★★VOUGES LODGE, APARTMENT 5★★
"You're coming back by this time,and your coming from the hospital,there's only one possible thing"
"Did you help someone?" Dreck asked, looking surprised at Jason.
Jason glared back at him, trying to hide his discomfort. A forced smile appeared on his face. "I helped out of pity. She was old enough to be my mother," he said, shrugging as they walked into the warm house, which felt cozy after the cold outside.
Dreck smiled and teased, "Oh, my kind-hearted friend! How about you treat me to dinner tonight?"
"How can that happen?" Jason replied, laughing as Dreck playfully shoved him.
"Speaking of which…" Jason said abruptly, sitting down on the couch, feeling the weight of their conversation. "I gave the nurse your number. She'll contact you soon."
"What? You gave my number to her?" Dreck asked, confused.
"I told her, 'Contact this number for payment when the bill is ready,'" Jason said, smirking.
"Are you serious? You help someone, and now you expect me to pay? This isn't how it works!" Dreck said, disbelief in his voice.
"What's worrying you? You can cover it," Jason replied, raising his eyebrows with a teasing grin. "Oh, and she has a daughter who might be pretty."
"You've lost it, man," Dreck said, rolling his eyes. He headed toward his room and added, "Just hope I don't get any calls about this."
"Am I still treating you to dinner tonight?" Jason called after him, keeping the teasing tone in his voice.
"Go treat your online girlfriend to a meal," Dreck said with a sarcastic tone as he walked into his room.
"I'm sorry, man…" Jason chuckled in response.
★★★The Next Day at the Hospital★★★
A nurse hurried into the hospital room where Mrs Jenkins was being cared for.
"Good morning, ma'am; how are you feeling?" she asked kindly.
"I'm doing well, thank you," Mrs. Jenkins replied with a smile.
"Um, a man asked to see you; he's waiting by the door…" the nurse said, slightly nervous.
"I told you I won't see anyone except my daughter!" Mrs. Jenkins exclaimed.
"Does that include me?" a voice asked as the door opened to reveal a man in a suit, looking like he was in his late 40's.
Mrs Jenkins glared at the man before turning her attention to the nurse. "You can leave now," she said firmly.
"Thank you, ma'am," the nurse said, quickly exiting the room.
"I assume they called you since Clio's number isn't on my phone," Mrs. Jenkins remarked, avoiding eye contact.
"Yes, that's right," he replied, his voice sounding a bit anxious.
"What's with that tone? You don't sound like the Jenkins I remember," she questioned, her suspicion growing.
"That's beside the point… What did you do to Clio today?" she asked seriously.
"Did she say I did something?" he replied with a mocking tone.
That tone—it was classic Jenkins.
"When are you going to stop? Why are you being so cruel to her? She is our daughter…" Mrs. Jenkins demanded.
"That sounds amusing…" he said dismissively.
"I don't think it's funny anymore. I'm going to file for a divorce. I can't let our daughter keep getting hurt by her father," Mrs Jenkins answered, her voice firm.
"Are you threatening me with a divorce?" he scoffed.
"It's not just a threat; you'll see it happen," she shot back.
"How dare you?" he said, tightening his grip around her neck.
"Let go of me…" she gasped, struggling to break free as his hold became suffocating.
★★★
"Hey, nurse, good day!" Clio greeted the nurse with a smile.
"Are you here to see your mom?" the nurse asked.
"Yeah, of course…" Clio replied.
"She's currently with a visitor…" the nurse noted quickly.
"Visitor?" She asked in shock "Can I get a description, please"
"A man, in his late 40's. About this tall….."
"Jenkins!!!" Clio screamed as she ran into the ward without waiting for the nurse to complete her statement
★★★
"No one is going to save you today, not even that fool you call a daughter…"
"Jenkins!" Clio thundered as she burst through the door, the heavy wood slamming against the wall with a resounding crash.
"Let go of her...NOW!" Clio shouted, her heart pounding as she took a daring step forward, adrenaline surging through her veins.
"Are you going to do anything?" Jenkins sneered, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Please, just let my mum go... I'll do anything you want!" Clio begged, dropping to her knees
"You are aware of my strong desire to avoid any further encounters with either of you?"
