Chapter 34: Chapter 34

We arrived at the hospital and went through the proceedings. I knew the wait was long. Diego sat on the right while Melba sat on the other side of me. Diego holding on to me. “You know what we forgot.” I said to Melba. Melba looked at me. “Our Ipads.” She opened her purse and pulled out not one but two. She had made sure to bring me mine. Diego had his head on top of mine and looked on as I browsed through Apps. "You know something, Diego. I remember reading about this type of scenario the men making sure they were okay after throwing up. When I first read them, I wished someone would do it for me. But now thinking about it I wanted you the hell out of there. I don’t think I could be so supportive. Watching someone throw up like that” Diego began to laugh. “What’s so funny?” Being stunned. “Fio, how come you relate every detail to a book.” “Well if I didn’t I wouldn’t have to know what you were, would I Diego?” I said it quietly so as Melba wouldn’t hear. “Okay, so which books show the man helping the women when they puke their brains out.” I elbowed him. There are books out there Diego, I just can't remember at this precise time." Was one called Twilight" smiling at me? I rolled my eyes and continued my search ignoring Diego altogether. I moved a bit to adjust my position and I shrugged at the pain. Diego and Melba looked at me. “I am not dying.” I said to both of them. “What’s taking so long?” Diego said to no one in particular. He moved me a bit to remove his arm around me. I didn’t sit back down. I knew if the seat touched my back I would once again feel the pain. “He cares about you.” Melba said. “You’re right Fio he isn’t what I thought he was?” “And what was it that you thought about him, Melba?” “He has this thing about him. He is so self-assured and confident and yet very demanding.” “I guess he is what I am not Melba, but don’t worry it’s not like I am marrying him.” Looking down at my iPad, but Melba's comment made me lookup. “You’re not Fio, it already looks like it to me.” “Shut up, not even.” Diego appeared so we stopped talking. Even before he sat down my name was called. I turned to look at him. “What did you do?” He smiled. “Just persuaded them, they know better than to get a reporter in their wrong side. Let’s just leave it at that.” Diego helped me up but I placed my hand on his chest. “It’s okay, I got this. I am doing better actually.” I said to him. “If you think I’m leaving you alone you are mistaken.” I just shook my head. One thing about me, I hated to feel needy. But instead, I opted for “Okay.” Melba pulled away from the iPad from my hand and placed it in her purse. The nurse buzzed us in and the three of us walked into this tiny room. The nurse came by and took my information and made us wait once again. I hadn’t noticed until Melba made it aware of it. I guess I didn’t care much about it. Diego was sitting on a chair reading a book he found on the iPad. I didn’t bother to ask which one. Another new pretty looking nurse came in and took my vitals. I looked at Melba when she made a coughing noise. I looked at her and then she made these eyes that only women knew how to decode. I looked at the nurse and she was looking at Diego. Diego was oblivious to her since the book he was reading got his attention. The nurse finish taking my vitals and went directly where Diego was sitting and reached up in a cabinet and took something out. I don’t even think she cared what she got because she kept her eyes on Diego. Both Melba and I were enthralled by the scene that played in front of us. She lingered a bit more making sure she bend here and there hoping to give Diego a glimpse. When she finally saw that Diego was not going to look she decided to leave but not before Melba and I exchanged glances and we began to snicker. Diego heard us and looked at me. He didn’t keep his eyes off me. “Can I have in on the joke?” he said. I looked down and smiled and nodded a no. “Really” I heard his movement and so did the nurse. She quickly came back as too see if she hadn’t forgotten anything. Of course, Melba and I knew exactly what she had forgotten. Diego came up to me and lifted my chin and planted a kiss on my lips one in which I had to hold on to his shirt. The next thing I heard was the door closing. He pulled away from me as soon as he heard it. “What was that for?” I asked Diego. “Don’t pretend you don’t know. I knew what that nurse was trying to do. Right now Love you are the only one I want to be looking at.” He said. “Until you leave.” I breathed out. He didn’t say anything to my comment and returned to his seat. Three nurses came in simultaneously trying to get his attention but to no avail. Diego didn’t bother looking at them. Melba and I took notes on who was the most original in getting his attention. We also took count whether Diego would look at them or not. He didn’t even budge even after one of them dropped something on the floor. Once they were all gone, we burst off laughing. Diego just looked at us both and placed his finger on his lips to silence us and lifted the iPad indicating he was reading. I was getting tired just sitting down and laid myself down without thinking. I shot up quickly. Diego noticed and came by my side. I grabbed ahold of him until the pain subsided. I could finally feel more pain than before. “Sorry, Love I should be here to support you.” “It’s okay you are here.” I acknowledged. “You must be tired just sitting that way. Here use me as support.” He said. Diego