“I can’t believe he’s really here,” complained Zia as she climbed up on a stool beside the hospital bed. “You don’t even need to tell me. I know you’re annoyed just at the sight of him.”
“If only I was in my original body,” she added. “I would have smacked that weakling down his high horse.”
Amidst her grumbling, Gray just had her head turned on the other side, staring at the pastel sky outside the window.
Zia looked at her. “How are you feeling?” As she studied her side profile, she could see scrapes and slight bruises on Gray’s face. “I’m really glad you’re awake now, it’s been…” She hesitated. “It’s been a week already.”
She saw Gray’s hand, with a clip connected to an ECG machine, twitching over the blanket.
“I’m rea
I'm so envious of hiiiiiim, I wish I had a secretary too. And I'd make them write the thoughts in my head so I can update a chapter while lying down my bed all day hehe.
“Mom,” uttered Azriel Stewart as the other line picked up. “My precious son, how are you?” said the woman he referred to as his mom. She had a sweet, caring voice. “I’m alright, mom. I’m at the hospital right now.” “You—what?! Oh, my God. What happened to my baby boy?” “No, Mom. I’m fine. I’m just visiting someone.” “Oh? What are you doing wasting your precious time with commoners, son?” “It’s…it’s not a commoner, Mom.” His voice trailed off as he added, “at least not to me.” “Oh, my word!” His mother gasped. “How rude of me. Who is it, son? Maybe I should also pay them a visit.”
Zia Scott tightened her grip on the bouquet of lilies as the sound of her beating heart was trying to devour her whole system. Her hands were trembling, the red aesthetic on her lips were starting to dry. With her slight movement, the silver sequins on her white gown gleamed as it reflected the sunlight. She felt restless. She could barely stand still as her sweat dripped on her forehead and her weakening legs underneath the heavy dress. She had lost count of how many times she repeated the breathing exercise to calm herself down. And given the situation, she was reminded about the time when she gave the valedictorian speech back in high school. She hates attention. But here she is now, about to be stared at by about a hundred sets of eyes in the next two minutes. Looking past her veil, she noticed that the people crowding in front of her slowly disappeared p
"Good morning, uncle Edward!" little Sophia's beaming smile greeted him as soon as he opened his eyes. This time, it was eleven days after Edward’s admission to the hospital. He was now able to move places with the help of a wheelchair. The cervical collar and IV injection had been removed from him as well as the pulse oximeter and ECG machine. And with his regular sessions to physiotherapy, his recovery was swiftly progressing. "Good morning, Sophia." He smiled back. "Did you sleep well?" "Yes, I did. What about you?" "I slept well too!" she hopped on her seat as she answered. "You came so early," he said. Apparently, Gray and little Sophia didn't spend the night at the hos
When Zia Scott stared at Gray’s mysterious grin, her vision once again began to be distorted like an optical illusion. She already knew the drill. She would be brought to another setting again. She was back in Gray’s apartment. It was after dinner. Gray was washing the used dishes as per routine, while she was in the bathroom brushing her teeth. On her way out she said, “Do you think he’s still awake?” Gray glanced at her. “Who?” “Edward.” “Probably asleep. You know he doesn’t stay up too late.” “I wanna talk to him.” “Why?” Zia went back to the living room and turned off tv. “I sti
“Good morning.” “Is this another dream?” blurted Zia Scott as she reached her tiny hand out to lightly squeeze Edward Bartlett’s cheek, who was kneeling on the floor beside the couch where she was lying. “Hmm?” uttered Edward. “Are you still feeling sleepy, Sophia? You can sleep more if you want.” “What?!” Zia abruptly sat up and scanned the surroundings. “Gray’s apartment? Why am I here?” “You said you wanted to come with me and get your aunt Gray’s stuff, but you fell asleep in the car so I carried you here so you can properly lie down,” said Edward as he stood and walked to the kitchen. “So, this is reality?” mumbled Zia to herself as she palmed her face. “Man, that was a long dream.”
As Gray regained consciousness, she was back where she came from. The same ceiling, the same room. The same ECG machine beeping beside her bed and the same IV line injected on the back of her hand. The oxygen mask, however, was no longer present. “A gunshot wound on the left shoulder,” uttered Azriel beside her hospital bed, leaning back on an armchair with both arms and legs crossed. She shot him an annoyed glance then she drew her stare back at the ceiling. “Deep knife wounds on the palm of the left hand, left arm and right thigh---the one on the right thigh being the deepest,” continued Azriel. “A gunshot wound on the stomach that caused several damaged internal organs, another gunshot wound on the chest that could have killed you had the medic been one minute later, a deep graze on the right calf, a semi-frac
“Gray?” uttered a bemused Sarah Lewis. “But I thought you just woke up? Is it alright for you to walk around already? Wait, did you get a haircut? You dyed your hair black too.” “Did you just mistake me for that woman?” scowled Azriel at her then after he wore his glasses, he pulled on Elreese’s hands wrapped around him. “And get this little creature away from me.” He gently pushed the little girl toward her. “And aren’t you Sasha Neuman? According to my data, you supposedly died three years ago because of an imprudent drunk driver.” “Dead?” giggled Sarah and pointed at herself. “I’m Sarah Lewis, remember? Did you forget about me?” She took back the glasses on Elreese’s hand and wore it. “Or…” She hesitated as she finally got a clear vision of the person in front of her. “Are you not Gray? I don’t think I’ve seen you wear glasses before.”
Azriel Stewart continued searching for his phone under the bed. “So, you’re actually a twin?” uttered Sarah Lewis as she approached him. “That’s so cute.” He turned to face her with annoyance flitted across his face. “Yes, I am,” he said. “And no, it’s not.” He stood up from squatting down the floor. “What about you?” “Yes?” she confusedly asked. “What about me?” “You have an uncanny resemblance to Sasha Neuman. Are you a twin, too?” he dryly asked. Gray, on the other hand, who was secretly listening in on their conversation with her eyes shut could not help but flinch her face in irritation. “Shut your mouth, Az!” she thought to herself.