18. Catch Ball

I woke up quite late and it was already lunchtime by looking at the time. I slowly dragged my body and freshened up. I cooked up some light lunch and sat on the couch to see some television while eating.

As I slowly ate I remembered yesterday's discussion with Shirogana-san. I wonder how I will fit into his family. I shook those thoughts out and quickly ate my lunch. Cleaning the plates I sat on the couch.

As I didn't have many things to pack I could pack them in the last two days. I turned my head wondering what I should do and saw the catcher glove I got from dad as a present.

I stood up and picked it up. I caressed it thinking about baseball. I got an urge to play some baseball and went out of the door hoping to play with someone in the park. As I walked by the streets I daily came and went I felt nostalgic thinking I would go away.

I reached the park and saw no one there except a kid sitting on the bench in the distance. The girl looked as if she was waiting for someone holding a baseball glove in her hand. She looked like a third-grader judging by her face and height.

I made my way towards her. I asked her, "Are you perhaps waiting for someone."

The girl got scared and backed away a little. She came cautiously and said, "Yes I'm waiting for my friends as they told me they will come to play catch ball with me."

Hearing her I smiled as I needed a partner to play with. I showed her the ball I brought with me and asked, "Ok! then come play with me till your friends come"

I walked to a distance and stood there. She stood up and nodded, saying, "Ok then Nii-san I'll play with you for some time." and showed her glove indicating she was ready.

I threw her the ball slowly for her to catch. She stumbled a bit but eventually caught the ball.

She threw the ball back and said loudly, "Throw harder Nii-san."

I smiled as I caught the ball. I winded my hand a bit more than the previous ball to throw faster. As I was about to throw my vision got blurry. My head screamed in pain and the ball fell from my hand. I clutched my head to ease the pain and squatted down.

I looked up to see the girl but instead I saw my dad's blurry figure in her place. Seeing it my body shook violently and my heart ached. Beads of sweat accumulated on my forehead and back soaking me. My face got drained of any color in it.

My body felt heavy as I tried to stand up. Dad's accident started to play in my head not allowing me to think. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to relax.

I stood up and slowly went towards the bench. My legs felt heavy and I was practically dragging them. I sat on the bench and tried to ease the aching heart and head.

As I sat I heard the girl shouting, "Nii-san what happened.?" I looked up and opened my eyes to see her near me looking anxious and scared.

She continued, "Wait for a bit Nii-san. I'll go and get some help." and turned around to go.

I didn't want people rushing towards me. So I caught her hand to stop her. She turned around and I said as smoothly as I can, "I'm alright. It's fine don't panic. Give me some water to drink."

She nodded and gave me her water bottle. I took the bottle and opened the cap hurriedly. I splashed my face with some water to cool down and drank some water. Even though I cooled down, my hands were still shaking.

I faced her and showed her a thin smile to reassure her and said, "See I'm fine there is nothing to worry about." and patted her head.

Around the same time, a group of small children came to the park. Seeing them I stretched my hand towards their direction showing her and said, "See your friends also came to play. Go on I'll be fine."

The girl turned her head and saw that her friends came. She turned back and still asked full of concern, "Nii-san will you be ok."

I nodded reassuring her. She then nodded and said, "Please take care, Nii-san" and ran away towards her group of friends.

I took several deep breaths before standing up to go back home. I slowly made my way back with my body shivering from what happened.

Reaching home I went and washed my face again and after feeling better I ate some snacks. I went up to my room and sat on my bed. I started to wonder what exactly happened today, 'Why did I suddenly see dad again? I see him whenever I touch the glove or play baseball and I instinctively start feeling bad. Did I not get cured? But the doctor told me I was cured. I'll ask Shirogana-san about it when I will call him tomorrow.'

Thinking about it made my headache. I felt afraid today when I saw dad, my body shivered violently that it did not stop at that time.