They continued to wander around each park they encountered in that area. Every section brought a smile to Azora’s face. Lamech smiled gently as he watched Azora, who was thoroughly amused by the butterflies flitting around each flower.
He took out his cellphone from his pocket and secretly snapped a photo of Azora, who was currently gazing at a butterfly perched on the petal of a gumamela flower. After a while, he approached her and led her away from the flowers.
“But-”
“We need to visit one last stop before we walk back to the house.”
Azora glanced back at the flowers. “But I’m still seeing-”
“It’s almost twelve noon. Aren’t you hungry?”
“No, I’m not.”
But Azora had no choice as he guided her towards the ferris wheel. As they got closer to that area, the ferris wheel became more visible above the trees. He pointed it out to Azora, and he saw amazement in her eyes. His smile widened even more.
“I haven’t gone on a ferris wheel,” Azora admitted while looking at the towering ferris wheel in the distance.
“Then I’ll accompany you up there,” he said.
He felt Azora’s excitement, especially when she tightened her grip on his hand.
But when they stopped in front of the ferris wheel, he saw a man and a woman kissing. The woman was facing their direction. They were dressed in civilian clothes, and he knew the couple must also be patients. He noticed Azora averting her gaze, so he covered her eyes and cleared his throat.
The couple stopped kissing and looked at him. The man frowned while the woman couldn’t meet his eyes.
“Just continue in private,” he said.
The man’s eyes narrowed before he led the woman away. “Let’s go, Anya.”
At that moment, the couple walked away. But Azora quickly removed his hand covering her eyes and searched for the man. “Where is he?”
Confused, Lamech pointed in the direction where the couple had gone. Azora turned to where he pointed and furrowed her brow as she shouted, “J-Japen? Is that you, Japen?!”
He looked at the couple who had stopped walking. The man turned towards them, followed by the woman.
Azora stepped back.
Lamech held Azora’s shoulders as he noticed her knees trembling. He looked again at the man and saw a shocked expression on his face. “Azora,” the man whispered in amazement. He couldn’t hear the man’s voice, but he knew he had said Azora’s name by reading his lips.
The woman with him turned pale upon seeing Azora. She was speechless and frozen in shock.
Lamech’s frown deepened. Who were these people in Azora’s life?
Before he could ask Azora, she leaned against him. He pressed his lips together and, without hesitation, carried Azora in his arms. He started walking back to the institution, but he realized the house was still too far.
“Wait… wait a moment!” someone shouted from behind.
He knew it was the man called Japen who had shouted, so he turned around. He saw him and the woman approaching. They stopped in front of him and looked at Azora, who was unconscious in his arms.
“Who are you?” Japen asked.
“I’m Lamech Lepanto,” he replied. “Who are you?” he asked.
“I’m Japen, and this is Anya,” he introduced the woman with him. He looked at Azora again. “She’s my friend. W-What is Azora doing in this place?”
Lamech smirked secretly. “I’ll answer you when we get back to the house.”
Both their eyes widened, and they exchanged looks. Japen turned back to him. “There’s a golf cart nearby. I’ll take you back to the house.” He glanced at Azora before running towards the side of the ferris wheel.
The woman stayed behind and couldn’t look at Azora. Lamech frowned but didn’t ask any questions. Soon, he saw the golf cart approaching them.
He got on. Anya sat in the back while Japen sat in the front to drive the golf cart. Azora remained unconscious in his arms. He held her wrist and felt her pulse with his index and middle fingers.
He looked up and caught Japen glancing in the rearview mirror. Japen quickly turned his gaze forward when he caught him.
He cleared his throat. “Keep your eyes ahead,” he said.
Japen didn’t say anything but occasionally looked in the rearview mirror, pretending to check on Anya in the back. But Lamech knew he was looking at Azora. He remained silent and let the man be. He still couldn’t understand why Azora had fainted.
Why? What did Japen do to Azora? His eyes narrowed, and his brow furrowed. He tightened his hold on Azora, not realizing he was becoming alert in the presence of the two strangers.
Soon, they reached the house. He quickly rushed Azora inside. The first to see them was Eman.
“Take her to the clinic,” Eman said, guiding him towards the clinic. “Call Hana,” he instructed Anya.
“Yes, Doc.” Anya ran off somewhere.
Japen stayed a short distance away, watching Anya intently, lost in thought. Lamech ignored his gaze at Azora and held her hand. He grabbed a chair and placed it beside the bed. He sat down while Eman checked Azora’s vital signs.
Hana arrived and immediately asked, “Lamech, who was the last person Azora saw?”
Absentmindedly, he shot a sharp look at Japen, who stood silently in the corner.