What If Series Four: The Last One To Know...
"Mama, are you done sending pictures to Papa?" Kotomi pulled my skirt down while I skimmed through my photos. I giggled... he should be regretting it now. I put a sly smile on my face. "Oh, yes... Kotomi." I gestured her to sit on the bench. "Here, let's rest here for a while," I said while she was eating her ice cream. "Mama, I want this flavor. It's my new favorite. I hope I can share this to Itsuyo-chan too." she mumbled and I faced her, the ice cream has messed up on her face. "Oh... Kotomi. You need to eat slowly like a girl." I got a tissue inside my bag, "Here. Let's wipe it off." and I helped her wiped her face and her hands.
"Papa is not here with us... but I hope we are going to enjoy it instead." she said and I fixed the strand on her face, "We can't do anything about it, he loves to work. Don't worry, he is doing it for us. You heard it in the morning right?" I gave her an encouraging smile and I pat her head. She always loves when someone is stroking her hair. "So, let's enjoy ourselves, Mama," she told me.
We enjoy the rest of the rides in the Kouen Amusement Park. It was fun... it was like those days when I was riding this in my teenage days... and it felt better to be with Kotomi to enjoy the rides. It was very thrilling. I sent those pictures to Irie-kun... teasing him for a bit. I hope he would drop his work and be with us instead. I think it was way more fun if he was here with us.
"Mama, let's eat pizza..." she said. "I'm now hungry."
"Okay, Kotomi. We'll go there. Let's go. I'm now hungry too. I want overloaded cheese! You?"
"Just the same as yours!" she held my hand as we dilly-dallying on the way to the restaurant. "Let's but a dress, how about that, Kotomi?" I said. She happily nodded, "Okay, let's do that, Mama!"
We were standing at the pedestrian lane, waiting for the lights to turn to green. Since it's pretty hot in the two of the afternoon... the streets were not crowded. Kotomi and I were the only who were standing... while waiting to cross the intersection. Since I was so attentive at the traffic lights... I made sure to cross when it is green. Irie-kun always tells me to be careful in roads and streets... and I really put that in my mind and it was always an alarm whenever I am alone with Kotomi. I can't be careless... I don't want to put Kotomi in danger.
We have successfully crossed the street. Kotomi was way smarter than I am and Irie-kun always reminds her that she should be attentive too... because I am a bit clumsy. That's why he was so against in letting us enjoy ourselves. He can't guarantee our safety if he's not with us. I can't blame him... but at least... even in a little bit, he should trust me. I'm trying to be a good mom with all of my best.
"Mama my shoelaces are loosened." Kotomi declared and sat lightly to fix it. "Don't... let me fix it for you. I want to do this to you." I smiled at her. I remember buying these pink laces when Irie-kun and I were shopping last month. It was really cute. While I was fixing her laces... someone screamed like there was a fight happening there two blocks away. I turned to look at it when a huge three-wheeler truck hit the taxi at the intersection. The taxi was severely crushed. I bet the driver was dead. I gasped at the sight of it. Why would it happen to such a bright and happy day?
And then three cars were pushed into a collision and before I knew it...
"Kotomi... run!" I shouted.
And it's too late.
My consciousness was fading along with my husky breath. I was down on the floor and the blood made the road to be cold... or was it just me because I was badly hurt... I can't any longer move my body.
What happened?
My eyeballs moved right... and I want to ask these people who were so busy circling me... they're movements get slower and slower making me feel dizzy. I can't longer hear the words they were saying... I can only hear high pitch siren in my ear. My body feels so numb... can someone please... my eyes started to lose the strength... and my sight gets blurrier and...
"Glass tabletop for two shatters across the room..."
"She was badly hurt! Someone, please call an ambulance!" a short-haired woman calmed everyone. "Call an ambulance! And anyone of you is a doctor? Or has experience with medics? Please... help this woman!" she yelled.
