Chapter 7
- Jc's POV -
When I got home, it was very dark and deafeningly quiet. I pressed the light switch that was just next to the door and there was light inside. It's just refreshing because usually when I come home in the middle of the night or early in the morning, Aunty Lyca always gave me a lecture, but now it seems like she's not home or she's on a walk.
I went straight to the stairs and went up to my room. When I got upstairs I also turned on the light in the hallway and walked quietly. The surroundings were so quiet that I was deafened by the echoing sound of my walking feet. But at least, I also got a day off from my endless arguments with my Aunty.
I carefully opened the door of my room. The light was on and my sister Cesha was sleeping.
I smiled and came to her and sat next to her. I flipped her hair covering her forehead. I was suddenly startled when I felt her forehead was so hot.
"Cesha..?" I softly called her who was obviously worried while holding both of her cheeks.
"Brother...." She answered sluggishly and weakly, obviously still sleepy.
"What happened to you and why are you so hot?" I asked thoughtfully as I removed her thick blanket and took off her very thick jacket.
She didn't answer. She just watched me lazily while I was busy taking off her jacket while nodding her head from sleepiness.
When I took off her jacket, her whole body suddenly trembled and then blood came out of her nose.
"Cesha!" I was suddenly nervous. I gently shook her body but her eyes closed on their own and her body completely lost strength.
My arm was shaking as I placed her head on my shoulder and picked her up. I ran down the stairs and straight to the door.
The road was very quiet when I got out. Not a single car, no one passing by. It was already midnight so no one was traveling. Even though it was a bit far, I ran to the hospital. I don't have enough patience to wait for a jeep because my sister's condition might get worse. Even though she was unconscious, I could feel her whole body shaking. So I sped up.
Eventually, the road became clear. I automatically turned back and saw a white Hilux approaching. With its speed it is obvious that it is in a hurry. I didn't miss that opportunity anymore and I made a strategy to speed up my arrival at the hospital. I stood in the middle of the road. No matter how fast it is going, it will still stop when something blocks the road.
By the mercy of God, the speed of the Hilux slowly slowed down until it finally stopped in front of me. A white and tall woman got down from the driver's seat, wearing reading eye glasses and a white long jacket. Just by looking at me, she looked like she's going to kill me.
"Are you going to kill yourself?" She shouted angrily at me.
"I'm sorry, but I really need someone to ride with. My sister is burning with fever." I beg to explain.
The tiger-like face on the woman's angry face calmed down and approached me. He stood to my right where Cesha's head was. Without a word, she placed her palm on Cesha's forehead and her eyebrows met again. She gently stroked my sister's arm while observing her face.
Then she glanced at the watch she was wearing on her hand and walked back to his Hilux, "Come with me. Your sister needs to be taken to the hospital immediately."
"What do you think is her illness?" I wondered as I followed her.
She opened the passenger's seat first and then went to the driver's seat and got in, "Your sister has symptoms of Dengue fever and I think it's serious. She needs immediate treatment."
I, who was listening to what she was saying while riding in the passenger's seat, suddenly became weak and sat down, then closed the door. It was as if my body suddenly gave way as if it could move. I was stunned as I watched my sister's blushing face.
"Don't worry. I will take care of your sister when we get there." She added when I could not speak. And she started the engine and off we went.
"Are you a doctor?" I will ask.
"Yes, and my schedule is graveyard." She answered while keeping her eyes on the road, "It's a good thing that took this route. I can't drive fast on the main road."
I just smiled even a fake smile in response to what she said and looked out the window while hugging my sister tightly. I'm not in the mood to talk. I worry too much about Cesha's condition. Why didn't Tita take Cesha to the hospital? They spend the whole day together at home?
After a while, the Hilux slowed down until it finally stopped at the emergency entrance. Before the doctor had turned off the engine of her Hilux, she immediately got out and rushed inside. Seeing her enter, I got down and followed her inside.
"Stretcher!! I have a patient with me!" Doctor shouted as she looked around.
Immediately someone came with three nurses with a stretcher. I automatically put Cesha there and a nurse immediately put dextrose on her. They then took Cesha to the ER.
I was left outside the ER alone as I stood leaning against the wall next to the door, hunched over while staring at the floor. My eyes hurt so much from holding back the tears that were forming at the corners of my eyes. That is why no words come out of my mouth. Maybe because, even a single word, my tears will start to fall. I was nervous as if my chest would explode at any moment. It's the first time that Cesha has been sick as badly as this.
With so many negative possibilities running through my mind I was able to walk in front of the ER. I'm really restless. I don't even want to think about those things and I might even be confined.
At the mental Institute.
After a while Doctor came out of the ER and I immediately turned to her. We met each other's eyes and as Doctor looked at me, Cesha's condition was probably not good.
My legs suddenly stiffened as she walked towards me. My heart beat faster with every step taken by Doctor. I just swallowed because I really felt like I was going to tremble at what she was going to say.
"Your sister has dengue fever, stage 2. And according to my examination of her condition, her platelet count is dropping rapidly...."