The words hung heavy in the air, dripping with bitterness.
"It is my fervent wish to wake up one day and find that both of you are no longer in my life," Jenkins declared with fierce determination, his eyes narrowing as he spoke.
"I… I.." Mrs Jenkins struggled to articulate her thoughts, her voice barely above a whisper. The pressure tightening around her throat made it increasingly difficult to speak. The blood pressure monitor, a stark and lifeless reminder of her fragile condition, beeped insistently, displaying a worrying reading of 200/140.
"Father, I implore you to release Mother," Clio pleaded, her heart racing with fear and desperation. She understood all too well the peril of challenging Jenkins directly.
As her voice rang out, Jenkins's grip on Mrs. Jenkins tightened ominously. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear, and hissed, "Just go to hell, dear wife..."
"No..." Clio screamed, her panic transforming into action as she launched herself toward the bed, desperate to intervene and protect her mother.
The monitor's beeping grew more frantic, a sonic alarm signifying the urgency of the moment. At that instant, a nurse rushed into the room, followed closely by a doctor, their white coats billowing as they entered.
"What is happening here?" The nurse cried out, her eyes wide with concern as she dashed toward the bedside. In that flash of panic, Jenkins quickly loosened his grip on Mrs. Jenkins; the tension in the room was palpable.
"Nurse, could you explain the significance of this alarming sound?" Jenkins posed, attempting to redirect the focus away from his actions, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of defensiveness.
Clio, still in shock, glanced at her father with disbelief, her mother's frail form trembling in her grasp.
"How did her blood pressure rise so drastically? She appeared stable just moments ago," the nurse explained, Mrs tone urgent but controlled as she relayed information to the doctor.
"We need to stabilize her immediately... she is exhibiting clear signs of distress," the doctor responded, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Did any incident occur before this spike in her condition?"
"Yes... He—"
"Nothing occurred..." Jenkins interrupted, his voice cutting through Clio's statement like a knife, effectively silencing her.
"Very well, you both need to step outside for now. I assure you, she will receive the care she requires," the doctor assured them with a steady, reassuring smile that belied the gravity of the situation.
"Thank you, Doctor," Clio replied, bowing slightly as she cast a lingering glance at her mother, her heart heavy with worry, before walking out of the room.
"Did anything significant happen?" the doctor inquired gently, his voice softened as he turned his attention to Mrs. Jenkins.
She drew in a shaky breath, gathering her thoughts, before finally whispering, "Yes, nothing of consequence," her words laced with an unspoken weight.
"You appear quite pale. It is entirely understandable if you would prefer not to discuss the events that transpired," the nurse offered empathetically. "I will prepare your medication now," she added kindly.
"Thank you, Doctor, thank you, Nurse," Mrs. Jenkins said with gratitude as she accepted her medication, a slight tremor in her hands.
The doctor and nurse exchanged warm, encouraging smiles, bowing slightly as they exited the room, leaving behind a stillness punctuated by the beeping monitor.
"I wish to awaken one day to the knowledge that both of you have ceased to exist." Jenkins's harsh words echoed hauntingly in her mind, evoking a torrent of emotions that culminated in tears streaming down her cheeks, each drop a reflection of her pain and fear.
As Clio stood outside her mother's hospital room, she felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her, and tears began to trickle down her face. The harsh words from her father played in her mind, creating a backdrop of despair that she was struggling to overcome.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached, and Clio turned to see a nurse making her way toward her, with a look of genuine concern on her face.
"Clio, how are you managing right now?" the nurse asked, her voice warm and reassuring.
Clio quickly wiped her tears away. "I'm okay, thank you," she said, though the shakiness in her voice hinted at her inner struggle.
The nurse nodded empathetically. "Your mother is in good hands and is going to be alright. We're here to take excellent care of her."
At that moment, Clio felt a flicker of hope. "Thank you for saying that," she replied, her voice filled with sincerity.
As the nurse turned to leave, Clio noticed something on the floor and bent down to pick up a crumpled piece of paper, finding a phone number written on it.
"Excuse me, I think this belongs to you," she said, holding the paper up for the nurse.
