Chapter 6: Fractured Memories

Chapter 6: Fractured Memories

The air in the restaurant was thick with chatter, but my mind remained clouded, restless. The more I observed Sai and Kiara, the more I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Since Kiara had joined the company, Sai had become distant, retreating into himself in a way I hadn't seen before. And Kiara—her bubbly, almost childlike declarations about a past life with Sai—didn't help. Was it her influence that caused this change in him? Or was I simply over thinking it, the alcohol from earlier clouding my judgment?

Still, I couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that something about Kiara was off. She had joined the company under mysterious circumstances, with a recommendation no one seemed to question. How could she be so confident that Sai was her husband from a past life? Her bold confessions of love for him seemed almost too much to bear. There were too many unanswered questions, and I needed answers—not just for myself, but for Sai.

I couldn't keep my eyes off them. I glanced over at Sai again, and saw the way his gaze lingered on Kiara, distant, as though she was pulling him into a world he didn't quite belong to. When he stood to leave, I felt a strange unease settle in my chest. Kiara followed him, and I knew this was the moment I had been waiting for. I needed to ask Kiara some questions, to uncover whatever hidden truths lay beneath her enigmatic exterior.

---

As Sai exited the restaurant, Kiara took a seat with us, her usual bubbly demeanor still in place, but there was a noticeable tension in the air. I turned my attention back to her, and before I could second-guess myself, I made a decision. I had to get to the bottom of this.

"Kiara," I began, my voice steady but my heart racing. "Got a minute?"

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me, intrigued. "Of course, what's on your mind?"

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "You've mentioned before that you and Sai were married in a past life, right?" I asked carefully, watching her closely.

Her face softened, a dreamy smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Yes, in my dreams. We were so in love, so happy."

I leaned in slightly, my curiosity getting the best of me. "So, what does he like most? What's his favorite color?"

"In my dreams," she began, her voice full of warmth, "he's always been the most caring person. He loves taking care of his loved ones. And his favorite color is blue. He always wears blue shirts."

I nodded thoughtfully, but something wasn't adding up. "You've got it down to a science," I said with a half-smile. "But... there's something I don't understand."

She tilted her head, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Okay, think about this," I said, my voice lowering as I steered the conversation in a new direction. "If you two were really reborn, then that must mean your past lives were, what? Fifty, sixty years ago? How could there have been a restaurant like this? Did open relationships even exist back then? And—" I hesitated, trying to gather my thoughts, "—why does he still have the same name in your dreams? Didn't he have a different name back then?"

Kiara's face suddenly shifted, her smile faltering as the questions hit her. She looked down at her hands, her brow furrowing in confusion. "I... I never thought about it like that." Her voice trailed off, a touch of doubt creeping into her words. "In my dreams, he was always Sai, but... they didn't have restaurants back then, did they?"

A strange, sharp pang hit my chest, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of vulnerability in Kiara's eyes. Something wasn't right, and she seemed to realize it too.

---

A sudden sadness overtook me, and before I could process my feelings, I felt tears slipping down my face.

"Are you okay?" Keshav asked, his voice filled with concern.

I wiped my eyes quickly, startled by my own reaction. "I... I don't know why I'm crying," I muttered, standing abruptly. "Keshav, pay the bill. I need to talk to Sai."

Without waiting for a reply, I rushed out of the restaurant, my thoughts frantic. I scanned the street, but Sai was nowhere in sight. My heart raced as I called his phone, but there was no answer. Desperate, I decided to head to the main road, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

As I neared the busy intersection, I saw him—Sai, crossing the road in the distance. Without thinking, I rushed toward him, my body moving on its own, driven by some unseen force.

---

But just as I was about to reach him, a voice called out to me from behind.

"Sai!"

I spun around, my heart stopping as I saw Kiara running toward me. Her face was streaked with tears, her steps frantic, as though she were running from something—or someone. And then, I saw it. A car speeding toward her, its headlights blinding in the night.

"Kiara, look out!" I yelled, my voice hoarse with panic.

Time seemed to freeze as I watched her face, unaware of the impending danger. Without thinking, I darted into the street, pushing her out of the way. The car screeched to a halt, but it was too late. I was hit.

---

The world went dark.

I could hear a distant voice, soft and trembling. "Please, please wake up, Sai."

Kiara. It was Kiara's voice.

I slowly opened my eyes, the world around me blurry and disoriented. My head pounded with pain, and I groaned, barely able to make out her tear-streaked face.

"You're awake!" Kiara said, her voice a mixture of relief and worry.

I blinked, trying to focus. "Am I... in the hospital?"

"Yes," she replied quickly, a small smile tugging at her lips, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm going to get the doctor."

I tried to sit up, but pain shot through me, making me wince. "Ow..."

The doctor entered, his file in hand, with Kiara following closely behind. He examined me quickly, his gaze focused as he checked my vitals.

"Mr. Sai, you're stable. No lasting injuries, but we'll do some checkups to be sure. You should be able to go home in a couple of days." He placed the file on the desk, then shone a penlight in my eyes, one after the other.

"You might experience some PTSD from the trauma," he added. "I'll prescribe you some sleeping pills to help you rest."

Kiara nodded, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you, doctor."

Once the doctor left, the room fell into an uneasy silence. Kiara stood at the foot of my bed, her gaze fixed on the floor, her hands clasped together.

"I'm so sorry," she said softly, her voice trembling.

I gave her a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "It's okay. It was an accident. I'm tougher than I look." I chuckled, but she didn't laugh. Her eyes were clouded with guilt, and I could see the weight of her emotions bearing down on her.

"Kiara?" I called softly, concern filling my voice.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her head lowered. "I just... I feel so sick. I don't know why, but my head hurts. I'm not injured, but—"

"You need to rest," I said gently, my voice laced with care. "It's late, and you've been through enough. Don't think about it too much. Thank you for bringing me here."

Her eyes flickered up to meet mine, and for a moment, I saw a flash of something—regret, perhaps, or fear. "I'll see you soon," she said quietly.

As she turned to leave, I couldn't help but feel a deep sadness for her. She had seen the accident unfold in front of her, and I didn't want her to relive that trauma. I didn't want her to remember the pain of the past—whatever it was—again. She had suffered enough already.

I watched her leave, my heart heavy with thoughts I couldn't quite put into words. I had to protect her, protect both of us from the memories that threatened to tear us apart.