3. Mr. Rare Blood Type

“HELP!” Lila cried at the ER entrance. Her body was shaking.

The big red stain that damped her clothes drew the paramedics’ attention. “What happened?” They asked in unison.

“Not me. It’s Andrew, he’s in the car.” Lila managed to find his driver’s license before drove his car in panic to the nearest hospital.

Male paramedics immediately ran towards the car. Lila didn’t know what they did to save Andrew as she was led to one of ER’s bed. A woman wore blue scrubs gave a glass of water to her. She asked. “Can you tell me what happened to Andrew?”

After drinking the water, Lila felt a little calm. Her voice no longer trembled. “Four men tried to rob me, Andrew came to save me, one of them hurt him with a knife.”

“Alright, you need to report this to the police.” Lila nodded at her suggestion. “But, let me check your condition first.”

The doctor declared that Lila was fine, just needed to rest and eat. Lila waited in the ER’s waiting space, sitting alone on the metal bench when a nurse came.

“Are you his family?” The nurse asked.

Lila looked up. “No… I, err, am his neighbor.” That was the only way to explain who she was to Andrew. They didn’t have to know what kind of neighbor.

“That’ll do too.” Said the nurse. She handed Lila a clipboard. “Fill the form, then you can go on with the administration process there.”

Then Lila did like the nurse told her to, she paid for the medical bill.

Lila was back in the ER right at the same time when the doctors who treated Andrew rolled his bed to one of empty ward.

“How is he?” Lila asked them.

The male doctor who wore blood stain scrubs explained. “The wound needs five stitches. He’s fine now, still unconscious because of the anesthetic. Do you know that he has a rare blood type?”

Lila shook her head. This was unexpected, she thought.

“We are lucky that he didn’t lose too much blood, otherwise…Well, I’m afraid to think about otherwise.” The doctor continued.

“What’s his blood type?”

“B negative.” Replied the doctor before he left.

Wow. Just this morning Lila left home at down, spending hours of trip in a bus to a little town, wanting to talk to a man whose blood type was B negative, if he was willing to donate his blood for science or gave her a sample.

Thanks to her boyfriend, which she already considered him as an ex, she failed to collect the sample. But surprise, surprise, she found another living donor.

Staring at the sleeping man in the bed, Lila couldn’t decide what to feel. Right this moment, she felt glad and relief that he was alive.

Sensing a hand tugged her hair weakly, Lila opened her eyes. Her head rested on her folding arm, leaning on someone’s bed. A typical hospital scent of antiseptic and disinfectant combined with medicine infiltrated in Lila’s breathing system through to her brain, made her remember that she was in a hospital. She was here because Andrew was hurt and she fell asleep.

If she fell asleep, then… Is it morning already? Her eyes wide open, she got up with a very quick and sharp sudden movement, causing the chair that she was sat on fell onto the floor.

The loud sound of metal hitting the floor startled the calm ER, including Lila herself.

“Is everything okay?” A male nurse came.

Lila managed to collect herself and fixed the chair position. “Yes. I… have a bad dream.”

The male nurse smiled. “That’s why you should sleep in your own bed at home.”

Lila grimaced while the nurse went to check Andrew. He helped Andrew to have some water.

After the nurse left, Lila sat back on the chair. “How are you feeling?”

“A little numb.” Said Andrew while observing her whole appearance. She was wearing the same clothes, meaning that she stayed here all night, accompanying him.

“It’ll be better. I—” Lila wanted to ask if he could give her a sample of his blood, but looking at him lying in the hospital bed, she thought it would be inappropriate. Maybe next time, besides I know where to find him. “—am Lila by the way.”

“And I’m—”

“Andrew.” Lila chimed in which earned a questioning look from him. “I found your driver’s license in your car so I can fill your hospital form. I didn’t go through your things in a creepy way, you know…”

“Understood.” Andrew pulled one side of his lip. He knew she was a clever girl, he watched her grow up always studying.

“I need to go to work.” Lila put a piece of paper next to his pillow right beneath his phone. “This is my phone number, call me once you feel better. We’ll go to the police together.”

Andrew’s eyes turned wide. “Did you lose something?”

“No…” Lila puzzled.

“Then no need to go to the police.” Andrew closed his eyes. “I’m sleepy again. Please close the curtains when you left.”

A soft chuckle escaped Lila’s mouth. This man was shooing her. Fine! “Okay, call me if you need anything.”

No respond.

Be patient! He saved my life and I still need his blood sample. Lila left, feeling a little upset.

Few minutes after Lila left, Andrew opened his eyes. No need to involve the police, those thugs would be punished, thought Andrew. He needed to make a call to be assure of that.

When he took his phone, a piece of paper dropped onto his chest. Lila’s phone number, he said inwardly. He saved her number then proceeded to make a call.

“Evan, did you get them?” Asked Andrew as soon as the line connected.

“Andrew, where are you?” Asked the man on the other line. “I thought you want to grill these chickens”

“Good. We’ll have chicken barbecue tonight.”

“Okay, I’ll set the place then.”

“Okay.” Andrew ended the call. Then he made another call. “Max, come here and pick me up.” Lila must have been taken him to the nearest hospital from the cemetery, so he told Max the hospital name.

Soon, Max arrived with fresh clothes for him.

“Should I prepare for a team to conduct a thorough check up?” Max was surprised, finding Andrew was treated in the ER. Because Andrew was always careful with his physical condition, he would avoid being hurt as possible as he could.

“Nah, I think I’m good. The doctors told me that I’m not losing much blood. Have to eat nutritious food.” Andrew took the fresh clothes. “Prepare someone to check on my wound later.”

“Okay. I’ll finish your medical administration while you change.”

Max came back to Andrew’s ward. He had already changed his clothes and a doctor was checking his wound.

“Your hospital bill had been paid.” Max reported.

“Must be the woman who brought you here last night.” The doctor volunteered the information, he was the one who told Lila about Andrew’s rare blood type. His hands were putting a new bandage over Andrew’s stitched wound. “Alright, you’re good to go.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Max thanked him before he left. He turned to Andrew, who was busy putting on his shoes. “So, who brought you here?”

Max was two years younger than Andrew. Even though Andrew was technically his boss, he was told to be casual and used honorific only in a formal occasion.

“She’s my neighbor.” Replied Andrew nonchalantly.

“Mrs. Davis?”

“Who’s Mrs. Davis?”

“Your neighbor, the one whose mansion is next to yours.” Max’ explanation had a hint of confusion.

Andrew shook his head. “No.”

Ten years of experience working for Andrew, Max knew if Andrew said no, it meant end of discussion. So, he didn’t bother to argue and followed his step outside.

When Max ignited the car engine, he noticed Andrew was a bit slow on getting inside the car because of the wound. Once Andrew was sitting perfectly in the car, he asked. “Office or home?”

“Home.” Came Andrew lazy answer, then he added quickly. “Drive me tonight to the Arena, we’ll have chicken barbecue tonight.”

Max looked sideways in awe. He knew exactly what the chicken meant by the mention of the Arena. Just to be sure he asked anyway. “You mean those who hurt you?”

“Yeah…”

“How many are they?”

“Four.”

“Well, I hope you only grill their skin.”

Andrew nonchalantly replied. “That depend, what answer they give me when I question them.”