The nurse's eyes brightened, and a knowing smile formed on her lips. "You can keep that. It's the number of the person who helped your mother. He gave it to me right before he left."
Clio's heart raced at this revelation. She looked at the nurse in gratitude and nodded before stepping into her mother's room.
"Daughter..." her mother called, her face lighting up with a smile.
"I'm relieved to see you looking better, but the discharge has been set for tomorrow," Clio informed her, taking a seat by her side.
"Were you crying?" Mrs Jenkins asked, her tone playfully teasing yet concerned.
"No, I'm just trying to be strong," Clio replied, managing a smile, even though she was aware it was not entirely convincing.
"I'm your mother, so you can't hide your feelings from me; your eyes are red," Mrs. Jenkins remarked with a gentle tease.
Clio offered a small smile in response. "I knew you would see right through me."
"You should think about heading home. Don't you have school tomorrow?" Mrs. Jenkins suggested thoughtfully.
"I've decided to skip classes tomorrow," Clio said firmly.
"Why would you do that?"
"Because my mother is in the hospital, and I don't want to leave her alone," she explained, her smile sincere and purposeful.
Mrs. Jenkins brushed Clio's hair affectionately. "That shows how much you care. I love you so much."
"I love you even more," Clio asserted, the bond between them clear.
"By the way, I plan to file for divorce tomorrow," Mrs Jenkins shared, calmly presenting this significant news.
"I fully support that decision," Clio replied confidently, her smile unwavering.
"You are my rock, mum. I trust you completely. Whatever decision you make is the right one," She added with conviction.
Mrs Jenkins beamed with pride before pulling Clio into a warm embrace. "We will get through this together, alright?"
Clio nodded in agreement, feeling reassured by her mother's strength.
★★★The Next Day★★★
Jason stood confidently before the mirror, dressed sharply and ready for the day ahead. He checked his reflection—his hair styled neatly, his tie impeccably knotted, and his shoes polished to a shine.
"How do I look?" he asked as he turned to Dreck, eager for feedback.
"I can't think of anything negative to say," Dreck responded, rolling his eyes with a playful smile.
"Come on, show some enthusiasm. It's our first day at this new school," Jason encouraged him.
Dreck chuckled lightly. "Says the guy who often seems too serious."
"Was that necessary?" Jason asked, playfully feigning disappointment.
"Let's focus; time is valuable. We need to get going," Dreck said, playfully draping an arm over Jason's shoulder.
"You're supposed to lift me, not bring me down! Just grow taller," Jason teased, trying to keep the mood light.
"My charm works just fine, thank you very much," Dreck joked back as they moved toward the door.
"Have you received any updates from the nurse?" Jason asked with curiosity.
"No, nothing yet," Dreck replied, looking thoughtful.
"Why don't you consider visiting the woman you helped?" Dreck suggested, optimistic about supporting her.
"I trust that she's in good hands. Just make sure any bills are taken care of when she reaches out," Jason said reassuringly, giving Dreck a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"I'll expect prompt reimbursement for that, just so you know," Dreck said with a teasing laugh, prompting a chuckle from Jason as they finally set off.
***A Few Minutes Later***
As they arrived at Belgian High School, Jason and Dreck were struck by the vibrant atmosphere, filled with students interacting in every direction.
They stepped out of the car, presenting themselves as two well-groomed young men ready to take on whatever the day held.
"Wow..." Dreck exclaimed, surveying the lively scene.
"What's surprising? It's standard but an improvement over our last school," Jason replied, maintaining a positive outlook.
"Fair point. Let's head inside; we've got a new adventure ahead," Dreck said with determination, turning to Jason, who nodded in agreement and embraced the upcoming day with confidence.
As they continued walking down the hallway, Dreck suddenly stopped to pick up some stuff that had fallen on the ground.
"I'm really sorry about that," he said, giving a slight bow as he grabbed a book and handed it to the girl he accidentally bumped into.
The girl smiled a little and replied, "No problem, thanks!" before walking away.
Jason looked over at Dreck with a serious expression. "If you keep staring at your phone like that, you're probably going to bump into more people," he said, nudging him to pay more attention.