Babel Novel
Chapter 24
Book 3: After Losing His Memory, He Married Someone Else
As soon as I stepped out of the airport, I spotted my friend Stella waiting for me outside. She rushed over to greet me as soon as she saw me.
“Look at you, all fragile and weary. Come on, let’s get you in the car.”
She helped me with my luggage, placing it in the trunk before we got in.
“So, any news?” Stella asked as she drove.
I shook my head, feeling a bit despondent.
“It’s okay, take your time. As long as he’s alive, we’ll find him eventually.”
I wrapped my coat tighter around myself and gazed out the window, hoping so.
Damian and I had grown up together in the orphanage. Though we were lovers, we were also family. Since that accident, we had been out of touch for three long years.
I was almost out of hope, my body barely holding on. The injuries from three years ago had weakened me considerably, and after these years of relentless effort, I was now suffering from severe stomach cancer.
Maybe it’s better to die; after all, I might meet the person I’ve been longing to see.
Seeing my pale complexion and the desolation in my eyes, Stella glanced at me and changed the subject.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
“Alright, next week we’ll take a break. I’ll take you out to lift your spirits. Remember how you’ve always wanted to visit San Diego? We’ll go next week. Who knows, Damian might be there.”
My heart sk**ed a beat at her words. San Diego was our favorite place.
“Okay.”
On the day of the trip, we disembarked from the train. Even though each attempt to find Damian had ended in disappointment, I still held onto a flicker of hope.
That evening, we went to a bar. The singer on stage was performing a soulful country ballad, my favorite style, which made me think of Damian.
Stella suddenly exclaimed, “Anna, the singer looks a lot like you! For a moment, I thought you had sneaked up on stage.”
It was only then that I noticed the resemblance.
“Yeah, she does.”
After the female singer finished her performance, she happened to sit down next to us.
Stella, ever friendly, greeted her, “Hi! Your singing was wonderful. Did you write the song yourself?”
The singer smiled and replied, “My boyfriend wrote it, actually. Thanks for your appreciation. I’m Calista. And you?”
We introduced ourselves.
After chatting for a while, I went to the restroom. When I returned, I glanced near the entrance and spotted a familiar figure.
My eyes widened in disbelief as I stood frozen in place, uncertain, I called out, “Damian?”
The figure approached, tall and familiar, bathed in the colorful lights. I called out again, “Damian.”
But the next moment, I felt as though I had been struck by lightning.
He said, “I’m sorry, you must have mistaken me for someone else.”
Book 3: After Losing His Memory, He Married Someone Else
It was the same face I remembered, but the detachment in his eyes was something I had never seen before, completely different from the Damian I knew.
“I’m…” Before I could finish, Calista’s surprised voice interrupted, “Kia, you’re here!”
Damian moved past me to stand beside Calista, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear and murmured, “Sorry I’m a bit late.”
Stella stared in stunned silence.
Calista linked her arm with Damian’s and introduced him, “This is my boyfriend, Kiaan.”
Kiaan greeted us politely, “Hello.”
Stella looked at me, unsure of what to do.
I was equally at a loss. After three years of searching, I had only found out that my boyfriend didn’t remember me and was with another woman.
Noticing my distress, Calista asked, “Is everything okay?”
I lowered my gaze, struggling to control the emotions threatening to spill over, and shook my head.
The dim lighting in the room masked my expression, except to Stella.
Stella forced a smile and asked, “How did you two meet?”
Calista seemed eager to share her story:
“It’s a bit cliché, really. The first time I met him was three years ago, overseas. There had just been an earthquake, and when I found him barely alive, I took him to the hospital. When he woke up, he claimed was his girlfriend and followed me all the way to San Diego. That’s how we ended up together.”
“We considered reporting it, but since we weren’t locals and couldn’t find any of his family, we gave up after a long search.”
I couldn’t bring myself to look at Damian any longer and instead turned to Calista, asking, “He… lost his memory, didn’t he?”
“Yes,” she confirmed. “When he woke up, he didn’t remember anything. There was no identification on him, so he stayed abroad for three years. We only returned two months ago because we’re getting married.”