Chapter four

The office abruptly got struck by an awkward silence, a silence that could not be broken into. The three of us sat still, wondering what just came out of my mouth. Mr. Wells, staring at the nurse, bit his lips and shook his head as one who has been let down. He then let out a sigh of disappointment. Perhaps, still he doesn't believe a damn thing I say! You know, when everyone around you starts to think you are an idiot, the flow of negative thoughts would just cramp up your head.

You see, Kevin told me that Mr. Wells is one person who always rooted for me whenever I played baseball. He was my number one fan. Now that he thinks I'm on drugs, I don't think things are going to be the same anymore.

After two minutes of silence, Mr. Wells stood up, threw his left hand in his front pocket, and rolled his right hand through his raven hair.

"Kings, you sure you want this?" Mr. Wells says loudly after stroking his head.

"Yes, I do. I want my parents right now!" I sit and let the words slip out of my mouth, forgetting that he is my professor.

"Uh, I am so sorry, I didn't know what came over me. Usually I'm not like this, it's just that I can't seem to analyse everything that has been going for the past days now." I quickly realize and then apologize .

“No, no, it's fine. Rest assure everything will be okay. Well, if that’s what you want, then I will speak to the principal about it.” says Mr. Wells as he whisks out the nurse office.

If what Kevin said about me having amnesia is true, then how in the world will I know who my parents are. I have no memories or pictures of them. Right now everything is completely strange to me. I just had to believe that Kevin is my roommate because he convinced me a bit.

While having loads of thoughts travel my head after Mr. Wells went out, the nurse interrupts me.

“Draw forward,” she suddenly says as my heart leaps forward, then jerking me out of my thoughts.

“Ah! You scared me.” I scream sharply, outpouring a deep sigh.

“What’s wrong with you, young man? How could my gentle voice have scared you?” she snapped.

Gentle my feet. Her voice is not gentle at all; it sounds horribly shrill.

Just while we are jeering around, Mr. Wells walks in with an old man accompanied by an old lady. She looks much like his wife, and sure she is.

Swear, I've never seen these people ever. The man has snowy hairs crawling out his nose, and some dangling on his ears. He is quite old. Mr. Wells stands before the office door along with these strangers. It looks like he is giving them some of his normal lectures.

As they are lecturing, one of the strangers, the woman, starts to get emotional. Mr. Wells must have told her something terrible, I reckon.

Not too long, I see the three of them leaving, as Mr. Wells calls the nurse outside with them. So I am the only one in the office. Just alone, and bored. I guess Kevin is still outside waiting.

However when I opened the office door, Kevin is not sitting in the spot I left him. While scanning the area in search of Kevin, I see a group of men afar off attired in white suits discussing with Mr. Wells, the nurse, and the two strangers that walked in here earlier. They are not just regular suits, but the ones doctors wear.

Later, I see Kevin join them. What are they talking about? In other to find out, I must go there. But what if they see me? Will they keep on discussing what they are discussing? No. I have to find another way to get there. I cannot go there in plain sight. I must hide so that they don't notice I am here.

However, while they are still discussing, I creep around the back of the office to listen to their conversation.

"I knew it!" a voice exclaims. It sounds like that nurse's voice.

"Wait a minute, let me get this straight. You said Ryan woke this morning in a psycho mood, he wanted to mob you with a bat, and he said he doesn't remember anything?" One of the doctors said.

"Yes, doc. After partying, he came home with the massive smell of alcohol. He smelled really terrible. We even talked a bit, and lastly he headed to bed while I stayed up to continue the show I started.

When it was morning, Ryan behavior became uncanny. He nearly took me off with a bat. Morever, it was when he told me he does not remember a single thing." I hear Ryan explain to the doctors.

"This could be caused by so many things. Or perhaps it's just a temporal amnesia." The doctor says.

"So you think my little boy, Ryan is not on drugs?" The old lady asks. Little Boy Ryan? What does she mean?