moved and placed his back on the end of the bed and I placed my shoulder on his back putting my head on his shoulder. He moved a bit lower to adjust my height and his. He placed his head on top of mine. “So does this mean you’re exclusive?” Melba asked. Diego and I turned to look at her. I made a face at her to drop it. Diego turned and held me and looked at me. “You haven’t told her?” he asked me. “Told her what?” Looking unsure of what he was talking about. “That I proposed the other day to you and you said yes.” His tone was so sincere. “What!” Melba jumped up quickly. “Fio why didn’t you tell me, and don’t you think it’s too soon. I mean you just met and you went out with Roger the other day.” That one hit Diego hard. I could feel his body tensed up. I had no words. I knew Diego hadn’t asked me to marry him and I was hoping that he was kidding. I knew I wasn't drunk last night. “Melba, Diego is kidding he didn’t ask me to marry him.” “Love, you were drunk you possibly can’t remember, but I do know that you said yes.” “I wasn’t that drunk and I don’t think I would have said yes in such a short time.” Correcting him. “Well you did, true I haven’t given you the ring, but you still said yes.” I only nodded a no. Melba was flabbergasted she didn’t know what to believe. “Believe me, Melba, he never asked me to marry him and if he had I wouldn’t have said yes.” Making sure Diego knew I wasn't going to go down easy. Diego continued with his nonsense. “Didn’t you see all the nurses that were coming in here trying to get my attention? Love you already have me what are you waiting for.” “I am waiting for you to stop playing and tell her the truth, Diego.” “But I am Fio don’t you see how serious I am.” “Okay, Diego if you are serious about it and I might just say yes. I want you to get down on your knees and propose right here in front of Melba." Demanding in a stern voice. Diego’s stare didn’t falter as I had hoped. He looked at Melba and then at me for a while and came back with a good one. “I see what you are asking but I’d rather not do it here, this isn’t very romantic you know.” “Ha! I knew it, there Melba it never happened.” laughing. Melba joined in. “Well, we both know how it went down, at least I do, but it did happen.” He said and turned around and I resumed my position with his support. I placed my head on his shoulder as he did too. It wasn’t long before the doctor came in. I was glad he wasn’t a female. “So Mrs. Pena what seems to be the problem?” “Miss Pena” I corrected. “Sorry,” he said as he came to me and placed his hand on my shoulder. He was maybe fifty or so, medium built and small for a man. Diego had already left my side taking the seat he was in previously. “I cut myself in the back and well it got infected.” Telling the doctor. "How did it happen?” the doctor said lifting my shirt in the process. I knew I had to get back at Diego so I said what came out naturally. “I was having sex with him and it got out of hand.” Pointing at Diego. The doctor had a calm demeanor and didn't let my response bother him. “How exactly did it get out of hand.” Melba was listening but she already knew everything. “Well you see it got so intense and when he plastered me to the wall, he didn’t know there was a nail or something sharp that cut me.” Telling him honestly. The doctor didn’t respond he just listened taking everything in. “And you didn’t say anything to him as for him to stop.” “Doctor, when you have awesome sex do you want it to stop.” Looking over to see Diego's reaction. Diego didn't seem to be affected he never looked up but a smile crept on his lips. “Your cut is infected and you will need a tetanus shot but the worse thing is it’s going to have to be cleaned and that is going to hurt and may I suggest restraining from any more sexual activity that involves plastering anyone for the time being.” The doctor informed me. Diego looked up when he heard this, but kept quiet. “Yes, doctor.” “I am also going to take blood work is there anything specific you might want me to look for.” He asked. I guess he knew what I would do if Diego wouldn’t be around. “By the correction you gave me about your name, I figure you aren’t married. “ I knew what this doctor was trying to say. He wanted me to check for any kind of disease. Diego shot up and calmed answered the doctor. "Do you think that my fiancée and I wouldn’t have already taken measures? “I am sorry, I didn’t see your name listed as a fiancée. I apologize if I was said something to make you upset, Mr.” Doctor said as he motioned with his hand. “Boltarez,” Diego said. “I am sorry, Mr. Bolatrez.” “That’s fine.” “Miss Pena, I’ll order your blood work. The nurse will be right in.” True to the word, the nurse did come in. It was the first one that had come in at the beginning. This time Diego was beside me. “Sir, I am going to have to ask you to take a seat.” She said to him admiringly. “It’s okay, I can handle needles.” Motioning Diego to leave my side. Diego kissed me on my lips before he took his seat. This time a male nurse came in to administer the tetanus shot. “Okay, Miss Pena I am aware it hurts, but I see that an abscess has occurred and we will have to drain. I am going to have to give you a local anesthetic around the area and we will cut into it to drain it. I grabbed Diego. I wanted all of this to stop. “It’ll be okay, I have you.” He reassured me. Nurse Rodriguez grabbed the local anesthetic injection and started on the tortuous event. I was glad to have Diego's support.

