Chapter 5 : Are you Real?

Emma ran quickly as soon as she was out of the room.

"Oh no, I'm so dead! I'm so dead! Alex will surely kill me for going out without his permission. Oh, please don't arrive yet!" Emma thought frantically. She was so panicked that she accidentally bumped into some of the nurses passing by and could only mutter "sorry."

Alex was already sitting in one of the lounge chairs when she arrived. From his face, you can tell that he doesn't look so happy. "Oh no, I'm completely screwed!" she thought frantically, but still chose to approach him.

Alex, who was aware of Emma's presence, immediately made eye contact with her.

"Where have you been? I thought I already told you to wait for me in this lounge. Don't you know how worried I was?" Alex spoke in a harsh tone as he glared at her.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I needed to go to the bathroom so badly, I didn't expect to go this long," lied Emma while lowering her head, not daring to look at Alex.

Alex, who realized that his girlfriend was afraid of him, immediately stood up and hugged her. "It's alright, don't be afraid. I'm not mad at you. I was just too panicked earlier because I thought you were missing. I'm sorry,"

Alex said, regretting his words while tightening his hug and muttering comforting words.

"It's okay, I know you didn't mean it," Emma answered while hugging Alex back.

After a while, Alex broke off the contact and said, "Well, guess who's free now? Want to go out with me, princess?" while holding out his hand, which Diana accepted.

"Why of course, my prince! I would be so honored to go out with you," Emma replied with sparkling eyes.

"Okay, now off to the date," said Alex while holding Emma's hand and leaving the hospital.

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

Michael was still frozen in his bed; he couldn't believe what he had just witnessed; it didn't make sense to him.

"Master, is there something bothering you?" asked Payton, who had been peeling an apple, next to Michael's bed.

Waking up from his reverie, Michael immediately shook his head and said, "No, it's nothing. It's not that important anyway," Michael answered while looking at the window.

"You know, sometimes it can make you feel better if you share your problem with someone. Who knows, it can help you," Payton replied while offering Michael a peeled apple, which he gladly accepted .

After a long silence, Michael finally decided to ask Payton. He knew Payton would think he was crazy, but what could he do? This matter really bothered him!

"Payton?"

"Yes Master?"

"Is it possible for a person who is already dead to suddenly appear in front of you?" asked Michael while chewing the apple.

1 second, 2 seconds, and still no answer until...

"WHAT?" Payton shouted loudly, which was enough to make Michael jump, and before Michael could say anything, Payton immediately grabbed his shoulder so that his face was facing Payton's.

"Master, what is it?"Is something bothering you? When did you see it?! Oh, I must call him again! I knew it. He should have just listened to me and done a CT scan! I–" Payton said this in a panic as he rose from his seat to call Alex once more.

"No, no, Payton! There's nothing wrong with me, okay? I'm still sane, really!

There's no need to be that panicked; I'm just kind of curious about it, that's all." Michael said, trying to reassure him while pulling Payton's hand to prevent him from leaving. And luckily, it worked!

After soothing Payton down, Michael pulled him back to sit next to him before continuing his conversation

"It's just that I think I saw Diana here a while ago." He stated this, which made Payton raise his eyebrow.

"Diana? I'm sorry if I sound a bit rude, master, but do you mean that, Diana? The one who was your high school sweetheart and already..."

Payton asked while hanging his sentence at the end, feeling doubtful whether he should continue it or not because he didn't want to trigger his trauma, but Michael understood.

"Yes, it's her; that's Diana; by that, I mean that Diana, Payton," Michael answered, to which Payton nodded in response.

"Hmm, are you sure, Master? It could be, you know, delusions? It's impossible for someone who is already long dead to suddenly appear in front of you."

"I had the same thought as you at first. But I'm pretty sure it's real now; I touched her on the shoulder once and she didn't fade. I even had time to talk to her." Michael explained as he raised his hand to touch his chest.

"And this heart, it beat really fast when I saw her. It's the same feeling as when I first met her. Only Diana could make me feel like this, Payton." Michael spoke in a low voice at the end of his sentence, but it was still audible to Payton.

Payton was silent the whole time he heard his master's story. His master looked really serious when he said that.

Ever Since Diana's death, he had never shown this side of himself. His eyes used to be so dull, but now there's a spark of life in there.

He felt that the arrival of this "Diana" could return him to the master he used to be.

Sighing deeply, Payton looked at his master with tender eyes "Do you want me to find out about her?" asks Payton, earning a surprised gaze from Michael.

"Really? You can do that?" asked Michael, not daring to get his hopes up too much. Meanwhile, you could see the excitement in his eyes when he heard Payton's offer.

"Haha, of course I can do that. I will do anything for you, my master. Even if I have to dive in the Antarctic Ocean, I will do it as long as it makes you happy!" Payton chuckled, which was immediately returned by Michael's hug.

"Thank you... Payton, thank you so much. It means a lot to me, and I don't know how to repay you. But please try to find something about her. I don't care if she is Diana or not, but I really want to see her again."

Michael was just happy that Payton didn't think he was crazy, but rather offered to help him.

"My pleasure, master. I will not let you down," said Payton as he returned his master's hug.

.

The whole ride was pretty silent. There's no other sound except the car air conditioner. Somehow Emma was still thinking about her meeting with the man.

She doesn't know why. But she had a feeling; she knew him well, and she had a feeling that... this man is special. She even got butterflies in her stomach when she saw him. As she continued to be lost in thought, suddenly, someone held her hand. It was Alex.

When she turns her gaze in his direction, she can see the worry in his eyes.

"Are you okay? I tried to call you earlier, but you didn't answer. Is something bothering you?" Alex asked worriedly.

"Oh no, it's fine. Don't worry about me. I'm just feeling a bit sleepy, that's all. Usually it will be gone after I eat."

Emma said, but Alex could hear the hesitation in her voice. Deciding that it wasn't the best time to ask her, he chose to agree with her and not press further.

"Hmm, okay then," Alex replied while refocusing on driving, which only earned a hum from Emma.

'I should stop thinking about him. After all, I already have Alex, so I shouldn't be looking at other guys.'

Emma thought while trying to ignore the weird feeling on her chest.