Chapter 32: Clinic Visits
Orion hurried to the clinic, eager to check on Aria. As he pushed open the door, he saw Aria lying on the bed, her ankle still wrapped in a bandage.
'Ohh... Nasaan ang nurse? And Yuan?'
The room was quiet, with no sign of the nurse or Yuan.
Concern etched his face as he approached her bedside. Aria looked peaceful in her sleep, her breathing steady. Orion pulled up a chair beside her, sitting quietly, not wanting to disturb her rest.
He glanced around the clinic, wondering where the nurse could be. The room felt oddly serene, the only sound being Aria's soft breathing.
Orion realized he was still in his basketball jersey, the fabric damp with sweat from the game. Wanting to be more comfortable and presentable, he quietly slipped into the small bathroom in the corner of the clinic.
He changed into a fresh set of clothes he had packed in his gym bag, careful to move silently so as not to disturb Aria.
Returning to her bedside, Orion resumed his seat, watching Aria with a mixture of concern and tenderness.
He reached out, gently taking her hand in his, feeling a reassuring warmth.
As the minutes passed, exhaustion caught up with Orion. Soon enough, he drifted into a deep sleep while still holding Aria's hand.
Meanwhile, Aria stirred awake.
"..Huh?" Aria muttered.
Her eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, confusion clouded her mind as she realized Orion was asleep beside her, holding her hand. Flustered and caught off guard, she felt a rush of emotions—surprise, warmth, and a hint of embarrassment.
but Aria couldn't help but smile softly as she looked at Orion's peaceful face. His hand, warm and reassuring, held hers gently.
'Just a bit more,' Aria thought, her gaze shifting from their intertwined hands to Orion's serene expression.
She leaned in slightly, her heart beating a little faster as she brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead, tucking it behind his ear with a gentle touch.
Orion stirred slightly in his sleep, his fingers tightening briefly around hers, and Aria's breath caught in her throat.
"Sana alam mo Orion," Aria murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
She hesitated, unsure if he could hear her, but the sincerity in her words hung in the air. The clinic remained still in silence, except for the soft sounds of their breathing.
Just as Aria was lost in her thoughts, Marcus arrived, all sweaty from volleyball training. He burst into the clinic, causing Orion to stir awake.
Aria immediately removed her hand from Orion, feeling flustered by Marcus's sudden entrance. She shifted slightly in her seat, adjusting her posture nervously.
Marcus looked around anxiously, his expression filled with concern. He scanned the room for any sign of her.
Orion blinked, trying to wake up fully as he processed Marcus's arrival. He glanced at Aria, who gave him a quick, reassuring smile before nodding towards Marcus.
"Hey, Marcus," Orion greeted, his voice still groggy from sleep. "Nandito si Aria. She's doing okay now."
Marcus turned towards Orion and Aria, finally noticing them sitting together. He furrowed his brow in concern, noticing Aria's flushed cheeks.
"Aria, okay ka lang? Ang pula mo, may lagnat ka?" Aria's cheeks reddened even further, embarrassed by Marcus's observation.
"Oh, no, no, Marcus, I'm fine," she reassured him quickly, hoping to dispel any concerns.
Orion's mood soured slightly as he observed Marcus's concern for Aria.
Marcus, still focused on Aria, insisted, "Are you sure you're okay, Aria? You look a little flushed."
Orion cleared his throat, attempting to mask his discomfort with a forced smile. "Yeah, Marcus, she's fine. Natreat na siya ng nurse kanina pa,"
Aria nodded in agreement, hoping to ease the tension. "Really, Marcus, okay lang ako. Thanks for checking, though."
Marcus, always observant and mischievous, couldn't help but notice the unspoken connection between Aria and Orion.
He decided to give them some space. "Sige," he said, stepping back. "Mauna na ako guys, ingat kayo ha."
With a nod to both Aria and Orion, Marcus left the clinic. He grinned to himself, thinking about the way Orion had stayed by Aria's side, concern etched on his face. It was evident that their bond went beyond mere friendship.
"Siblings' bond, huh? Impossible," Marcus muttered under his breath, his mischievous grin widening.
Orion glanced around the clinic, noticing that Yuan and the nurse is still not there.
"Where's Yuan and the nurse?" Orion asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
Tinggg
At that moment, Aria's phone buzzed with a notification. She checked it and saw a message from Yuan.
"It's from Yuan," Aria said, showing the message to Orion.
"Sabi niya may importante siyang gawin, so she asked Sammer to check up on me instead."
"Sammer?" he asked. "Who's Sammer again?"
Aria smiled . "Isa sa teammates ko," she explained. "Yung kasama ko kanina before sa game, habang nag-uusap tayo."
Orion nodded, recalling the face of the teammate Aria had mentioned earlier.
"Ah, yung medyo short na kasama niyo ni Yuan," he acknowledged, connecting the dots. "I see."
The door then opened and Sammer came in. Her expression filled with concern as she approached Aria.
"Aria, Sorry talaga kanina. Di ko sinasadya,"
"Ayos lang 'yun, Sam," Aria replied, giving Sammer a reassuring smile.
Sammer sighed, clearly relieved at Aria's understanding. "Talagang pasensya na sa pagbangga,"
Orion glanced up as Sammer apologized again, her sincerity evident.
"Sammer, next time, just be more careful," he said gently but firmly, his concern for Aria's well-being clear in his tone.
Sammer nodded earnestly, "Oo, Orion. Pasensya na talaga."
Noticing Orion, Sammer continued, "Pinapunta ako ni Yuan rito eh. Pero parang may kasama ka..." She trailed off, indicating her intention to leave.
Aria smiled warmly at Sammer. "Okay lang Sammer. Thank you nga pala sa pagbisita,"
Sammer nodded gratefully, her expression softening. "Sige, Aria. Pagaling ka at byee," she said gently, turning to leave.
Orion noticed the wall clock and saw that it was 5:45 pm. Knowing that the clinic would close soon, he turned to Aria.
"Aria, 5:45 pm na, the clinic will be closing soon," he said.
Aria glanced at the clock, realizing the time. "Oh, you're right. Di ko na-notice. Tara uwi na tayo Orion," she said, gathering her things.
Orion nodded, gesturing towards the exit. "Let's go then. Hatid na kita since same naman tayo ng condo,"
Aria smiled gratefully, appreciating Orion's offer. "Sige, salamat."
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