Chapter 3 : Regret

It's already been an hour since Michael stood in front of the glass cabinet. 

He couldn't stop his tears from falling as he looked at the photo in the cupboard.

It was a picture of a young woman, smiling happily while hugging a teddy bear.

With shaky hands, he rubbed the glass cabinet gently and spoke in a soft voice.

"Diana, I'm back."

Silence!

It was  the only thing that greeted him, leaving Michael unable to do anything but sigh heavily.

'Of course, what answer could I expect from a deceased person other than silence?' Michael thought as he chuckled, laughing at his foolishness.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly opened the glass cabinet. 

Michael carefully put the rose bouquet that he had been holding next to the photo. He smiled when he was done. A memory flashed in his head.

"Hey Michael, look at that couple! Isn't that guy romantic? He gave a bouquet of roses to his girlfriend!" Diana said as she rested her head on Michael's shoulder.

"Haish! That's impractical! Instead of giving roses, why not just chocolate? It's delicious and can be eaten,“ Michael replied, shaking his head while looking at the couple.

Diana was completely disagreeing with Michael's statement, because right now she was sitting straight and staring at him sharply with her pouty lips. 

"How unromantic! Don't you know that roses have a special meaning? It means eternal love! You're anti-romantic!" she said while hitting Michael's arm lightly. 

Michael just chuckled at Diana's behavior, which looked cute in his eyes.

Stroking Diana's head gently, Michael said, "Okay, fine, one day..." Michael stopped as he pointed at the couple "I will give you a bouquet of roses, more beautiful and bigger than that one. 

But now, please wait for it because we still need the money to cover our living expenses."  

"Is that true??" Diana responded with a gleam in her eyes, staring into Michael's eyes to ensure he wasn't joking.

"Mhmm, you have my word," Michael said as he cupped Diana's cheeks.

"Okay, it's a promise then!" and then she hugged Michael tightly.

Tears suddenly flowed from Michael's eyes again as he remembered those sweet memories.

Yes, of course he kept his promise. He had brought her a bouquet of roses after she was gone, and that fact really hurt him. 

He realized that those good times were already over, and he would never see how happy she was after receiving those roses as a result of his stupid actions.

"Why did I do it?" he said in a small voice while lowering his head.

After a long silence, Michael spoke again, this time louder. "WHY... WHY DID I DO IT? WHY DID YOU DO IT, MICHAEL?" 

Michael's voice turned into a high pitch at the end of the sentence as he started to laugh like a maniac. laughing at his miseries and his tragic fate, before the laughter turned into sobs.

"Aren't you too cruel to me?" Michael asked no one.

"Every time I wake up, there isn't a day where I don't feel regret." said Michael between sobs as he tilted his head up, He took a deep breath before continuing, 

"And every time I sleep, I'm always haunted by that memory. Memories of that night, Diana, the night you died"

"Every day, I ask myself. Why? What did I think to make such a fatal mistake, Diana. I admit that I am a jerk for daring to do all of that to you, Diana. 

But at the same time, I also thought, Isn't this punishment too cruel for me? "Why must you go somewhere I can never reach you?"

Michael asked weakly as he started to clench his chest, feeling his heart beat faster than it should. He can feel that his knees are starting to tremble, which is not a good sign.

With a shaky hand, he reached into his pocket to get the medicine. But unfortunately, the medicine fell on the floor, scattering all its contents.

"Oh no!" he screamed in panic as he bent down, trying to pick up the scattered pills on the floor but failing miserably.

His hand was too shaky to grab them which made his condition worsen. 

After a while, he finally gave up. Slumping down on the floor, there's nothing he can do except try to breathe, which is starting to get hard with each passing second.

He wanted to scream so badly, but there's no voice coming out of his throat. There was only the sound of his heavy breathing.

"Is this how I'm going to die?" thought Michael while looking at the ceiling of the room.

"If it's true, then it's okay, I deserve it. I deserve this slow and painful death for what I've done." A black dot begins to obscure his vision as his lungs begin to give up.

"Well, this is it. Goodbye world. and I will come to you, my love," Michael thought before losing consciousness.

