After a few hours of sleeping, Lianne woke up and found herself in a woody brown and mint green painted room. The room was air-conditioned and with a faint scent of chlorine.
‘Am I in a hospital?’ she asked herself whilst furrowing her brows.
When she shifted her eyes to the right, she found Jen sleeping soundly on the lengthy sofa chair. She smiled slightly as she saw her best friend but the moment her consciousness perked up, so was her memory of last night.
‘Oh my God, Ruen!’ her thoughts shouted upon realization. What… what happened? Oh, no… could he be dead?
Everything that happened in that room right after the first gunfire was heard was a blur to her. She couldn’t be sure if he was alive, but with those continuous shots and Cain’s murderous intent, it was a great possibility he could be dead.
Feeling guilty that it could be all her fault and feeling a drowning sadness pouring over her, she pressed her forehead against her knees and willed her tears to fall.
“Are you alright Li?” Jen quickly asked the moment she woke up due to Lianne’s sobs. She neared her, unsure what was going on, and when she was a foot away, she noticed the wetness of her friend’s eyes.
“Oh Li, ” her shoulder’s slumped, “why are you crying?”
Lianne looked up at her, not at all ashamed of her tears and said, “Didn’t I say I would never cry just because of a guy?”
Jen arched her brows, catching what she meant, and nodded.
“Well I’m eating my words now, ” Lianne continued. “Oh, Jen! So this is what it feels like. I look pathetic, aren’t I?”
“No, well… yes, ” Jen stammered, “but that’s beside the point, Li. Would it sound selfish if I tell you I’m actually happy for you? You’re finally attracted to someone! I may not know what are the tears for and what exactly happened in that room you were in, but hey, you’re doing it. You’re actually falling in love.”
‘Falling in love?’ Lianne voiced out in her thoughts. To a possible dead man.
And then, her heart pricked a lot and her eyes streamed fresh new tears again.
“Oh, God…”
“Hey! Hey!” Jen quickly shook her shoulder. “Why are you crying again? What’s the matter?”
“It’s too late for that now. He’s… gone, ” Lianne voiced out, her voice trembling.
For a moment, Jen was silent, processing what her friend was saying, and then, she remembered something. She sat at the edge of the bed beside Lianne and mentally recollected every detail of what happened last night, or at least based on her point of view.
“You know what, we were so worried about you last night. We couldn’t find you in your room or within the premises of the mansion. Luckily, with the help of the concierge staff, we found you in an off-limits VIP chamber. You were lying in bed half-naked and unconscious. We couldn’t wake you up so the staff quickly called a medic to take you in this hospital. We saw trails of blood on the carpet leading to a wounded man on the other side of the bed too. He was half awake and in a bad shape so the medic also took him to this hospital with you. This man Li, is he the reason why you’re crying?”
Lianne’s face lit up when she heard Jen’s story. She eyed her and nodded slowly.
“Hmmm, I thought so, ” Jen announced. “Well, to continue, we heard quite a lot of gunshots before we entered the room, so we thought you were in danger, and truly, it seems as though you were.”
“Where is he, Jen? How is he?” Lianne rushed to inquire. There was an urge to stand up and find Ruen herself but waited for her friend’s answer instead.
“Calm down Li, ” Jen patted her back. “The doctor said he received two gunshot wounds but he’s fine. He even walked out of here as if he wasn’t injured. Is he even normal Li? The doctor actually asked me to ask you his name. They needed it for the records.”
‘Ruen. His name is Ruen, ‘ her mind shouted.
Chewing on Jen’s words, Lianne rejoiced deep inside. So he didn’t die, thank God. But why would he leave the hospital so hastily?
“I wish I knew who he is…” she replied, feigning ignorance. She didn’t want to share his name with anyone not until she was sure of his identity herself.
“I want to see him again and thank him for saving me, Jen.”
“Save from what?” Jen inquired with a curious brow.
Lianne bit her lip, holding herself back from sharing any more information about her experience with her mysterious man and the new man.
“Uhm… from the gunshots, ” she answered instead. “There was a man… the one who was holding the gun. When you arrived in the room at that time, were you able to find him?”
Jen gave her a worried look. “I honestly don’t think I would want to meet that kind of man if he is holding a gun Li, but to answer your question, no we didn’t see any other man other than your savior and you of course.”
“Oh… I see.” Lianne took a deep breath and routed her eyes on the floor.
“Anyway, when you are discharged here, the Since Police Department would want to ask for your statement and if you want to press charges on the man when he is apprehended.”
“Charges?” Lianne parroted, looking at her.
“Well duh, ” Jen cocked her head to the side, “for attempted murder of course and uhm… attempted rape?” She highlighted the last word to Lianne unsure if she was right with her assumption or not.
Lianne, in response, managed to calm her breathing. She knew very well it was certainly attempted rape. “Oh right, okay, we should go there then, ” she answered with half a smile.