"He could be on drugs, but based on what Kevin just complained, I think it's just amnesia. Maybe he partied too hard, or consumed alcohol." The doc explains.

I'm no friend of alcohol or drugs, whatever Mr. Wells and the witch nurse told the doctors about me is abosutely lie!

As I stand peeking on them, the group easily disperses and everyone of them is walking back to the nurse's office.

Notwithstanding, I hurrily leave the back of the office. I use the window because it's unlock in other to not get caught.

After I made my way through, it didn't take long I saw the door gently open.

"Ryan, my darling," the voice calls, "what has happened to you?

I can't come to decipher what is unfolding right now. An old lady who is with Mr. Wells starts to call me sweet names? What's wrong with people these days?

"Excuse me, do I know you? I ask in wonderment.

"Oh Ryan my boy, have you forgotten Granny? Don't tell me you have. Your mother and I always used to babysit you together when you were much younger. Whenever the ice cream truck came, you'd disturb us both to get an ice cream for you, you still don't remember all that?" The old lady explains.

"Sorry to say, but I cannot remember anything about you or the ice cream truck." I reply.

"Come on my boy, we used to play baseball together. You always visited my little old cabin by the lake." The oldman interefering, says.

"I still don't remember." I weakly say as some memories start to flash. The memories of the whom Kevin said I have been dating for four years.

"He needs to rest." Dr. Tan says. He looks asian, plus when Mr. Wells called his name, it reminded me of Ricky Tan in the movie "Rush Hour".

"Would you mind following us to the hospital to run a few tests?" He asks. After considering all that has been happening, I feel like I need to know more about what is going on with me. So I nod and walk out as my grandparents follow.

Kevin and Mr. Wells then head to the school building while the nurse stayed in her office.

After we arrived at the hospital, I am admitted immediately for the tests. While I am lying on the hospital bed, I decide to ask about my parents.

"Where are my parents?" I ask.

"They couldn't make it, honey. They are busy at work so they sent us." Grandma reply.

Our conversation gets interrupted by Dr. Tan and his nurses. My grandparents are taken outside in order for the tests to be ran.

After running the tests, there is no known cause for the amnesia, and so I am released.

Notwithstanding, I hurriedly leave the back of the office and head back to the nurse's office. I enter the room, and Mr. Wells is already sitting there with the nurse. They look at me as I walk in, and I can feel their judgmental eyes piercing through me.

"Ryan, we need to have a serious talk," Mr. Wells says sternly.

I take a seat and brace myself for the worst. I know that whatever he is about to say won't be pleasant.

"Ryan, based on what we've heard from the doctors and Kevin, it seems that you've been engaging in some risky behavior," Mr. Wells says, shaking his head in disappointment.

I try to speak up and defend myself, but he cuts me off.

"Now, I understand that you may not remember everything that has happened, but you need to take responsibility for your actions," he continues.

I feel a sense of anger and frustration boiling up inside me. How dare they judge me based on what they think they know about me? I open my mouth to speak up, but the nurse cuts me off.

"Ryan, we want to help you. We want to make sure that you get the help you need to overcome this," she says.

I feel a sense of hopelessness wash over me. I don't know what to do or where to turn. I want to scream and shout, but I know it won't do any good.

"Ryan, we've contacted your parents, and they will be coming to see you soon," Mr. Wells says, breaking the silence.

I feel a sense of relief wash over me. Maybe my parents can help me sort things out and get back on track.

As I sit there, lost in my thoughts, I hear a knock on the door. The nurse gets up to answer it, and I hear a familiar voice.

"Ryan, my boy! Are you okay?" my dad says as he walks in, followed by my mom.

I feel a sense of comfort and safety wash over me as my parents embrace me. For the first time since waking up in the hospital, I feel like everything is going to be okay. I know that I have a long road ahead of me, but with the support of my family and friends, I know I can overcome anything.

As I sit there, surrounded by the people who care about me, I realize that sometimes, the things we fear the most can lead us to the people and things we need the most.