Tag Along | ✔︎

18.Hospital

W I N T E R

The hospital smells of strong chemical, which I fortunately come to like it. I rush through the hospital door which is really huge and runs toward the reception.

The receptionist look towards me with alert and I tell her my mom's name while she tells me my mom's ward number. The receptionist is good from the way she was alert earlier it shows that she is taking her job seriously. Some just stays lazily, not caring to do it quickly, not even thinking the person might be going through hell.

I step inside the elevator and tap at the 3rd floor. I tap my foot impatiently while I wish mom is fine. What really happened to her? And why did Xavier know she was sick? Thoughts and question are piling up in my mind when I hear the elevator's ding, thankfully indicating I have reached my destiny. Well, not completely.

I rush towards my mom's room and quickly dash inside. Mom is lying there drinking a bowl of soup which is being fed by dad. Mom looks up, and her eyes go wide as it can get from seeing me.

“Winter!” Dad looks towards me with an alert expression. “What are you doing here?”

I walk towards mom and engulf her in a tight hug. “Mom you are okay right?”

“I am. I just got a cough and cold which was slightly bit more severe,” I look toward mom with a confused eyebrow. “It's a bit stronger than usual.” Mom clarifies for my dumb ass brain. I think I need to learn how to communicate now. Especially the 21st century people's language. Seriously?

“Dad, you came here too?”

“Yeah I did,” Dad side hugs me. “Can't leave mom alone, Right?”

I smile at him. “By the way, who informed you?” I ask slightly, feeling confused by how Xavier knew my mom's here.

“The hospital of course and who informed you?” Dad ask. “I think we are the only one knowing Amelia's sick.”

How the hell did Xavier knew that mom's here then. “Well… Oh! Right! It was from my friend who saw mom's in the hospital. She is here too.” Maybe Xavier's here too. Wow, a lie could be the truth too.

“Oh, I see,” Mom starts to drink the soup again. “What is she doing here? Someone from her family sick too?”

“Oh! Right! Her… she said some relative is sick kind of thing,” Dad looks at me with a brow raised, wondering why I am shaking. “I wasn't really paying attention.”

“Winter, how many times do I have to tell you that you need to work on your communication skills,” Dad scolds me for the hundredth time because of the same problem.

The next hour is being spent with dad scolding me for my lack of communication skills. And also teaching me how we should listen and communicate.

● ● ●

Mom is sleeping on the hospital bed with dad accompanying her. I am here on this couch which I am supposed to sleep on. Dad insisted on dropping me home, but I told them I would freak out without them being there, so here I am.

I have been wondering whether to call Xavier because it feels too late to call someone. I already lost more than 15 minutes thinking, and here I am regretting that I didn't call him earlier.

I finally press call and wait for Xavier to pick up. He thankfully does. I take the call to the loo to not disturb my parents.

“Hello,” Xavier seems to be awake from the lack of huskiness in his voice. “Are you okay Winter? I was thinking to call you too.”

“Yeah,” I miss the time when he used to call me by my nickname. “By the way, how did you know my parents were here?” Well, too quick, I guess.

“Well… I was there in the hospital,” I knew it. “My mom's sick too.”

“What happened to her?”

“Well… she is suffering from cough and cold,”

“Yours too,” A coincidence which I don't like at all. “My mom is also suffering from cough and cold, but she said it is severer than the time she used to have it.” The line becomes eerily silent. I can only here Xavier's deep breathing.

“So, which ward room is your mom's at?” I ask a silly question to break the silence.

“324,” Xavier coldly replies.

“Oh,” Think Winter think. “I guess your home.”

“Yeah,” Xavier replies with the same tone. “Bye.” With a cold goodbye or more like a bye, Xavier hangs up. Well, don't worry Xavier, your mom's going to be alright.

I lie on my back for a while, but the ginger juice catches my attention. Mrs. Grey might need the juice. To fall in sleep when you are suffering from cough and cold can be really difficult. Mom has already taken it, and I think she wouldn't mind me giving it to Mrs. Grey.

I set towards the reception to find out the floor which has the ward no.324. The receptionist is the same person who I have seen earlier. She smiles at me with her sparkly teeth.

I smile back. “How can I help you, Miss?”

“Can you tell me which floor has the ward no.324?” I ask politely.

“Well Miss you see the owner of the hospital has a thing with even number. He says that even number brings him bad luck. So, we have only odd number ward room,” I look at her in shock. Well, I might have heard him wrong then.

“Oh well then where is 323?” I ask, having a little hope that I might find Mrs. Grey.

“You see I don't know why you are asking me the ward number but all the ward number starting from three is a very severe case,” She laughs awkwardly. “Ward number starting with three has patients with severe diseases which can be contagious. The owner of the hospital believes three is his lucky number. You might be thinking he is stupid or something, but he is a very nice man who carries a positive charm. Well, coming to the point, we don't allow teenagers or children to go to that floor or near the ward unless it is necessary.”

By the way, she is talking about the owner of the hospital, I can see she has a thing with him.

But right now, I can't bring myself to tease her. Did I hear him wrong? Or maybe he just didn't want to tell that his mom had a severe disease.

“Well… can you please tell me the name reserved on 323?” I ask, curiosity getting the best of me.

“That I can do. Wait…,” The receptionist starts typing through the computer in front of her and after sometime of her searching she clicks her tongue. “Found ya. It is reserved on the name Sebastian Stan.”

No way. “Well, if it is a not a burden then can you please read out the ward number of… a name ending with Grey. With the first name too. And to not trouble you, you can read from the three uhh… Oh right! Ward room starting with three. If you got what I mean.” I foolishly ask her. I don't think she has gotten what I meant.

“No problem,” She says, making me to awkwardly smile. “Grey Grey Grey.” She murmurs.

“Well, there are only two people ending with Grey. One is William Grey who has ward no.355 and the other is Christopher Grey with ward no.379,” The receptionist smiles at me when she finishes.

Was Xavier lying to me?

If so, why was he lying?

Gosh!

No fucking way.