There was a loud beeping sound coming from somewhere around. Suffice to say it was irritating.
Timo waved his hand around to shut that annoying noise up.
He had such a weird dream while sleeping. His brain had cooked up images of his girl murdering someone in cold blood. And she had also turned on him in the end.
As the fog of unconsciousness started to lift from his brain it became clearer to him that he had actually seen her kill someone and then pull a gun on him too. It clearly wasn't a dream.
Timo was sure he was already dead. Killed by the girl he loved. Yet it didn't feel like he was dead.
He felt like a fool. After all that happened, he still didn't want to find any fault with her. He had a hard time deciding whether to cry or laugh about it. He was in deep trouble.
"Why hasn't he woken up yet?" He heard a familiar distressed voice in the vicinity.
'Wait!' He did a double take, 'Was that Vic?' His brain tried to make sense of the situation, 'He can't be dead too.' He had to make sure.
Timo opened only one of his eye to look around. At first, he saw a white wall. He blinked his eyes to clear the fog from his sight. It dawned on him that he was in a hospital. And that annoying beeping was coming from a nearby medical contraption.
"He is awake," Mui called out to the others scattered throughout the room.
"Wh-" Timo tried to swallow, "wh- where?"
"We're in the hospital," Kai answered, "You gave us all a big scare."
Timo swallowed again. It felt like he had swallowed sand, "w-why?" He wanted to make sure that it was just a dream after all.
Ray held a paper cup to his mouth, "Here, drink some water first."
Timo gladly accepted the water. As he was drowning it the guys told him how he came to be in the hospital. Apparently, he had missed out on lots of action.
"You were out for three days big bro," Mui said.
"Huh?" Timo was surprised, "Really?" No wonder he felt like dead fish.
"Yes in the after-party you were found unconscious." Vic answered, "There was some poisonous gas leak and you were caught in it."
"Gas leak?" He asked again. Why were the images inside his brain different then?
"You don't remember anything?" Ray's tone was laced with concern.
"No, I just-" He didn't know how he could explain his confusion.
"You might have passed out early." Mui reasoned. That made sense.
"Maybe." Timo said quietly, "Where is Shew?" Their talk couldn't wait.
"She was here." Vic supplied, "Poor girl was a real mess. Kai sent her home to get some rest before you woke up."
"She really cares for you," Mui added.
"Oh!" Timo was at loss for words.
"What is the matter, big bro?" Ray observed, "You seem lost?"
"Nothing, it's just my mind still isn't up to the par." Timo shook off his concern and smiled.
"Sorry big bro!" Vic apologised, "We didn't think. And the doctor said you can go home today so take rest while we do the paperwork."
"But what actually happened at the event?" Timo wasn't done prying for answers. Afterall the story he knew was a hundred and eighty degrees different from what his members were telling him.
Ray looked at him quietly for a moment- trying to assess how much information he should divulge. Nodding to himself he continued, "The minister and all his cronies were killed. No one else was harmed but later it was revealed that they were involved in some really shit worthy businesses." He bit back a curse, "They were committing fraud and what not to the country."
"Whoever did it deserves to be appreciated really, they were also involved in human trafficking and all." Mui felt grateful towards the person who put an end to the evil committed by these people, "This reveal was actually a big blow to people who were helping them."
Kai stood up annoyed, "Enough of those gory details now guys, let our princess here rest a bit." His firm tone left no room for further discussion.
"Let's go home big bro." Ray patted Timo on the shoulder.
Timo absently nodded his head. Seeing he was alright, the guys left him alone.
Timo looked around the room trying to find some distraction to squash the restless feeling that was rising within him. Her bloodshot eyes were on the forefront of his mind. He clearly remembered how there was not even a small tremble in her hands when she took a life. Her eyes were filled with pure hatred.
After listening to the cover story, he wanted to believe it rather than the truth which he had unfortunately witnessed.
He wanted to slap himself hard for not listening to her words. She had told him to get out of there and he didn't listen.
She had warned him to stay away from the beginning. But he had gone ahead and tangled himself with her.
But was it now possible for him to stay away? Was it possible for him to erase the truth and embrace her wholeheartedly? Was he strong enough let her go? Or was he selfish enough to keep her tied to himself?
He chuckled dryly. Shew's words 'we really need to talk' started to make sense to him in that moment. He would anything to reverse time and listen to her words and run from the place. He would gladly forget everything if that meant he could get rid of the horrible nausea rising in his gut.
Timo took a deep breath to try and clear his head.
He remembered how she stood by him when the scandal had broken out. She had told him how she managed to work through her thoughts and feelings by using logic.
Pulling a page out from Shew's book, Timo took another deep breath and tried to think logically. He hoped to make sense of where he stood after he got the big picture through the process.
He brought each and every waking moment that he spent with her to forefront of his mind. There weren't many but they were enough for now.
She was beautiful and charming in every memory. The night she broke his nose, her anger was endearing to him. He smiled despite the dilemma he was in.
He also hoped he was right when he thought back to the moment she shot him. Her eyes were filled with anguish and hopelessness. She was trying to save him. Otherwise, how could he still be alive? There was no other plausible explanation. Did that mean she cared for him too? Did she feel something for him too?
Coming back to his own feelings,
Walking away knowing her truth meant losing her and it was an unbearable thought for him. His heart felt like it was on fire just imagining a life without Shew in it. So pushing her away and moving on with his life was not an option.
He took the thought of being with her into consideration. Yes, he was an idiot but it felt right to him. It had many possibilities but her consent mattered a lot in this choice. He could only wish that Shew wouldn't reject him anymore. Afterall, he knew- what he assumed to be a part of truth.
Still the probability of losing her was prominent and it made him almost go crazy with pain.
After being discharged from the hospital Timo was huddled in the vehicle with the guys. He couldn't wait anymore, "I want to see Shew now."