I went to a store, bought gifts and cake just as Mr. Hudson instructed, and went up straight to where Eion’s hospital was. I called Hannah earlier if they’re still there but she said they went to eat somewhere, not even inviting me.
How amazing my friends are. Well, whatever, I have a mission now.
“Room 133 miss.” The nurse said when I asked what Eion’s room number was. “Thank you.”
Catching my breath from the stairs I had taken, I opened the door to see Eion laying in bed, wearing the hospital gown and his eyes closed. His face had some bruises and marks on it.
I breathed in. That fool, he didn’t even tell me about his disease…
Well, now that I think about it, he had given me clues about it. It was just me who was dumb enough not to realize.
I put the cake and gift on a small table beside Eion. He doesn’t have tubes attached to him like what I expected as they said he got into an accident right?
A nurse was doing something in Eion’s arms, maybe injecting, and stood up, leaving the door when she saw me. “Family member?”
“No, a friend.” I answered, and the nurse nodded, “You have ten minutes, miss. The patient needs to rest.”
I nodded then I remembered what Eion’s dad said, his heart disease. “Wait, I have a question.”
She motioned for me to follow her outside so that we won’t wake Eion up and closed the door.
“Is he okay now?” I asked.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s not something crucial since the patient said it always happens.” She replied, and that made me ask again.
“Always happened? What happened?”
She scanned the papersom her hand, “According to the results, the patient’s heart triggered when he was driving last night. He crashed into a tree, and fortunately, there were only some minor injuries he had obtained. Nothing major.”
She then paused before continuing, “Miss, your boyfriend has been getting these attacks lately, since the past few months. His heart’s getting more and more fragile, I’m afraid.”
That made me panic a bit, “Fragile? What do you mean?” I asked, ignoring the word ‘boyfriend’ that she said.
“Don’t worry, miss. Rest assured we’ll do our best. But I’m afraid he’ll stay here for two weeks or so…”
With that, I nodded at her, “Okay. Thank you so much, miss.”
“My pleasure.” She bowed a little and walked away. So it’s not that crucial huh? I opened the door. I see Eion’s figure lying in bed, still in the same position I had seen earlier.
“So..” I cleared my throat, wanting to wake him up since I only had ten minutes to talk to him. When he didn’t move, I just spoke up, “It’s your birthday today… Here.”
Silence. Maybe he really is asleep… I’ll just leave this then and return-
“Just put it there.”
I heard him saying, and I saw his eyes opening and staring at me with a blank look.
“I said there. Just leave it there.” He repeated without moving.
“Oh. Okay.” I did what he told me, putting the gifts and cake I was holding, and sat down on one of the chairs placed beside his bed.
So what to talk about? Why am I nervous? It’s funny how I thought I could make fun of him and mock him about karma and all but now I’m speechless…
And I hate myself for thinking so shallow that I intended to include even his heart disease in this stupid-hate kind of relationship we have. Just from learning what the nurse said earlier, I feel so pale and weak and a fool.
I studied him, he looked fine, well at least with his back the view I can only see now. “I thought you were asleep,” I added with a chuckle. “So-
He interjected before I even had the chance to speak, “I know you have a lot of questions and I’m not in the mood to answer them.”
“Oh.” I nodded. Well, this is awkward. I can’t bring myself to yell at him and demand answers like what I exactly planned out but it turned out like this. This is so.. depressing. Seeing there like that…
I stood up. “Well, that’s all. I guess I have to go-
I stopped and looked down, he was holding my wrist. “Don’t leave Snow…Just stay here.. for now.”
I was speechless so I just nodded. I just sat back and stared at him, he was studying me. He really did have some minor injuries. His lip had a scar and his right cheek. Other than that, everything’s fine.
“You don’t look like you just got in an accident.” I can’t help but comment.
His eyebrows furrowed, “Yeah, now laugh at me.”
I raised my eyebrows at him, “Why?”
“This. In my state. C’mon, say that it was karma.” He responded, and I shook my head.
“No. I’m not going to do that, Eion.” I said. How lowly does he think of me? “But I want you to answer some of my questions.” I continued, clearing my throat and suddenly serious now. “Since when did you have this …. heart disease?” I was hesitating on asking him about this since this might be a sensitive topic for him…
He looked at me, staring at my brown chocolate eyes before replying, “I had a weak heart when I was a child. When mom died, I got depressed and as I grew up, I had this.”
He then paused, as if recalling the past, and continued, “When I feel too many emotions, my heart can’t take it and prevents me from breathing properly. So I have to take some of my medicine.”
“Then that explains that time when I pretended I was drowning.. you can’t swim….” I said, now realizing it.
He shook his head, “No, before that. That time when you chased me to slap me and say you’re leaving the shop, it provoked me.” He said. ” And actually, I can swim, my heart just can’t.”
I let it process in my mind, and he still continued. “Plus, if you may have noticed, I’ve always disappeared because I was doing some Cardiac rehabilitation twice in a week.”
I nodded at that, “Oh, so that explains you’re often absent… I thought you were escaping..”
Eion just chuckled. He then eyed the gift I bought, “What’s that? It’s from my dad, is it?”
“No. I bought that.” I answered, which he just sighed.
I stared at him, “Your dad really wants to see you… he was even saying that maybe it’s his last time in this world…” I trailed off, covering it with a fake laugh, “That man he can be funny sometimes… haha.”
Now that I see it, I have also realized something. “Did you know that you two are very similar? However, in your case, you’re funny in your own way.” I said.
That caught his attention, “How so?”
“Well, I just noticed that…. also, he mentioned to me your embarrassing things… especially when you were a kid. I heard you were in a girl’s clothes since your mom wanted a girl…” I brought it up. Well, It wasn’t from his dad really, it’s from Mario. He said that to me last time at the resort…but Eion doesn’t have to know that.. he’ll get angry at Mario for sure.
Eion’s eyes widened, “Who told you that?”
“Just someone we both knew….” I said.
“I have a feeling you need something.” He eyed me curiously, now dropping the subject. “What do you want now?
I flashed him my infamous beam and gave him a thumbs-up, “Way to go!” I wiped a fake tear on my eye bags as though a proud mom. “You really now know me so well it’s flattering.”
Silence. Did I say something that offended him? That may have even triggered his heart?
Then before I knew it, he burst into fits of laughter. I just looked in amazement and watched as he laughs freely at him, this time I wasn’t offended by his laugh, it actually removed the feeling of nervousness and uneasiness I didn’t know I had ever since I received that news from the nurse like I was afraid he might break in what I will say to him just knowing that he’s more fragile now.
He just looked happy, and that made me happy. He looked so much alive than sulking here in this room. “Go and visit your dad when you’re well, if not, then I’m afraid I might spread your embarrassing things… I have proof.” I said when he recovered from his laughing.
And for him to know I was really telling the truth, I took out a picture that Mario gave to me when we were chit-chatting, or more like forced him since I’m that cruel.
Eion looked so red and in panic when he gave it to me, fearing for his life.
“And be careful when laughing at me. It’s okay if you’ll laugh at my face or whatever but you said it yourself too many emotions trigger it more so it won’t be my fault if you’re gonna be staying longer in the hospital.” I said.
“Well, it’s your fault that my heartfelt emotion triggered it… Last night I was nervous and happy at the same time…” He trailed off.
“Nervous and happy? Wait, you’re telling me it’s my fault? What did I do?” I asked.
“Don’t act as nothing happened,” Eion said.