Everything seems so bright that it hurts trying to open my eyes. Heaven is really bright.
"How are you feeling?" a voice said. I know that voice—it's Travis. Guess Travis is here too, huh.
Wait! What's Travis doing here? Am I alive?
"Uhhguhh…" a groan escaped my throat as I tried to assess the whole situation. My head hurts like hell.
"Are you okay, man?" Travis asked again, searching me with those beady eyes of his.
I could see him clearly now. Guess I survived after all.
"Where am I?" I asked, trying to sit upright.
"Where else? The hospital," he replied as he assisted me in sitting up, putting a pillow behind my back as support.
He felt my forehead and asked,
"How are you feeling now? Should I get the doctor?"
"I'm fine. Hold on a bit… what happened? The last thing I remember was… was…" I stuttered.
No way!
Suddenly, everything came rushing into my consciousness. The affair, the rain, and the accident.
I couldn't be back in time, right?
"Travis, what year are we? What's today's date?" I panicked and asked, eyes wide open from shock.
"It's 13th… 13th of September, 2025. What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.
Oh, I guess not. I'm still in the present.
"Hmm… nothing," I sighed disappointedly.
It would have been interesting if I were given a second chance.
His once worried-looking face was now filled with disdain as he looked at me as if I had lost it.
"C'mon, bro, you really need to stop watching those anime and shit. Don't tell me you thought you isekai'd or whatnot," he said, disgust laced in his voice.
"You really didn't think that shit happened, did you?" he repeated.
"No, I didn't," I answered subtly, avoiding his gaze.
I sighed and lay back down on the bed as reality finally dawned on me.
How nice would it have been if I had really gone back in time, as it usually happens in anime and movies.
I would have been able to fix everything and go back to being happy.
The door swung open and Sonya emerged from it. She suddenly rushed to my bedside, worriedly searching my whole body for bandages.
"It's okay. He's not that hurt… the car didn't hit him, he fainted before that…" Travis assured her.
"My God… I was so scared when you called and said Percy was in the hospital," she sighed in relief.
I couldn't even say a word. The moment I locked gaze with hers, the image of her face filled with ecstasy from last night just kept flashing through my head. I sat there watching her face as she spouted some unrecognizable sounds, talking to Travis while I was consumed with memories of last night. It was obvious she was worried about me. Guess she still likes me after all.
"Percy? What's wrong… why are you crying?" she panicked.
"Hmm? I'm fine." I sniffled and wiped the tears with the back of my hand. I didn't even realize I was crying already.
"Are you really fine?" Travis asked. He seemed really worried about me, and it felt strangely comforting.
"Oh! I almost forgot… Percy, your mum called last night."
"Mum? Don't tell me you called her because of this…" I gasped in disbelief.
"Relax~ if I did, your whole family would be here by now with 'get well soon' cards and flowers for their pretty baby boy," he teased.
"Quit the tease and tell me why she called," I snapped at him.
"What else than to check up on you… I told her you were in the bathroom." He smirked, revealing his side dimples.
"Good," I breathed. I can't have my mum finding out I almost got hit by a car.
Sonya moved, crouching down to my side. She held my hand and said,
"Percy, I'm so sorry I couldn't meet up for our date yesterday. My mum called, saying my elder sister was back in the country, so I had to hurry back home. Okay?"
She lied to me.
"Okay. It's all good," I assured her with a weak smile.
She just lied to me. I suddenly could feel hot tears gathering at the back of my eyes, ready to gush down like a waterfall, but I struggled to hold them back. I can't have Sonya seeing me cry for the second time today.
"I'll make it up to you next time, okay?" she promised.
"Okay," I nodded, smiled, and gave her a light kiss on her forehead.
She stood up and said, "I should leave now. I'm afraid I'm running late for rehearsals."
"Okay, bye," I waved at her.
"Bye," she waved back and left.
Immediately after she left, I stood up from the bed, leaving Travis with a shocked look on his face.
"Hey! Take it easy, what's wrong?" he asked as he also stood up from the chair he'd been sitting on since I woke up.
"I need to go," I answered.
"Go where? Are you crazy?! You're in the hospital. You can't just leave because you want to?" He was obviously getting worked up now as he moved, trying to block my path.
"Cool down, hothead. I meant you should go get the doctor. I believe I'm fine now," I assured him.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
He stepped closer and eyed me suspiciously.
"What's going on with you and Sonya? I mean, you were found unconscious close to her apartment when you left me heading for a date, right?"
Whoa. He figured it out in a few minutes. He seems to be smart in times like this.
"Believe me when I say I'm fine, okay. Just go get me discharged. I'm craving a cold shower," I said as I sat back down on the bed.
"Okay." He seemed relented as he finally left to get the doctor. Honestly, I'm really becoming uncomfortable in these hospital striped pajamas I've been wearing since yesterday.
Now I've made up my mind what I would do. I can't break up with Sonya. I still love her, and it's clear she still loves me too.
Something must have gone wrong somewhere to let that bastard come between us. I need to fix everything.
I ain't giving up. Never. I would find that bastard and ask him what his deal is.