When Kamil woke up from his nightmare, it was around eight in the morning, and he just couldn't go back to sleep. It was a Saturday… he was supposed to sleep in! He kicked the covers off of him and thought he could at least start his day early. He lazily got ready in the bathroom, not even caring about the bags he had under his eyes when he saw his reflection in the mirror. He dressed in casual clothes - instead of the sweater and collared shirt combo, he just threw on a grey polo shirt with his jeans - then went to the main floor to have breakfast.
The innkeeper Maurice and his daughter Melanie were surprised to see him up early, but greeted him with a smile anyway. Melanie prepared an omelet with herbal tea, which Kamil loved. The omelet was fluffy and the sauce, which Melanie used to draw a heart on the egg, was savoury. He washed it down with his favourite herbal tea.
"You're getting better, Melanie," Kamil praised the young girl with a warm smile.
"You think so?" the girl said in delight, jumping up and down. She grabbed his hand, shaking it happily. "Thank you, Kamil! I'm glad you like it!"
Maurice grinned at his daughter proudly as well. "And did you know Kamil used to live with owners of a café? That's impressive, Melanie!"
Melanie squealed more. "I'll make some more! Be right back!" Maurice chuckled and gave Kamil a look as if to say "Thank you", then joined her in the kitchen.
Nadi, Kamil's favourite (and only) floormate, joined them for breakfast as well, sleepily rubbing one eye. "Good morning," he grumbled. "Melanie seems to be in a good mood. I could hear her as I was coming down."
"She made omelets this morning and they're quite tasty," Kamil replied, taking his fork and eating some more.
"You've got a soft spot for kids, huh," Nadi said, grabbing a seat next to the florist. What Nadi didn't know was that Kamil acted this way after living with Laney for so many years.
"Coming from 'Mr. Nadi' who plays hide-and-seek with her," Kamil shot back, pointing a now clean fork at him.
Nadi's face heated up and he stammered a reply, "I-It's only because she looks bored and I feel bad for her!"
"I don't know, the way you ran to your hiding spot one time made it look like you had a lot of fun."
Melanie cheered as she entered the room again, "Good morning! Have some breakfast, Mr. Nadi!"
The young men exchanged glances when they heard her voice and burst into laughter. Kamil continued to sip his tea while Nadi began eating his breakfast.
"Well, it was nice to having breakfast with you, Mr. Nadi," Kamil began, gathering his stuff and handing Melanie his empty plate, "but I have to get back to my studies. Have a good day."
It was just another day in Oak Tree Town. Kamil returned to his room, opening up his curtains to allow some light in and sat in his desk. He just ordered a new textbook on floral arranging and he was excited to start it. He stretched in his seat, inhaled slowly, then got comfortable. Hours passed as he read and wrote notes, pasting sticky notes on bouquets that caught his eye, and made a check list on what he would do after the weekend and what he would trade with Rose Country at the Trading Depot. Finally, his stomach grumbled, stopping him from his studying and reminding him that he needed a break. Kamil stood up, feeling relief in his back and legs. Although, after all that studying, his eyes started feeling heavy. Kamil grabbed his coat and immediately left his room, avoiding even a small glimpse at his bed.
He needed some coffee.
"So, Kamil," Raeger began, while wiping a dish with a wash cloth, "I heard you went back to your hometown yesterday? Bluebell, was it?" He gave Kamil his famous eye smile – oh, how his female customers loved that expression.
Kamil smiled back, especially when he heard the chef mention the town. "Yeah, Bluebell. I got to visit my friends. They're pretty much my family."
"Ah, family," the redhead said with a pleasant sigh, "that must've been so nice… and I bet you missed them."
"Oh, definitely," Kamil replied in a beat, "it's a bit embarrassing to admit, but I got a little homesick last week. Annie suggested I visit them."
"I don't think that's embarrassing," Raeger reassured him. "Not at all. Everyone longs to eventually come back home. Besides, you're still adjusting here in Oak Tree Town. It's understandable."
"That's true." Kamil took a bite of his BLT sandwich he ordered with his coffee. He came at the right time – before the lunch rush. It was nice to talk to Raeger and likewise, Raeger enjoyed Kamil's company as he prepared the restaurant.
Raeger carried on the conversation, "And how were your friends and family? I'm sure they missed you, too."
"Nothing's really changed, I think. They were waiting for me," Kamil chuckled to himself just thinking of them, "so I guess I was meant to visit them after all."
"That's the best thing about home," Raeger replied, "you get to return to a place that'll most likely stay the same no matter what. That's when you notice how much you've grown and changed."
His voice was smooth, with much confidence, and his words felt genuine with little to no hesitation between sentences. Kamil felt envious at how Raeger carried himself. No wonder his customers always came back.
Kamil replied with a nod while scratching his chin, "I never thought about it that way, Raeger."
He laughed shyly, "Well, at least that's what my grandfather told me." There was a hint of longing in his voice. He switched topics quickly. "Do you plan on visiting them again soon?"
"Yes, actually," Kamil replied honestly, but did not explain why.
"They probably miss you already!"
"Perhaps," he simply said. He didn't explain that he was already planning to visit Bluebell and update his friends on Annie, or how he was trying to get more information from the mayors and other villagers.
"The train ride was alright? Not too long, was it?" Raeger brought him back to reality.
"Only a few hours with some stops in between. I got some rest," Kamil answered, finishing the last of his coffee.
"Doesn't really look like it, my friend," Raeger joked, taking notice of the florist's eye bags.
Kamil laughed, resisting the urge to cover his face in embarrassment. "You're right… I didn't sleep very well last night."
