Your Lie - A Rina Fic

Chapter 5

Exiting Ej's car, the three entered the sterile atmosphere of the hospital parking lot. Gina's sleep-deprived eyes darted around the lot, unable to escape the memories that haunted her, replaying like a broken record in her mind—the fading light in Ricky's eyes, the sickening thud as his body hit the ground.

Once inside the front lobby, Nini approached the reception desk, engaging in a hushed conversation with the attendant. Ej stood by Gina's side, a silent pillar of support. Gina's gaze drifted, absorbing the sterile environment. The antiseptic scent filled her nostrils, mingling with the dissonant echo of beeping monitors and distant murmurs of patients and staff. It left an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. She always hated hospitals.

Ej's gentle tap on her shoulder snapped her back to the present. "I know I've already asked a million times, but are you okay?" Ej whispered. His concerned eyes locked with hers, like he was searching for a glimpse of a truth from her. Gina mustered a weak smile, a futile attempt to reassure him.

"I've told you a million times, I'm okay," she whispered back. The words felt empty, a feeble attempt to convince both Ej and herself. She and Ej hadn't talked all week. With her avoiding both him and Ricky the past week and the chaos after the performance, they haven't really had a chance to speak. His face deflated as Gina's gaze drifted back to Nini, who returned from the reception desk.

"Okay, I got directions. He's just up on the next floor in room 204," Nini said.

The elevator ride to the next floor felt agonizingly slow as anticipation pulsed through Gina's veins. Each passing moment was filled with a mix of apprehension and a longing to see Ricky's face, to assure herself that he was truly okay. Nini's voice broke through the tension, announcing their arrival at the room. Gina's heart quickened its pace. She hadn't seen Ricky since before he passed out. Since she got him disqualified.

Ej wasted no time, bursting through the door and calling out to Ricky. As Gina stepped into the room, her eyes immediately found him sitting on the edge of the bed, an unexpected calmness emanating from his demeanor.

Ricky, donned in a hospital gown and tethered to various machines, seemed almost nonchalant amidst the surroundings. He was playing a ukulele with a casual ease, as if the events leading up to his hospitalization were nothing more than a minor inconvenience. Gina's eyes traced the smoothness of his pale skin, devoid of any visible scars.

"You getting hospitalized really through us for a loop," Nini joked, taking a seat in the chair near the bedside.

"Yeah, sorry about that. My parents can be a little over-the-top, but they've run a couple of basic tests on me, so I'm fine." He chuckled.

Ricky's nonchalant response only increased Gina's confusion. How could he be so unfazed by what had transpired? It was pretty unsettling how quickly his face changed just before he collapsed.

A tinge of unease colored Gina's voice as she spoke up, unable to contain her curiosity. "Ricky, have you ever passed out before?" Her gaze bore into him, searching for answers.

His reply came with a shrug. "First time," Ricky admitted. "I have always been sort of anemic, though. Guess I just pushed myself a bit too hard this time." His eyes suddenly locked on Gina. "Didn't help that I had to chase after Little Miss Ballerina here all week," he jested, taking a bite of a cookie Nini had offered him. Gina rolled her eyes, but inside, her heart twinged at the nickname.

"Yo, Neens, these are delicious." He exclaimed, mouth stuffed. Gina watched as Nini's face flushed red at the nickname. She masked her discomfort, burying it deep within, while Ricky, Ej, and Nini caught up with each other. Gina couldn't shake the guilt that weighed heavily on her heart for jeopardizing his performance. She'd taken him out of the running and he still hadn't given her any grief about it. But even so, she still felt guilty. She had screwed up and she knew it. After an hour had passed, the trio decided it was time to leave.