The soft beeping of the heart monitor was the first sound Cyrus heard as he slowly regained consciousness. The sterile smell of the hospital room filled his senses, and he felt the dull ache of his injuries. His eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim lighting.
“Cyrus?” Selena’s voice was soft, filled with a mixture of relief and worry.
He turned his head slightly, seeing her seated beside his bed. Her eyes were red and puffy, evidence of hours of crying. Despite her disheveled appearance, she looked beautiful to him.
“Selena,” he croaked, his voice weak and raspy.
Selena’s face broke into a relieved smile, and she gently squeezed his hand. “You’re awake. Thank God.”
Cyrus tried to sit up, wincing at the pain that shot through his body. Selena quickly moved to help him, adjusting his pillows to make him more comfortable.
“Don’t try to move too much,” she said, her voice gentle yet firm. “You’ve been through a lot.”
He nodded, taking in the concern etched on her face. “What happened?” he asked, his memory fuzzy.
She took a deep breath, her eyes glistening with tears. “You fainted. The fever and the stress… it was too much. Reggie … He… He…”
Cyrus’s expression darkened as the memories flooded back. “He beat me up.”
Selena nodded, her grip on his hand tightening. “I’m so sorry, Cyrus. They didn’t know how sick you were. They were just… angry.”
“It’s not your fault,” he said, his voice soothing despite the pain. “It’s mine. I should have handled things differently.”
Selena shook her head, tears spilling over. “No, Cyrus. They had no right to hurt you. This is on them.”
The door to the room opened, and Aziel walked in, followed by Ezra and Reggie. Their expressions were somber, filled with guilt and regret.
“Cyrus,” Aziel said, his voice gentle. “I’m glad to see you’re awake. How are you feeling?”
“Sore,” Cyrus admitted, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at Reggie and Ezra.
“We’re so sorry, man,” Reggie said, his voice trembling. “We didn’t know. We didn’t mean for it to go this far.”
Ezra stepped forward, his eyes filled with remorse. “I shouldn’t have let it happen. I should have stopped Reggie. I’m sorry.”
Cyrus nodded, not saying anything.
“They were fools… and still fools… Sorry for how they acted and what they did that landed you here,” Aziel said. Cyrus responded with a weak smile.
“I’ll get the doctor,” Selena said, leaning in to give him a kiss on his forehead.
“Okay,” he said, watching her walk out.
Cyrus turned to Aziel, his voice hesitant. “Uh… I’m sorry for even being with her.”
Aziel’s expression softened. “Oh, don’t worry. If you like her, then no problem. Just don’t break her heart, because I might do worse to you,” he said with a soft chuckle, and Cyrus managed a small smile.
“See you around,” Aziel said before leaving the room.
Silence hung in the air as Cyrus, Ezra, and Reggie stood there, each lost in their thoughts.
“Look, Cyrus… I’m really sorry. I lost my temper,” Reggie said, his voice thick with regret.
“It’s okay. At least you were able to beat me once in your life,” Cyrus said, trying to lighten the mood with a chuckle. Ezra smiled slightly.
“Uh… okay. I’m out,” Reggie said, pointing at the door before walking out.
Cyrus and Ezra exchanged a look, the weight of unspoken words heavy between them.
“Man, I never meant to like her or whatever, but she’s special, and I don’t think I can stop liking her,” Cyrus admitted.
“Yeah, I understand. But… you used her,” Ezra said, his voice tinged with the hurt of betrayal.
“I was dumb, and for that, I apologize. I treated her wrongly, and no girl should be treated like that. Never,” Cyrus said, lowering his head in shame. “If I could take all this back, I would and make my wrongs right.”
Ezra nodded, understanding. “I get it. When you love someone, it’s hard to just let go, and I’m sorry for being so mean and not stopping Reggie from doing that.”
Cyrus nodded appreciatively. “And you know about your…”
“No… Don’t tell her yet,” Cyrus said, his eyes pleading. Ezra nodded in agreement.
The door opened, and Selena walked in. “I’m back,” she said, the doctor entering the room behind her.
“Let’s see how you’re doing,” the doctor said, approaching Cyrus with a kind smile and checking his vitals.
Selena stood by the bed, her eyes never leaving Cyrus’s face. “How is he, doctor?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“He’s stable, which is a good sign,” the doctor said, glancing at her. “With rest and proper care, he should recover well. But it’s important to keep his stress levels low and ensure he gets plenty of rest.”
Selena nodded, relief washing over her. “Thank you, doctor.”
Cyrus managed a small smile. “Thanks, Doc.”
The doctor gave a reassuring nod before turning to leave. “If you need anything, just call,” he said as he exited the room.
Selena took a seat beside Cyrus again, holding his hand gently. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispered, tears of relief streaming down her face.
Cyrus squeezed her hand weakly. “I am too, thanks to you.”
Ezra watched them silently for a moment before clearing his throat. “I’ll give you two some space,” he said, offering a small smile before leaving the room.
As the door closed behind him, Selena leaned closer to Cyrus. “I was so scared,” she admitted, her voice breaking.
“I thought you… you were going to,” she paused, her voice breaking as more tears streamed down her cheeks. Cyrus’s expression softened, and he gently pulled her into a comforting embrace.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” Cyrus whispered, his voice filled with tenderness. “But I’m going to be fine. Thanks to you and your dad.”
Selena nodded, her heart finally beginning to lighten. “I got you some food,” she said, pulling away from the hug just enough to reach for the bag she’d brought.
