to Hiro, and so with Hiro. “That’s right.” Sensei said.
Hiro remained silent for a long time as he looked down to the floor. He wanted to cry, but he can’t. “What… should I say to her?” He asked.
“I can’t get into that too much, but I recommend that you… still have to tell her what just happened.” Sensei answered.
“Should I… really break all her dreams?” Hiro asked, his voice started to shake.
Sensei didn’t answer, and Hiro decided to leave.
–
A few days have passed since the last time I came to the hospital, and these days… it seems like Hiro is hiding something from me.
“Hey, Hiro?” I asked.
“Um?” Hiro replied.
“Is there… something that you didn’t tell me about?” I asked again.
Hiro seems a bit shocked as he empty-glanced his book. I looked to him seriously.
“Why did you think about that?” Hiro replied.
“Because… Hiro is acting weird these days, seems like you’re hiding something just from me.” I said truthfully.
“Really?” Hiro replied, smiling to me. But I saw that as an excuse to hide that thing again.
I nodded, still looking at him.
Hiro looked to me too, and his face became so sad. “I don’t know neither I should tell you or not.” He whispered.
“Sorry?” I asked
“Ah, no… I mean… can we… talk for a moment?” Hiro finally said.
“Of course.” I replied.
“Let’s go to the school roof then.” He said as he smiled and closed his book.
“Why should we go there?” I asked as I followed him upstairs.
“Because we need privacy.” Hiro replied.
I confused, but decided to deny it. We arrived at the school roof, and Hiro turned his body to see me.
“You were right, there’s something I didn’t tell you about.” Hiro said, smiling.
“What is it?” I asked.
Hiro walked closer to me and hugged me suddenly.
“Hiro?” I confused.
He let go his hug and looked deeply into my eyes.
“When you came to the hospital, I asked the doctor about you.” Hiro started to explain, as his hand still on my shoulder.
“About… me? Is there… something wrong with me?” I asked, starting to feel worry, even though I didn’t know why.
“I can say yes… And when he checked your brain, he told me that… you have a disease…” Hiro said. I could hear his voice is shaking.
“Disease?” I asked.
“It called…”
I felt like I will start to cry soon.
“The Spinocelebellar Degeneration Disease…”