"Stressed?" Raeger asked, getting concerned.
Kamil shrugged and took another bide of his sandwich. "...This is really good," he told the chef.
Raeger smiled then rested a hand on his hip. "Maybe you should see Dr. Marian if you're having trouble sleeping."
"Hm? It's not that serious-"
"Getting enough hours of sleep is super important, Kamil, come on! You know how many times I've told Fritz that?"
The two laughed at just the thought of their baby-faced friend. Everyone knew Fritz was a hardworking and independent fellow, but people still felt like they needed to take care of him, especially because of his youthful face and personality. Kamil and Raeger continued to talk for a while longer, and after Kamil paid, he agreed to visit Dr. Marian's clinic.
The town hall was as busy as ever in the afternoon. Guests and tourists were stopping by, looking around, chatting, or booking a trip to the Safari run by Agate. He could recognize a few frequent visitors as they would sometimes stay the night at the inn. Finally, Kamil caught a glimpse of Dr. Marian, who walked gracefully with his chin up and his doctor's coat billowing behind him like a queen's gown.
"Dr. Marian," Kamil called out before he lost him, "I probably should've booked an appointment, but are you busy at the moment?" He was too comfortable with the townspeople already.
"My oh my, lucky you," the doctor replied, stopping before entering his office, and spun around. He flicked a stray piece of pink hair away from his made-up face. "I don't have any patients at the moment, so I can see you shortly, honey."
Angela, the mayor's daughter and his assistant, brought out a form for Kamil to fill in, then lead him to a seat. Kamil even wondered what he would tell Dr. Marian. He started rehearsing what he would say in his head. He felt as if his communication skills had improved greatly over time, especially after moving from Bluebell to Oak Tree Town, but he still felt intimidated by confident people such as Dr. Marian.
"Now," Dr. Marian said, entering the room Kamil was in with a pen and clipboard, "how is everything in Oak Tree Town, Kamil? Do you feel like you've settled in by now?"
"Yes," he answered honestly. He wouldn't lie if he were to get a proper examination. "I'm enjoying it here."
Dr. Marian nodded and quickly scribbled something down. The noise seemed rather loud in the silent patient room. "Good, good… Have you been eating properly?"
"Yes."
Scribble, scribble…
"Any medical conditions, allergies, I should know about? How's your family history?"
"My parents…" Kamil began softly, "they were healthy."
Fwip fwip fwip…
"Ah, yes, that's what I have here in my documents," Dr. Marian spoke gently, flipping through the papers he held. "And how are we feeling today, Kamil? What brings you here?"
Kamil shifted nervously in his seat. "I haven't been sleeping very well. I know it's not that big of a problem…"
Dr. Marian's think eyebrows furrowed, and he shook his head. His dangling earrings made a small clinking noise. "Nonsense, sweetie. If it's affecting your daily functioning and health then it is a problem. It is a problem we will solve together. Not to worry!" He gave a small smile then pulled out a stethoscope and gestured at Kamil's shirt. "May I?"
Kamil nodded and allowed the doctor to slip the tool into his shirt.
"Breathe in and out slowly, please," he told Kamil, and he did so. "So, how long has this been going on for? Breathe in…"
"It's not every night," Kamil answered between breaths, "but it happens frequently... at least once a week."
Scribble scribble shhhk… Dr. Marian's inky pen glided across the paper. "Since when?" The metal was cool against Kamil's skin as it switched from his chest to his back.
"Since – since last year."
Dr. Marian lifted his head in surprised, locking eyes with his patient. "Why? Are you not comfortable? Do you have irregular sleeping patterns? Bathroom breaks? What wakes you up?"
"A nightmare," Kamil said, almost embarrassed.
"Well, everything sounds healthy and your heart beat is a little fast, but that might be because you're nervous right now. Are you anxious about something, Kamil?" Dr. Marian asked, raising a curious eyebrow and taking the stethoscope. "Is this is a reoccurring nightmare?"
Kamil broke eye contact as he readjusted his shirt. He knew Dr. Marian was smart. He could read people well. Kamil paused, wondering what to say. He rehearsed this for a reason. "Yes and it's about someone I lost."
"I'm so sorry, honey," Dr. Marian said, his voice coloured with sadness and understanding, which gave Kamil some comfort. "You know, I think what's best, Kamil, is talking about it with someone you trust. Melatonin will help you sleep better and keep you from waking up at irregular times, but medication can only fix this for a short term. This isn't just some cold or flu, do you understand?"
"Yes, thank you," Kamil replied sincerely. He sighed. "If only I could just forget about it… It would be easier."
"I wouldn't say that," Dr. Marian said. "That person must've been special to you. Now why would you want to forget about them? Our memories are so important. It makes us who we are."
Kamil pressed his lips together in silence. He didn't want to reveal anymore, but he felt like Dr. Marian already knew too much.
Dr. Marian went on, "Not only do I hope to heal people physically, but my main goal is to tie in a person's spirit and inner beauty as well. When we are healthy, we are also radiant. I want people to feel beautiful inside and out. No matter what, I want you to find beauty in everything, Kamil, including the memories that bring us pain."
Dr. Marian laughed softly, but it was the type of laugh that was as if he knew something Kamil did not.
"Kamil, do you know how memory works?"
a/n: does kamil have a crush on raeger? LOL jk, but i wanted to throw in how charming the chef was. also i absolutely love the idea of kamil not being fazed by marian's friendliness and affectionate nicknames like "honey" because he lived with howard.
reviews are always appreciated. thank you for reading. :)
