*Chapter 32: Just a Dream?

Leiro's PoV

"Lei, remember this... If our operations are successful, I want you to find me. I'm sure we'll meet again in the near future. If we do, then I'll be glad to marry you Lei. If it won't be successful, please... Forget about me. Live your own life without me as a part of it. I want you to be happy even if I'm not with you Lei. I want you to enjoy your life even I'm not part of it anymore. With that, you can be assured that I'll be happy because there..."

This vision... Even if it's blurry but... It seems, familiar...

"Now Lei, promise me. If I live, find me. If I die, forget about me. If I lost in your memories, find a way to retrieve it by yourself. And if we could meet again, make me remember my promise of marrying you. Is it a deal, Lei?"

I slowly touched what that thing was, but unexpectedly I had a soft sensation.

"Who... Are you?"

"Hey big bro, wake up!!"

Waahh!!

I suddenly opened my eyes when I noticed I had lifted my left arm to the cheek of a familiar little girl.

"Um... Who are you?"

I just gave her a curious face when I caressed her cheek. This feeling ... It's really familiar. But all of a sudden it disappeared when she suddenly spoke ...

"My, brother. I think you're still asleep. It's me, Lily. And I'm the only cute sister of yours, okay? And didn't I tell you not to play online games when you have classes tomorrow? Hmph."

I smiled a little suddenly as I slowly got up from my room. I have a double deck bed and it seems like Lily is sleeping on top. It has a white background, there are two large wardrobes there on the left side of our bed, a pink and blue plastic desk with some impotant things, an aircon attached near our bedroom window and that black-tainted sliding window of ours.

"Wait, I'm your brother?"

"Don't joke about that brother!! Do I have another brother aside from you? Stop it, you're scaring me!" Without hesitation she suddenly pulled my hands as if she wanted to get me up from my bed.

"Oh... I think I'm out of my mind right now... I'm sorry Lily..." I slowly scratched my head as Lily gently pulled me to the kitchen. When she helped me sit in a wooden chair she suddenly placed her hand on my forehead to see if I had a fever.

"Luh, I think you're a little hot, Brother. Are you feeling okay?" Lily asked me- wait, is she really my sister? Why is she so sweet and caring?

"Nah, I'm okay Lily. I just remembered my dream last night so maybe I'm a little uneasy right now..." I laughed a little when Lily suddenly sat down at the table and asked me about my dream.

"I'm just curious brother- You're always having nightmares... What's in that dream of yours and you're a bit affected by it?" I feel like Lily is a bit wondering about that dream of mine but honestly, I don't have any ideas either...

Just as I could remember... It's been three years that I met Lily. I also remember that I woke up that time I was here in a mansion located in Pavia, Iloilo.

What happened when I woke up from a long sleep is still pretty fresh to me, but I just wonder why I don't remember the all the events the day before I went to sleep ...

But well, enough talking. I remember I was a 19-year old guy who now lives in the elegant city of Iloilo, along with my little sister, Lily Rose De Guzman... A 15-year old cute girl who lives with me here in this same mansion. We do have our parents but they leave early for work so we are the only ones left here every morning.

I also remember that I was in my first year of college, and I am currently studying in Central Philippine University taking up B.S. Biology course while Lily is still studying at Central Philippine University Junior High School as a Grade nine student.

We were always like that not until this dream suddenly changed the way I think. When I always dreamed of a woman with a familiar look, I always thought 'is this me?' or 'Is this the real me?'. Well... Maybe I'll let it go for now-

"Brother Lei! Are you okay?! Where's the pain brother Lei? Tell me! Brother Lei!" Lily tried to calm me down but in because of great pain in my head, I suddenly fell to the ground...

I could still hear Lily's voice when I slowly closed my eyes, and as I closed them I saw that woman again ...

She is smiling at me, a cute girl with long brown hair who always wears pigtails but has two small strands of hair in front, white complexion and has green eyes.

Everything was clear to me now ... She is a woman. But why is she smiling at me? And why am I so happy when I see her? What's with the two of us?

...

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"Uhm..."

I slowly opened my eyes when I noticed I was lying in a bedroom. I was shocked that there was a dextrose pin struck in my wrist as well as the apparatuses on my side.

I still can't quite remember what happened until I saw Lily enter the room carrying a tray with cookies and my favorite acai juice of always.

"Hi brother... You're awake." Lily smiled as she placed the tray she was holding on a table. How are you, Brother? "

"Well, my head still hurts a bit. But wait, what actually happened?"

"Well, I don't know why you're acting like that brother but, you suddenly fell down earlier when we were waiting for the jeep today. I suddenly cried for help and luckily and someone kindly picked you up and put you in her van."

