Chapter 3: The Whole Truth
Okay. I'll recap what I know. I don't remember submitting to the boss my assignment on that project I was working on, Asuka doesn't answer her cell phone, and when I went home, nobody was there. She reasoned that her phone went dead and that she and the kids were at the mall, buying school supplies. Then, last night, when I went home, Asuka told me that she prepared food for me, but there was nothing in the fridge. And when I told my kids to go to sleep for the second time, the TV was immediately shut off and they were no where in sight. Am I missing something here?
When I woke up, Asuka still wasn't there. I looked for her downstairs. She wasn't there. Oh, geez. Don't tell me she spent an all nighter at work! I went back upstairs to get ready for work.
- - -
Again, the car crash dream replayed in my mind. I remembered holding Asuka tightly in my arms, trying to convince her that everything would be alright. Actually, come to think of it, all these occurrences started happening right after I dreamt of that. I wonder why. . .
After taking a bath, I put on my business clothes, neatly placing my tie around my neck.
To top it all off, I put my glasses on.
"Hey hon!"
I jumped a little upon hearing Asuka's voice. I turned to her. "Asuka!-"
"-Before you say anything, I just took the kids to Duel Academy. Alright?"
"Oh! So that's why you were away this morning. Well, why didn't you wake me?"
"Because you looked so tired. I decided to give you a break." Asuka said, giving me a quick kiss.
"Oh, I see." I noticed that Asuka has been making so many excuses lately. I was beginning to wonder if every excuse she told me was actually the truth. "Well, I'm off to work, sweetheart."
"Have a nice day! I love you!" she exclaimed.
- - -
I was now at work once again. "Ryo!" One of my colleagues greeted me.
"Oh, hey."
"Listen, why don't you come over at my house to talk about our project? My wife whips up the best food in town!" he said.
"Sure. Is it okay if my family would go with me?"
He gave me a confused look. "Excuse me?"
"My family." I repeated.
He let out a huge, hearty laugh. "Oh! Forgive me, Ryo. I thought your family passed away! I heard from the news about that accident. I'm sorry. I guess I received the wrong information."
"Passed away?" I said.
"I'm sorry, Ryo. I guess it was only gossip. I thought-"
"-Accident?" I said. "What accident?"
"The car accident." He replied.
I stared at him in horror. I then realized that the car accident wasn't just a dream. "What are you talking about?"
"You don't remember?"
"When was this?"
"A week ago. The news reported 2 dead bodies, and 5 sent to the hospital. They identified the dead bodies as Daniella Marufuji and Ryo Marufuji Jr. Plus, they reported that two in the hospital had died- and one of them being Asuka. I guess the news was wrong. I assumed you were mourning for them- you were silent the whole week!"
I was still in shock. "I. . . I don't recall any of these. . . I honestly don't know what you're talking about. And that's impossible! I was with them last night. . . my family is still alive. . ." but upon knowing this information, I had to make sure they were alive. I called Asuka on her cell. . . but there was no answer. I called home. . . there was nothing. A certain chill ran down my spine. Impossible!
I called Duel Academy. The secretary answered the phone. "Hello, Duel Acade-"
"Yeah, I'm Ryo Marufuji, and I was just checking if my daughter Daniella and my son Ryo were enrolled at this school earlier this morning." My heart was thumping loudly. I was nervous.
"Alright sir, give me a minute to check on the student list."
Please tell me they're there. Please tell me they're there.
"Sir?" the other line went.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry, sir. But Daniella and Ryo are not found in our records."
I dropped the phone, horrified. If they weren't at school, then where did Asuka take them earlier?
- - -
I hurried back to my house- only to find out no one was there once again. I went upstairs, hoping to find Asuka. I opened the master room door.
"ASUKA!" I exclaimed, running towards her, hugging her tight.
"Ryo?" she said in surprise. "Shouldn't you be working?"
I let go of her. "Asuka, where are the kids?" I asked her.
"They're in Duel Academy." She answered.
"But I just called the school. They said they were never enrolled." I told her. I noticed that there was a smudge on my glasses.
I took it off and wiped it with my shirt- and then I realized that Asuka had disappeared. I looked around me, wondering where she went. She was right in front of me a minute ago!
Then, it hit me. I looked at my glasses. "No way. . ." I muttered. "It can't be."
Cautiously, I placed my glasses against my eyes.
There, I saw Asuka, talking to me. I was hearing her voice, seeing her with my own eyes.
I took off my glasses.
Her voice went mute, and she was nowhere to be seen. "No. . ." I said, now down on my knees. "My family. . ."
I reminisced the car accident, trying to remember every single detail that had happened. I wanted to know what really happened.