Chapter 4: Farewell
His eyes softened, "Hang in there, buddy. I'll be there."
After he hung up the phone, he heaved a sigh once again as if he's carrying a heavy burden until his gaze went to her. He was about to say something but was immediately cut off by her voice.
"It's fine. You can just stop right there."
He shook his head in disapproval, "No. I'll take you home. It's my responsibility—"
"But your brother needs you." She said in a firm voice.
"No. I know he can handle it for the meantime—"
"Listen, Mr. He—"
"—I insist," His voice became serious too. "I dragged you here in my car earlier even if you didn't want to, right? So I have to take full responsibility. And besides, it's rude if I let a lady out of my car so about a no?"
She sighs at his eagerness.
"But your brother is more important. Family is, right?" She insisted again and the latter chuckled.
"You're persistent, aren't you?"
"And you're not?" He smirks.
"Fine. But still, I'll take you home."
"He Tian—"
"After I settled with my brother, okay?" She slightly tilted her head sideways when she didn't get what he said.
"What?"
"Would you mind if I'll take you with me? I'm not really comfortable if I won't—"
"But it's a personal matters—"
"It's fine. Just this one, okay? Don't argue with me anymore 'cause I won't let you." She snorted.
"Do I have a choice?" He grinned, "Nope!" popping the 'p'.
She sighs. "Whatever."
She saw him sigh in relief and immediately maneuver the car as fast as he could be.
When they arrived, she didn't move on her seat and looked at him.
"I'll just wait here." He stilled and his eyes looked at her with malice.
"You're planning to escape, aren't you?" She grimaced. That's what she'll really do. And it looks like he knows it already.
"Come on!" He went to her side and opened the door.
"Mr. He—" too late for her to argue 'cause he already removed the seat belt and just like what he did earlier, he held her waist and carried her outside the car.
"H-Hey!" She said in shock when he untangled his arms on her.
"Come on!" Then held her wrist and pulled her towards the hospital. She badly wants to argue again but her mouth won't move when she sees how his face turns weary. She doesn't want to trouble him anymore, that's why she pursues her lips and lets him drag her.
After a minute of dragging her, they stopped in front of a certain room and he let her go. He strode himself inside while she wait outside but since the door's open, she can hear and saw what's goin' on.
"Brother!" She saw a young boy who looked almost the same as Hex. His eyes are red and it's slightly swollen because of crying.
"How is she?" Hex asks and her gaze turns to the young woman lying on the bed.
"S-She was being revived earlier. S-She got a flatline." the boy confesses that he gaped.
"W-What?!"
"T-Thankfully, the doctor was able to revive her back to life. 'C-Cause if not, I don't know what to do..."
He sighs. "When will she wake up?"
"I-I don't know anymore," The young boy's tears begin to stream down on his face,
"B-Brother, I—I-I don't know how I'll live i-if she can't make it a-again..."
"If that'll happened, then you should continue your life and move on—"
"H-How?! S-She's my life!"
"And you think she'll like it if you throw away your life? We all know that she want what's the best for you—"
"B-But she's the best for me.." He whispered softly that made Hex stilled. He was about to say something when a soft voice appeared.
"B-Brother's right. I-I don't.. w-want you.. to stop from l-living even if I die..."
All of them stiffened and gasped.
"A'Nian!"
She smiles a little but turns firm again.
"L-Live.. okay? Even if I'm not going to stay.."
"Aliyah, you're going to stay with me. Please? P-Please? You'll stay, right? Y-You're not gonna leave, right?"
But she just smiled and stared at the white ceiling.
"Y-You know, I-I do wish to do many things in life..."
"Hmm? What is it? Tell me, okay? Maybe I can do something for you—"
"I-I want to meet her.."
"Who?"
A soft smile appeared on her lips. "I-It's my favorite author... M-Ms. Lu." She went rock solid upon hearing her pen name.
"W-When I was able to read her stories, it made me realize that life isn't permanent. A-And it was the most memorable when I had the chance to talk to her even if it was just online. I was so shameless back then because I even requested to say that maybe she can use my name in her next story," She chuckles.
"It was one of the best when she agreed to use my name. T-Then last night she posted the end of that story and as expected from her... it was a tragic one again." There was a mixture of amazement and glee on her face that made her smile. Her words and genuine emotion made her feel like there's a warm touch in her heart.
She looks like an angel.
"O-Our names in her story ended in a beautiful tragic way, Ziqi.."
"But we're not like in the story—"
"Ziqi." It felt like there's a thousand knives pierce their heart when she slowly shook her head.
"I-I'm sorry.."
"N-No, A'Nian—"
"S-Sorry because I want to take a rest—"
"NO!" He shout and stood from his seat,
"You promised me that you'll fight! We'll fight—"
"I-I did fought. I-I kept my promise that I'll fight . . . but I didn't say that we'll win."
Ziqi's face turns pale so that it looks like he was splashed by cold water.
"It was just so unfortunate for us to be together because as much as I want to spend my whole life with him, it's just too late for us to continue 'cause fate already untied our knots to be together."
Her lips parted when she heard those words.
Those were the last words in her story entitled Remember The Remaining and the character's names are Xiao Nian and He Ziqi.
This scene. This was the last scene of the story except for her and He Tian that are at the moment.
"T-Those were the last lines, Brother Qi"
"A'Nian..." He slowly sits again and holds her hand tightly.
This painful sight is giving her so much heartache. It felt like the story came into life.
"The story is entitled Remember The Remaining, it was about a girl named Xiao Nian who wants to spend the last moments of her life with her love named He Ziqi. J-Just like ours, isn't it?" She smile gently,
"And just like what A'Njan wanted in the story. I-I want you to remember our remaining times when we're together. Those times, Brother Qi. T-That's the best thing that happened in my life..."
"D-Don't, p—p-please..."
"A-Always be safe, okay? I-I—"
She wasn't able to hear what happened next because her feet seemed like it had its own mind. She found herself walking in no direction.
What happened keeps on repeating in her mind like a broken stereo especially when she said those last words.
****