I was about to speak again when a doctor suddenly entered the room and looked at my condition. It's not that I'm accusing, but this doctor also seems familiar to me.

"Hello Mr. De Guzman, are you feeling better now?"

"Yes doc, although my head still hurts a bit." Yet even before he spoke, I suddenly preceded him in asking questions. "Um, doc... Not to offend but... Havewe meet before?"

Lily was suddenly surprised by my question and pinched my arm. I felt a little pain while Lily forced me to apologize to the doctor I asked.

"Now, now... No need to apologize, Ms. Damandre. The truth is, I was surprised not because you asked me that but because it seems like your memory hasn't been fully erased yet."

"Wait, pardon?"

I was suddenly surprised when the doctor told us that. Wait, so that means ... We met before, right? And why didn't Lily even move when she heard that?

"To tell you the truth, you have been diagnosed from a dangerous disease called Extreme Sister Complex Disorder three years ago. By the time you have been vaccinated, you have been asleep for three days and when you woke up, the effects of the vaccine lingered across your brain cells, making you forget all of the things that happened by the time you had ESCD. "

The doctor explained everything in a precised way but ... I'm afraid I don't really remember anything. Wait, Extreme Sister Complex Disorder? Was there such a disease before? Why didn't I think of that?

"Um, doc... Can you explain what happened to me before I was vaccinated? I'm sorry, I'm just really curious about what happened before." I pleaded with that doctor while he just smiled and slowly sat down in a chair near to us.

"Now, how do I put this? Hmm ... Oh, I get it. Three years ago you came here along with Ms. Damandre, that blonde-haired girl, a man your age and an older british girl than you. I don't know what happened but I think you came from a fight. "

Suddenly, that girl's vision flashed out to my mind, for the reason that I lost myself for a millisecond. Wait a sec, does this woman have a connection with me?

"Um doc, I just wanted to ask- do I have a woman with me back then? I mean, her hair isn't blonde, just black. There are visions flashing into my mind that she was hospitalized just like me. She had... She had a gunshot on her back. W-Well... I also remember that we made a promise but I totally forgot- "

"Hmm, a black-haired girl?" Doc suddenly interrupted my speech as he rubbed his chin. "Well, not to offend you Mr. Damandre but, I don't remember anyone with you with black hair... It's just you, Ms. Damandre, those two blonde hair girls and that guy your age."

I found myself tearing all of a sudden. Wait, am I just imagining her? S-She's not real? No, it can't be... She's always on my mind, from the time I woke up, 'til I close my eyes. She always shows up in my mind wherever I go. And now, she's not real, is he?

"Excuse me, sir doc?" Lily suddenly raised her left hand as she tried to ask something. "Didn't you say that I was also there when we went to this hospital? Why don't I remember anything here?"

"Well, sad to say... I can't answer that question Ms. Damandre. I don't know what is the reason for the loss of your memories, yet it maybe because of an accident that affected your brain and made you forget everything that happened in the past- I'm sorry..."

Oh, i remember. Lily had an accident back at the time she was only in Grade seven. That time, she bumped her head into something I can no longer remember when we were driving the car, which I highly doubted was the reason for the loss of her memories.

"Wait a minute doc... Do you know a place called Naipass City? As far as I know, I was taken there before... I think it was Naipass Main Hospital ..."

"Wait, Naipass? Hmm ... Maybe, that's the case. It seems like your memories jumbled as soon as you wake up Mr. Damandre. You were admitted to Iloilo Doctors Hospital along with your friends. I can assure that since I am the one who's in-charge of treating you. And wait, where did you get that Naipass word anyway? And maybe that's the reason you always think of the woman you're talking about. Although it is known that the vaccine has side effects which resulted to you having hallucinations ..." The doctor asked me as I just scratched my hair out of curiosity.

No way... Why am I thinking that I was in Naipass City at that time? And where is Naipass City, by the way? Argh... Why am I acting like this?! What is really wrong with that woman and why is she always on my mind eh the doctor says she doesn't exist?

"Now, will you please excuse me. Ms. Damandre, just call me if you needed anything, okay?" We just nodded and smiled as a response. When the doctor came out of my room, Lily suddenly hugged me.

"Brother... What's happening to you? Why are you suffering like this? I can't quite imagine those awful events that happened to you before..." Lily continued hugging me as I gently caressed her head. Well, even though this is an eye-opener for me, but I still can't accept the fact about her...

I may have forgotten her, but I know the day will come when we will meet again, that I will know her name, and we will be happy that we have known each other for a few years-

Well, hopefully...

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