“Mr. Julian’s family?” the medic called with a serious look.
“Yes, Doc. I’m his brother,” Max said between breaths. He didn’t know if the man was a doctor or not. Most importantly, he had given the right answer.
“The specialist has checked. Apparently, the damage to the patient’s stomach is quite severe. Therefore, he decide to do bowel resection surgery. So, all the damaged intestines had to be cut.”
“Is that the best way to save Julian?” Max asked with high arched eyebrows.
Without thinking, the green clothed man nodded. “Yes, that’s the only way to stop the bleeding,” he said firmly.
“Then just do it, Doc. Save my brother,” Max sighed hopefully.
“Okay, we definitely do our best. Now, I will inform the specialist that the patient’s family has agreed. The operation will go on.” After a nod, the man in green returned to the room.
After the medic left, another heavy sigh escaped from Max’s mouth. With an uneasy wrinkle at the base of his brow, he looked at Mia and asked, “How severe is Julian’s condition so he has to undergo such an operation?”
Getting such a question, burden on the secretary’s shoulders automatically doubled. Looking down, the girl gulped.
“That criminal stabbed Mr. Julian in the stomach several times with a knife,” she explained before choking on her own voice.
In just an instant, the air in Max’s lungs grew heavier. Taking a deep breath, the man shook his head in disbelief. “Why is Julian willing to face such danger? It’s not like him at all. Isn’t he a coward and always stays out of trouble?”
“Julian said he didn’t want you to lose your happiness,” Sebastian said before taking position to face his cousin. “He sacrificed to make amends.”
“Were you there too?” Max asked as tears pooled in his eyes.
With a slow motion, Sebastian nodded. “When I arrived, Julian was dragging the thug away from Gabriella. I didn’t know he was hurt. I even told him to keep holding off the big guy while I attacked with the signposts,” he admitted before swallowing hard.
Imagining the hardships experienced by his brother, Max’s eyes were closed. While catching his breath so that the chest was not too tight, he tried to find common sense.
“Then, how is Gabriella doing? Julian’s sacrifice isn’t in vain, is it?” the man asked after revealing eyes filled with red streaks.
“Yes, Mr. Julian managed to protect Madam,” Mia answered hoarsely. “Madam is not hurt at all. It’s just that she’s still asleep from the anesthetic.”
Seeing the secretary bowed after explaining, Max grabbed the hand of the girl he already considered as a sister. “You don’t have to feel guilty, Mia. You’ve done a good job,” he comforted.
“But, Mister Julian was hurt because I didn’t hear the report. I found out too late that he had found Madam. I came late with help,” the girl who had never shed so many tears, regretted
“You’re not late, Mia. Julian still has hope, doesn’t he? If you didn’t come soon, worse things might happen,” Sebastian said with an awkward look.
“But, still … he was reckless because I always accused him of cowardice. Mister Julian said he wanted to prove his mettle.”
The secretary’s shoulders began to shake faster. Knowing the regret was messing with the girl’s heart, Max finally gritted his teeth. “If you feel guilty, promise to always help him. Remain to be his reliable secretary. He needs you.”
Without thinking, Mia nodded and wiped her face. “Yes, Sir. I promise.”
“Now, I want to see Gabriella. You wait for Julian here. When the operation is over, please let me know,” Max said, hardening his face. He didn’t want to show the sadness in front of a girl who was punishing herself.
After a glance, the man turned his gaze to Sebastian. In an even tone, he asked, “Would you be willing to take me to Gabriella?”
Along with an awkward nod, the cousin replied, “Of course.”
Without waiting for orders, he returned to his position behind the wheelchair. After a while, they slid into the emergency room.
For a few seconds, there was no communication between the two men. They simply didn’t know how to start. Max and Sebastian hadn’t officially reconciled, until suddenly, the man in the wheelchair cleared his throat.
“Thanks for saving Julian,” Max said stiffly.
Hearing those words, Sebastian’s blinking turned awkward. “You don’t need to thank me. I did what I was supposed to do.”
A second later, the atmosphere froze again. Overwhelmed by the tension, Max asked, “Do you think Julian can survive?”
“Why do you ask that? I’m not God,” the cousin said, starting to play a tune.
“I really didn’t think this could happen,” Max said with tears in his eyes.
“Why not? Everyone can change, even if it’s Julian,” Sebastian said in a low voice. He wanted to connect it to sorry, but his tongue felt heavy to get the word out.
Unexpectedly, the man in the wheelchair gave a quick snort. “That’s not what I meant, but this moment. You helped me go to meet Gabriella.”
In just an instant, awkwardness filled the air again. With his mouth agape, Sebastian stammered. “Y-yes, life is unpredictable.”
“Have you changed?” Max asked matter-of-factly, making the man behind him swallowing hard.
“I told you, everyone can change. If Julian can, why can’t I?”
“Do you know that Julian and I haven’t completely made up. Knowing his current state, I regret it. Why didn’t we make peace from the start?” the man sighed as he didn’t really see the path in front of him. His gaze had turned to the past. “Because of that, I don’t want us to be late in making peace. You can apologize now.”
Sniffing the arrogance he used to hate so much, Sebastian snorted sarcastically. “Apparently, you’re the one who hasn’t changed, huh? Where can anyone apologize like this? Are you aware that your speaking style sounds very annoying?”
“Because I was late in apologizing and didn’t want to do it again. I was being haughty when Julian apologized. I didn’t think that word can change the situation. But it turns out, I was wrong,” Max said, lowering his voice at the end of the sentence. Tears began to thicken, blocking the view.
“I didn’t realize that sorry wasn’t just to treat regret. It can also be used to improve relationships.”
Feeling the emotion that was too tense, Sebastian gave a small laugh to get rid of him. “Are you asking me to make up?” asked the man, jokingly.
“Yes,” Max said through his narrow throat.
“I thought you hated me,” the man who was still reluctant to apologize, said.
“Of course. I really want to beat you. You even touched my wife.”
Hearing contradicting statements, Sebastian’s lips went flat again. “Then, why did you offer me peace?”
“Because you saved Julian,” Max answered, successfully wrinkling the questioner’s brows.
“Just because of that?”
“Doesn’t that prove that you’re not a bad person?” Max replied, suddenly stopping the man who was pushing his wheelchair.
After a while, Sebastian was standing in front of Max. However, instead of continuing the conversation, the man widened his eyes. What he was about to say, had been forgotten by what he saw.
“Gosh! We have to go to the ER immediately,” he sighed before pushing the wheelchair faster.
“Why?”
“Don’t you realize that your stomach was bleeding that much?”
A second later, Max looked down. After seeing that his clothes had turned red, he let out a resigned sigh.