Figment

 

"They for sure are wrong. I should never have listened to Ralph. Ohhh I don't know how he is gonna react to it. Well, it was his idea anyway! I told him I didn't wanna see any doctor. But the stubborn jerk still convinces me! 'Do what your parents say, they know the best'. Huh!"

Perplexed between the thoughts whether to tell Ralph what the doctor said or to just brush it under the carpet, Hikaru juggled with his fingers in the back seat of their Bentley.

Appointments were scheduled many times but Hikaru always pulled something and ducked the confrontation. He kept on stating there's nothing wrong with him. Though his parents were supportive for most of his decisions, they were adamant about this one. The word has started to go around. Nakamuras were very respected among their community and neighbourhood. As we know, wealth brings friendship and respect. They had a reputation to maintain. Rich people have sources and one such source revealed to Mr Nakamura that people were talking about Hikaru and his 'condition'. Furious with such a remark, Mr Nakamura demanded the name of the person who was spreading such rumours. On revelation, there was nothing much Mr Nakamura could've done. It was Dillon, Hikaru's 10-year-old classmate. Dillon informed his family that Hikaru stays away from everyone else and keeps to himself. He never participates in any activity. Dillon claimed some people had caught Hikaru talking to himself. When they asked, he quickly brushes past them. 

Mr Nakamura was raging at this point. Though it was a child's claim and no one in their neighbourhood would believe in it, he always held Hikaru to be well-disciplined and a studious kid. It wasn't just a father's pride, Hikaru's grades and teachers agreed with this assessment. Though in every report, the remarks contained some expressions on how Hikaru can strive further and indulge more with other kids. But because of Mr Nakamura's stature, the remarks never caught any immediate attention.

"You are not to discuss anything which happened today in the clinic with anyone. Especially with your friend Ralph." Hikaru was anxious. He only had the janitor, their butler, Mason, and Ralph who listen to him without any prejudice. Others were always apathetic towards Hikaru. This day was turning out to be Hikaru's most unfavourable one. He had to share what happened today with someone. Someone who would listen to him without any condescension. The only person who flashed in Hikaru's mind right now was Ralph. But Mr Nakamura's stern voice had made a deep-rooted fear which Hikaru would never cross voluntarily. 

The sun was about to set. The orange sky tried to make Hikaru's anxious state of mind a bit calmer. Looking out of the car's window, he considered jumping away, running from this plethora of emotions. That might give him more time to process things. His by-the-book life had not prepared him to deal with shocks of this magnitude. However, when he remembered the pain from the bruises he got while cycling for the first time, the thought quickly vanished. The destination had come. The big lavish palace which everyone seemed jealous of was the last place on Hikaru's mind. One aggressive look from his Father made him hop like a rabbit out of the car, straight towards his room. 

Hikaru never cried. He was familiar with the feeling of fear and anxiety, though sadness hadn't touched him yet. A boon or a curse depends upon the person and their magnitude of sadness. Hikaru bolted his door and went over and over the discussion in the clinic. He thought of searching the correct term for it. There might be someone else, might be a group of people who were going through the same situation. "You shouldn't do that", came a voice from behind. "Ralph!", Hikaru turned in total surprise. Before addressing Ralph, he made sure the door was secured. 

"I don't think you should be here. Father was furious today at the clinic. They were saying all this stuff and I don't know how to process it. The doctor told me I shouldn't talk to you. I should make other friends", sighed Hikaru. "What do you think? Do you want to make other friends? You do remember how they treat you right? They only gonna mock you and you know when someone is trying hard to be your friend, it is because their parents had ordered them to be good with 'Hikaru Nakamura', is that the kind of friendship you want? Anyway, what was discussed today in the clinic? What did the doctor say?" Asked Ralph with demanding eyes and folded arms. "It's not that easy. I don't even know if it's a real assessment. He... He told me that you're just a figment of my imagination. A companion I created because of my inability to make friends. Which means that you're not real." Hikaru blurted this with wide eyes. He didn't blink even once. He wanted to see Ralph's reaction. Ralph was very objective, a quality Hikaru admired the most. Though, he wasn't sure that Ralph would take this news calmly. Hikaru had just declared Ralph was not real, that he was just a piece of his imagination. 

"So?" Ralph asked with a blank expression, arms still folded. "How does it make any difference? Didn't you always want a friend who stops you from making a fool of yourself? Who doesn't dismiss your idea at the blink of an eye? Who is your friend not because his parents told him but because he wants to be your friend? Isn't this you always wanted?" Hikaru now slowing breathing and blinking for the first time since he saw Ralph behind him said, "Yeah... But... But you're not real Ralph. You don't exist." Feeling a pang of unnecessary guilt in his throat as soon as the sentence left him. Then he ran his hand through Ralph and it went through him like he was just a mere projection. He wanted this to be false but his logical mind was winning for the first time. "I exist if you want me to exist", expressed Ralph with a significant concern in his voice. Right there Hikaru was sure that he can't afford to lose Ralph. He was the friend he always wanted. So what if he doesn't exist for others, he exists for him and he was real enough for him, that was enough.

"Okay. But what am I gonna tell Father? What if people see us talking again?" asked a concerned Hikaru. "I'll make sure I only bother you when you're alone. No more troubling you in school or any place outside." This time Ralph held Hikaru's hand and it didn't go through him. He was able to feel the evenness of his skin. The genuine concern for him was there in his touch. "Thanks, Ralph, thanks for always being there for me." For the first time, Hikaru felt his tears slowly sliding down his cheeks. Ralph was beaming but ever so slightly. Typical Ralph, dodging his happy-side even from Hikaru, the only person who can see him. "I should be thanking you. I exist because of you."