– DAHLIAS
synopsis ; flowers always had this hidden meaning behind them. the sad part about it is knowing what it means.
scenario ; he was caught in an accident that unfortunately caused him to have an amnesia, and the worst thing about it is that he cannot remember a single thing but you know him well.
"I won't leave, I'll come back tomorrow and the next tomorrow and the next again. Until the next season comes. I'll be here with you. "
type ; short story
include/s ; iwaizumi hajime
pairing/s ; character x fl! reader
genre ; a mountain filled with sad corn, angst
The sight of this day is rather sad, leaves began to turn from the hues of red or even yellow. A cool breeze then began to swift your locks of hair to your side revealing your bare neck kissed by the cold yet refreshing wind.
But still this time of the year is one of her favorite seasons, the way that the surrounding just creates this vibe was one thing she liked about and more specifically the flowers that only bloomed in this time of season.
Dahlias.
Another season of this year yet to be faced, walking down the pavement only hearing the wind brushing between the branches of the trees and rustling of the leaves and the clacking noises under your feet are your black sandals with heels.
People may see her as a woman from the city or even from another country because of her get up, but this was never a new sight for her to witness because for the past years you've walked these very same pavements.
Today happens to be that very same day, that the treasure from her arms soon flew as the wind streams the leaves from the branches away from its place.
Upon mesmerizing her surroundings it was about time she heard her phone ring, this made her stop at her feet.
"Tooru, took you long enough to call." She uttered with a soft voice as she stared at the tree branches being swayed by the wind on top of her head.
The breeze of the wind kept on going, but this time you couldn't hear anything only Oikawa's voice stuttering on the other voice line. The silence even made you think that you can hear your heart beating.
Badump.
Badump.
Badump.
Breathing slowly yet anxiously awaits for the answer of the man behind the phone was keeping her restless. Not until the man successfully said what he wanted to tell her.
But upon hearing it she thought that for a few seconds she could only hear her heart beating and her breathing heavily. She didn't expect to hear what she just heard, just one sentence made her run at a second.
Tears then began to flow down to her face, she had mixed emotions overflowing her inside. But one emotion stands out and that is relief.
A glimpse of her memory popped up and this was the first time they met under the big tree behind the school campus at break time.
"Iwaizumi, did you know that I love the autumn season?"
"I didn't, not until now. " Said the little boy in an uninterested voice as he slowly made his way under the tree to sleep.
"It's because dahlias bloom this season!" Said the girl cheerfully as she made her way down kneeling and shoving her face near enough to make Iwaizumi open his eyes only to see this girl ecstatic with flowers.
"Is that so? Well, in my perspective it's kinda sad when autumn comes around." He says in a nonchalant voice not even surprised at the gesture of the girl in front of him.
That ends her train of thought, as the wind flows like and endless stream pushing her hair to every places. But still didn't bother the woman running, as if she was catching the wind.
As she runs as fast as she can, one of her heels broke making her fall down, now that her stockings are ripped and one of her legs are scrapped she still didn't give up. She eased the pain and got up.
Removing both of her sandals she ran again, despite of the tears running down from her eyes to her cheeks and the pain from her injured leg she didn't mind having all of these, all she cares is that she will make it on time.
Upon rushing as fast as she could she was in front of the hospital that Iwaizumi was staying in. People who witnessed how ragged her breath was and her condition, she drove them away.
As she walks struggling because of her leg injury but also her feet that are bleeding due to running on rough roads. People offered to help her politely declined and proceeded to walk towards the counter.
"Iwaizumi Hajime, room number please." Catching her breath, she still tries to talk despite the pain and the struggling she is currently facing.
The room was said and done but despite running towards the elevator she ran to the stairs. The pain she endured was slowly creeping in to her body and it was as if the more she went up to the stairs the more heavier she felt her body was.
(Move, body! Please hurry up and move!)
She pleaded to herself as tears flooded her eyes making it all blurry and her face damped. She now sees how much her legs are shaking and how ragged her breaths are.
(You can do this, just keep on moving...!)
Another glimpse of that time was the graduation of the last year she had to face in the school.
"Why does that even make you sad?" She asked cluessly as she placed her back against the man's back.
"Well, summer is finally coming to its end again." He said as the man stares at the sun setting down on the horizon.
"I don't get you at all." She let's out a sigh and closes her eyes as she slowly drifts of to sleep.
Glimpse of memories came crawling back to her as a form of motivation to keep on going. She gets up on her knees and keeps on going.
Catching her breath she now stands in front of the door she only has to enter to see the face she longed for. But then fear starts crawling behind her back.
[ So you're going far away after graduation? Pursuing to be a veterinarian, I presume?]