We arrived home late in the afternoon. Close to three the effects of the anesthetic along with the Vatican had begun to wear off and I immediately began to feel the pain surging to my back. If I thought the pain before was bad this was even worse. I began to move around feeling uncomfortable. Diego turned around and faced me. I didn’t know that he was in bed with me. I didn't know how I ended up in bed. “What’s wrong Fio?” “Hurts” The next thing I knew I was up running to the bathroom but I managed to lock the door before my head hit the commode. Diego was knocking on the door. “Fio, open the door!” He said angrily. “I couldn’t answer him, I was throwing up once again. Well, there went my breakfast. I kept hearing the banging on the door but I couldn’t get up to open it. Once I was done I sat there for a while feeling exhausted. I stood up and washed up my face and brushed my teeth. Checked on my shirt to see if anything had landed on it, but seemed fine. I opened the door and Diego stood with one leg supporting the wall. “Don’t ever lock the door on me again!” His voice sternly. I didn’t’ bother to answer him, I went directly to the bed. Diego followed behind me. “Where is Melba?” “She left said something about picking up her son and having things to do at home.” “She knew you were feeling sick and she would call you later to see how you were doing.” I nodded. He sat down on the bed and took my hand in his. “I’ll be here, Fio” don’t worry if there is anything you need.” “Okay, Diego I’ve been a lot worse than this and no one has ever been here for me. I can do this on my own. Please don’t take it the wrong way but you are smothering me.” telling him in a non-caring voice. This time I sat up on the bed and felt like shit. Diego inched closer to me. “Let me do this for you Fio” “Why?” I could see that he was torn about something. “It’s just…I feel like I’m to blame for this.” “Listen Diego we were both to blame for it, remember the saying it takes two to tangle.” “Weren’t we tangling Fio?” Small laughter escaped my lips. “There, please allow me to take care of you.” I glanced at Diego and could see how perplexed he seemed to be about the situation. “Okay, only if you allow me to breath now and then.” “Agree, are you hungry?” “Diego I just threw up don’t you think I should wait.” “Yeah, but I could go get us something to eat in the meantime.” “Why don’t you order, it’s easier and you won’t be leaving me alone.” Getting closer to him. “Fio, we must restrain from any sexual activity until you are better.” “Diego my back is the one that hurts, not my vagina.” Telling him. “I know Love but still I would rather wait until you are not puking anymore.” I thought about it and had to agree. I just shrugged but had another question for him. “One more thing, why do you call me Love?” “It’s my pet name for you,” Diego said looking at me. I looked at his eyes. “Okay, Diego don’t you think you’re going a bit too far, first this Love pet name thing, my flower and now we are engaged.” “Thought you’d enjoy that.” “Listen Fio, I know we aren’t in that type of relationship but I would like to call you those things. It just makes me feel that you belong to me.” “Okay, there you go again. Diego remembers you will be leaving soon and you’d find someone else to replace me.” Diego put his fingers on my lips. “Stop, telling me about me leaving. I'm not gone yet. Don’t remind me. I don’t want to hear you say those words again. Do you understand Fiorella?” “Are you asking me or telling me Diego.” “Don’t say it like that you know how that gets me.” “Fine” placing my hands up in the air I give.