My Belated Apology - Hyuga Neji x OC Fanfiction

Chapter 23

Neji's POV

"Emergency! Emergency!!" I rush into the hospital. "She can't breathe anymore! Please save her now!" Her chest is swelling.
Shiyuki is immediately put on a stretcher. They put a respirator on her as she has stopped breathing. Unluckily, Shiyuki coughs blood out.
"Oh no!"

Tsunade-sama accidentally passes by. She promptly checks her student's condition. Her face turns pale.
"Pulmonary effusion...! Hurry, surgery, now!!"
"Yes ma'am!!"

I follow them till we reach the surgery room. Her face is serious, will Shiyuki be ok...? A nurse blocks me and asks.
"Are you her relative? So that we can inform you about her condition."

"I'm her boyfriend."

The nurse nods then tells me to wait outside. Not until that moment do I realize what I just said. I said that I'm Shiyuki's boyfriend?! I unintentionally admitted that! Anyway, for God's sake, please please please get it through, Shiyuki... I can't do anything but sit here and wait...

When I'm in a state of anxious suspense, I hear some familiar voices call me.
"Neji!!!"
It's Lee and Tenten.
"We heard that Shiyuki collapsed. Is she ok?!" Lee grabs my shoulders. He asks in his heavy breath. It seems they ran here as quickly as possible.
"She stopped breathing while I was taking her to the hospital... Tsunade-sama said that she has pulmonary effusion... She is at death's door." I reply to Lee's question with a painful expression.
"WHAT?!"
"I believe that she'll be ok. Don't worry, she's strong." Tenten sits down.
"Hey, I heard that you admitted to be Shiyuki's boyfriend, didn't you?" Lee takes a seat beside me.

My face heats up.
"I-It's nowhere near what you think!! I didn't intend to, my mouth automatically said it!" I sigh. "Nevermind, Shiyuki seemed to be fine back then, she healed herself. So why?"

"You love her, but you don't get it?" Tenten shakes her head. "It's Shiyuki, you know. It may seem that she's ok, but actually she's not. She's good at acting, so you must watch her as carefully as possible. I think that she didn't feel good when caught in the Aqua Prison."

I frown, looking down at my knees. So I know nothing about her... I don't deserve Shiyuki. I don't deserve to be forgiven...

***

Shiyuki's POV

I slowly open my eyes, feeling powerless. I look around. Where is this...? Pipe connected to my vein. Respirator. ECG. Hospital? What happened to me?
Oh yeah, when Hyuga and I came home from the mission, he reminded me about my promise. Then I felt super dizzy and breathless. After that... I fainted. If I had kept my promise... I knew my condition, but I didn't go to the hospital, just because I hate him. And he annoyingly insisted that I should visit the doctor.
In fact, I felt sick right after being released from Water Prison. My chest squeezed, but I tried to bear it. It was Hyuga who brought me here, wasn't it...? Why did he save me...

Oh, I notice that I'm breathing easily. Was my disease removed? It's been years since I last inhaled such fresh air. Oh my god, I'm in heaven. This is so good!

"Shiyuki, you wake up!!"
I turn my head to see who that rejoice voice is. It's Hyuga with a pair of relieved lavender fields. I can see tears forming in his eyes.
"I'm so worried...!" He comes to my bed's side.

I don't want to see him, but I have to thank him. If he hadn't been there, I would've reunited with my parents.
"Thank you." I whisper. I don't have the strength to raise my voice.
"No need to thank me, it was my responsibility." He smiles. A genuine and warm smile.

I feel myself blush, so I turn my head to avoid his gaze. I hate him. I hate his smile. Why the hell do you smile?! You hate me!
"I really want to stay here with you but... My uncle calls me. Don't worry, Lee and Tenten are here, they'll take care of you. Goodbye, take a rest."
I can hear a regretting tone in his voice.
"Bye." I turn my head to see him off.

Not so long after he leaves, Lee and Tenten enter my room.
"Shiyuki, how do you feel now?" Tenten asks.
"Pretty good."
"Tsunade-sama told me that she fixed all of your injuries in lung and heart."
"That's good to hear." My eyes twinkle. I have to thank her after I recover.
"Ah, do you know that Neji told the nurse that he's your boyfriend?" Lee raises his voice.

Thunder in my head. What? He said that he's my boyfriend? What's going on! Did he eat something wrong? Or somebody is disguising him? He hates me like poison!

"Lee, your joke is not fun."
"I'm not joking, it's the truth."
"How the hell could he say that? He hates me." I frown. It can't be true.
"Shiyuki, you can check it on your case-record." Tenten explains. "It's written here that you were brought to the hospital by your boyfriend, Hyuga Neji."
"Don't tease me." I shake my head. "From now on, Hyuga and I are mere strangers. I don't wanna be related to him. Please don't refer to him anymore."

My body's shaking. I've decided. It's hard to break up with him, but I must do it. This is the only way to save myself from brokenness. I bite my lower lip so that tears won't fall.

***

Knock knock.
"Tsunade-sama?" I asks.

I'm finally released from the hospital.
"Come in." The Hokage's voice rises.
I open the door. Tsunade-sama looks up from her book.
"Thank you very much indeed for saving my life." I bow.
"I'm a doctor, it was my responsibility." She puts her book down. "By the way, why did you hide that you had an injury to your organs?"

I freeze. Ohmigosh, I never expected that she would ask me about this.
"I... I was afraid that you wouldn't teach me..." I keep bowing.
"You're risky." She shakes her head. "Just like your father." What? My eyes are wide open. "You must know that it's dangerous. Just tell me, and I'll fix it for you. Anyway, you're healthy now. You're released."
"Thank you." I nod and leave.