[ Hajime, I'll come back! I promise you! And I'll be back before you know it!]
Memories after the last year she had after entering Aoba Johsai with Iwaizumi and Oikawa was one of the best three years she had. She grew closer Iwaizumi and Oikawa in no time. Even became on of the boys as well, she fit right it.
But losing contact with Iwaizumi was the worst one she had to face, years passed and she focused on studying and studying until she graduated. She was busy and slowly soon after all the years passed she forgot.
She forgot the promise she ever did make to someone she holds dear to her heart.
Time gradually became slow for her as she gives all of her hours and minutes onto working, she lost track of her goals she lost track of what her promises were until.
"Did you hear about the news?" Said the old lady, turning her attention to the televisions displayed on the shop.
"Oh, the athletic trainer that got into an accident? Poor thing." Replied the old lady next the gossiping one as she too turns her attention to the television.
(Athletic trainer?)
The sight of a familiar face pasted on the televisions on display in the shop where two women were gossiping about putting her in awe.
(Hajime...?)
The opening of the door surprised her and knocked her out of her thoughts. And a familiar figure greeted her right of the bat.
"Tooru?" She uttered.
"So you came after all these years, huh?" He smirked off giving her a an attitude.
"Tooru, how is Hajime...Is he doing well?" She replies as her voice began cracking the more words she uttered out of her mouth.
He simply sends a slight nod not even sending her an eye contact, but looking at his eyes she knew there was a catch despite him waking up.
"Keep this in mind, he waited. You know, years passed and he still waited. He is an idiot."
"Patiently waiting for you, believing that one day you would knock behind his doors. He waited for you like a dog waiting for his owner to pick him up!"
"..."
"No matter what I did, for him to forget about you. To let his memories of you die, nothing worked! I was only pushed away by Iwa-chan!"
"I hated that fact that he still waited for you after all these years and now, you are here. But it's all too late now. "
"Tooru, what do you-"
"When you go inside, introduce yourself. Don't be dumb, I told you on the phone."
Oikawa stood in front of you with those puffy red eyes and dark circles under his eyes, you knew for a fact that he stayed restless taking care of Iwaizumi who was in a coma for a few weeks now.
It is said that he tried to save the little girl who was crossing the street nearly getting hit by a fast driving car on the road, thankfully the child he saved was safe but on the other hand he was the who was harmed.
Catching a few deep breaths, she knocks on to the door.
"Come in."
Says the raspy voice on the other side of the door said. Upon opening the door rays of sunlight blindly stung her eyes for a moment only to reveal a man sitting up right on the hospital bed staring at the window.
"Hajime..."
The man slowly turned his head facing her, in his eyes he sees an injured woman panting heavily and that she needs to take a seat.
"Haji-"
"Please, take a seat."
She was stunned at the words uttered by the man in front of her, she then takes the offer and tries to calm herself down.
"Have some water, the loud man left this a while ago. "
(Loud man? )
Iwaizumi then stares behind the window, having the view of the red and yellow hued leaves on the branches of the trees outside.
The wind stirs up the leaves and twirling it around the air, he was somehow amused by the looks of it.
The woman on the other hand was staring at the bedridden man, who was covered in injuries and even a broken arm at that state. But one sight breaks her heart and that is to see him with a smile despite of his situation.
"Do you like flowers? " He asks out of the blue as he stares intemately outside the window.
"Yeah..." She replied with a low tone of voice.
"I once liked them, it's because they only bloomed in autumn time. It's a shame not to see them bloom in any season. "
"..."
"But overall, autumn is a sad season. Because days become shorter at this time meaning you won't have as much fun under the sun that long. "
"Leaves in autumn turn red or even yellow and brown, making it all fall down from the trees as well, until no leaves were left behind. "
"..."
"Sorry, it appears that whenever I rambled these I tend to remind myself of something I once forgot. The loud man who was here looked at me with pity, I wonder why that is. "
"..."
"The same eyes you are looking at me right now is the same gaze the loud man looked at me."
"Hajime—"
"Oh, I remembered the flowers. They were dahlias. How can I forget, this note on my wallet gave me a glimpse of it."
Opening the note with blood marks scattered on it made you shiver.
I once saw autumn as a rest for my eyes,
Until I saw this flower that caught my eye.
They only bloomed at autumn,
What a shame to even know them.
Leaves start to fall in this time around,
I ponder will they last for this round?
I guess not, for they are just like a breeze.
Who comes and goes as they please.
I hate this season, and I have a bunch of reason.
But the flower I saw that day,
Will erase those burden I carry all day.
Maybe some day, I'll come to love autumn day.
