Old Friend

Addison’s POV

A man with bright brown eyes stood right in front of me. I frowned, feeling familiar with the man's face. I seemed to know him before, but who?

 

I cursed my poor memory that always had trouble recognising the faces of people I knew. I tried to recall, so I thought for a moment.

 

"Addison." The man called my name again. However, I was trying hard to remember it. Suddenly, my mind went to Damon. Ah! I hate that man. I shook my head quickly.

 

"Hey, Addison. Do you still remember me?" asked the man who was now standing right in front of me. "This is an unexpected meeting after our college days. I'm Hayden, remember?" The man again confirmed whether I remembered him or not.

 

"Ah, yes. Of course, I remember you. I'm sorry my memory is so bad." I bit my lip, hoping the man wouldn't take offense that I had forgotten him a little.

 

Hayden smiled kindly at me. While I was cursing my lousy memory about him. Hayden was my college friend. He was one of the most intelligent kids in the class. We often engaged in fun discussions. Sometimes, we also got assignments together from our lecturers. Hayden is a very kind and friendly man. He also comes from a respected family. Our family is at the upper economic level. We have friends who are royal and very important. I thought my life would be the same as those doing well. I was unlucky because my family life changed one hundred and eighty degrees.

 

I threw a faint smile at Hayden. "What are you doing here?"

 

Hayden stood with his arms crossed. "I just dropped my sister off to get her divorce papers," he said, pointing his hand towards the divorce centre building.

 

I was surprised to hear that. It turned out that his sister was going through the same thing as me. My heart was tight, and I felt sad when I heard the word divorce.

 

"Oh, you know I sympathize with your sister. May she always be strengthened." Silly me, I shouldn't have to comfort others when I was even more miserable.

 

"Thank you, Addison. I appreciate it," he said. "Then what are you doing here?"

 

I lowered my face slightly to study the asphalt beneath my feet. "I also came here to take care of my divorce paperwork, but it's not finished yet."

I could feel a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Addison, you're divorced?" the man's face scrunched up, brown eyes watching me.

 

It seemed that maybe he was surprised that I was getting a divorce. I looked down again. It felt like talking about divorce made me feel inferior. Many people thought Damon and I had a great love because we had been together since childhood. So, they thought the news of the divorce was shocking. I didn't expect it at all. I thought we would always love each other like that, but I was wrong.

 

"Yes," I replied shortly, suddenly feeling very bad.

 

"I thought you were happy with your marriage." Hayden started to assume.

 

I forced a smile to rise on my lips. "Hayden, sorry. I have to go soon. I have something to take care of."

 

Suddenly, the man blocked my footsteps. "Are you okay, Addy?" the man asked. I saw that the man's forehead was slightly furrowed. "Addison, tell me if you're okay because your face looks ashen."

 

Hayden's voice sounded worried. I felt my headache strike again. I tried to stand up from my seat and had to leave this place as soon as possible. I don't want Hayden to know what happened to me because I don't like being pitied by anyone.

 

"Um, I... I'm sorry, I have to go," I said as I walked away.

 

"Addison."

 

I heard Hayden calling my name, but I didn't care and kept walking. I saw Hayden following me.

 

I stopped my steps for a second as I felt a sudden headache attack. My body swayed slightly, and I almost fell. Then, a pair of arms held my back body from falling onto the sidewalk.

 

"I'm sure you're not well. Tell me where you're going, I'll take you."

 

I shook my head quickly. "I can go by myself. You don't have to worry about me."

 

"How could you, Addison? You can't even walk. You'd better let me walk you. Please don't be stubborn, Addison."

 

I looked at her, who was still holding my body to prevent me from falling. "What about your sister?"

 

"That's an easy problem. You don't have to worry. I'll ask the driver to pick her up here." Hayden tried to calm me down, and who was worried about his sister.

 

Instantly, I looked at Hayden's face, where the man still had bright brown eyes and was very soothing. Hayden also looks more handsome and charismatic. Whereas in the past, I saw him as ordinary.

 

"You don't have to bother to drive me." I was still being stubborn with her.

 

"Addison, you're too stubborn." Hayden intended to grab my hand.

 

Suddenly, I felt a vibration on my cell phone inside my handbag. "One second." I picked up the still-ringing cell phone, a phone call from the hospital. I quickly picked up the call because I was worried something had happened to my father there. "Hello?"

 

I heard the voice of a nurse on the other side. "With Ms. Addison?"

 

"Am I alone?"

 

Then I heard the nurse's voice again. "Your father has suffered another sudden cardiac arrest. We need to perform surgery immediately to make your father's condition better. Is a family member standing guard here to keep an eye on your father? Oh, yes. You should also pay the hospital bill as soon as possible, as we will be operating on your father soon."

 

I didn't like that remark very much because it made me panic. I wasn't like before, spending money so easily. Now that my life was so different, how could I possibly get that much money in such a short time? I panicked like crazy.

 

"Addison, what happened?" the man asked.

 

I turned to the man. He was looking at me with great concern. "Please take me to the hospital." I hoped Hayden wouldn't mind driving me.

 

Hayden immediately led me towards his car, parked in the parking lot of the divorce hall building. He sat me in the front passenger seat. I thought about my father's current state.

 

I felt like we were traveling so fast, I felt like I was transported to a different time space, and suddenly Hayden had parked his car in the hospital parking lot. I rushed out of the car to the room where my father was being treated. I see Hayden following behind me.

 

I arrived at the floor where my father's room was. I saw the nurse in charge of monitoring my father's condition. I went straight to her. "Nurse, how is my father?" I asked with my breath running because I was very panicked about my father's current condition.

 

"Your father is already in the operating room. Please pay now, as we will be doing the surgery soon."

 

Oh my God! How is this? I didn't have that much money at all. Not even half of my savings were left. I gripped my hair, frantic. Where was I going to find one hundred and fifty thousand dollars? I exhaled a rough breath.

 

Damon! Suddenly, the name popped into my head. I quickly pulled out my cell phone to call my husband. I didn't care if he cursed or swore at me. I needed money for my father.

 

I was still waiting impatiently for my call to connect. The man was taking too long. And after a minute, my call was finally connected. "Damon, I need money now. Can you lend me one hundred and fifty thousand dollars? I will replace it immediately. Please, I promise to pay it back soon."

 

I heard Damon snorting on the other side. "You think I care? You're bothering me. I'm busy here, too."

 

Suddenly, the call was cut off. I was in shock. I didn't expect that this man was completely unreliable. My body was getting weaker. My vision blurred as tears filled my eyelids and dripped down my cheeks. I looked so pitiful.

 

"You need money for your father's surgery? You can use my money first."

 

I looked over to my neighbor. Hayden. I momentarily forgot he was here, having been too panicked by my father's critical condition.