The sun that entered through the window, like any other day, seemed too alive for the room, which had been immersed in silence for days. Its rays fell directly on the face of the pale boy, who had not looked at the outside world for a long time, as he remained lying on the bed, trapped in a deep sleep from which he did not intend to return.
However, that light had arrived to prevent it.
For a few seconds nothing happened in the room. Inside him, however, something began to stir. His own consciousness, tired of that endless stillness, seemed to whisper to him that it was already enough. His body seemed to hear that call, because after so many days of absolute immobility it finally reacted.
First a finger moved.
Then another.
The gesture was minimal, although for someone who had spent so long without moving it was the beginning of something enormous.
After that small effort, the pale boy's chest rose with a long sigh, while, with difficulty, he opened his eyes.
The light forced him to narrow them for an instant, before he slowly managed to sit up a little on the bed.
The door of the room, which until a few moments ago had been closed, suddenly opened.
A girl who had been waiting for that moment for days had witnessed what had just happened.
Her eyes opened in surprise.
And instantly her expression changed to a joy impossible to hide.
With excitement she shouted.
"Help! Ren has already woken up!"
***
"All right, that's all," the doctor said while finishing reviewing the last notes on a sheet.
He seemed too young for his profession, although his calm attitude conveyed confidence.
Ren observed him carefully from the bed.
"How am I, doctor?"
The doctor raised his gaze and answered naturally.
"Well, Ren, it seems you were very lucky. We didn't find any damaged organs and the leg you broke is healing at twice the normal speed. It is something unusual, but if everything continues like this, you probably won't need the cast in one or two weeks."
Ren let out a small smile.
"Thank you, doctor."
The doctor shook his head and let out a brief laugh.
"You don't have to thank me. In the end I didn't do much. Although I am going to ask you something… try not to sleep thirty days in a row again."
The doctor, with a light gaze, discreetly pointed toward one side of the room.
"Especially because of that girl who has been by your side… It is really tiring to spend days worrying about someone who is only resting."
Ren followed the direction of his gesture.
Yaina was there.
Ren looked at the person who had accompanied him all that time and immediately blushed. Yaina was no different; she also looked away with a certain shyness.
"All right…" Ren said with a slight smile. "Even so, thank you for everything, doctor…"
His eyes lowered to the pin the man was wearing on his chest, in front of him, with the intention of seeing his name. The boy, who had just woken up, expected to find something common, but that was not the case.
Ren raised an eyebrow in confusion at what he had just read.
For an instant he remained looking at the pin, wondering if during the time he had been in a coma humanity had decided to give absolute freedom when choosing names.
He found no answer, nor did he want to look for one.
He simply finished what he wanted to say.
"Senpai."
The doctor nodded with a smile.
When he left the room, the silence returned.
Ren let out a sigh to ease the discomfort, since now it was only him and Yaina.
There were many things to say, too many after everything that had happened, although no words came out at that moment.
Instead of speaking, both moved closer at the same time and hugged each other tightly.
***
A month had already passed since the day when Ren was finally able to remove the cast from his leg, and although that moment had been a huge relief, this day seemed even happier than that one.
A date with Yaina was not something he had looked for, but deep down he knew he needed it.
When she suggested meeting in the park, under the cover of trees where they used to walk, Ren imagined many things about what they might talk about, although he never imagined what was really going to happen.
Sitting on a bench that had a view of the path that stretched in front of him, he watched the calm movement of the park. At that moment he saw a boy pass by riding a bicycle while his mother walked beside him, watching him with a smile.
For some reason, that scene caused him a strange feeling.
As if he had already lived it before.
An uncomfortable déjà vu ran through his body, making him tense slightly without knowing why.
However, when he raised his gaze and saw Yaina approaching along the path, he gently shook his head and forced a smile, trying to push that feeling away.
Yaina reached the bench and sat beside him. She was wearing a white dress that made her look different from how he remembered her.
Even her eyes seemed different, with an expression he could not decipher.
They seemed sad.
But also happy.
Ren simply decided to ignore it because that day he wanted to see everything in a positive way.
"You look very cheerful," Yaina said after a few seconds. "Did something good happen to you?"
Ren let out a small laugh and nodded.
"Yes… it seems that this day will be a good moment."
Then he turned his face a little toward her, maintaining that calm smile.
"But tell me, why did you call me here today, my dear friend Yaina?"
Yaina slightly raised her eyebrows.
"Now I am your dear friend?"
Ren smiled naturally.
"You always were. Didn't I tell you after the hug we gave each other when I woke up?"
Yaina thought for a moment before nodding.
"Yes… that's true."
Then she looked at him again.
"Well then, if I am your best friend, I suppose I can ask you something that will make me very happy… right?"
Ren slightly frowned with curiosity. He knew that this meeting must have a reason, although he did not expect it to be a request.
Even so, his smile did not change.
"Of course. You can ask me anything… as long as it is within my possibilities."
Yaina let out a small laugh at the comment.
"Relax… it's nothing you can't do."
"Let's see… tell me, what is it?"
Yaina stopped looking at him. Her eyes turned toward the sun that was beginning to hide in the west. After a moment, she spoke with determination:
"I will get married soon, Ren."
There was a small silence before she continued.
"And I want you to be the one who walks me along the red path… the one who accompanies me to the person who changed my life and taught me to see it in a different way. That is why… I want you to be my wedding sponsor."
Ren did not change his expression.
The smile remained on his face.
Inside him, everything seemed to stop for an instant. Suddenly, a deep pain appeared in his chest. For a second he did not know what to think. Even so, his face continued to show that calm.
With a lively tone that did not reflect what he felt, he asked:
"And when will it be?"
Yaina turned to look at him. Then she noticed how Ren's eyes shone, as if something in them was struggling not to fall. It was strange, because that look did not match the smile he still maintained.
With some doubt she answered:
"This Wednesday."
Ren remained silent for a moment before responding.
"Congratulations."
Yaina slightly tilted her head, confused.
"You still haven't told me if you accept."
A tear that had been contained for too long finally escaped from Ren's eyes and slowly went down his cheek.
"Yes… I accept. I will be there to walk you."
"Ren…" Yaina pronounced with a pain she could not hide.
As she said it, her eyes began to fill with tears.
Ren, seeing her like that, could no longer hold himself back.
At that moment, Yaina took a step toward him and hugged him tightly.
Ren did not resist. He also hugged her, holding her carefully, as if he feared that moment could break.
For both of them, that day was strange. Perhaps because all those feelings they had kept silent for so long were finally demanding their price at that very moment.
Chapter 40: 9 Years Later