SHANIA
I regain my consciousness while hearing sobs beside me. I open my eyes and saw Chai crying. I'm already in a ward. Her eyes almost fell off if it wasn't for her optic nerves.
"Shy! Thank goodness you're awake!" She beamed jumping to hug. I crossed my hands to stop her.
"No no no, can't you see I'm wounded? I'm aching all over" I plead. She smiled awkwardly and returned to her seat.
I slowly sat right up while Chai assisted, maneuvering the bed.
"Is he okay?"
"Who? Ah him? Yeah, he's fine, although I heard his arm was broken"
I looked at her questioning her standard of fine. Fine? He broke his arm, so that means he's not. Thankfully, it's not life-threatening. I sighed in relief.
"Isn't he handsome Shy? He was so cool back there. If you two weren't injured I might have cheered. It's almost like a scene in kdrama"
"You... stop. Stop thinking like that, can't you see he's already injured because of me and, limit yourself from watching dramas it goes over your head" I scolded her. As if I'm the one to talk but at least if I can't correct myself, she can. Kdrama lied to us all. Falling then sudden closed proximity doesn't mean you'll be okay. Gravity is trustworthy enough to know that it will hurt.
"But you can't deny his looks, right?" She smirked. Yeah, he was gorgeous even with those blood drips.
I suddenly felt hot but arranged myself before she could see. I don't want to be both injured and teased at the same time. Now that I see it, there are bruises on both my arms and legs. This will take a long time to heal.
Then I saw familiar figures rushing towards us. It's my father and his sister.
"Shania what happened?" asked my aunt. She stood parallel to my bed. She still has lots of eco-bags filled with papers.
"I fell at the mall"
She stared at me from top to bottom and sighed. "I'll head to the counter first to see what needs to be done"
I nodded, seeing her walk away, I turn my face to my father who's been silent. I smiled meekly.
"I was lucky that there weren't many people below me. We could've made a human avalanche" I jokingly said.
He stared at me and then took a deep breath. "Yeah right or it would've been catastrophic"
We talk for half an hour about what happened and I also mentioned the man who I also dragged down.
"Did you ask for his name? We might need to reimburse him" my father said.
"We also need to pay him. He already settled Shania's bill. He also transferred to a different hospital" my aunt reappeared. Her phone rang playing Ed Sheeran's voice as its ringtone.
Her face dimmed the moment she answered the call. I can't see the future but I most likely can predict the predicament she's in.
"Aunt Meg, you can go now. I'm fine, besides Chanela's with me" I held my father's hand and said, "Dad, you two should go. Everything's already settled. I'll contact you later if we need something"
"Here, take this. It's the number Mr. Avareste wrote in his information. I can't follow it up at the moment, but we need to check up on him" she said picking up her things.
My dad kissed my forehead and smiled at Chai. "Chanela, please take care of her for me"
"Of course, Tito. She won't be falling anytime soon"
My father laughed as I mentally facepalm on Chai's sense of humor. Maybe that's why we're close. Both of us are weird. The two of them proceeded. I stare at the paper in my Aunt's handwriting.
Luc Avareste
09771684916
I was about to reach for my phone, but I'm not wearing the clothes I have earlier.
"Chai, did you see my phone?"
"No, I haven't. Did it fall on the escalator?"
Drat! It didn't fall. That's good but I think it was in my backpack.
"I left it in my bag," I said as I look at her seriously.
Chai looked at the digital black and red clock above my head. It was seven in the evening. The mall closes at eight.
"I'll get it. I should also buy us dinner" she smiled and left.
It wasn't exactly quiet since there were also patients left and right. He transferred huh. Luc. His name is so modern although he looked a few years older than me. I folded the paper and placed it under my pillow.
I'm back again to this place. It's been four years since then. It is as if I have been transported back to that day.
4 years ago.
"Ma... " I said weakly while tearing up. I kneeled in front of her. Her face paled as she saw me writhing in pain.
"Ma, I can't take it anymore" I sobbed.
"What's happening to you? Megan! Call your brother and get ready!" she shouted holding me. My lower right side ached so much that I can't even stand up. At a moment's notice, the three of us rode fast to the nearest emergency center in town.
I was pulled to lay on a stretcher and a few minutes later, a doctor came to check.
"Where does it hurt?"
"Here" I pointed at my lower waist. He gently pressed it and I ended up shouting in pain. He didn't say anything anymore and asked for an ambulance that will send me to a larger hospital.
"There's nothing I can do here. She needs surgery" He added.
I cling on to grandma's clothes. Surgery? They'll open me up? It's that serious. I'm scared. Then, another group of people entered the building. In my case, I was able to stand up. The person on the other hand was already unconscious. Both of us are pending to be sent to the hospital. Just waiting for the ambulance to pick us up.
My grandma and I sat in front, while the other patient lay at the back. I'm still tightly holding on to her. It was over an hour ride. It was the longest travel I felt I'd taken in my life. Halfway to the hospital. I heard a shriek behind me. It was terrible.
The patient died. While her guardian was in hysteria. Someone died, and all my mind could process I might be next.
When we arrived, I was guided to sit in a wheelchair towards a ward. I endured the pain throughout the tests they made.
What a merry Christmas eve. We get to spend it at a hospital. In those dark times, the person I leaned on was him. Since I couldn't show this weak side to my family.
Ring ring.
"Shania..."
"Sir... I'm scared"
"It's alright, I'm here"
At that time, not many words were exchanged but it was my comfort. The surgery was delayed for a few days, little did I know, he came. I was ecstatic. Why would he be here? His excuses was as if it was a lie told by a five year-old. He came for me.
He was always there for me as I was for him. That made me think there was something but it resulted to nothing.
"Shy..." A voice said. The sweet familiar voice that I know so well. I open my eyes. He was here. Just like the time, he went all the way. Though there were no butterflies this time. All I had were bitterness. It's not like there was something back then but it wasn't nothing neither.
"Ugh, hi sir. What brings you here?" I asked. As I was trying to sit up again he stopped me.
"No need to get up"
"Yeah, you shouldn't push yourself Shy" said the woman besides him.
You have no right to call me that. Both of you don't. I grimaced but I erased it swiftly and smile at them.
"Thanks for the concern. You shouldn't have went all the way here"
"How could I not? Not after seeing you like that"
Camille handed him a basket of fruit and he put it on the table top near my bed.
"We brought this for you. Hopefully you get well soon" she said.
Thank you for not bringing flowers or I might have think you're praying for my funeral. It's not that Camille is bad. She's nice. Well too nice. There was no flaw on her. Hence, made me even bitter.
My mouth began to ache while holding my smile. I'm also tired to continue with this facade. Looking at them doesn't make me feel better. Maybe because he sense that I don't want them to stay any longer or he's too oblivious and only wishes for my well being. They bid goodbye.
I felt a cold pour on my cheeks. I'm crying. Not only does my body aches all over, my heart joined the trend. I'm too drained to wait for Chai to come back. I pulled my blanket enough to cover my face and drifted to sleep.