I felt like I was suffocated by what I heard. Doctor was telling other details but I didn't seem to hear anything.
I blinked when she touched my shoulder and I heard her say again, "At the ER entrance, turn left and at the end of it, there is a small chapel. Ask Him for help. He can cure your sister." After that she turned around and entered the ER again.
I understand what she is referring to because I also often pray to Him for Crista. I never thought I would be praying for my sister's life today.
I didn't really intend to go, but I realized that my feet took me there and I was standing right in its open door and staring at the altar. He seems to be the only one I can run to now.
My knees spontaneously bent as I bowed. The tears I was holding back started to fall as I opened my mouth and began to say a prayer.
"Lord... I often pray for the life of Crista with you but this time I pray for the life of Cesha, my sister. She is the only family I have and the only reason why I live and work hard . I am begging you, please cure his illness. I love my sister very much and I don't know what will happen to me if I lose her."
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- Rhea's POV -
I have been knocking on the door of the ICU for two hours and no one has opened the door.
Tssk.. Where is Jc? Just a little bit and I will be really annoyed.
"Crushmate." A familiar voice called from somewhere.
Only one person can call me that so I opened my eyes and I didn't make the mistake of seeing her walking towards where I was.
"Long you have been here?" She continued as she approached me.
"Two hours." I answered sarcastically.
She laughed for a while and gently patted my shoulder, "Jc's sleep is sound. He's been awake all night."
"Is that so?" I answered, "And what are you doing here?"
"I'm visiting my cousin." She answered.
"Your cousin?" I was surprised.
"Yes, Cesha. Jc and Cesha and I are first cousins. Haleeerr." She answered.
Oh that's right. I forgot about that.
I just nodded like I was a little surprised.
"Just come in." She continued and opened the door of the ICU and we entered together.
I saw that Cesha was on dextrose and there was a tube in both of her nostrils that connected to the oxygen tank next to her bed. Is her condition really that bad???
I looked around the room and saw Jc sleeping on a sofa chair, which was just in front of his sister's bed. One of his legs was bent on the sofa while the other was straight as his arm covered his face.
"How is his sister's condition?" I asked while looking worriedly at Cesha.
"The doctor said she has dengue and her platelet count is below the regular count so she is pale." Almira answered while walking towards Jc.
"Jc... Wake up..... Rhea is here." Almira said softly while shaking his chest.
Jc lifelessly removed his hand from his face and lazily got up and sat down. He leaned back in the chair as he rubbed his eye with his finger.
"Rhea is here." Almira whispered to him.
I just watched Jc as he removed his finger from his eye, then he looked at me without a word or even a smile. His eyes were still wet from the tears that hadn't dried and he was obviously stress. I smiled at him but he looked in another direction. He is affected by his sister's condition.
Almira sighed and rushed to Cesha's bed, to check Cesha's condition again, "Tita is really unusual. She didn't even realize that Cesha was feeling sick until it got to this point." She still complains.
Jc carefully moved his eyes to glance at his sister.
"Jc.. Go home first and rest. I'll take care of her." Almira volunteered that she almost had second thoughts. It's obvious that he's in a bad mood. Even a ghost would be afraid of his grumpy face.
I approached him and sat next to him, "Jc, I know you haven't eaten yet. Join me now. My dish is Tilapia." I spoke in a low tone. I really meant to say my dish because his favorite dish is Tilapia. Maybe he will talk to me.
He turned to me and answered without emotion, "I'm sorry. You can eat ahead of me with Almira."
I was a bit nervous at the tone of his answer. Even though I know him well, I am still horrified by his deadly aggressiveness when he is not in the mood. Let's add the scratchiness of his extremely pointed gaze.
I swallowed to show him that I was not move by his rudeness and gently pulled his hand, "Come on, let's go somewhere."
He strongly pulled his hand back to him, "I'm not in the mood to go for a walk." Then he turned his back and looked in another direction.
I put my mouth close to his ear and whispered in my softest tone, "We're not going for a walk. We're just going somewhere."
He turned to me and his lips almost hit mine. Fortunately, my nose was sharp and my nose collided with his nose, so I fell back.
Without emotion, he looked me in the eye without a single word, not even a small smile. While I was smiling looking at him even though he looked so aggressive in his aura.. I would have been thrilled by the closeness of our faces if only he was in the mood but with his face being so grumpy I would have been afraid even the bad elements in the world.
"Please." I said softly while petting him.
He didn't smile or speak but he stood up and lazily walked to the door and went out. I immediately followed him because maybe he would change his mind and Almira's gaze followed us in surprise until we were completely out of her sight.
We walked in silence in the hallway. It's deafening. It was obvious that he was not in the mood. He was still silent until we arrived at the elevator. I pressed the down button (🔻) to open the elevator. And we went inside together. I also pressed the close button (▶|◀) to close the elevator. While we were waiting for the elevator to go down to the ground floor, I thought of a way to get him to speak.
