“Where the hell are you?!  Do you know where we’re supposed to be right now?  Or what people are gonna say to me when we arrive late?!” he screamed in frustration.

“I know, I know,” was all she could begin with.  “Something came up and I’m at the hospital right now.  Please try to understand.”

“I couldn’t reach you for two days and now you’re in a hospital?  Why, what happened?” he replied back.

She tried her best to calmly explain what had happened over the last few days.  She knew it wouldn’t sit well with him, but there was no other way to tell it; not unlike the other times when she was able to make an excuse.  Her boyfriend was the jealous type, and having male friends is something he would have a final say on.  She was always able to think of ways not to arise his jealous temperament just to be able to be with…  him.  Yet there were times that her boyfriend was able to see the two of them together; and an argument would ensue afterwards.  Though she thought of leaving him, seemingly growing tired after having had numerous fights and arguments, but she never really did.

“Look babe, I’m sad to hear what happened to him.  But he’s just a colleague, right?  So you absolutely don’t have to be there.  So go home, get changed and I’ll come pick you up.” he quickly replied after hearing everything from her.

“He’s…  more than a colleague.  He has become… a friend to me,” she answered back.

“What?  A ‘friend?’  Since when did the two of you become ‘friends?’  You haven’t even mentioned that to me.  You always mention things like this to me.  I mean, what kind of ‘friend’ is he?  Does he do stuff for you?  Do you do stuff together?  How special is he to you?  Is that why you’re there instead of being with me right now?  What have you done for him?  Have you done anything special for him without me knowing?”  The questions kept firing from him as if he was right beside her.

“Listen, I don’t have time for this.  I’ll talk to you when you’re not pissed off, and when everything else has blown over, okay?  I’m hanging up,” she mentioned with finality.

“But babe—” was the last thing she heard as she hung up and turned off her phone for good measure.  She turned towards the ICU when it suddenly hit her.  His questions played right back in her mind as she stopped dead in her tracks.  She never imagined that he would be the way he is towards her.  During the times when they were together, it was him that always did something for her.  Though she would occasionally thank him, he kept making sure that her needs and some cravings were attended to.  He would always pay for their lunch, dinner or drinks after work; or when she saw something she thought looked nice on her, he would readily buy it for her.  He would accompany or bring her home whenever possible.  He patiently listened while she told about fight after fight she and her boyfriend had, or when their boss would bite her head off.  He was always there for her.  Though she had her suspicions that he might have feelings for her, she brushed it off, knowing that she’s in a relationship.  But despite all that, she unknowingly grew fond of him, and felt comfortable being with him.  And yet, she realized as tears started flowing from her eyes, that she never really did something that came close to resembling anything that he had done for her.

She started to run back to where he is.  As she entered the room, his mother was talking to him as he was somehow half-awake.  His mother was also in tears as she looked to see her as she stood just past the door.  “I’ll leave you two alone for now,” said the elder woman.  He moved his head in her direction and was able to manage a faint smile.  His mother made her way toward the door.  She then stopped to hug her before she left the room.  An awkward silence followed as the door closed.  She slowly made her way to him, wiping tears from her eyes.

“Hey,” she said, breaking the silence.

“Hi…  are you really here?”  he stuttered as he replied while looking intently at her eyes.

“Yes, I’m here,” she said, her voice starting to break as she reached his bedside and held his hand.  “Look, there are things—“

“No, wait,” he gently interrupted her.  “I have a lot to say to you, and I better say them now.  I never seriously asked anything from you, so please give me this,” he pleaded as he mustered some strength to press her hand, urging her to do this favor for him.  She tearfully nodded in silence and prepared to listen to him.

(to be concluded…  for real this time)