Chapter 31 – I pledge to keep showing up in your life

"Hello! Axel?" Aicko dials a long-distance phone call to his cousin.

"Hello. What makes you want to call me? Do you have a problem?" Axel inquired from the other end of the telephone. He recognized the phone call as coming from his cousin.

"I phoned to tell you about my best friend, but you have to promise me you won't be surprised, okay?" She attempts to persuade him.

"Is there something wrong with her? How is she?" He worriedly asked. The line went silent for some time. He was waiting for his cousin to tell him. She was hesitant to tell him the news, but she had to say it.

"Axel, I don’t want to say it to you, but I promised to inform you anything about her—" "Get to the point!" He impatiently instructed.

"She’s in the hospital," she promptly responded.

"What??... How did that happen?!" Axel can’t stop himself from over