Ate Thea!
Nandian ka pa ba?
Hello readers. Forgive me for the late update. I have been scatterbrained this past few days, and books did occupy most of my time. I promise to make it up to you until classes start again, okay? ---
16: Infirmary Rules
“You know what? I’m going to strangle you for making me worry too much. You know how scared I am when I find out you’re missing? I felt a lot worse when they found you!” Irene’s voice was going to take my left ear off. She was gripping on my left hand, tears falling in it. I want to stand up and wipe her tears away. Seriously, crying Irene? I thought my ‘brother’s’ the only one who could make her cry.
“Don’t strangle her Irene. Instead, strangle me! Strangle me with your love.” That earned a smack from Irene. My brother still managed to sound fine despite my appearance. I didn’t look that bad, did I?
“I would strangle you in the neck. That would be better.” Irene’s tone was deadly. My brother must’ve been pissing her since they got to where I am. James should know better.
“Add some kissing! That would be hot.” My brother said suggestively. I heard the plastic chair move and some footsteps stomping the linoleum hard. There was a slap, then a... Moan? Good heavens! What are they doing?
“I told you to watch over her, not make out in front of her.” That was Mom’s voice. Mother! It gave me more will to open my eyes, but it felt heavy. I couldn’t move my body, like a ton of rocks have been above me. My mouth couldn’t even move. What’s happening to me?
“Sorry Mom.” James apologized. Mom? He’s also my brother in this lifetime? He told me he’s not! That guy would have a piece of my mind for not telling me the truth about him and for disrespecting my silence by making out with a friend of mine. I really need to wake up.
“Did she wake up already? It’s been a long week.” I felt my bed sink in on my right side, a hand brushing my fallen hair. I wanted to hug Mom right now. She really is here.
“Not yet. But Altris said she’s stable now. She must be awake already. The drug has left her system, though she’s still healing.” I heard them both sigh. A week? That’s too long for a sleep. If they’re talking about drug, maybe I was in a coma, a drug-induced one. My wound must be that bad. I could clearly remember everything that happened, but I wouldn’t want to reminisce on that part.
“Did he visit already?”“Not even once. As soon as she’s out of the operating room, he went out and didn’t even look back.” James sounded worried, tired, and lost. So he didn’t even mind knowing if I was fine? Maybe he saved me out of pity. Maybe that’s the reason why we failed before – it’s all because of having grudges.
“He loves her. It’s not easy to look at someone knowing that what happened is your fault.” James must’ve sat too, because the bed sank lower.
“It’s not his fault. Nobody knew that would happen. Maybe he’s still angry with her. They’ve been to a quarrel last week before she stumbled in the woods and got captured by those hags.” Maybe that’s the reason why he couldn’t even face me. I didn’t know what to think now. Angry or not, Andrew should have had the will to visit me. I wanted to punch something so bad right now. He should’ve let me die in that room. Why did he save me? I ‘m sure he wouldn’t come up with a plausible reason. He would just fill me his lies. I felt my hand – as in my physical hand – clench to a fist.
“Wait. Mom. Her hand is moving.” James noticed the change. He touched my hand.
“Open your eyes for me, Elizabeth. Open. Please open it.” Mom urged, tapping my shoulder. I tried to open my eyes. Light was flashing above me, making it hard to see. James noticed my problem and turned the switch off. Blinking my eyes, I adjusted it so I could clearly see my visitors.
James was wearing a fitted white shirt and dark wash jeans. Mom was wearing a white crisp polo shirt and high wasted beige pencil skirt. Both of them looked haggard, as if they didn’t sleep for days. When my eyes danced between the two of them, they flash smiles and attacked me with touches. This is what family feels.
“Thank you. Oh thank you for waking up.” Mom carefully wrapped her arms around me. I wanted to say to her how much I miss her and love her, but the distraction in my throat didn’t help much. A groan just escaped my throat. Ugh. I want this tube out of my throat now.
“I’ll call Altris and tell him you’re up so they could remove that in no time.” Mom kissed my forehead before going out of the room. That left me with James. I was looking intently at him. He noticed me and approached the bed.
“Hey li’l sister, glad you’re up now.” I rolled my eyes on him. He laughed faintly and played with my hair.
“Rolling your eyes now? Ha-ha-ha. Really bad you can’t talk. Anyway, what do you feel? Any pain?” I tried to move my head from side to side, but my head was heavy too. Another groan. James found that amusing.
“I’ll take that attempt as an answer.” He pointed out. I rolled my eyes again. Is this the only thing I could do?
“So you know the truth now?” Good thing he directed the topic to what I wanted to know. I tried to move my hand – with tremendous effort – and spelled
‘Yea. Ears, I hear.’ in it. He nodded and shrugged.