"I already called an ambulance. They are on the way but the accident surely slows the traffic. Why did that truck hit the taxi?"
"It's been this way, it stays this way since June..."
"The driver was drunk!"
"What?!"
"Anyway... let's call her relatives. Get her phone. They should know what happened to her! I think she's critical!"
"Is there anyone of you who has an experience of giving first aid to this woman? I think she can't wait for the ambulance to come!"
"Let's find someone capable of that!"
"Please be quick!"
"She has only two contacts on her phone. And it was the same person!"
Irie-kun
Irie-kun 2
"Call any of them!"
Dialing Irie-kun...
"He canceled it!"
"Call the other one!"
Dialing Irie-kun 2...
"Moshi-moshi! Can you hear me? I would like to inform you that the owner of this phone got into a terrible accident! The ambulance is on the way here, we will take her to Houfu hospital!"
"This is Senjou Samuel. What happened to the owner of the phone? Is that really true? Is she Irie Kotoko?!"
"Gravity pulls me in, further from my skin..."
And some of the concerned citizens answered, "Hai. Her name was Irie Kotoko! Tell that guy that the name of the woman is Irie Kotoko! I found her identification card! She was a nurse at Tonan hospital!"
"Hai. Her name is Irie Kotoko and she is a nurse at Tonan hospital!"
"Where is she now? Can you tell me that exact address? I will come to help!"
"Okay. The accident happened at the Nishimoto building! She is losing her life now! The ambulance can't still get in because of the traffic caused by the collision."
"I run but my feet don't touch the ground..."
"Okay. I will be there!"
"The Tonan Hospital wants to promote you as the head doctor of the pediatrics department. You've done a great job, and you have very amazing skills. The hospital needs somebody like you, Dr. Irie. Someday we will send you abroad... having to connect with the foreign doctors. Since you are very good at English, I think the position fits you." he proposed and I was kind of happy hearing about it, at least my salary was doubled and surely, I can buy a house now, fits for the three of us in the meantime.
My phone rang. I canceled Kotoko's call.
"So upon talking about that, there is an invitation from the Russian government. I think you'll like it... it came from the children association of the government, an institution for the sick kids who are needed an extreme observation about their rare disease. Name it... I think you can use your skills there, Dr. Irie. And we have made a decision now, you are our representative, not just in Tonan... but in the whole hospitals in Nippon. It is all about providing a cure of extreme viruses affected the children today and as your assignment, you will conduct an observation... documents, and facts of how to act against it. You will be there for at least one week... and we would love to send you right away tonight."
Tonight?
Come to think of it... it's a great offer for me. I want to take it... especially it was much related to my field. I've been wanting to go out there and help many sick kids... that would Kotoko wants me to do... she wants me to help the sick children of the world... and protect them from all kinds of disease. I think it's a great privileged for me, like once in a lifetime opportunity. I want to grab it.
"So are you taking the offer? I don't want to sound like I'm forcing everything on you but I really think you are the best out there and besides... this is related to your chosen field. I don't think you would regret it." he added.
I gave him a nod, "I'm taking it." I decided confidentially.
"And Dr. Frederick Schvlwiak wants to meet you now. Do you have a second for another meeting?" he raised her brows but the happy face of him was very delighted to hear me say yes.
Hey, Kotoko. I got promoted. They will send me out to Russia as the representative in Japan. I will call you later. I will be out for one week and I hope you understand it.
I typed the message fast and sent it to her. After a while, there was no message from Kotoko... she has stopped sending me pictures too. I wonder if they got busy hanging around... playing in the amusement park but I know she will reply soon and I was hoping for her kind understanding since she was the sole reason why I chose this field. I put back the phone in my pocket... really enjoying the promotion that they gave to me.
"The chopper is ready to go." Dr. Makiato said as he stood up. "Are you ready for tonight?" he eyed me.
