Chapter 79: Chapter 79

As Sebastian had predicted, the next few days were quite hectic for them. Even though they flew first class, it could not be compared to the luxury of traveling in a private jet, but Carol did not mind that. What she did mind was the sudden change that came over Sebastian the next morning, after he went over to the hospital to see Jessica and see if there were any improvements in her condition. He came back to the hotel with his lips set in a straight line and his brows furrowed. By this time, Carol had finished packing all their belongings and was patiently waiting in the hotel lobby for him to come back. He had given her stern instructions not to move an inch out of the hotel until he got back, and then they would leave immediately.

While Carol was waiting, a subdued looking Melissa had come over, seemingly from nowhere, glanced at the luggage that was gathered beside Carol, and adopted a sorrowful looking expression.

"So you're leaving and you couldn't even tell me?" She asked without preamble.

"I'm sorry about that. It was all so sudden. Something came up."

"Really? What came up?" She asked, a tad too eagerly.

"Oh, it's nothing. Anyway, we have to leave today. I'm just waiting for my husband to get back and then we can get going."

"Okay. I wish you a safe journey. Meanwhile, did you hear about the shooting that happened last night?"

"Yes, I did."

"Did you know that it happened at the hotel where we went to hold the party? I'm just glad that we had all left before it happened. If not, who knows what would have happened."

"Yeah," Carol said noncommittally. The last thing she was in the mood to do was to talk to this talkative girl, and she scowled visibly when Melissa made herself comfortable by seating next to her.

"What's the deal with you?" Melissa asked after she sat down.

"I don't understand what you mean?"

"Why are you acting as though my presence irritates you? You've been acting this way ever since we met, as though I'm forcing my friendship on you, and I have to admit, it's not cool at all. I didn't peg you to be that type of person."

"I'm sorry, Melissa," Carol said, immediately feeling bad about it. Melissa was right about the way she claimed that Carol had been treating her. The girl looked like a spoilt brat and probably just couldn't help herself or her behavior.

"That's better. All's forgiven."

"So when are you going back home? To where you live?" Carol asked, making an effort to be friendlier when all she was wishing was that Sebastian would come back so that they could leave.

"I don't know yet. Not long, though. Maybe in three or four days' time."

"Okay."

"I would like to come say hello to you some time. I think that I'll be in Napa sometime next month. It will be nice to have a familiar face to talk to and go out with there. I don't have many friends there, but at least now I have you. We never got to talk about girl stuff like we had planned. You look like some things are plaguing you. We can sit out and talk when I get there."

"I can't think of anything that I'll like better. Just ring me up whenever you get to Napa and I promise that we'll hang out." Carol said, meaning it this time around. She needed friends back home. She did not even have a single one, as all she ever did was eat, sleep and draw. It would be nice to hang out with someone there, even if the said someone was Melissa. Maybe Melissa could introduce her to some of her friends, and she could be friends with them if they were okay.

"Okay. Thanks. I still have your number. I hope you still have mine. Oopsie, here comes your husband. So, I guess that it's time for you guys to leave. Bye, I'll be in touch." She promised, giving Carol a brief hug and gliding away before Sebastian got to where they were seated, and reinforcing Carol's belief that she did not like Sebastian.

"What is the matter?" Carol asked as Sebastian got to where she was sitting and sat down wearily, rubbing his temple. He was sweating and looked so tired, but he was still very handsome, and Carol's heart skipped a beat just looking at him. She stood up to go get him a cup of water from the dispenser in the corner, and he took it gratefully from her hand, downing the contents of the cup all at once.

"Her condition worsened overnight and has become critical. I was thinking of leaving her here and staying until she becomes stable, but they insisted that they did not have the capacity and necessary equipment to treat her and that it was better I fly her back home where she'll be taken care of better. They flew in one of the country's best doctors, who will be attending to her during the flight. Damn, this is such a nightmare."

"I'm so sorry, Sebastian. I know this is costing you a lot of money."

At this, Sebastian looked at her as though she had grown a second head right there in front of him, and sneered.

"Are you for real, Carol? We're talking about Jessica's life here and you're talking about money? Who gives a flying fuck about how much it costs? I would gladly give every penny that I own so that she can be better and be herself again. Christ!"

"I'm sorry, Sebastian. I did not mean..."

"Yeah. I know that you did not mean whatever. Common, let's go. The cab is waiting to take us to the airport. It will be just my rotten luck if we miss the flight." He said, picking up two of their luggage more aggressively than was necessary. Carol stared at him in shock, wondering where the Sebastian of yesterday had gone. Was he only just grasping the gravity of the situation?

She did not say anything though, but picked up one of her luggage and followed him.

"Go sit in the car." He ordered as he and the cab driver went to bring out the remaining of their luggage. Carol went obediently, trying to understand his dilemma, but she could not help but feel hurt all the same. How would he feel if she was yelling at him all because he was trying to sympathize with her and all because her ex-fiancee was hurt?

He apologized for yelling on the drive to the airport, and Carol thought that all was well, but he was not back to himself after that. He complained about the inconvenience throughout the whole flight, but to Carol, the plane was actually luxurious and she made this known to him, only to regret it.

"The plane is actually very comfortable. You should have seen it when I used to fly economy class. I'm sure you would cry if you actually had to fly economy. This is really nice." She had said jokingly, trying her best to make him feel better, but all that she had gotten for her efforts were a baleful look, and an eye roll, after which he turned away from her and went to sleep, or pretended to go to sleep. Carol was not sure which one he was doing, but all she knew was that he was doing his best not to communicate with her. His anger seemed to be aggravated by the fact that he could not communicate with anyone to know how well Jessica was faring.

Carol tried her best to be there for him, but when she saw that her efforts only made him angrier, she decided to keep to herself, speaking only when he spoke to her and trying her best to avoid him as much as he was avoiding her, even though it was very difficult for her to do, as she was not that type of person. For the umpteenth time since that nightmarish night, Carol wondered what the future held for her and Sebastian.