Lavender | Wakatoshi Ushijima

27 | Unfold

"Have you visited the specialist in the city?" Dr. Suzuki asked.

"Yes, we have." My father said as he handed Dr. Suzuki the documents and result papers.

"I'll take a look and see if she'll need to stop her two pills and start another kind."

We were back again at Dr. Suzuki's office for a check up. Last time, he prescribed me with the pill I take two times a day. Today, he's going to look at my test results and my documents from my appointment with the specialist in the city, Dr. Ōta. Internally, I was praying he wouldn't give me another type of pill. I couldn't handle more pressure than I was already carrying, That's the tip of the iceberg.

"I'm afraid I can't give you the answer in today's appointment due to the short duration. You'll have to reschedule another appointment to receive the answer and for me to assure the possible medication will be available and in stock."

He continued explaining and talking to my parents and if they had any questions, they would be answered. I don't think they noticed the person this appointment revolved around.

I was sitting there, sinking in my seat, the usual feeling I have while at the doctor's office.

That feeling always seems to catch up to me every time, it's always the same. Somehow, it seems to slowly haunt me every time I enter the room. My composure cannot be described as something hard to ruin, as I remain calm in whatever situation I'm put in. When I'm in this spot, it all changes. I would think of what I'm surrounded with usually. The time, weather, people. Here, I'm in pure mayhem.

Sinking in the sea of thoughts, also as usual. Would he give me another pill? Are my results that bad? Is that why he needs more time? What about school, how am I going to catch up? No no, I'll be fine. What about Wakatoshi's play today? If he won't do well, I'll be humiliated!

"Hana, we're leaving." Father said.

We walked out in the same deafening silence that was in the air.

"Father, please remember you need to drive me to school."

"Didn't the the school day already end?"

"Yes."

I was quick enough to lie, again.

"My friend and I are still studying early for finals."

Lies, lies, lies. Why do I keep on lying?

"Okay then."

"I'll walk home. I know you'll be busy at work."

I was driven to school, dropped off. I was on time for Wakatoshi's play.

I can't seem to stop myself, I keep on lying. I want to look like the perfect child by doing responsible things so I've been lying to cover up my actions. But why? My home has no honesty or genuine communication, so I need to check if the coast is clear when I'm with the people I live with.

I want to please my parents. If I'm not the perfect child, I'll be a burden. I'll burden everyone. My parents will be burdened with having an irresponsible child, my family name will be burdened with a terrible heir, and that'll bring shame to us all. I never thought I'd resort to lying of all things.

I went into the school auditorium, it was still empty. I heard murmurs in the backstage area - which I was familiar with-. I decided to go back there and wish Wakatoshi good luck. As I went back there, I saw him in the condition I expected.

He was walking back and forth in the corner, restating his lines with a paper clutched in his left hand. Due to his overflowing stress, the paper was slowly becoming more and more crumpled in his clenched fist.

I also saw the other members revising, doing vocal exercises, rehearsing all over again. I walked in through the door towards him in hopes of reassuring him.

"Good luck on the play everyone." I smiled to the members as they thanked me while I passed through.

Wakatoshi's back was facing me when I got to him, I heard his anxious whispers.

"Wakatoshi?" He didn't hear me.

"Wakatoshi?" I tapped his back, fixing the collar of my shirt.

He turned to me abruptly, barely noticing that I was the one there.

"Why are you here?"

"Could it be I'm here to see your play, Prince Charming?" I teased. He still looked very anxious.

He balled both of his fists together in front of him and began whispering at a faster pace with his eyes tightly shut.

Nothing really occurred to me in that moment to make him feel better. I knew that words would go through an ear and out the other if I tried.

That's the thing with stress and academic success. Once that success fuels it in situations when it's at threat, there's no stopping it. See, you can't have success without stress. And you can't stress unless your success is threatened. In Wakatoshi's case, he's stressed out since there's a possibility that he won't succeed in the play and gain the extra credit to succeed in literature. That's exactly what's happening, so I did only what I could. Hoping that would succeed.

"Wakatoshi, breathe." My hands made their way on top of his shaking ones.

His eyelids flew open as they slowly leveled back to normal.

"Trust me. You'll be just fine."

"Thank you."

"Be ready in five, cast! Audience is slowly entering." Mrs. Tanaka walked in and began giving the cast a little pep talk, which was my cue to go.

I left the backstage area, making my way to the seats. As said, audience were settling down.

It took a bit of time until the play began. There were staff evening out the big curtain, staff fixing the lights and the cast were getting their microphones put on.

Ironically, I partially knew this story. I've travelled in the depths of the literature world. I've read stories and analyzed plenty of poems, all for the fun of it. I scarcely remember it as a classical story, a good challenge for actors.

With Wakatoshi as the male lead, there was a girl from our grade as the female lead. I see her around sometimes, not too often. She has the blond locks fit for the role.

The play was began rolling. Lots of sentiments, action, drama. It was a delightful choice.

Wakatoshi was doing an excellent job, he acting out his lines that were memorized very well. He was doing his very best and it sure was paying off. I could see the emotions in the colors of his face.

~

It was all going very smoothly. Plot-wise, they were departing from the falling action. It was very nice, finally defeating the antagonist. I remember his lines that showed the character's bravery through them, they were perfect. His performance was perfect.

After the antagonist's defeat, things were leveling back to normal. Relief, happiness, all that.

It was only then that I finally reached the part Wakatoshi had been avoiding all this time. Eagerly waiting, the unexpected unfolded steadily.

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Author: This was a pretty long chapter, I had to cut it short!! >-<