The Unwanted Encounter (Ash Lynx x Reader)

35) Arthur's message

I sat in the hospital corridor, outside of Eiji's hospital room where he was getting operated. The bullet did hit him in his stomach, but the doctors said it was a 50/50 chance of his survival. He had lost too much blood when we arrived, so they immeditaly took Eiji in and started treating him. Shorter notified Ibe and Max of Eiji's state before he had to go solve some problems regarding the Chinese Mafia.

He slumped next to me, and stared at the white wall in front of us. It smelled like antiseptic's, soaps, light chemicals, and cleaners, just like any other normal hospital would. Gosh, how much I've hated this smell my whole life. I always dreaded going to hospitals when I was a kid, because of the atmosphere, the vibe and the lack of luck. I always ended up getting bad news from the hospital, no matter how small or trivial it was about.

"We have to go." Said Ash, dryly.

"Ok." I replied, slightly pulling my hair as I brought my knees closer to my chest. "How much time do we got?" I asked, not having any energy left anymore. All I wanted to do was stay there, and wait till Eiji would talk to me again, till he'd smile at me again.

"2 minutes." Whispered Ash, letting his head fall down in his hands. "Max and Ibe will be here in 2 minutes with the cops. They'll be guarding Eiji." Said Ash as I stayed quiet. I didn't have any energy left anymore, none. I let a shaky breath out and stood up, walking out of the hospital corridor.

I waited at the back entrance of the hospital, the cold air warping me in it's apex. I hugged myself with my arms and felt a buzz in my backpocket of my jeans. Taking my phone out, I saw Ash exit the hospital out of the corner of my eye, making his way over to me.

"Shorter?" I said, more in an asking tone when I picked the phone call up.

"Y/n, is Eiji okay? I'm so sorry. I can't be there with Ash and you. Sing called me and the Chinese Mafia is really messed up, some of my men have gone missing and some are really injured." Said Shorter in one breath. I could hear the stress behind his voice and knew he really did not have a choice but to leave the blonde and I when Eiji got shot.

"Eiji is getting operated right now." I said, looking at Ash who stood in front of me. "And it's okay, I'll let him know then."

"Oh, alright. I have to go now. Stay safe." Said Shorter before I hung up.

I looked at Ash's despaired eyes as he stared at mine. He was also tired like me. The colour of his face had paled by ten times, I could feel what he was feeling, a little too much. Eiji getting shot moved him a lot, which he wasn't to be blamed for.

"Something happened with the Chinese gang which is why Shorter had to go, it seemed like an emergency." I said. Ash nodded and leaned against a fence on the side of the hospital, where we were standing at. The atmosphere between the blonde and I was extremely tense if I were to be honest, because of Eiji being shot, and him potentially losing his life. I could practically smell the guilt in the air between us, the guilt of not being able to protect Eiji.

"Don't beat yourself up." I said, sighing. I turned my form around and rested my elbows on the fence. I faced the other side of the road, and Ash the other. "It isn't your fault." I said, my eyes starting to sting a little from the tears I tried keeping in. "It all seems too well planned. Eiji getting shot one minute, and Shorter having to go because the Chinese mafia is all messed up, the other minute. It's all too well planned."

"It.. It isn't yours either. So, why do you seem like you're even more affected than me?" Asked Ash, but it seemed like he said it in certainty. Which wasn't a wrong conclusion at all. I guess he saw trough me, so I'm not that good at hiding my emotions behind my stoic facade, am I?