My Unconventional Lover: Seeing A Different World

“It’s because of your special identity.” Sanji was the one who answered my questions after being silent for most of the time.

“Oh, do you mind to tell me more about it?” I turned my head towards him and put on serious expression to make sure he wouldn’t joke around about it.

“It’s okay. She needs to know about it, too.” Sanji nodded towards Siji and after that Siji left. I arched my eyebrow when I saw Siji left obediently like that. He usually only obeyed my or Tom’s words. For him to obey someone not from the Army, it was almost impossible -he even ignored the Elders and refused to conform to their wish.

I couldn’t help but suspect their relationship. These two must have something going on between them.

“The truth is... you’re right. I am his accomplice. And as you’ve heard from him, he is the only one who can perform this skill. Why am I the accomplice, then? Because, I’m the one who showed him whose mind should be manipulated. I’m the one who discussed with him what to do with these people you said your friends. Indeed, they are very good friends to you. And I’m really sorry I had to tweak their minds a bit.”

Sanji stopped a bit and looked at me more seriously. He might be observing my reaction, too. “I’m sure you still remember your ex, Rizal, right? Well, his departure was the one who triggered your ability, but also it brought a complicated aftermath. Most of his friends were aware of the cause of his death even when his family and the doctors said that it was because of a serious illness. Not to mention his brothers were ‘attacked’. You know, his friends weren’t stupid. They might not have the ability as we do, but they are smart. Also, Hani was one of those who were on the site when they got the news of his death. Many of them noticed that something was off when they saw the body and Hani was the one who told them that Rizal didn’t die from a natural cause.”

I frowned. To my disappointment, even if I wished the memory that day was blurry after a year, it wasn’t. There might some tiny little details that I missed but the majority of that accident was still crystal clear in the depth of my mind, locked in a black chest that I always hoped I couldn’t unlock it at will.

Senior Hani was the only one besides Sanji who could see ghosts. He was pretty good, actually. But, as long as I could remember, even if Senior Rizal was brutally murdered, I made sure his soul and spirit, even his ghost wouldn’t have any trace of that brutality. He died peacefully and he had gone to a better place. No one would find his ghost anywhere unless he had the permission from that ‘space’ -where ever it was – to visit the human realm.

.....

However, I still hadn’t seen the association between Senior Hani and the reason why he let Siji manipulated the others’ mind. “I haven’t met Senior Hani today. Did you tweak with his memory too?”

Sanji sighed. “He was the most difficult to deal with. Even Siji admitted that he had a strong mind. We had no idea how much had changed from his mind after we finished giving him the treatment.” He shook his head. “I haven’t met him ever since.”

“Back to our first topic, why did you have to do it?”

“Right. His friends suspected that you knew something. But you had just awakened your ability. The trigger was pretty strong. Perhaps you didn’t remember it, but after you got your ability, you were like a walking exorcist. Your aura was spilling uncontrollably that it purified some ‘things’. You were sensitive and I was afraid you couldn’t handle any questions about Rizal. You might say something you’re not supposed to say. Your identity needed to be remained a secret from public. Only several people would have the honor to know about it, but obviously not for many people. They were too wounded to be rational and your identity was too special for them to know. So, we decided to do that. It was better if they forgot about you, that’s what we thought at that time. After all, you said that you’re going to take long days off from college. By the time you returned, I thought these people would have been gone and you wouldn’t notice anything. Who would have thought that you returned this fast?” Sanji smiled awkwardly at me.

I arched my eyebrows at him. Only for those reasons then they wished these people would forget about me? Didn’t they realize how absurd it sounded?

“I know, we sound so ridiculous hoping for things like that. I didn’t expect Mario to really forget about you.” Sanji raised his hands showing his helplessness. There was a trace of guilt in his eyes.

Since the related person had admitted his sin, I should be magnanimous and not pursue this matter anymore. “Will it have any side effect?”

“...It shouldn’t have any necessary side effect as far as I concern.” Sanji replied after pondering for a while.

“Then, it’s okay.” I nodded. “Now that I know about this matter, I will be more careful in talking to them later and act accordingly. You should tell me anything like this before I misunderstand you guys later.”

“Yes. We’re sorry.” Sanji smiled, but his eyes told me that he was totally feeling remorseful about what had happened.

It might be for the best. It was like they were given a different life where a different story was going on. Senior Rizal was an admirable figure. Losing him shook many of his friends. I could understand the way Siji’s mind manipulating power. He erased my existence in their memories, making it as if Senior Rizal really died because of natural illness. Mia and Senior Dino were different cases since Mia was originally my friend. They only knew I submitted the permission leave abruptly due to family issue. They wouldn’t remember my relationship with Senior Rizal.

It was quite cruel that none of his friends would not remember the truth of his death, but it didn’t matter anymore. I had avenged him. It was enough that some of these people with me and I myself would remember the tragedy befell upon him. It truly didn’t matter if his friends forgot about him.

I wouldn’t, for sure, forget about him. Ever.

Maybe, if it were really in different life, Senior Rizal might have different story and different ending. Maybe, he wouldn’t have to die. Maybe...