“I’m sorry we lied. Mom wanted us safe, so he sent me here before Dad knew it. Dad is, uh, he’s bad that’s why I was sent here. And we used to be so close. And he tempted me to join his army. I answered no of course. Me helping them? Over my beautiful body!” James waved his hand. He distracted me with the last line, but I wasn’t going to get that. He told me that Dad is bad. I raised an eyebrow on him.
“If you want to know whether your father is bad or not, then yes. Your father is the bad guy.” Mom entered the room, Altris behind her. Behind them were 2 nurses.
“We’re going to remove the tube and put something else to replace it.” Then they removed it. They put a tube that goes below my nose. As soon as the tube was removed, I tried to breath deeply. That made my chest hurt, like I was pierced by needles. Altris placed a hand on my shoulder.
“No deep breaths for now, young lady. You would like your lung to heal nicely, wouldn’t you?” The nurses handed a clipboard to Altris and left.
“C-Collapsed? W-What’s the d-damage?” My voice sounded like one with a bad case of tuberculosis. I braced myself for the list of my injuries.
“You lost a lot of blood, which didn’t help us at first. You got head trauma, after that wall throwing thing. You got a broken arm, a lot of cuts in your body, and 4 of your ribs are broken, causing the collapse. Apparently, one of the ribs pierced your lung. It was all in your left side. We almost lost you.” He shook his head, as if removing a bad thought. They almost lost me? Too bad I still woke up. I looked at Mom and James, who were looking at me sympathetically. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine what I look like right now. Some frail damaged girl wrapped in white cloth and bloodied bandage; that’s a wow. The door opened again. In curiosity, I opened my eyes and regretted doing that.
“The council has been waiting for you, Mrs. Hopkins, Dad.” Andrew was clad in blue scrubs, the words ‘infirmary volunteer’ sewed neatly at the chest pocket. A blue beanie was in his head, holding the hair. I was stiff in surprise; he has got the nerve to come here. Anger boiled in my blood, wanting to push that majestically looking guy out of my room.
“Thank you for reminding us Andrew. We’ll be there shortly.” Mom answered, looking back at me again. Altris, from the corner of my eye, was smiling. I huffed lightly, careful not to hurt myself again. The said doctor offered his hand and escorted my mother.
“Watch over Elizabeth here, will you?” Altris said to James before disappearing at the hallway. There was an awkward silence enveloping the three of us. James groaned and threw a frustrated expression on my direction.
“The two of you, talk. Just talk and settle things, okay? Don’t do something I wouldn’t! I’ll be sitting outside.” James tapped Andrew’s shoulder before disappearing. Oh great, just great. I’m stuck with someone who wanted me dead. I tried to press the small button in my palm for morphine to rush with my IV, but there’s no change in the flow of the fluid. Andrew walked casually until he’s on my left – the battered part of my body. What would he do, kill me? Thrust a sword in my heart? Turn the machines off?
“You’re awake.” He said monotonously. I shrugged; what a way to start a conversation, stating the obvious. My eyes diverted to the curtains, trying to find the color amusing.
“You’re awake. They didn’t even tell me.” Still I didn’t look.
“You’re awake. They didn’t tell me. What the hell is wrong with them?” He pounded his hands on the wooden table, the contents of it rambling with the strength he has put. I jolted deeper to my pillows. Andrew didn’t faced me, but I saw his tears. My heart suddenly dropped at his agony.
“I never thought.. I shouldn’t have.. I should be.. I was the reason why they got you easily. I should have been there to tackle those mongrels.” He continued blaming himself, ranting whatever entered his mind. Slowly, I tried to reach for him. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and tell him he has nothing to do with it. He caught my movement and reached for my hand, holding it delicately. He set himself beside me.
“N-N-No fault.” I tried to say. He heard my croak and hushed me. His breath smelled so nice, it made my mouth water.
“Just let me wallow and feed myself with blames.” I tried to look mad.
“N-No.” I tried to say, reaching for his face. He moved closer.
“I’m sorry I’ve been a jerk. I’m sorry I lost my patience. I know it’s not enough to say sorry. Just please, let me make it up to you, okay?” Instead of the lips, he kissed my forehead – a kiss of reconciliation and bittersweet love. I pouted a little, making him laugh.
“I love kissing your lips, but that would be against the infirmary’s law in public display of affection.” I huffed silently.
“But I love you nonetheless. And these wounds didn’t matter. You might get to drunk with my kiss. That wouldn’t help you heal.” He added. That was enough to make me happy. For now.
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So, ayos lang ba? It's all I could come up. I hope it's enough, for now. Also, Charlotte's picture is posted in the first page. 
Poll
