Chapter 8: Chapter 8

UNKNOWN SECRET

The ward smelt like a diaper soaked in antiseptic. Different air fresheners were doing more harm

than good. Uncountable medicines must have passed through the room to give it such a peculiar

odor.

When Jemimah Carpenter finally woke up from her long slumber, doctors and nurses ran

helter-skelter for the first thirty minutes. Her sister had been in the hospital for over a week. She

came from the other side of town.

But that was hours ago. Jemmy was now resting stably while looking at the ceiling. "I don't mean to

be ungrateful, but why wait for me to suffer a near death experience before getting all these

flowers?" she asked. There was a faint smile on her face.

"You should rest!" Sophie felt her temperature. "This isn't the time to talk about such matters."

"I get it for real! But where have these well-wishers been all this while? Do I need to jump off Mount

Everest to get some more gifts?"

"Well, I don't know where they've been. Just like I didn't have the slightest clue that you were

capable of keeping such a big secret from me." Sophie was now bringing out some provisions she got

earlier.

"What do you mean by that?"

"It's bad enough that you've been so secretive. Acting like you don't know about it won't make it any

better. But I can't possibly go all hard on you because of your present state, can I?"

Jemimah noticed her sister's tone. She was somewhat aggrieved. "I don't understand what you are

talking about."

"Let me give you a clue. Is there any young and incredibly handsome footballer you've been hanging

out with of late?" Sophie tried to make light of the situation. After all, she was having this

conversation with her little sister and this wasn't even the best time for it.

"I wish there was any!" Jemimah assured her sister. "What's up with such a ridiculous question by

the way"

"Are you really kidding me right now!" She dropped a tin of milk on the floor. "Do you still want to

go down that path with me?"

"What are you talking about?" Jemmy was confused. "Whatever this is, it isn't funny anymore!"

"That's simply because it wasn't intended to be funny!" Sophie was shocked by her sister's denial.

"Why have you chosen to lie to me?"

"Lie to you about what exactly? You know that I can't possibly do that. Sophie, you are the only

family I've got!" Tears welled up Jemimah's eyes.

Sophie's heart was touched by the change in Jemmy's countenance. But she refused to be fooled.

"You know what? Keep playing your game of lies and distrust. I am not interested anymore." She

abandoned the provisions in a small drawer and walked towards the door.

"Sister, please hold on a minute! I swear to whatever is sacred, I do not know what you are talking

about." Jemimah raised herself and sat on the hospital bed. "Don't go, I beg of you. Tell me about it."

"Well, someone has been coming here on a daily basis. In fact, he sent all these flowers to you. And

the gentleman is outside the ward with yet another one." Sophie looked through the transparent

glass on the door. "I think he should be the one talking to you!"

Jemimah watched as her sibling exited the door. In a matter of seconds, a handsome young man

entered. And immediately their eyes met, she was dumbfounded! 'How in cosmos is this even

possible!' she said in her mind.

"Hi, Jemmy!" The young man cast a gaze at her. "At last, you are awake!"

"Jason Sam!" She looked surprised. 'Is this some kind of dream? Am I even alive?' "What are you

doing here?"

For a brief moment, Jason didn't understand what her reaction meant. She didn't seem upset by his

presence. Instead, Jemimah appeared rather excited to see him. At that given moment, she wasn't

different from one of his numerous female fans, and that was not what he expected.

"I'm just checking up on you," he managed to keep his cool. 'Is this your way of accepting me?

Perhaps Sophie has mentioned my frequent visits to you.' "Here is a bouquet of flowers for a lovely

lady."

She collected his gift nervously and smelt the petals. "It has got… It has got a wonderful fragrance."

Jemimah stuttered with a very wide smile on her face. "You are too kind."

"Are you alright?" Jason asked suspiciously. He couldn't stop himself. His attention was on her lovely

face.

"Without putting the bandage on my head into consideration; then, yeah, I am." She looked at him.

There was something about the way he stared at her. "Why, if I may ask?" Jemimah wasn't doing a

great job as regards concealing her excitement.

"Nothing! You just seem a little different from the last time we talked, that's all." Jason tried to

remind her about their last meeting albeit tactfully.

"Have we had a conversation before?" She couldn't believe what he just said. "I didn't know you also

have a sense of humor."

But the player didn't seem like he was joking. There was a stern expression on his face.

"You are kidding me, aren't you?" Jemimah asked.

"Am I?" he replied.

"You've got to be, else why the strange question?" Jemimah became very puzzled. Firstly, Sophie

accused her of keeping a secret and now there was a celebrity in her ward asking her a weird

question!