Kyle

It was April 23rd, one month after the accident and so far my head bandage was off and my bruises had somehow healed except for the tiny violet marks that were still visible. But despite that, I looked a lot better than last time I had looked in the mirror.

It was still summer in the Philippines which made me puff out a great big sigh the moment I realized that I'd be doing nothing while waiting for my parents to finally send me home to them, to Los Angeles so I could at least have my life back or whatever.

Maybe things wouldn't be the same but I'd feel more like myself. I'd be in school, be with my friends Daisy, Jennifer and Lauren and maybe I'd find Kyle and ask him directly.

Well maybe that was one of the many reasons why my parents wanted me to be here so I couldn't see Kyle and I won't be able to find out what really happened.

I chewed on the insides of my cheeks and drifted in my subconscious.

I didn't count out the possibility that Kyle might have been my boyfriend or my best friend, something like that given that there was no other reason why I know every single detail about him but if he was, then how come he wasn't there at the hospital?

How come I haven't received any messages or calls from him?

And how come my family seemed uneasy when I asked about him?

I have also considered that he might be the one who was with me that night and something terrible had happened to him and my family didn't want me to know.

I shivered at the thought and wished I had my shelf of books right now.

It was one of the things I was starting to really miss. Back in LA, in times like this where I had nothing to do and was seemingly distracted I would lie in my bed and reread one of the books on my shelf and reread it again the next day until I could almost memorize the entire thing.

I'm an avid fan of reading. I loved J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, James Patterson's Maximum Ride Series and his other books like Suzanne's letter to Nicholas, Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, The Kane Chronicles, Heroes of Olympus, the house of night series, Blue Bloods and many others I can't name now.

I sighed for the second time. My aunt had been calling my name while I refused to get my butt off of her black couch in the living room as I continued to flip the channel on the television..

One thing I had to be grateful for, it has cable but unfortunately I don't really watch TV.

I pressed the remote I was holding, going back to star movies where The Scorpion King was showing.

"Kate, I said get dressed". Aunt Hilda placed her hands on her hips and gave me the 'aunt glare.'

Aunt glare - it was a common glare that only an aunt could give which was mostly a stare matched with a patient glower.

I blew out another sigh and finally dropped my feet on the gray carpet which surrounded only the center table and the black couch up until the television set.

My aunt pulled me then and pushed me towards the stairs.

"Get your big butt moving. I have strict orders from your mother to keep you out of this house and get you busy. So hurry up, we'll go shopping".

Shopping. I cringed at the thought.

My mother never brought me to shop with her and Kelsea. I prefer to stay back home or hang out with my friends. I let them buy me clothes and whatnots.

I hate malls and too crowded places. It was one of the things I really can't take.

"Aunt Hilda, can't I just sleep all day?". I whined dragging each step to go up to my room.

"No young lady, you have to see how much you are missing". I sighed.

Those words again.

I wasn't missing anything. The doctor was right after all.

And well with my lost memory, a puzzled head about who was Kyle in my life, and a full no contact from my friends, I don't see in any way that I was missing anything.

"Okay". I said knowing I had no fight against my aunt and my mother even when we were miles apart.

--

Five shopping bags and one medium size Zagu cookies n' cream flavored later, I was exhausted.

Aunt Hilda was a fashion guru and addicted with clothes. She had already bought two pairs of jeans and a shirt from Bench but she was yet to be satisfied. I haven't toured the whole Robinsons Place Bacolod but I was pretty sure I had passed every store in here.

I begged my aunt to allow me to sit by the fountain and wait for her while she went on with her shopping. She wasn't scared of losing money, that much I figured out watching how carefree she pinpoints an item and instantly bought it, on cash.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I took the last sip of my drink. I stretched my legs a little and had my eyes wander around.

The atmosphere and the people were no different in LA. Families, friends, couples, students hang out and enjoy each other's company.

I sighed.

How I wish my family was here.

Then I wondered, if the accident didn't happen, all of this wouldn't have happened.

But really, what happened?

How did I bang my head so hard and landed in the hospital waking up a day after it occurred and remembered nothing of it?

Lastly, Kyle.

He must be the key to all of this. If only I could talk to him, reach him, contact him then maybe I'll have my answers.

I let out another sigh followed by a gasp as my breath had seemingly got stuck in my lungs seeing something but unsure if it was real or I was just hallucinating.

I wasn't a firm believer in luck or wishes coming true in an instant. When I was a kid maybe but, as a grownup I found out the truth and it hurt more than a slap on the cheek could but at least I wasn't being fooled any longer.

Luck is only another term for people who had been given opportunities and were able to grab them just like coincidence.

Wishes, well none of them would happen unless someone makes it happen.

That's how simple I think and that's how complicated I like to think.

"No way". I murmured going back to the object of my concern as he stood outside of the mall across the road. The persona was looking straight at me and he was smiling.

In his plain black shirt and denims which were paired with a black and blue converse, my heart gave a leap; a sense of recognition.