Love, Poetry, & Coffee

~ 56 ~

Right after the nurses removed the stuff attached to Constance, Aileen and I begin to argue to which one of us will be escorting Constance out of the hospital. But to both our surprise, Constance waved both of us off and saunter right out the hospital without our help. I didn't get to escort her out, but I at least get to drive her to the bookstore. Before I could even unlock the car doors, Constance immediately yelled shotgun, leaving Aileen sitting alone in the back seat. All of us fasten our seat belts before I drive off in to the distance.

Once we've driven a considerable distance away from the hospital, Constance turns around and glance at Aileen. "Are you really sure you're coming with us? What if Jerico starts to look for you, and you're not in the hospital anymore?" Is it just me or Constance sounds like a very concern mother, especially in a situation where the people around her should be the one sounding more concern about her well-being?

In the rear-view mirror, I see Aileen typing something in her phone, presumably messaging Jerico where she's going. Once she's done typing, she glances up to meet Constance's worried gaze. I think she's wearing a worried gaze, since her voice is filled with concern. "It's fine, I've already messaged Jerico where I'm going." An audible ding enters my ears, and I assume that came from Aileen's phone. Sneaking another glance on the rear-view mirror, I can see Aileen reading something in her phone. "He said, good luck on your poem reading session and don't be scared to tell Declan if you're feeling something."

I can feel both of the women's gaze on me as I keep myself from glancing back at them and focusing solely on driving safely. "You're lucky to have someone like Jerico," Constance mutters softly, and I don't need to look at her face to know there's a smile plastered on it.

"Well, if you're observant enough, you might notice that you're also lucky to have someone." It didn't need a scientist to figure out what Aileen was talking about. But still, I am not convinced that's how it goes, and it should be the other way around.

Constance turns back to face the road, in my peripheral vision, I can see her sneaking a glance towards me. "I'm observant enough to see the thing I'm happy to receive in my short life." I shall not shed a tear while driving. It's fine if I cry alone in the car, so that when I crash I'll be the only person injured. But I have two persons with me—not to mention the other one already has a heart syndrome—so I'll try my best not to fog my vision with wet tears. If anything happens to both Aileen and Constance, Jerico and Mr. Montgomery will never forgive me while I exile myself out of this town.

A couple of minutes in, and we've finally arrived at the bookstore. Once I've turned off the car engine, I got out of my door and run towards Constance's side. Opening her door, I help her out of the door with a smile. "Still being a gentleman after all this time, huh?"

A chuckle escapes my lips, "Even if it annoys you, at least I got to put a smile on your precious face." I remember our conversation about me being a gentleman to her. We've agreed—well, more like agree to disagree—that I won't act like a gentleman since she wants me to prioritize myself and not her. Too bad for her, I will always prioritize her than myself until the end of time. Even when that end of time between us is slowly closing in.

"Why don't you two kiss already?" We both glance at Aileen, who just got out of the backseat door.

Both of us chuckle, but mine immediately fade out once Aileen words finally register in my mind. I suddenly want to kiss her, but part of me would like to do it when the moment is special. I can't just steal a kiss from her without her own consent and when the moment is right. So for now, I shrug it off, hoping I get to kiss her before she's gone for good.

I've let the women enter the establishment before I do, but once we all entered the building, Irene immediately spotted us and saunter towards Constance. "Oh my God, Constance," Irene hugs her tightly as if she just lost her daughter and finally found her. "You didn't need to come, you should take care of yourself before anything." I'm guessing the whole town have heard about Constance sudden visit in the hospital. I have a feeling Mr. Montgomery has something to do with that.