I turned off my phone. "I already messaged Kotoko that I will be out for one week. And besides, she knew that we have some important business to talk." I answered firmly.
Something hit me. Or it is just my strange feeling but nevertheless...
"Okay. I think you deserve the position, Dr. Irie."
"Thank you for the offer, Dr. Makiato. It's a great pleasure for me."
"Oh. Another terrible news again. Can't we live in a better place?" Keita shook his head upon seeing the flash news on screen. "That driver must be really out of his mind. Why did he drive when in fact he's drunk?" Motoki agreed. "Ah... mazui na koto. Three cars were severely damaged and three persons were dead and the other one is surviving. What a bad news."
"Let's ready ourselves. We don't know they will be coming here." Marina stopped to deliver the patient back to his room to see the news on the television. "That incident alone caused havoc... and it slows the traffic. I wonder if I can go to my part-time job tonight." Tomoko murmured while her hands were clasped under her chin. The part-time job she was referring to is being a staff in a department store section meat and fishery.
Motoki grabbed Keita's uniform when he saw something... something unforgivable. "I can't believe it... is that Kotoko?" he finally said it despite the flowing shock in his veins. His eyes were quickly surrounded by waters and it was going to fall soon. "No... that' s not Kotoko." he took it all back.
"Wait... it's really, Kotoko!" Keita yelled. His eyes got bigger and turned to shock. His body went to stiff. They can't believe it!
"If you're letting go, let me go slowly..."
"Does Dr. Irie know about this?! Where is he now?"
"I saw him with Dr. Makiato in his office. They are talking about something."
"What?! What the hell is he doing there when in fact his wife got involved in a terrible accident?! Damn!"
"Don't fret about it anymore, Keita! Let's just go and tell him!" Marina decided and pulled them together to go to the eighth floor, where the office of Dr. Makiato is located.
"Oh crap! Call him while we're on the way!"
"If you're letting go, lay me down softly..."
"Okay! I'll do that!"
"Shimatta! His phone was turned off!"
"Kisama! That bastard! Why would he turned off his phone in time like this?!"
They are still waiting for the elevator. Keita was getting angry... he can't take it so he took the stairs. "I'm taking the stairs! Please reach him!" and then fled.
"Hey? Why are you all running in the hallway? What is happening?" Nurse Hosoi concerned herself. She was ready to give them a thorough scolding when she saw their reactions. They were already crying. "Why are you crying? What's happening? Someone died in the emergency room again?" she looked at them one by one. She was now confused.
"Kotoko is in danger! She was one of the victims at the Nishimoto building! We need to reach Dr. Irie! He doesn't know about it!" they said in chorus.
"What? Kotoko-chan?! Hontou?!"
"Ja, do you know where Dr. Irie is?! His phone is turned off! We can't still reach him!"
"All I know is he's having a meeting with Dr. Makiato. About his promotion in the pediatrics department. And if he takes the offer, he would be sent flying to Russia right away. I bet they're taking the chopper in the rooftop now."
"Smoked out the back room, to get rid of the scent of you..."
"That's bad! He can't leave!"
And then the elevator opened... "Nurse Hosoi, please help us. Please page him so that there's the chance that he will hear it. Please!"
"I've been this way, I stay this way since June..."
"Okay! I'll do what I can! He needs to know what happened to his wife! This is not good! He can't leave like that!"
"Paging Dr. Irie... please attend to the Nurse Station for emergency action. Paging Dr. Irie... please attend to the Nurse Station for emergency action. Paging Dr. Irie... please attend to the Nurse Station for emergency action."
He looked back when he heard it. "Why they want me to go to the Nurse Station? Ah, it might be Kotoko. I already informed her friends, they should at least tell it to their Head Nurse." he murmured.
"What's wrong, Dr. Irie?" Dr. Makiato asked him.
"If you're letting go, let me go slowly..."
