At the hospital Inu was given different tests and assessments to determine his physiological and psychological developments. After all that, they were called to see the doctor for results.
Both Yul and Liya entered the doctor's cabin with Inu. The doctor was an old man with bald head and round spectacles. He was a specialist in his field and asked about Inu without further due.
"So, how old are you Inu?" The doctor asked gently to Inu who was now sitting on Liya's lap.
Inu just looked at his mother without replying. All the tests had exhausted him and he just wanted to go from here. Liya coaxed Inu and asked him to say his age. But Inu just turned and hugged Liya instead.
"He is four, doctor." It was Yul that replied.
"I know. I just wanted to hear it from him." Doctor said smilingly.
"Is he always this timid? Less to talk and fearful of others?" Doctor enquired more about Inu to Liya.
"Most of the time…yes he is… But he is not autistic. I have already checked it once." Liya replied.
"Yes. The results are the same. Your son doesn't have any genetic or other diseases. He is a bit undernourished but otherwise physiologically normal. So I guess the problem is psychological." The doctor paused and looked at both Yul and Liya in turn.
"What do you mean, doctor? He is retarded or such?" Yul asked in worry hearing the doctor's conclusion.
Doctor shook his head and replied, "not exactly... But that makes me ask, how is your relationship? I mean are you two not together?"
Liya and Yul looked at each other on hearing that question. Of course they couldn't tell the truth and at the same time they couldn't hide it either. Liya didn't know how to answer that. So she just caressed on Inu's head who was still hugging her without turning front.
Finally Yul gave the answer, a half-truth and half-lie, "We had some issues, so we were living separately and seldom met. I have never spent much time with my son. Is that the problem?"
"So are you still living separately? Please pardon my rudeness, but this is essential to know, Mr. Yul. After all I also heard about your marriage and that now you are here…" Doctor was blunt in his words but gave some leeway for Yul to explain.
"Yes, I understand. As I said, there were some…" Yul looked at Liya and then continued after a pause, "some…security issues. So… my wife and son were living abroad. Now that I have brought them back, we will be together from now on…"
Yul placed his right hand over Liya's shoulder and caressed Inu with his other hand as a gesture of protection and promise. Liya glanced at Yul because of his actions but kept it in and acted normal in front of the doctor.
"Okay…I get it. I will not pry more into it. So my conclusion is that your son lacks a sense of security. He is strongly attached to your wife and considers everyone else as threat. And this constant fear of others is what keeping him stunted."
The doctor paused and then turned to Liya and asked, "May I ask if he was born prematurely?"
Liya was shocked to hear that, because he was. She hesitated to answer but eventually said yes.
"I could guess so. You must have been in constant pressure while pregnant and that have substantially affected your son's growth. So now on give more time to your son..."
Then he turned to Yul and continued, "I mean the both of you. Give extra care in making him feel safe and loved, so that he can open up. Show him that the world is safe. I will prescribe some supplements and a diet. Make sure to follow it. If needed I can refer you a child psychologist…what do you say?"
Yul heard everything carefully and said after thinking about it, "I will consider that doctor…"
After they got the medicine and diet plan they left the hospital. Yul had many things to ask Liya, from the premature birth of Inu to the threatened atmosphere they lived. But he didn't ask anything and decided to do it later at home.
Yul drove them to the nearby mall, thinking about what Liya had said last day about purchasing some things. Moreover Inu was famished by the tests he had to undergo. So Yul took them to a restaurant to have something to eat first.
Inu was energized again on seeing food. He wanted ice-cream as expected of a child and Yul brought him whatever he pointed at. Liya tried to stop both of them but in vain. Liya and Yul sat against each other and watched Inu trying everything he brought.
"You shouldn't have brought this much. He isn't going to finish everything." Liya complained to Yul while wiping ice-cream from Inu's face from time to time.
"Then you should also have some…" Saying this Yul moved one bowl to Liya.
"I don't want it…"
"Why? You don't like sweet things?"
"No… I just… You brought it for Inu… so let him have it…"
"I brought it for you too. So have some…" Yul forced her while trying the pista flavour. "It's good…try it…" He said and again pushed the ice-cream bowl closer to Liya.
Liya finally submitted and started to eat it. It was tasty indeed. But she forgot that Yul had just eaten from it. By the time she remembered it, it was too late. Liya looked up at Yul on realizing what she did but he was enjoying seeing her and Inu eating. She also decided to ignore it seeing his face and continued eating.
"Liya…is that you?" A man's voice sounded from behind. Liya was startled to hear that and turned to look at the voice's owner.
He was young and handsome, almost the same age as Liya. From the looks of it, he was from a well off family and very refined. But Liya didn't recognize him.
The man came forward and asked again, "You don't remember me? I am Ishak… We were classmates in school… Oh! my...look at you...you haven't changed at all…"
Liya stood up on hearing all that from Ishak but she still couldn't remember anyone with that name. But very weirdly, he was very familiar also. She didn't want to take any risks, so she denied knowing him, "I am sorry…but I can't remember you…"
"What do you mean you can't remember? We were in same class… Oh! This must be your husband and son, isn't it? Nice to meet you…My name is Ishak, an old friend of Liya." Ishak was really acting all familiar and this made Liya more uncomfortable.
Yul sensed her nervousness and interfered quickly. He stood up and moved Ishak away from Liya. He said, "Didn't you hear what my wife said? She doesn't remember you. So please let it be and excuse us…"
Although Yul was polite in his words, there was an obvious threat in his words. Ishak took few steps backward and said, "Okay…fine… fine. I also didn't intent to trouble you. I am sorry, okay?"
As he turned to leave he said to Liya, "It's okay if you don't remember me now. We will have plenty of time in the future…After all I am back for good now!"
Liya was still in shock. She knew for sure that there was no Ishak in her class, but somehow she knew him but couldn't remember from where.
Yul came and tapped on Liya's shoulder. She was startled but Yul held her hand and asked, "Are you alright? Do you know him?"
"No, I don't remember such a name…" Liya said but there was something that still bothered her and she couldn't point out what.
"It's okay… maybe some paparazzi or something likewise. Don't take it to heart…" Yul comforted Liya.
"Are you done, Inu? Shall we leave?" Yul then asked Inu and this brought back Liya to the present. She looked at Inu, who now had ice-cream all over his face. She smiled on seeing his face and started to wipe everything off.
Yul stared at the way Ishak had gone. There was something very ominous in the way Ishak talked and Yul couldn't let it aside.