"You mean Chad is at the hospital now?" Rachel asked and her body began to shiver, but before Billy could answer her, Johanna had already said, "What? Chad is at the hospital?"
When she heard that Chad has already been taken to the hospital, she shot out of her chair and came out.
"Yes. Chad is at the hospital"
"Why? What happened to him?" Johanna asked.
"Chad got himself drunk yesterday's night. He drank 8 bottles of beer"
"What?" Johanna and Rachel were flabbergasted.
"And today, aunt found him on the floor in his room and his head was bleeding" Billy added.
"What?" Rachel started to cry. Her entire body was trembling and it looks like her world was going to collapse at anytime from now.
"Do you know why Chad is at the hospital right now? It's because of you Rachel. Chad has been thinking about you. He couldn't bear the pain anymore that's was why he drank himself into a stupor. I have known Chad for a very long time and he had never drank like this, but because of you, he drank yesterday. I understand why you are angry, but do you ever believe that he will do that to you. You are his life already. If you die, he dies. Mina did all those things to get him from you and you fell for it. Chad will never cheat on you" Billy said and his voice was filled with sadness and anger.
He wants to help Chad now. He can't just watch Chad continue to suffer like this. He just want to make Rachel realized her mistakes.
Rachel lowered her head and thought of what Billy had just said. She wanted to believe him, but they were still some lingering doubts in her mind.
"What's wrong with you Rachel. Can't you see that he is telling the truth" one part of her mind said.
"Are you dumb? Remember the photo sent to you. Remember what Mina told you. Don't believe him" the other part said.
Which one will she believe now?
She raised her head and tears flowed down her cheeks like stream. It's true that without Chad in her life, she is nothing. Chad is the light that shines in her life and without him, her life will be in a complete darkness.
"Are you coming with me or not?" Billy asked.
Rachel looked into Billy's eyes and said, "I will go with you"
Finally, she has made up her mind. Everyone makes mistake in a relationship.
"Okay, let's go" Billy said and they left the house together with Johanna.
At the hospital.
The doctors quickly checked on Chad as soon as he was brought to the hospital. His wounded head was bandaged and they ran several tests on him. Mrs Torres, her husband and Mina watched him from outside through the glass door.
Soon, an IV was inserted through Chad's skin into one of his veins, then he was given oxygen through a nasal cannula and a pulse oximeter was attached to his finger. A female nurse quickly checked the rate of the fluid dripping from the bag into the IV before leaving the room.
Finally, the doctor came out from the room and removed his mask. He looked up at them and said, "Your son has gastritis- inflammation of the lining of the stomach. He has drank too much of alcohol and right now, he needs to rest and also, his head has not stopped bleeding too. We will have to change the bandage daily"
"When will he wake up?" Mrs Torres asked.
"It might take two days or three or even a week, but that depends on his will to wake up" the doctor said.
Mrs Torres turned to look her son again and burst into tears. Her son is in a coma now. Mina rushed to hug her and patted her back gently. "Aunt, Chad will wake up soon, okay? It won't take a week. Don't cry"
"Mrs Torres, don't cry. Your son will be fine. Anyways, we are all here to look after him and your prayers will help too" he paused for few seconds before saying, "If you will excuse me, I have other patients to attend to"
"Thank you doctor" Mrs Torres said and shook hands with the doctor.
"You are welcome sir" the doctor said and walked away.
Mr Torres turned to his wife and patted her back. "Stop crying, okay? Chad will be fine. He is a strong young man. He won't give up on his own life"
Mrs Torres looked at her husband and continued to cry
"But..."
"No buts" Mrs Torres immediately cut her off. "Come and sit down. It's bad for your health to stress yourself" he helped her to a seat near Chad's room. He turned to Mina and said, "Go and get her water to drink"
"Okay uncle" Mina nodded and as she was about to leave, she saw Rachel coming towards them.
"What's she doing here?" Mina's eyebrows knitted.
"Who is here?" Mrs Torres asked and turned her head to the direction Mina was facing. Her face turned red as she saw Rachel. She shot out of her chair angrily and yelled, "What are you doing here Rachel?"
"Ma'am, I am here to see Chad. I heard that he was brought here. How is he doing?"
"Thanks to you my son is in a coma and I don't know when he is going to wake up" Mrs Torres glared at Rachel.
Rachel froze. Her body began to tremble when she heard Chad is in a coma. Tears began to fall from her eyes as she said, "Ma'am I want to see..."
Before Rachel could complete her sentence, Mrs Torres had already slapped her on the face which made Rachel fall directly to the ground and before she could get up, Mrs Torres had already pulled her up with her hair.
"My son is here all because of you and you dare come here to see him. You are a witch" Mrs Torres yelled.
She blamed Rachel for everything her son is going through. Rachel has been Chad's problem since they met.
"Ma'am please, I just want to see him" Rachel cried out in pain. She closed her eyes and tears began to fall.
Mina was enjoying the show. She was very happy that Rachel is suffering in the hands of Mrs Torres. She couldn't help, but smile. Mr Torres got angry immediately he saw his wife maltreating this poor child. He rushed over and pulled Rachel away from her.
"Why are you treating her like she is nothing. She is Chad's girlfriend remember" he shouted at his wife angrily.
Mrs Torres trembled with rage. She hated the fact that her husband is always supporting Rachel. She stared at her husband angrily then at Rachel. "I won't spare you witch..." she grabbed Rachel's arm and dragged her away. Mr Torres wanted to follow them, but he was stopped by Mina.
"Uncle, stay here with Chad, okay? I will go after them. You don't have to worry about Rachel. I will help her" she smiled.
"Thank you" Mr Torres smiled and Mina nodded before walking away.
Outside the hospital.
Mrs Torres was still pulling Rachel out of the hospital with her hair. "You witch! I will make you suffer" she said and pushed Rachel directly to the ground.
"Aunt let me deal with her" Mina voice sounded from behind. She walked over and smiled evilly, "Aunt, you don't need to waste your energy on her. I will teach her a lesson for you" she said and grabbed Rachel's hair.
"Ouch...Mina stop this nonsense" Rachel cried out.
Mina pulled Rachel up with her hair so she can stand up straight then she slapped her on her face three times. Rachel fell to the ground with her hand on her cheek. Her lips were bleeding and her cheek was red hot. As Mina raised her hand to slap Rachel again, she felt someone grab her hand. She turned back to see who it was and to her surprise, Johanna was standing beside her and Billy was standing behind her.
"Who gave you the guts to hit my friend?" Johanna glanced at Rachel who was still laying on the floor, crying.
Johanna and Billy were in the car waiting for Rachel to come out of the hospital and when Johanna saw Rachel been beaten up by Mrs Torres and Mina, Johanna couldn't take it anymore. She climbed out of the car and rushed to help Rachel. Billy also got down from his car and followed Johanna.
"Mina I will make you feel ten times the pain Rachel is feeling right now" Johanna said with a cold voice and slapped Mina twice on her face. Mina fell to the ground and held her cheeks. She raised her head to look at Johanna, but before she could opened her mouth to talk, she had already received another three slaps from Johanna. Her face turned and she hit her head on the floor. This time, not only her cheeks, lips and head were hurting, her entire body was trembling. She reached out her hand and saw blood.
Billy immediately rushed to Johanna and pulled her to him before she does something stupid again. Billy bent down and carried Rachel in his arm and they left.