"Nothing. The Nurse Station might be going crazy because there's no one available to take Kotoko's scheduled to assist at 6pm's operation. That baka... I told her to come to work." he thought and imagined the happy face of his wife, probably having fun in the amusement park with their daughter alone.
"I will call her later when I got there," he said in his mind.
"I'm sorry!" Marina bumped into someone. The books were splattered around... "I can't help you right now. I'm really sorry! I need to reach someone and he might be leaving now!" she breathed and tried to run but that person had stopped her... gripping her arms. "Marina-san, what's wrong?"
It was Funatsu!
"Funatsu! It is you!" she yelled.
"Why are you in a hurry?"
"Do you know where Dr. Irie is?!"
"Irie? I bet he just left now. I saw him with the other doctors going their way to the rooftop. They will be having their rush flight to Russia right now."
"What?! He can't leave!"
"Why? You want to come?"
"Idiot! Kotoko got into a terrible accident! She's in her critical condition right now! And he still doesn't know it! Help me to stop him!"
"W-what? A-re you sure?!"
Marina grabbed him, "There's no time! Let's go and take me to the fastest route to the rooftop! I hope they still haven't left yet!"
Keita arrived in the rooftop as fast as he could. He was really out of breath and his fuel. His hands were on his knees but he still hasn't given up. He searched the chopper is... but it was already airing... the wind almost swept him away but he has to tell it or Irie Naoki would be too late to know it.
"Irie!" he screamed in top of his lungs. And he waved and jumped. Did everything he can just to make him notice... "Irie!" he shouted again, this time it was louder... "Irie! Come back here! Come back!"
"If you're letting go, lay me down softly..."
"Damn it... he can't leave like that."
Marina and his friends arrived, they all shouted but...
The chopper got away.
Keita kicked the wall, "Fuck, Irie doesn't know that his wife is in critical condition and his daughter was declared dead." he cried hard.
They all cried in agony.
Outside the operation room in Houfu hospital where Senjou Samuel was assigned. The Irie family, Noriko, Shigeki, Yuki, and his wife Irie Konomi, including Kotoko's dad, Aihara Shigeo was waiting patiently... hopefully, and crying with their hearts out... with remnants of shock and pain, they looked so miserable.
They can't believe that Kotoko, the happy go lucky girl, was fighting for her life inside the emergency room. The chance was fifty percent and she was badly hurt. The damage was severe in her head. It was hit by the hood of the car... having a strong momentum of force after it was hit by a three-wheeler truck. It flew over and landed to where Kotoko was at that time.
"If you're letting go, let me go slowly..."
Keita and his friends arrived at the Houfu hospital two hours later. Noriko stood up, looking for Naoki. "Where's Ni-chan?" she searched around the faces but she failed. Keita told her, "He was out to Russia and before we could stop him, they already left. We tried to reach him but his phone was turned off. I'm sorry. We did our best in reaching him and we are still trying. The management is already contacting our head doctor but he was not answering... we are hoping that the news could reach him soon before it's too late."
"He doesn't know that Kotoko-chan in danger and Kotomi... Kotomi died! My granddaughter died! She died... she died... she... died... she doesn't deserve this!" and she cried so loud again, her knees weakened, she sat on the floor while her eyes are still bawling out in pain. She has been crying endlessly when she heard the news.
Her husband, Irie Shigeki, came to her side and hugged her, "Mama... shh..." but what can he do? He was hurt too... he can't just say that everything's gonna be alright when in fact, it was not... it was not okay for him, for them... to allow that it'd happened to Kotoko and Kotomi.
Keita clenched his fists. He swears... he was going to kill Irie Naoki for being so out of reach in times like this... and he will murder that drunken driver too, make sure he will suffer in jigoku.
"If you're letting go, lay me down softly..."