“Chicken soup,” she said with a small smile, and Cyrus’s eyes lit up.
“You should eat. You must be starving,” she said with a weak chuckle, her hand brushing a stray hair from his forehead.
Cyrus nodded, picking up the spoon. “You made this?” he asked as he took a sip.
Selena laughed softly. “No, I can’t make soup this good.”
Cyrus chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. “I can teach you,” he said, his fingers lightly tracing circles on her thigh.
“Cyrus,” she said, rolling her eyes but unable to hide her smile.
“What?” he asked, feigning innocence.
“You know exactly what you’re doing,” she replied, bringing the spoon closer to his mouth.
“You could feed me from your mouth. I’d love that more,” he said with a mischievous grin.
“Should I call my dad to feed you instead?” Selena asked, raising an eyebrow in mock seriousness.
“No, thanks,” he said quickly, making them both burst into laughter.
As the laughter faded, they shared a quiet, intimate moment. Cyrus continued to eat, and Selena watched him.
“I have something to ask you,” Cyrus said, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. Selena nodded, giving him the go-ahead.
He smiled, leaning in to give her a soft kiss on the lips. “I want you…” he began, his voice trailing off.
“Not here… you have to recover first,” she said, laughing softly.
“No, that’s not what I meant,” he said, and she looked at him, confused.
“I want you to be my girlfriend. Or rather… would you be my girlfriend?” he asked, his tone sincere and hopeful.
Selena gasped, her eyes widening in shock. “Are you for real?” she asked, searching his face for any sign of jest.
Cyrus smiled and nodded. “I’ve been so stupid for so long, and I completely regret treating you the way I did. I’ve been afraid to pour my feelings out to you, but… fun fact,” he said, pausing for a moment, “I had a crush on you when you were 14.”
“You’re lying,” she said, her voice full of disbelief.
“I’m not. I didn’t make a move because you were still a minor and your brother would have killed me if he knew,” Cyrus said with a chuckle.
Selena’s cheeks turned red as she thought about it. She had never known Cyrus liked her at all. “I waited for you to grow older so I could shoot my shot. But I never liked the idea of dating when I was younger,” he explained.
She nodded, understanding his hesitation. “Would you be my girlfriend?” he asked again, this time holding her hands, his gaze earnest.
“This is so unexpected. I thought you would never ask,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
“Well, I would be so stupid to let a perfect girl like you out of my sight,” he said, making her laugh.
“And I would be so stupid to say no to you,” she replied, their laughter mingling together.
“Can I get a kiss now?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“No,” she said, playfully shoving a spoonful of soup into his mouth.
“Damn girl,” he said, laughing.
“Just one kiss, that’s all. I mean, I miss you a lot,” he said, his voice softening.
She smiled at him, sighing. “Just three seconds and that’s it,” she said, and he nodded in agreement.
Selena leaned in, her heart pounding in her chest. As their lips met, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in that moment. The kiss was tender and sweet, filled with all the unspoken words and emotions they had been holding back.
Cyrus cupped her face gently, deepening the kiss, while Selena’s hands found their way around his neck. The connection they shared felt electric, sending shivers down her spine. It was a kiss that promised new beginnings and healing from past hurts.
Just as they were lost in their embrace, the door suddenly swung open. They broke apart quickly, turning to see Selena’s dad, Aziel, standing in the doorway, his expression a mix of surprise and amusement.
“Well, well, well,” Aziel said, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. “Looks like you’re feeling better, Cyrus.”
Selena’s face flushed with embarrassment, and she pulled away from Cyrus, standing up quickly. “Dad, I… we were just…”
Aziel chuckled, shaking his head. “Relax, Lena. It’s good to see you two finally sorting things out.” He glanced at Cyrus, his eyes serious. “Just remember what I said, young man.”
Cyrus nodded, his face still flushed from the kiss. “I remember, sir. I won’t forget.”
Aziel gave a nod of approval before turning his attention back to Selena. “Alright, I’ll leave you two to it. Just keep in mind, hospital rooms aren’t exactly private.”
As he left the room, closing the door behind him, Selena let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding for a while. She turned back to Cyrus, who was smiling at her, his eyes filled with affection.
“Well, that was embarrassing,” she said, laughing softly.
Cyrus chuckled, pulling her back into his arms. “I don’t mind. As long as I get to be with you.”
Selena smiled, leaning in to kiss him again, feeling more at ease. This time, they kissed gently, savoring the moment.
THREE WEEKS LATER
Exams had passed quickly, and Selena was finally on the holiday she had always wanted. Cyrus and Ezra’s graduation was fast approaching, and she could hardly believe that Cyrus would soon be a working man. She sometimes wondered if he would still want to date her since she was still in college, but she quickly brushed the thought away.
Today, she was heading to Cyrus’s house. He had told her that he was out and needed to take care of something, so she offered to wait for him there.
Upon arriving at his house, she went straight to his room. She decided to freshen up quickly since she planned to spend the night. Heading to his closet to find something to wear, she grabbed a shirt, but as she did, a paper fell from one of the shelves. Bending down to pick it up, she opened the paper and began to read.
Her eyes widened as she saw the name of a disease: “Hodgkins lymphoma” Shock and confusion washed over her as she continued to read the medical terms and notes scribbled on the paper.
What the fuck… Cyrus had Cancer!!!!!!!!!!
TBC.