Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Affliction haunted me throughout my life. Day or night, I was always surrounded by darkness as if I walked through a long tunnel I never knew where it ended or at least when I found the source of light. It was a feeling I struggled with every day.

For some people, rewinding childhood memory would be a great escape from all the nightmares they were facing. Yet for me, it was all the same. There was no phase of my life in which I could reminisce as a good memory. All of them left me with pains.

I witnessed how my mother remained to starve to let me eat. She protected me from my father’s brutality, sacrificed a lot for her only daughter. I could not imagine how hurt she was to know that her daughter was kidnapped and hospitalized.

“Good morning.” One of the nurses in a perfect feature greeted me. I brushed the tears away. “The cloth fits on you.” She was distracting me from the sorrow she might see through my watery eyes. The nurse changed my dirty school uniform with this pajama.

“Thanks.”

“The doctor will see you at ten.” She informed. It inflicted nothing on me. “He is a very good doctor. He has an angelic heart. You know what? Many nurses and female doctors here fall for him. Yet, the doctor chose to be single after he lost his wife two years ago.” That nurse babbled out while checking my blood pressure. She was talkative. It disturbed me instead of comforting me. “You are beautiful.” She was the first and last person who had ever complimented me.

“Are you done?"

“Yes. Sorry for your inconvenience. Why don’t you look at the world from different points of view? Life is not that bad although sometimes you meet villains. The antagonist will always play in the drama, right? They color the main character’s life.” I did not get what she wanted to convey.

“You should sometimes look at the world from other’s points of view as well,” I commented. A minute later, she left without commenting back.

I rolled out of the bed, sitting at the edge of it with an IV plugged into my hand. Someone burst out with tears.

“Mom....”

“What happened?” She hugged me tightly. ”Reno told me that someone has kidnapped you.” I regret that Reno revealed the truth. I let go of her arms.

“Who do you think will kidnap me, Mom? We are not rich. What will they get in return but disappointment?” I teased her. That drew a smile line on her cheek.

“You are right. I’m sorry that I can’t protect you.”

“You are always there for me, Mom. Because of you, I can bear all the hardship.”

“I know you are a tough girl. I have something for you.”

“I love you, Mom. I am sorry for everything.” I muttered. She took four apples out of a black plastic bag and put them on the small table next to the bed.

“Mom, you shouldn’t bring me anything.”

“Why? You don’t like apples?” She asked, staring at my rueful expression. “I bought them special for you. I chose the biggest ones. I didn’t purchase them from the supermarket though. Trust me, they taste sweet.” It was so touching. I could not hold my tears falling.

“I like them. Thank you. Apple is one of my favorite fruit.” She grabbed one and peeled it with a knife for me. “Thank you, Mom.” If it was necessary, I would say my gratitude to her even a thousand times. My mother who never ate apples in her whole life brought me this fruit today.

“Good morning.” We turned to the person who just greeted us.

“Reno, it’s glad that you’re here, dear. Join us here.” My mother invited him in excitement. “Open your mouth.” She fed Reno a slice of apples. I looked away because I saw Reno’s uncomfortable feeling about the way my mother treated him.

“Thank you.” He said.

“Thank you for saving my daughter.”

“No. I just....”

“Don’t say anything. Here’s for you.” My mother forced Reno to open his mouth again. Reno’s face blushed.

“Your mother must be a noblewoman.” My mother’s words instantly change Reno’s expression.

“Mom, I’m hungry.” I distracted her before she said something that might hurt Reno.

“All right, wait a second.” She spooned rice with chicken flakes into my mouth. I glanced at Reno was just silent. “Do you want it too?” My mother asked Reno.

“No, thanks,”

“Are you sure?" She seemed suspicious that Reno had not eaten anything.

“I have had my breakfast already. I’ll be waiting outside.” Reno stepped out of the room.

“Is he alright?” My mother murmured.

“He is fine,” I responded.

Staying in the hospital was just like living in a place you eagerly ran away from no matter how cozy the room was and how humble the people were. You would always look out for the way to go from that place.

I had lasted in the hospital for five days before finally leaving that huge building. Just after checking out of the hospital, I knew that it was that handsome doctor who had paid for my hospital charge. I was indebted to him. I remembered once the nurse said that not only did he have a handsome face, but he also had a good heart.

My school and its people remained the same. The students were busy preparing for the mid-term test. The library was full of students. I missed many classes due to five days of being hospitalized. To keep up with the lesson, I had to study harder. I spent most of the time in the library during school hours.

I spotted Nina among the students who were studying. She was busy flipping her book. I smiled every time I saw her. She saved my life that night. I did not care whether that mattered to her or not. I would not forget what she had done. I would always keep in my mind that I had owed her something.

Focusing too much on the test, I was stuck in the library for two hours after school. I almost reached the library door when the librarian called me. She ordered me to put a few ripped old books in the storeroom upstairs.

I dragged my feet to the last floor where the storeroom was. A group of students attracted my attention. They seemed standing where there was someone in the center. Driven by my curiosity, I approached them.

“Please forgive me.” That person begged. I sneaked into the throng and found out that it was Nina there in the center, being bullied by her gang. I ran toward her. I used my body as a shield when those five girls were trying to kick Nina. I fend off their legs and hands with my feeble hands. It was futile. Their feet landed on my hands, arms, and jaw. Flood pooled at the tips of my mouth.