When I woke up, a neck holder was around me, my head was bandaged, and a medical drip was hung up, leading whatever was in into my system through the tubes.
I slowly squinted my eyes and saw Henry seated in the left corner and Pearl on his right-hand side. "There is a press conference in a week's time; fix her," I heard Henry say.
I slowly turned towards the window on the right side corner. The sun was bright and up; I heard birds singing in the distance as the wind tussled the curtains. I wished I was like those birds; I could fly high above. A tear slowly crept down my eye.
"Awake?" I heard Pearl ask.
I simply ignored everyone in the room. I knew I was a prisoner here; Pearl couldn't provide any compassion towards me. After all, she was this family's doctor; she reported to her bosses, and obviously, I wasn't.
I heard the door close, an indication that someone had left. I hoped that both of them had left.
"I told you not to get on Henry's bad side. Nothing good comes out of it! Why don't you listen? You seem like an understanding girl," Pearl voiced.
I just blankly looked at her. Which bad side of Henry did I provoke?
When Pearl saw my state, she immediately stopped her words.
"Your injuries aren't life-threatening, thankfully. Only part of your jaw was dislocated; it's been put back in place. The bruises on your eye and neck will fade away by the time the conference approaches. The only issue will be speech; your vocal cords were affected, but they will get better in about two weeks," Pearl explained as if I should feel relieved about the situation. I just ignored her as I once again faced outside the window.
I heard Pearl sigh before she also left the room.
Evening arrived. I was informed by Demilia, who brought me some light food, that I had been unconscious for about two days. I simply thanked her for the food; I now simply didn't care.
The medical drip was almost done, so I sat on the bed and watched the sun sink down in silence.
The door opened, indicating that someone had entered. I didn't even turn around; whoever had entered could sort themselves out. I didn't have patience for anyone in this house anymore.
I heard the bed sink, a sign that someone had sat in it. "Demilia said that you will be okay by the time the conference approaches. A tailor will come around to take your measurements for the conference clothes. I know you will be the most stunning," I heard Henry say.
"I wasn't in my right mind last time, Shiba. I had some major problems at work; that's what led to such actions," Henry sighed as he spoke.
I internally sneered at his words, but I agreed with one of his sentences: he wasn't in his right mind. He was a total lunatic. Maybe he wasn't; maybe that's how he actually was? I didn't even know, and I didn't want to know.
I simply wanted to be as far away as possible from Henry. However, I didn't know how to achieve that.
"Pearl told me your speech was also affected? It's okay; there is no need for you to speak on that day," Henry elaborated.
Even if I was able to speak properly, I didn't want to have any part in the Charpil family's affairs.
A phone call interrupted Henry's next words, thank God! He then stood up and left.
Demilia would come to check on my situation and apply medicine to my injuries where needed every morning.
Five days passed in that routine. Henry hadn't come to bother me in my sick bed, and I was thankful for that. The tailor came to take my measurements on the fifth day; it was a slim man with glasses. One couldn't see his eyes clearly behind them, and I was also not interested in speaking to him at all.
"What a perfect figure! It fits my every fantasy of a fitting dress I had in mind. I will be sure to make you the most dazzling," I heard him say.
I only blankly glanced outside the window as he took the measurements; I didn't care how I looked that day.
"You seem so quiet," the man said as he wrote what I assumed were measurements in his notebook.
Why wouldn't I be? My vocal cords were damaged. Even if they weren't, I didn't have the energy to spare on anybody.
"Great! I am done," the man said as he packed up his belongings. He then headed towards the door; he almost ran into Henry, whom I didn't want to see.
"Jal, are you done with the measurements?" I heard Henry ask.
I slowly moved and sat by the window. I had recently developed a habit of watching birds; I loved their singing.
"What is so interesting outside?" I suddenly heard Henry ask as he leaned his chin on my shoulder, also looking outside the window. I guess he had finished his conversation with the tailor.
I simply ignored him and silently continued to watch the birds. I knew that there was a conference in five days; he wouldn't lay his hands on me if he didn't want the outside world to know.
"Hm? Birds? Did you know these birds fly high, but they have a limit to their flight? I heard that they could face some problems if they flew higher. Interesting creatures," Henry chuckled as he commented.
Henry then proceeded to go to the bed where I was nursing my health and sat down. He picked an apple from a nearby plate full of fruits and peeled it with a small knife that was beside the plate before putting the peeled fruit in his mouth.
"This apple is fresh! Hi, what do you think if we put on matching clothes on that day? I was thinking about that for the past three days," Henry faced my direction as he inquired.
"Oh, I forgot, you can't speak yet. Alright, let me leave the arrangements to Jal," he added as he fell on the bed, his back connecting with the bed cover.
I felt my skin crawl; I didn't want to sleep in that bed anymore.
When Henry left, I immediately changed the covers and asked Demilia for others. I then covered myself and silently thought about Henry's words.
I knew that he was hinting at something. Was he afraid that I would attempt to run away when I was outside? I silently laughed; where would I go if I ran? Home? My father would personally send me back.
Brother? I didn't want to ever burden him; he was now having a breather. It wasn't worth it for me to add to his burdens.
Three days quickly passed by, and just like the tailor had said, my clothes were delivered exactly that day.
I was told to try them on for feedback, which I did. The assistant took my picture and sent it to Jal before confirming that it fit, then left.
"Wow, you are really mesmerizing, Shiba! I can, for a fact, tell you that you will be the star of the day," Henry clapped his hands as he smiled and walked towards me.
Henry then turned me around by my shoulders, examined my face and jaw, then sighed."Well, I will personally introduce you to the public that day; they are dying to meet you," he said before leaving the room.
I then tried to remove the dress but found that my hands were shaking. I tried holding myself to stop the subconscious action, but I failed.
I didn't know why I was shaking. Was it disgust at being touched right now? Was it fear?I didn't have the answer to my thoughts, so I silently sat until my emotions cooled down.