Luna didn't say anything as she was rendered speechless with what Corinne just told her.
"Luna? Luna, are you still there?" she heard from the other line.
"I am," she replied, but her mind was almost blank, her eyes in a blur as tears started to hinder her sight.
"Are you coming or not?" Corinne asked.
"What do you mean they're leaving?" Luna finally said what was really on her mind.
Why's Jasper leaving with Aiko? They're leaving together? What the hell was happening?
"What? I thought you already know. Aiko said she told you last night."
"No, she didn't tell me anything."
It would take her at least two hours if she left now. It would be pointless to go to the airport since the City Hospital was too far.
"What?! That bitch! I knew something was wrong when she started befriending you. Where are you now, Luna? I'll give you a ride if you're at home."
Luna shook her head and leaned against the wall. She blinked to clear her sight and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. All the pieces started to fall into their right places. It made sense to her now, and she realized that she really fell into Aiko's schemes.
Aiko …
She treated her like a sister, and she confided her problems to her. Why did Aiko betray her? Was their friendship a ridiculous sham since the beginning? Or was it because Aiko was in love with her boyfriend? Something that she denied and refused to believe when Corinne pointed out that possibility a long time ago.
"No need for that, Corinne. I'm visiting my mom at the hospital right now. I can't come," she whispered.
"Tell me the truth, Luna. Did you have a fight with Jasper or something? He's in a bad mood, and here I thought it was because you're late."
What could she say? Even his departure was kept from her. He didn't even bother to give her a call or leave her a message informing her about his plans.
"I'm fine, Corinne. I'll call you back later, alright?"
Luna disconnected the call. She could feel her heart breaking at that moment. Is this Jasper's way telling her that he couldn't be with her anymore, and they had to part ways? Did he really succumb to his parents' pressure to break up with her?
'Why, Jasper? Why?' Her mental turmoil grew heavy, caused by difficult problems that kept on dragging her down.
Didn't he say that he would protect her and their relationship? Why's he leaving now? But she's the one to talk! What else could she say to him now that she lost her chastity to another man?
"Sis? What happened? Why are you crying?" A familiar voice called out to her.
"Julian …"
Her younger brother was standing at the other end of the hallway, looking at her with a worried expression in his face. His hair was disheveled, and he was panting like he just had a marathon run on his way to the hospital.
Julian came running to her with concern. He held her arm and looked around.
"Did something wrong happen to Mom? Why are you crying here?" Julian never thought he would find his elder sister cry in a public place. She was always the one kept on telling him not to let himself get carried away by his emotions.
"No, she's okay. Don't worry about me." She avoided his questioning gaze and pulled herself out of his grip.
"She's inside. Go and accompany her for a while. I'll talk with her doctor."
She sounded very dejected, but Luna didn't care. She couldn't face everyone with a smile and pretend that she's okay when she wasn't.
"Sis!" But Luna already left and didn't bother to look back at him.
Fortunately, Luna still had enough time to fix herself and calm down before meeting the doctor. She'd have to focus on her financial problems rather than worrying about her broken heart.
"She's recovering well. Just make sure that she wouldn't force herself and remind her to take her medicines on time. I'll go and tell the nurses that she has my approval to go home next weekend." The doctor said after he flipped the pages of the medical record in his hand.
Luna sighed in relief. One problem down and several issues to deal with. She said her thanks and bid goodbye to the doctor.
She was on her way back to her mother's room when her phone rang once more. Checking at the screen and seeing who was calling her, Luna groaned. Why couldn't these people leave her alone?