i promise || rini au

03. watch my heart burn

"how's he doing?"

the brunette girl took a deep breath as she pulled away from her blond best friend "um...h-he's still asleep. i mean—he's still..."

her friends all frowned deeply, bringing her into another hug as she let a few tears fall out of her eyes

"he's going to wake up soon neen." gina, a tall curly-haired girl assured with a soothing voice as she rested her chin on her crying friend's shoulder

"it's—been—two—weeks." nini squeaked between cries "w—what if..."

"you can't think like that." a raven-haired boy said as they all pulled away "you have to think positive. he's going to wake up."

"and when he does, he'll make a stupid joke about how he's hungry." kourtney grinned, making nini manage a weak smile

"i guess..." nini nodded weakly "thanks guys...for being here."

"you're both stuck with us. no matter how disgustingly coupley you both get as the years go on." ashlyn added with a light nudge to the petite brunette, who felt her heart rise as much as it could

"mrs bowen."

nini turned around at the sound of her name being called, her heartbeat coming to a halt when she was face to face with dr lee.

"he's awake."

she felt all the eyes of her friends on her, her fingers springing to her wedding ring to play with.

"w-what?" she whispered. barely audible. blinking multiple times to make sure she's heard correctly

"your husband's awake." dr lee repeated "i thought i'd bring you in to see him?"

"neen." carlos said with a comforted smile, his hand on his shoulder

nini glanced at all her friends who wore encouraging expressions before back at the doctor and nodding

"okay...okay..."

she followed the woman down the halls of the hospital, her heart pounding harder with every step before they'd finally arrived to ricky's room in the icu.

nini watched as his eyes were fluttering open slowly, the ventilator had come off and he was moving to try and get more comfortable in the bed.

she'd waited to look into his eyes long enough.

nini felt tears of relief that he was okay build up but she blinked them away and followed dr lee inside

"ricky, my name is dr lee." she said in a soft voice "you were in a car accident and you are now in the new york hospital med center."

ricky looked at the woman in fear "w-"

"could you tell me your name?"

"um...ricky bowen. richard michael bowen." he added the last part with certainty, nodding

nini exhaled in relief as she looked up for a split second before her eyes fell back on her husband

he looked back at her and opened his mouth "w-was anyone else hurt doctor?"

nini froze.

she furrowed her eyebrows and parted her lips in confusion "um—ricky...you—you know who i am right?"

ricky nodded hesitantly and let out a nervous chuckle "um...yeah? you're my doctor. both of you...right?"

dr lee looked back at nini in a bit of surprise and nini felt her whole world tumble down around her, her breathing getting caught in her throat as she felt her feet glued to the floor.

but with all the strength she had, she walked around the bed and sat down beside him, slowly bringing her hand to his

"i-i'm—i'm your wife."

ricky sat up slightly in surprise, his eyes widening as he instinctively pulled his hand back.

he saw the hurt and pain evident in her eyes but his gaze held no emotion apart from puzzlement.

nini opened her mouth to try and say something. anything. but she just stood up, shaking her head in denial as she rushed out of the room.

ricky exhaled deeply as he looked down at his hands, noticing a wedding ring on his finger and he furrowed his brows, fiddling with it slowly.

meanwhile, nini had her hand brought up to her mouth as she inhaled deeply, coughing out a sob as the tears escaped her eyes

"nini—"

"you told me he was okay!" the girl exclaimed, turning around. her eyes were bloodshot red from the lack of sleep she'd been having these past two weeks, replacing that time with letting herself cry alone in the corner of the hospital room.

"he is—"

"he doesn't know who i am!!! how is that okay??" nini questioned, shaking her head firmly "h—he doesn't—"

"nini, things like this happen. it's—the impact force of the accident can cause temporary memory loss it's not—"

the woman didn't get to finish her sentence, being cut off by nini running away from her towards the exit.

seb was the first to look up from his lap at the sound of the double doors opening abruptly to see her sprinting out the main entrance

"i'll go." he said to the others who had all exchanged worried looks, standing up to follow the crying girl outside

with her knees huddled up to her chest, seated on the steps to the hospital, nini rested her head in her arms and cried quietly.

seb frowned, nearing towards her as he sat down beside her with concern in his eyes

"nini...?"

nini shook her head, feeling him being her into his embrace as she cried into his shoulder

he rubbed his hand up and down her back and pulled away, nini wiping her eyes as she shuddered a breath

"h-he—he doesn't—"

"...what?"

"he doesn't remember me..." she whispered with a trembling lip, her voice shaken.