As he started to enter the darkness, the sound of hurried footsteps was heard, accompanied by someone's scream. But Michael didn't care. He chose to ignore it and drifted into the darkness.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………................

"I can't believe I have to work on my day off!" Alex yelled angrily as he honked his horn. "Why is there so much traffic today?!"

"It's alright, Alex, really. This must be a serious matter! Mister Payton never calls in panic like that," said the woman while trying to calm Alex, who looked furious and honked louder. 

"How am I supposed to not feel angry when we were supposed to be on a date but got delayed because of that stupid call? 

I've even planned it ahead of time, Emma! You know that this moment is very rare due to my busy schedule!"

"Well, I'm fine with it,  Alex! After all, going to your workplace is not that bad! I'm quite happy with this! I haven't been there in a long time."

"But –" "Shhh, really, I'm fine. "I don't need an extravagant date or anything as long as it's with you," Emma replied sincerely, and Alex's rage was soothed.

"Yeah, you're right." He said as he started to calm down, "I shouldn't be angry like that. It's just that, lately, I'm always working overtime and leaving you alone at home. 

What kind of fiancée am I?" said Alex in a small voice, but it's still audible to Emma's hearing because right now, Emma is looking straight into his eyes and speaking in a serious tone.

"Hey, who said you're a bad fiancé, hm? There's nothing wrong with you! In fact, I'm happy to see you working on holidays. 

That means you're a professional! You looked really hot when you worked, you know!" 

"Really? Am I looking hot?" asked Alex

"Mhmm, my fiancé is really hot!" Emma replied while nodding her head steadily, and before Emma could continue saying whatever she wanted to say, a pair of lips touched her lips. 

Alex kissed her! But before the kiss could get any deeper, he already pulled away, which made her sigh in disappointment.

Alex just stared  at the woman he loved while saying, " We better stop now, dear. I don't think I can keep the beast inside me if we go deeper. 

Must save the best after we're married. Hmm, should I propose to you right now?" He said this while winking mischievously, making Emma blush madly.

"Haish, you perverted fox!" She said this while lightly slapping Alex's arm.

"Haha, but you love this fox,right?" he teased while sticking out his tongue.

"ALEXX!!!"

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.

.

After fighting so much traffic, they finally arrived at the hospital where Alex worked.

As soon as they entered the building, a nurse approached them and told Alex that the patient's guardian was waiting for him in the room.

"Humph. Well,  it's time for us to separate for a sec. Please wait for me in this lounge. I will come to you as soon as possible," says Alex to Emma as he caresses her cheeks.

"Okay," and with that, Alex walked off to carry out his tasks.

After a while of waiting for Alex, Emma started to feel bored.

"Ugh, I feel really bored. My feet are sore from sitting for so long. Should I take a walk?" She thought. After thinking for a while, Emma decided to do just that.

"Well, it's not going to hurt anyone if I take a little walk. Besides, I'll return here in no time,' she thought as she walked down the hospital corridor.

Her steps stopped when she was in front of Alex's office.

"Hihihi, my man is very handsome when he's serious," she thought as she peeked through the window. While admiring her fiance, suddenly Alex and his client stood up and were about to walk out.

"Oh no! I can't get caught; Alex will be very angry if he finds out I'm walking out like this!" Emma says that in panic and without thinking further, she went inside a random room and closed the door.

"Phew, for now, I think I won't get caught." Emma reflected as she peered through the doorway.

"Who are you?"

A voice asked her from behind, making her jump. Emma really didn't expect that there would be people in the room!

"Damn Emma, you really got yourself in a lot of trouble this time," she thought, biting her bottom lip and cursing under her breath.

"Are you deaf? I'm asking you! Who are you and why are you in my room?!" the man asked her again in a louder voice.

'Couldn't you just ask later? I'm freaking out' thought Emma.

Hearing no response from Emma, the man sighs harshly as she hears the blankets being pulled back and footsteps indicating he is walking towards Emma.

"I—" and before Emma could finish her sentence, the man was already behind her and turning her around.

"You . . ."