Chapter 2: Strange Occurences

She's gonna be fine. . . she's gonna be fine. . .

"She's. . . gonna. . . be. . ."

I woke up with a start. I found myself in my own bedroom, alone. "My family!" I shouted in panic.

I grabbed my glasses from my bedside table and put them on.

Just then, the bathroom door swung open. A familiar figure came out from inside.

"Asuka!" I exclaimed, hugging her tight. "I thought I lost you. . ."

"Calm down, hon. I was only in the bathroom. What's wrong with you?" she asked me. I let her go.

"What happened? There was a car crash. . . you were bleeding, I was bleeding. The kids were crying- wait, where's the kids?" I asked, freaking out again. The familiar noise of my children were immediately heard from downstairs.

"You're not being fair, Daniella!" I heard Junior's whiny voice exclaim.

"Well I had them first! Deal with it!" Daniella replied. Asuka looked at me, confused.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked again.

"But. . . but. . . the accident. . . the blood. . . the pain!" I stammered. Asuka laughed at me.

"That must be one serious nightmare!" she said.

"Yeah, horrible!" I agreed, although positive that it wasn't all just a dream. I couldn't explain it, but it was all real, and I knew it. After a few minutes sinking in everything that just happened, I finally calmed down.

"Listen hon, Daniella and Junior are going to turn a year older tomorrow, and you know what that means!" Asuka said.

I arched an eyebrow. "Actually, I have no idea." I confessed. She sighed.

"They can go to Duel Academy tomorrow. That's what it means."

"Oh! Well then, that's great!" I smiled. Maybe that car accident was all just a dream. A figment of my imagination.

- - -

Shit. Another nightmare: Work. My boss wanted me to turn in my draft of our current project today. Damn him! One day is not enough time! But then again, I had to deal with it. He is my boss after all.

At work, I approached my boss with the utmost bravery. "Sir," I began, "I haven't finished the draft yet, I apologize."

He only looked at me, confused. "What are you talking about, Marufuji?"

Whoa. He'd forgotten already? "The draft of our latest project, sir. You know, the Merlute hotel?"

"Have you been eating properly? You've turned it in already!"

"I. . . did?"

My boss narrowed his eyes. "Stop playing games with me, Marufuji. I have no time for your silly antics. Now do what I asked you do!"

"What did you ask me to do?" I asked, clueless.

He growled. "Well, if you really don't know. . . I asked you to sketch the sizes of the rooms and design them uniquely! Now that you know what to do, do it!"

Okay. . . I never knew I handed in the project already. I went to my office and started the sketches my boss asked me to do. It took me about a few minutes to realize that I forgot something at home- the most important thing. The documents!

I removed my glasses, frustrated.

"Damn it." I muttered, getting the telephone. Calling Asuka would be the most convenient thing to do right now. I would ask her to deliver the documents for me.

"Hm. . . No one's answering. . ." I decided to call her on my cell. It was busy. That's strange. Her phone is never busy. It irked me that I had to go all the way home to get what I needed, but I hated it even more that Asuka's line was not available.

On the way home, I continuously called her cell phone. There was still nothing. I was beginning to be suspicious. I called the house. Nobody was answering. I shook my head. This is ridiculous! To make things even worse, I realized I left my glasses at the office, and now I can barely see where I'm going. Damn. Another senior moment: Forgetting.

When I arrived home, I was surprised to figure out that there was no one there. "Where is everybody?" I asked myself. I went upstairs, checking if the kids were in the computer room, or if Asuka was in the master's room, but no. No one was there. I called Asuka once again in her cell phone. Still, the line was busy. "Whatever." I mumbled, getting the documents and heading back to the office.

As I proceeded back at work, I saw my glasses resting on my desk. I immediately wore it- my head was beginning to hurt. All of a sudden, my mobile phone rang. I answered it.

"Hon!" greeted the other line.

"Asuka! Where have you been?" I exclaimed furiously. "I've been constantly calling you for the nth time!"

"Sorry, Honey. . . my phone went dead. I'm using a pay phone right now."

I sighed. "Where are you?"

"I'm with the kids, we went to the mall. We're shopping for school supplies."

"Man! And I thought something had happened to you guys or something!"

"Calm down hon, we're fine."

"Okay, okay. So why did you call me?"

"I just wanted you to know. But it seems to me that I'm too late."

"Yeah, very late!" I added. Asuka laughed.

"I'm really sorry, hon. Anyway, take care. I love you."

"Love you too. Bye."

And we hung up.

- - -

It was getting late. I had to go home now. Me and my other co-workers discussed my finished product, where the furniture would be placed and all. It was one hell of a day.

I lazily opened the front door. Daniella and Junior were in the living room, watching television. "Hi dad." Both of them greeted monotonously.

"Hey guys." I said, kissing them. "Where's mommy?"

"Mommy's at work." Daniella replied.

"Work? At this time?" I asked.

"She got called again." Junior informed. "She posted something on the fridge."

I went to see what Asuka had posted. I'll be home late. I got an emergency phone call from one of my clients. Yes, dear. I know. It's too late. But it's my job. Psychologists get called 24/7, as you already know. –Asuka. PS: There's food in the fridge. I prepared them for you. Daniella and Junior already had their dinner. I love you.

I opened the fridge. "What the heck is she talking about?" I said. There wasn't any food prepared! Oh well. I'm not hungry anyway. And besides, the kids probably ate it. Daniella knew how to operate a microwave, and Junior had four stomachs.

I proceeded to the master's room. "Go to sleep, guys!" I instructed. I went to my bedside table, still hearing the TV's loud volume. "Go to sleep, guys!" I called again.

I removed my glasses and placed them on the bedside table.

There was silence. I looked out at my room. There was no light anymore, and Daniella and Junior were nowhere in sight. "That was fast." I commented. Too fast.