They Say Opposites Attract

XXVI. Turning Point

"Su," the familiar voice called out to me, making me look up. Both me and Kate had opted to go back to the room and continue finishing our schoolwork after a long moment of discomforting silence.

Standing there at my bedroom door was my mom. She had an expression of excitement. I couldn't help but tilt my head to the side, wondering what her next words were. I didn't wait long.

"Just got a call," she tells me, making Kate look up almost curiously. She asks if she should go, probably taking the conversation starter as her cue to leave the room temporarily, but my mom just shook her head in response.

She continued, "Looks like someone found your case," she says, making a gesture to her neck. Probably signifying my absent vocal cords, "and that someone is willing to pay and provide for a surgical replacement."

The silence that followed that statement was the kind that meant we were all put into a state of deep thought. It took me a moment to long to process what that meant, but Kate was able to summarize for us.

"You mean..." she paused, her voice trailing before she continued, "You mean Sumiko can get her voice back?" She asked curiously. Hopefully. Was that excitement in her tone?

"Yes and no," my mom replied after a moment of thought. She leaned against the doorframe as she explained simply, "Basically, Su can get surgery for vocal cords, but it'll take a while for them to adapt and become her voice."

This was certainly something to get excited over. Except, I only had one problem with the whole thing.

"You don't seem to be in favor of the idea," Kate asks rather than tells me. Before I had a chance to sign her the reason behind my reluctant expression, my mom spoke for me.

"Is it because of where you have to go?" She asked me, making me give a slight nod in response. Despite all the times I've been there, I've never been and never will be fond of hospitals. This, which my mom explained in a few sentences, was something I've held onto for years.

There was another moment of discomforting silence before my mom spoke up again. "You don't have to give an answer immediately, but I was told that you're free to have it done within the next month."

I couldn't help but shift my gaze to the floor as my mom left hesitantly. The silence this time dragged on for some time. As for how long exactly, I know not.

Only that we ended up going back to our schoolwork, which we both ended up finishing after roughly half an hour.

Kate, who seemed to notice my discomfort in the silence, spoke up with relief in her tone. "Finally," she says, stretching as she gets to her feet, "glad that's over with. I can't believe they'd assign this much work to complete during the weekend."

This was indeed something that happened often, whether it be in our (or the students') favor. But of course, how could I think solely of something like that after such news was broken to me?

I know I should be happy. I should be excited. I should agree to it.

Except this fear is holding me back.

Fear for what? I'm not sure.

Before I knew it, I found myself in Kate's embrace. "I wouldn't focus too much on deciding so soon," she whispered to me as she held me close to her. "She did say you had a month to decide, right?"

At this, I simply gave a nod in response. I couldn't help but relax at both her words and her embrace. Sometimes I wonder how is it I can relax so well around Kate. Other times, the answer is clear.

"You know," Kate spoke up, making me look up at her, "we never got the chance to actually go out and do something," she tells me, earning herself a nod in response.

It took her a moment before she decided to add, "I mean, we still can, but I won't force you." At this, I got to my feet almost immediately.

Which was way too fast.

After catching myself on the bed behind me, I stood up and gave a nod that made it seem like I was really looking forward to it. Perhaps I was.

"I can tell you're excited," Kate tells me with a smile as she stood up in front of me. I hesitated before giving a nod in response. "Then shall we go?" She asked as she grabbed hold of my hand, leading me out the room.

I couldn't help but smile at her excitement. I could tell from her lack of hesitation that she already had things planned.

Things were finally turning around.