"Sweetheart, wake up..."
"What happened to her? Why isn't she opening her eyes?"
"I don't know exactly, Aunty. She didn't tell me anything. So I have no idea."
"What are you saying? She told me that she was gonna attend a birthday party of one of her friends. How come you don't know? Aren't you her best friend? Plus, isn't this dress yours?"
"This dress? Mine? No way... I... I mean... Wait, did Anna tell you that?"
Two familiar voices made Annabella wake up from her deep, long sleep. With a soft growl, she rubbed her eyes, slowly opening them and looking around, having no idea of what was going on.
When Mrs Parker saw her daughter finally wake up, her eyes brightened up and she held her hands, throwing tons of questions at her.
Annabella blinked her eyes as she looked at her talkative mother like a fool before snapping back to reality, spitting out, "Where am I?"
Mrs Parker let out a soft sigh. "You are in the City hospital. Someone told me that you suddenly passed out. I was so scared you know. What exactly happened to you? How did you faint all of a sudden? Is it an accident? I really have no idea."
"Mom." Annabella held her aching forehead. "Don't ask too many questions. My head hurts."
Mrs Parker caressed her hair guiltily. "I'm sorry, dear. I'm worried. That's why."
Annabella closed her eyes. Memories of the previous night came crashing down to her mind, making her fling open her amber eyes. She flinched and got off the bed, exclaiming, "Gosh! That boy! He is in danger."
Mrs Parker's ears perked up. "What boy? What are you talking about?"
Annabella dropped her shoulders. She knew she couldn't get away with her mother that easily. Hence, she had to tell her what had happened.
"God! He almost died, didn't he?" Mrs Parker blurted out when she learned the whole story.
Her mother's scary words made Annabella's heart squeeze in fear. She quickly wore a light blue coat over her hospital gown, getting ready to leave the ward.
"Where are you going?" Mrs Parker asked worriedly.
Annabella paused for a second to answer her. "I have to find him, Mum. He saved me after all."
"Wait." Grana rushed to her side. "Let me accompany you."
Annabella nodded her head. Just like that, they found themselves in front of the receptionist's glass table.
"Aren't you a patient? Where are you roaming around? Go back to your ward." Instead of asking what she needed, the receptionist, who looked the same age as Annabella scolded her with a raised eyebrow.
Annabella shook her head. "I'm fine, literally. I want to find someone. He's Damien. Do you know what his ward number is? Please tell me what it is. I'm his friend."
The girl frowned. "Damien?"
"Yes, Damien," Annabella confirmed.
The girl let out a sarcastic sneer. "Miss, do you think I can find whoever person you want to with just a single name? The heck! Tell me at least his surname, will ya? Ugh!" She rolled her eyes, not planning to hide her annoyance.
Annabella exhaled a long breath. "I... I..." She stammered. "I don't know..."
"Gosh, this woman! What a waste of my precious time!" The receptionist rolled her eyes again. "Miss, don't test my patience. Please back off. I have so many important stuff to fulfil."
"No." Annabella put her hands on the glass table, leaning closer to the receptionist. "Please, at least give it a try. You can tell me all of them. I'll visit every one of them and find out where his ward is. Please..." Annabella begged, her eyes tearing up.
"Oh, what a psychopath! You're even babbling that he's your friend. What kind of friendship is that? You don't even know his name. Just fuck off, you waste of oxygen."
Grana gnashed her teeth in anger when she heard that girl's murmur. She pushed aside Annabella, reaching out her hand to grab the receptionist's neck. "You! What the hell did you say?"
Her roar rang through the entire place, making other people glance in their direction. They even forgot their own problems as they gathered around, secretly hoping to enjoy the little drama.
The blonde girl was so scared that she almost fell over her chair. "Miss, Miss..." Her pride faded away. "Calm down. I'll try my best to find you guys' friend." Her forehead was covered in sweat.
"No need. Just go to hell," Grana spat out, holding Annabella's hand and dragging her away.
Annabella was confused and a bit upset. "Why did you do that?"
"Why did I do that? Can't you see? She stomped on you!"
"I know." Annabella let out a soft breath. Her face looked tired. "But how are we gonna find him? We don't have another choice."
Grana pondered for a moment before shaking her head. "No. We do have a way to find him. You said he's your friend, right? Then you must have his phone number!"
"Yeah! I completely forgot it!" Annabella smacked her own forehead. Then she took out her phone from her gown's pocket, scrolling through it. Fortunately, she had saved his number, just in case.
With a throbbing heart, Annabella pressed on the green icon.
----------
'Knock Knock Knock'
"May I come in?"
"Hmm..."
Richard opened the door to the ward with a smile on his face. He put his suitcase on the bedside table before taking the couch next to the hospital bed.
"Looks like someone is so happy," Damien scoffed loudly.
His back was wrapped in bandages. Not only his back but also around his head and his upper arm. He looked like an Egyptian Mummy.
"On the other hand, you look pitiful," Richard's grin widened as he spoke.
Damien looked away, annoyed. "Are you even my friend, Mr Richard? Let's end our relationship from now on." He said, pretending to be serious.
Richard wiped his fake tears. "Are you breaking up with me? So heartless!"
Damien rolled his eyes. "Am I your boyfriend or something?"
Richard laughed out loud. "Don't be mad. I know you are a rock. So there's no need to worry about you."
The teenage boy nodded his head. "Well, I'll take it as a compliment."
"Whoa! Narcissistic!"
"No, I'm not. But you are... Of course."
"Hey, hey. Let's be serious and get down to business." Richard said trying hard to prevent himself from smiling further.
Damien shrugged his shoulders. "I'm always serious."
Richard didn't pay attention to his words as he opened his suitcase. "I think you found the ring, didn't you?"
Damien threw a black ring at him. Richard caught it using his right hand, praising him. "Wow! You're incredible."
"It's not even a piece of cake. Just a handshake." Damien winked at him with a smirk.
Richard shook his head with a smile. "Didn't he notice it though?"
When he heard that, Damien rubbed the corner of his forehead, using his thumb and index finger. "I don't think so. He was distracted by something... Maybe... Because of Annabella. I dunno."
"Annabella?" Richard furrowed his eyebrows. "The girl you rescued from that rapist?"
"Yep."
"How come she got involved in this case as well?" Richard asked, taking a sip from the glass of water he poured himself.
"Maybe... As my girlfriend?"
'Ptui!'
Richard spat out water on Damien's face as he coughed.