Allison
I paced back and forth in my room, my mind racing with thoughts of how to explain everything to my mom. My thoughts were jumbled and restless, making it hard to think straight.
Just as I was trying to gather my thoughts, I heard a knock on the door. “Open the door right now!” my mom demanded.
I hesitated for a moment before opening the door. “Mom, please, I can explain-”
But she cut me off, her chest heaving dramatically. “Quickly! We need to leave now.”
“What’s going on?” I asked, feeling a surge of confusion through me. “Where are we going?”
Mom’s expression was grim as she replied. “Jayden’s been in an accident.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I tried hard to control my emotions, which were about to knock me down to my knees.
“Is… Is he okay?” I stuttered, my lips vibrating.
“I don’t know,” she said. “Just get dressed, and let’s go.”
I quickly wore a jacket and rushed out of the room. Mom was already waiting in the car, and I jumped in beside her. She peeled out of the driveway, leaving my questions and fears hanging in the air.
As we drove to the hospital, I couldn’t sit still. I stomped my feet on the floor, my anxiety getting the better of me. Mom glanced at me, her expression frazzled. “Can you stop that already? You’re distracting me.”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’m just anxious.”
She sighed deeply and continued driving, her eyes fixed on the road.
“Mom, what happened to him?” I asked, my voice laced with worry. “How did he get into an accident? He was just with us a few minutes ago.”
Her grip on the steering wheel tightened. “I don’t know, dear. Tom just called me and told me Jayden had an accident. That’s all I know. When we get there, we’ll find out.”
I nodded, my mind racing with questions and fears. What if something big and bad happened to him? Was he stupid enough to do that intentionally? Damn it!
Still driving, mom spoke up again, her voice firm. “And also, as for you and Jayden, you both will have to explain everything to me later. Because I don’t even know what’s going on anymore.”
I let out a soft sigh, my eyes on the window, watching the scenery, unsure of what to say to her. No words could even form from my mouth at that point because I was so scared.
Finally, we arrived at the hospital. We jumped out of the car and rushed inside. At the reception desk, we asked about Jayden and were directed to his room.
We quickly made our way to his ward and opened the door. My heart skipped a beat as I saw Jayden sitting on the bed, a bandage wrapped around his leg. Tom sat beside him, a look of concern etched on his face.
Mom rushed towards Jayden, breathing so fast I could hear it loudly. “Oh my goodness, what happened to you, Jayden? Are you okay?” she asked, my eyes scanning his face for any signs of injury.
Tom sighed, shaking his head. “He’s a very stubborn lad, I tell you.”
As they continued talking, their voices faded into the distance, and everything around me blurred. My gaze locked onto the one person I couldn’t ignore – Jayden. The tension between us was palpable, a living, breathing thing that crackled with unspoken emotions. We didn’t need words; our eyes conveyed everything, speaking volumes in a silent language that only we understood.
I slowly walked towards him, my feet feeling heavy with worry, and when I got to his side, I touched the side of his face, caressing its smoothness.
“Are you okay? What happened?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Jayden nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’m fine,” he replied, his voice low and husky. “Missed me, baby?”
I felt a flutter in my chest at the endearment but then again, I couldn’t help but frown at the fact that our parents were just next to us.
“How did you get into an accident?” I asked, my eyes scanning his face for any signs of pain. “What really happened?”
Jayden seemed triggered by the remembrance because he had his jaw clenched, and he bit his bottom lip. His fists were balled, and I could sense the anger and frustration emanating from him.
Tom intervened, his voice calm. “Jayden jumped out of the moving car, but thankfully, I had slowed down, and he wasn’t seriously injured. The bandage will need to stay on for a week. You guys don’t need to worry; it’s just a minor injury.”
I let out a sigh of relief, my eyes never leaving Jayden’s face. I could sense the turmoil brewing inside him, and I knew I had to be there for him… even if my mom wouldn’t approve. At this point, I didn’t even care.
But then, on the other hand, I thought that it didn’t make any sense. “But what’s wrong with you? Why would you jump out of a moving car? Don’t you know it’s dangerous?”
“Nobody gives a damn about me anymore,” he spat in utmost rage. “Fuck! I feel so shitty right now.”
“But you know that that’s not true, Jayden,” I whispered, my eyes getting teary all of a sudden. “We actually do love you. We just-”
But he cut me off, his voice rising. “Just leave me alone, Allison. You’re also among.”
I sighed and looked away, feeling helpless.
Just then, my mom spoke up, her voice firm. “Jayden, do you really like my daughter?”
Jayden’s eyes met mine, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. The air was charged with emotion, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.
“Yes… I do,” he finally replied, his voice low and slightly shaky.
Mom turned to me, her eyes searching. “Allison, what about you? Do you like Jayden?”
I took a deep breath, my heart racing. “I like him,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
“But what’s next, Mom?” I asked, a surge of anger and frustration running through my veins. “Are you going to accept us or what?” My voice was shaking with rage and sarcasm, and I could feel tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.
Her expression softened, and she took a deep breath. “The thing is, I’m going to give you two a chance. I’m not accepting you guys yet, but I’ll see how far you can go. I’ll observe and decide whether to accept or disapprove of you two at the end of the day.”
She turned to Tom, her eyes searching. “But if Tom doesn’t approve of you two, then it’s fine by me. So, Tom, what do you think?”
Tom sighed deeply, his eyes locking onto mine. I looked down, feeling a mix of emotions. His voice came out low and resigned. “If my son is going to be happy, then fine. Besides, I’d rather see him happy than hurt himself for no reason. I think I’ve done enough harm to him already.”
A pang of sadness struck me at Tom’s words, the regret and guilt behind them palpable. It was clear he was trying to make amends, to be a better father now. But Jayden’s reaction was immediate and dismissive. He glanced at his father, a scoffing expression twisting his face, as if mocking Tom’s belated attempt to change his ways.
Mom nodded, a small smile on her face. “Well, I think we’ve come to a conclusion then.”
I looked up at Jayden, and he gave me a small, wolfish smile. But I couldn’t return it, my emotions still reeling from the conversation.