He turned to me when he heard me sing. And unexpectedly he smiled at me. His smile is natural and makes you fall in love. That's why my lips were magnetized and I spontaneously smiled at him as I continued to sing.
While I was singing, he kept staring at me while smiling. I was about to be distracted by his beautiful smile. Oh Jc! Don't look at me like that. My heart is already jumping, when I can't take it anymore, I'm going to be really excited.
"You really are a weird girl." He suddenly spoke with an obvious smiley face so I stopped singing.
"Why again?" I answered immediately, holding back a smile.
"No matter how bad my day is, when I hear you sing, I don't really understand why I smile." He reasoned while smiling staring at me as if the rain would stop because of his beautiful smile.
My eyes widened and I was suddenly shocked by what he said. I couldn't even open my mouth. As in, I was really speechless at the unexpected thing he said. I was stunned while watching his sweet smile. My brain isn't working so I can't think of anything to say to break this horrible I mean exciting event.
"Suddenly I remembered Crista..." He continued without me being able to speak.
And because of the last thing he said, I couldn't take my eyes off of him and I couldn't stop myself from smiling and feeling excited. No more.... My brain doesn't really work anymore. My mouth didn't even want to say a word. I'll just make the most of this moment and what I feel, maybe it won't happen again.
After a while, his smile gradually changed from an excited smile to a sad smile. He briefly looked at the floor while leaning his shoulder against the wall and then looked in another direction.
"Maybe I just miss her too much." He said weakly and sadly, "She often sings to me especially when I'm sad."
Really?? You miss me? How can I tell you???? Hello, John Carlo Laporre aka Four, I'm Crista Segovia aka CrystaLheart. Your clanmate that is so into you. But I'm sorry, I can't say... I'll be in trouble.
"You should be happy." I said and he looked at me again, "Crista will be really sad when she sees you sad."
He just smiled a little. It's just an obvious fake smile. At the same time as the elevator opens. We went out together and walked down the quiet hallway.
"Rhea, do you have a boyfriend?" He asked as he focused on the hallway.
I was surprised by his unexpected question and frowned and answered, "No."
Why will you date me???
"Princebeybe isn't your boyfriend yet?" He inquired.
"No." I immediately answered.
"Not yet?" He grumbled.
"No!" I was annoyed to answer.
He laughed for a moment, "It's obvious he likes you. He had been hitting you in the group messages."
"Believe me, he is only making fun of me." I replied.
"But he's courting you?" He asked with a smile.
I just frowned and shook my head at his answer but his face was still grinning
"Do you like him too?" He asked again.
I'm about to get pissed off, Jc just a little bit. You're pushing me to what I don't want.
"No." I immediately answered, "I will never like that guy."
He just laughed out loud, "You look like a tomato, yet your answer is still no."
I looked around for a moment and he might have disturbed someone with the loudness of his laughter. Good thing we were the only ones walking in the hallway.
Is my face red?
I immediately grabbed both my cheeks while this guy in front of me kept smiling. This man is just fooling me.
"Answer him now." He added with a smile.
Hey! You are the one I want. Don't do anything. I'm really close to dying.
"I don't really like him!" I answered annoyed while frowning.
"Admit it. I won't tell anyone else." He grumbled.
I stopped walking and yelled at him because I was really annoyed,, "You're the one I want! Don't push me to Princebeybe!"
He stopped walking then turned to me and stared seriously into my eyes. As for me, when I realized what I had done was crazy, my eyes widened and I automatically covered my mouth with my hands.
Rhea!! You are really crazy! Just say you are Crista! As for you, you're using up my patience.
His face was grinning when he approached me while I kept moving my eyes to avoid his gaze. I don't know how to react or how to take back what I said. It's like my brain cells are frozen so my brain doesn't want to work.
When he got close, he suddenly pinched my cheek and said, "Besides you're beautiful, you still know how to flatter." Then turned around with a smile and walked again.
I could feel all my blood rush up to my face which caused my face to become a tomato. I slapped my own cheek then shook my head a few times.
Just calm down Rhea! He just pinched your cheek! It's like you're already electrified??
But at least he didn't believe.... It's good...
When I calmed down, I followed Jc. I almost forgot where I was going to take him.
"I hear something like that almost every day. So it's not new to my ears." He further explained.
Suddenly there was a strong wind. Guess who is handsome.
I'd better keep my mouth shut so I don't say anything stupid that could cause me to perish.
After a while he suddenly stopped walking and I stood next to him. We are here. Small hospital chapel.
I just looked at him as he stared at the altar of the chapel. I was waiting for him to come inside.
"I just got here." He spoke after a few minutes.
"It's okay. There's no limit in asking Lord's help." I answered and pulled him into the chapel. Because in the tone of his speech, it was as if he didn't want to enter.
"Let's pray for your sister's recovery." I said then we went to the seat near the door.
I knelt down while bowing while he knelt next to me and also bowed down with his eyes closed.
Just in case, I suddenly raised my head when I felt something strange and unexpected happened.