Hearing the answer from Ansel, it made Heka clueless that he was hospitalized.
He guessed that the boy's face might just look similar. The words hung heavily in the air. The puzzle grew more perplexing.
But there was something he regretted. Previously he had decided to assume that it didn't happen at all. "Sorry, forget what I just said. I just recognized the wrong person." Heka said quickly to clear up the misunderstanding.
Even though Heka had asked to forget what he had just said, the boy in front of him remained fixated. His gaze was unwavering. Heka was not able to reach out to what he was thinking at all.
As Ansel seemed to know his confusion he offered an explanation to resolve his curiosity. His voice was soft. "If you feel like you've met me before, it means I'm not complete. That might be me, but it's just my spirit. Maybe, yesterday I had an astral projection."
Astral projection
The words hung in the air. It was mysterious, unsettling, deepening the enigma between them. Literally, it was the first time he had heard about Astral Projection.
Though the main point was the unfamiliar term made sense the profound difference that was emanating from the boy who was standing before him.
It was subtle. It was almost intangible. Though Heka was not able to pinpoint the exact nature of the difference.
"You must be confused." Ansel said firmly and quickly. "Anyway, sorry I can't explain everything. I mean not here." He paused for a moment. Then he asked Heka to hand his phone. He typed his phone number. "This is my phone number, you can call me at any time. I have to go back to my room right now."
As Ansel turned to leave, Heka suddenly realized that he had been holding his hand. Embarrassed, he quickly let him go. At least he already had his phone number.
In his mind he tried to remember and keep those words Astral Projection. The word echoed his mind, a mysterious and unfamiliar word. Determined to understand, he pulled out his phone and searched the word for the term on the internet.
Just as he was reading about the concept, suddenly, his mother called him and approached him and immediately wrapped her arms around him.
"Heka, what are you doing outside in the morning? The weather is still cold, let's go into your room." She said softly, but was concerned about lacing her voice.
"I'm waiting for you." Heka replied quietly.
With that, they turned and walked back together to his room. The chill of the morning vanished behind them as they stepped inside.
****
After they got to the room, his mother looked at him with gentle concern and asked. "How was last night? could you sleep at all?"
"Just a moment, only four hours." Heka swiftly replied.
He realized that his feelings had shifted unexpectedly. The heavy weight of worry that had plagued him for so long was beginning to fade by. For the first time, he didn't feel overwhelmed by anxiety or fear. As the insomnia that haunted his night was starting to lose its grip.
"That means today I can go home." He quietly. A small but there was a hopeful smile touching his lips.
He was immediately excited and packed up his stuff. Even though the doctor had not come and gave him permission to go home.
For him, it wasn't important at all. He was able to insist on going home today, regardless of what the doctor said. He didn't want to pay attention to their waning or recommendations. He knew well his body was definitely fine at all. Thus he didn't need special treatment or prolonged hospitalization.
All he needed was to sleep every night, rested peacefully. Even if it was for a few hours.
Meanwhile, his mother was preparing breakfast for her son. Literally, he got meals from the hospital.
But he had not taken any meals from the hospital, every time he was hospitalized. He was sick of hospital meals. That was why his mother always brought food from home or bought it outside.
"Let's eat first." This time his mother cooked Sirutteok.
He immediately ate his meals voraciously and finished every last bite. Heka was not picky when it came to food. His appetite was always hearty. Yet he preferred homemade meals, especially his mother's dishes.
After eating, a sudden thought struck him. He remembered that he was searching for something important. He immediately grabbed his phone. He began to read carefully. His thoughts focused intently on the information before him.
Astral projection or astral travel is a term used in spiritual science to describe an intention to experience something where the spirit comes out of the body.
For him the sentence was very difficult to understand, even though he had read that line many times. "If the spirit comes out of the body, doesn't that mean it's dead? Then why is he still alive and doesn't look like a person who has lost his soul?" The contradiction puzzled him deeply.
He continued to read the other lines.
Lucid dreaming: The experience can be triggered during a lucid dream when the person becomes aware they are dreaming.
"It makes sense. But it came for him. Not for me." He was disappointed when he found the logic lines. Throughout it made sense, but it was not able to resolve his curiosity.
Perhaps he simply didn't understand the concept at all. However there was something clear on his mind. He just needed to contact the boy. Yet, a part of hesitated, probably it was better if he let the things be for a while.
"But right now he's sick. I shouldn't bother him. I think I have to wait for him until he's out of the hospital and completely recovered." Heka thought quietly.
With that resolve, he put his phone down. He decided to give the boy the time before he found out himselft was being bothered by his presence.