Motoki called him, "Keita, sit down. You've been running for three hours." but Keita's well-determined angry eyes looked at him, "What they did is unforgivable. I will never forgive anyone who did this. I will make sure they will rot in jigoku." he breathed with fire. "How was the operation?" he asked anyone. Yuki was unbelievably calm... but he was just trying to keep sane when his family was going crazy right now, at least he should be... if not, who will? "My cousin, Senjou Samuel is the one who is operating her right now. He's as good as Ni-chan and I'm hoping that he can save Kotoko," he answered. "He has to save her."
And two people rushed their way to them. "Where's Kotoko?!" Kinnosuke's loud thug like voice made to turn their heads to them, "Damn it! Will she going to be okay?!" he rushed. Chris was already crying, "Oh my... I want to wake up now. I hope this was all a dream." she said. Marina hugged her. "We just have to pray right now. That's the only thing we have to do."
"She was being operated inside," Yuki answered.
Kinnosuke held his collar, "Where's Irie?! Is he the one who's operating her right now? And what about Kotomi? What about Mi-chan?!"
"If you're letting go, let me go slowly..."
"Ni-chan ga... Ni-chan ga..." Yuki tried to hold his tears, "He still doesn't know every single thing about this." and finally his tears fall and it was uncontrollable anymore, "Mi-chan ga... and Mi-chan... was in the morgue right now. She was taken here, dead on arrival." he stated.
Kinnosuke unbelievably let go of his collar and eyes were bawling out, "Why did they have to do that to such an innocent lovely kid?!" he yelled. "Why of all people it was them?!"
Tomoko tried to console him, "Hey... calm down."
"If you're letting go, lay me down softly..."
"How can I calm down?! Tell me how?!" he yelled... and he was really angry, "I will kill the one who's responsible for this. I will really kill him!" he said and left but he stopped to Keita, "Kamogari, come with me! We should take care of this! We shouldn't let go of that guy!"
Keita nodded and they left together.
They arrived in Russia one hour later. The large medical institution was all painted with white and the top of it has signage of Children's Hospital. Irie Naoki stepped out of the car. He was definitely tired of their travel.
"If you're letting go, let me go slowly..."
Besides that medical institution, there was a playground. There were lots of children playing at the time. He smiled a bit. He really had chosen the right field. And thanks to Kotoko, it was all because of her idea. He saw a familiar back of a kid who's exactly looked like Kotomi. Her hair was in a braid. Exactly the same thing when he last saw her daughter in the morning. He took the initiative to take steps forward since the doctors were busy congratulating the Russian doctor, he called the little girl. "Hey..."
The little girl turned to him, "Papa..."
"If you're letting go, lay me down softly..."
"Kotomi?" he was confused. Why he was seeing Kotomi now? No, he was only mistaken. Kotomi was in Japan with Kotoko. She can't be in Russia. Maybe he just missed his daughter... this was the first time that he'll be out of their home for a week.
The little girl held his hand and smiled at him, "I will miss you two, Papa." and she soon hugged him, "Please take care of Mama... for me."
"If you're letting go, let me go slowly..."
He wanted to ask but the words were stuck in his throat. His insides are shattering... why did he feel like it was like saying goodbye? His heart was hurt.
"Kotomi? Where are you going?" he asked when that little girl let go and walked away until the light has eaten her. "Please don't go! Come back!" he tried to chase it but the light was already bright before he can get her.
"If you're letting go, lay me down softly..."
"Dr. Irie? Are you okay?" Dr. Tsubone tapped him from behind. "We're going inside. You were staring at the playground for too long. Are you okay?"
"If you're letting go, let me go slowly..."
He turned to Dr. Tsubone, eyes fixing for a moment. "I just saw a familiar girl over there..." he murmured while he still can't get over it. "Ah, they are the sick children you will be taking care soon. Come... they are waiting for us now. They are already in the hall and the meeting will start soon."
He nodded, agreeing... still contradicting that it was only an imagination. He convinced himself that it wasn't Kotomi.
"If you're letting go, lay me down softly..."
Update is every week on Sunday.