"The initials placed at the end of the note only means that I made it, it's kinda sad to read it. It's as if the me who wrote this only has a flower anticipated to wait for this time of day. "
"Those are dahlias right outside of your window are potted plants of dahlias. " She pointed with her index finger as she came up to show a smile. The best smile she had to show.
"They are pretty, wish that they would bloom until the next season comes. Too bad they don't, huh? " He says at a nonchalant voice and releases a short sigh.
The cold response from the bedridden man made the room silent for a little while, then he turned to gaze on the woman sitting right beside her.
"You're injured. " He said noticing the injured marks on her legs, knees and even her feet.
"Yeah..."
"You should get it treated. "
"It can wait..."
Giving him a sincere smile, the man smiled back like a clueless boy. That smile was the same old smile she saw under the tree from where they were kids.
"Iwaizumi, did you know that I love the autumn season?"
"I didn't, not until now. "
"It's because dahlias bloom this season!"
"Dahlias? "
"Here, are pretty flowers! " She placed it in front of the kid who was laying down under the tree.
Those days were the first time she had share something precious she held to someone she soon will treasure.
But the last days that autumn came at the time of their final and last graduation was one of the times she wished to forget.
"Why does that even make you sad? When the flowers bloom in autumn? "
"Well, summer is finally coming to its end again."
"I don't get you at all."
"It means that, when flowers blood this day. You'll leave me once again."
The wind rushes towards the both of them, and only the tree branches and leaves where heard due to the wind going branch by branch.
"Leave you? "
"You know what I mean, so it's sad. I hate autumn, because at this time. I know that dahlias will bloom meaning you staying here is coming to an end again."
Staring at the dahlias, the man in front of her stared at her for a while.
"You really like those flowers, you keep on staring at them. "
"I—"
"I don't think I caught your name on your way in here, do you mind if you tell me? "
Hours have passed and the sun sets down leaving a nice orange and dark tone before it fully turned to dark sky. They talked and talked for a while under the man decided to take a nap.
And then, she decided to step out for a while, then she came across the same man that she encountered coming inside the room.
"That was a long talk you did there. So, how was it. " Said Oikawa who is leaning beside the wall outside the door.
"He didn't remember me..."
"I told you that on the phone, did you not hear me? "
"I dropped it the minute you told me he was awake. "
"Stupid." He flicks her forehead that it left a redish mark.
"I'll get someone to treat your wounds just stay there and get some rest. I'll go home for now. "
Walking down the hallway of the hospital going farther and farther away from Iwaizumi's room she can feel her legs that have given up, and that the pain she endured and ignore now are throbbing as hard as they can now.
Silent crying was one of her weaknesses, the way that this type of crying makes her vulnerable and weak is what she hated the most.
Enduring all the tears that about to fall down as she listens to the man she loved talk about her as if she was just someone he couldn't remember pained her to see and even hear.
"You really like those flowers, you keep on staring at them. "
"I—"
"I don't think I caught your name on your way in here, do you mind if you tell me? "
(I can't just tell him my name, I'll just—)
"I am just a person who tends to have time in their hands and came to visit you. My name is confidential! So, it'll be a secret! "
"Pfft, sure mystery girl. How about I call you Dahlia like these flowers. My guts are telling me the second you get out of here you'll just go without even telling me. "
"..."
"Was I right? "
"I won't leave, I'll come back tomorrow and the next tomorrow and the next again. Until the next season comes. I'll be here with you. "
He gave a satisfied yet a pained smile she didn't want to see, she was keeping an act of a strong character but in the end she just keeps breaking knowing that she was the reason as to why he hated the one she loved.
"I'm so sorry, Hajime. I'm too late..."
"You were just in time you know, I knew you'd break. My guts were telling me the truth alright."
"Hajime..."
"Help me remember, and maybe once another autumn has passed and dahlias bloomed again, maybe I would remember. So you have no other excuses but to stay by my side until then. "
(Why, why are you acting like this for me...!)
"The loud man told me everything you know, in detail even. It was hard to believe in at first but when I read that poem in front of you you were just ready to cry. It made me think that you must be the woman Oikawa was telling. "
"I even heard him through the door, telling you. That's why I said he is a loud man. "
"...."
"Until seasons change every time, I wished that there will come a time that I won't be scared of autumn. So stay, won't you? "
"Yeah, I will. "
Maybe the next autumn, I'll come to love you again. My Dahlia.
- I. H.
PART 1 of Those Flowers We Saw That Day → PART 2
a/n ; i plan to upload some of my short stories here from AO3! but if you want some spicy stuffs, do visit my AO3! if ever you want to be tagged in my posts please do leave a comment or send me a DM! send me a tip! taglist ; @sammushy , @gcj-doesart, @ryuuudesuwa, @jasugoi, @saltyheartkid