The Core Part 2
1066 Words
Chapter 50
It was a long, harsh, nightmare. As if waves flushed him down in an endless abyss. Like something inside him slowly abraded but he can’t figure out why and how it’s happening. A loop that he won’t be able to escape forever..
Until he felt a certain warmth enveloping his left hand. Slowly, it sank in his head. A careful movement on his pinky finger, as if pulling him back to consciousness.
Consciousness?
Nephrite woke up with a start. White ceiling and the smell of antiseptic greeted him.
There was no one touching him when he looked around him. Instead, he saw Xei sitting far away from his bed, his head leaning on the backrest of the chair, eyes closed.
Comfort surged inside him as Nephrite stared at the face of the handsome man.
Did he take care of me while I’m unconscious? Why? He sensed a tinge of warmth inside him and his heart rate increased a little. But it was ignored rapidly as his memories sank in.
Why am I resting here? Why am I not in the capsule? I thought we went to the first world?
Nephrite tried to recall what happened after they entered the capsule but to his dismay, he can’t recall a thing.
Panic struck his chest. Why can’t he remember anything?
Nephrite glanced at Xei. He wanted to ask the man. It was just a hunch, but it felt like something was wrong with him. But...
In another room, the yellow warning tone alarmed as the vital signs in the monitor became unstable.
Ram checked the details on the screen then turned to press the intercom.
The intercom on the wall near Nephrite’s headboard lit up all of a sudden.
“Master Xei, I will visit the patient,” Professor Ram’s familiar voice informed.
Nephrite clicked the ‘answer’ button.
“Professor Ram.”
“Oh, you’re awake. So that’s why your vital signs changed. Where is Master Xei?”
“Asleep.”
‘Okay, I’ll be there soon,” he hung up.
After a few minutes, Professor Ram arrived and without wasting time, he asked as the door slid close behind him, “How are you feeling?”
Then his eyes drifted towards Xei’s sleeping figure, one eyebrow raised.
Nephrite did not notice it, “A bit dizzy.” He contemplated for a bit before adding, “Professor Ram, did something happen during the process? Did it fail?”
“The mission was successful but an emergency situation occurred after you returned.”
Ram once again touched and twisted the top of his wristwatch. The file viewing hologram appeared in front of both of them. He then explained what happened after they arrived.
“So, I lost my memory?” Nephrite concluded calmly, however, deep inside him, he felt as if there was a huge hole inside him. Like he lost something big, leaving a vast, empty space. “Is there no way for the memory to return? How about Xei, did he lose his memories, too?”
“Master Xei is fine, just that something peculiar happened to him inside the first world.” Ram told Nephrite about Xei’s amnesia while doing their mission on the first world. “About your situation, only time would tell,” Ram answered.
But Linear time doesn’t exist here? Does that mean it won’t happen? Nephrite wondered.
“Professor Ram, did we acquire the memory fragment?” Nephrite inquired. Though they came back safely, it does not mean they successfully obtained it.
Ram smiled, “We still need to confirm it. Once you feel better, You and master Xei will go to the Center. You can check there if you indeed gained the fragment. For now, rest well. Your mind has been in a strong turmoil.”
As Professor Ram left, different situations flashed in Nephrite’s mind, anxiety building up inside him.
Was it really what they told him? The data seemed real, but was it true that they had no idea what triggered the abnormality with his brain activity after they returned?
Nephrite glanced at Xei. The other man was still resting on the chair, frowning.
He must be uncomfortable, something pinched Nephrite’s heart.
He didn’t know what came to him, nor where he got enough bravery. He just realized everything when he found himself staring at the man’s eyes, his hands on both Xei’s shoulders. Nephrite gulped. But before he could ask, Xei spoke.
“Are you unwell?” His voice was hoarse.
Nephrite’s cheek flushed when he realized their proximity. He cleared his throat and asked, “Sorry to wake you up, but it feels like you are in discomfort sleeping like that,” he moved his gaze away.
“I’m alright, just a headache.”
Nephrite noticed the drastic change in the tone of Xei’s voice. Before they left, his voice sounded so mechanical. Even when he was comforting Nephrite, his voice lacked emotion despite his genuine intentions. But now, he can clearly trace the warmth, not just his voice but even in his eyes.
“Do you want to move to the bed?” Nephrite asked, still not looking at the other. Xei noticed the other’s ears turned red. Before he could reply, Nephrite quickly added, “W-We already stayed in the capsule together, right? You seem uncomfortable there and the bed is large enough for the two of us.”
Nephrite thought Xei would reprimand him. Instead, the other person stood up and placed his hand on his back. Xei guided him back to the bed.
After helping Nephrite lay down, he also joined him on the bed, a large gap between them.
After a while, Xei’s spoke. “You forgot everything, I see.”
Startled, Nephrite looked at him, “How did you know?”
Xei weighed his words, “This isn’t the second time we stayed on the same bed.”
“Did we also do it in the first world?” Xei nodded. “So that’s why it doesn’t feel awkward sharing a bed with you. Then why didn’t you just sleep beside me?”
“Inappropriate. You’re unconscious.”
“Then next time, don't hesitate. Feels like we’re really closer now, huh? I’m even speaking a lot,” he chuckled.
Xei smiled. After a while, he asked, “Do you want to know what happened back there?”
- Writer
