Subtle Endearment

32. Reject Me

Kira

"Kira, you're awake," I hear Ian say. My eyes flutter open taking in the light within the cold hospital room. "Kira, can you hear me?" Ian asks. Bags sit underneath his eyes as if he hasn't had a good rest in days. "Kira, are you okay?" Ian asks taking my hands in his. I stare at him blankly.

You knew.

"Are you okay, Kira? Please say something," Ian says letting his face fall to the hospital bed sheets. 

You knew.

"Kira why aren't you speaking? I'm going to call the doctors," he says.

"You knew," I whisper.

"Kira..." Ian begins. "Don't call my name," I say retracting my hand from his. "You knew that she hurt me. You know what she put me through and you didn't care. I'm stupid for believing you actually cared," I cry in agony. "Calm down, Kira," Ian says his voice shaking.

"No," I say snatching the tubes out of my arms. I feel a sharp pain as I do and I can't help but scream as blood begins to cover the bandage on my arm. I watch as Ian leans over my bed in a panic pressing a button on my bed. "She's awake and needs assistance now," he says into a phone attached to my bed. "I'm fine, leave me alone," I cry obviously still in pain. A rush of pain suddenly hits as I sit up. My head feels like its going to explode and the stabbing pain in my right arm persists.

"You're awake," a woman who I assume to be the doctor says flashing a bright light in my eyes. "How are you feeling?" she asks. "Honestly, like shit," I answer. "I don't want her in my room," I say looking at Ian. "This way please," the doctor says moving my face back to her. 

"Why was she there?" I say a pained expression on my face. "I'll be back in a couple minutes for a  thorough checkup," the doctors says marking something down on a notepad before leaving. "She's not dead, is she," I ask holding onto the idea. "She's not. She's the leader of the Stubborn Elites mafia," Ian says swallowing as he carefully chooses his words. "Why didn't you tell me earlier," I ask cluelessly. 

"Why didn't I tell you earlier? Kira, I didn't even know until recently but even then how could I tell you? Did you forget how you landed in the hospital the first time?" Ian exclaims tears filling his eyes. 

"Kira, you were out for three days. I was worried you weren't going to wake up," he says crying into my lap. I catch myself staring aimlessly into space as I stroke his hair. "I need a break," I mumble aloud. "Kira," Ian begins. "I need time away from you, seriously this time" I say suddenly remembering his presence again. My arm falls slowly beside me. "I'm going to get a checkup soon, please leave before then," I say throwing the thin blanket over my body.

***

I'm discharged a week later. Violet visits once begging for forgiveness to which I assure her that it's okay now. What I didn't tell her is that I was leaving earlier than expected. Five days before my final day of work I pack my bags and without a goodbye move to an apartment on the opposite side of town. It's not nearly as nice as the company housing provided by Fixed Tech but it will do. 

Ian hasn't tried to contact me since I told him to leave. I ended up blocking him along with the others after moving. That never stopped him from finding me before, but this time is different. The money that I'd saved up until now is quickly dwindling. It's harder to find a job with my business degree than I thought it would be. I ended up getting a position at my local cafe. It's a short walk away from my apartment. I occasionally see Daniel at the cafe but he's never questioned me or been able to strike up a conversation with the busy atmosphere.

Today I work behind the counter with Andrea, a co-worker that makes my job ten times better simply because she has a comment on anything and everything that goes on in the shop. "He better be happy it was you who made his drink and not me. With that attitude, I'd given him half decaf," Andrea says rolling her eyes as a stocky old man walks out the door with his coffee. "You're going to get fired one of these days with all the complaints," I say half-jokingly. "Good, maybe I can finally get a hobby instead of being stuck in this bougee cafe," Andrea says stretching her arms. Andrea is a short girl with tan skin and curly black hair. Despite her height she's always provoking customers.

"Your little boyfriend is here again," Andrea says without a second glance at the door. "You're so lucky to have someone come in here day after day for you," Andrea says just as I head to the kitchen area to hide out. Just as he always does, I hear Daniel order a vanilla latte. Afterwards he strikes up a conversation with Andrea. "She'll be off in an hour. It's about time you guys talked," I hear Andrea say. Are you kidding me? Way to have my back.

"What are you doing?" I ask as Daniel takes a seat at a table further away. "Business is slow today, might as well work things out now," Andrea shrugs. She's right, we don't get any more customers aside from the usual straggler hurrying for their lunch break. "Yeah, I think I can cover for you," Andrea says sarcastically as we sit in the kitchen area on our phones. "Okay, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," I say before leaving.

"Daniel?" I say as I approach him. "Hey, Kira," he says getting up from his seat. "Wanna walk to the park?" he asks referring to the park at the end of the street.

"Sure."

"So, how have things been since you left Fixed Tech," he asks as we walk towards the park. "Okay, I guess," I answer truthfully. "Why did you leave?" he asks directly. "I wasn't a fan of the company atmosphere," I lie. "Yeah, that happens sometimes. It can get tiring working under a mafia-affiliated company," he chuckles. "The fact that you knew, does that mean you're a part of it?" I ask. "No, not in the way you think. Most people have family or a direct relationship to the mafia but I got in on my own accord. Like you," he adds. 

Like me? How funny.

"The company hasn't been the same since you left... the CEO doesn't come into work either..." Daniel adds. Silence ensues and for a second I think he's going to ask me to come back. "Does this mean I still have a chance?" Daniel asks. 

"You've never been this direct before," I say concentrating on the steps I'm taking. "I have to be, I don't think I've made myself clear enough," Daniel says brightly. You've made yourself plenty clear.

"You're my good friend, Daniel," I say now concentrating on the small park just ahead of me. I turn back around as I notice the sound of his footsteps have stopped. "Thank you for telling me; I can move on now," he says. My eyes are fixated on the ground and I watch as his brown dress shoes turn around and leave the same way they came. "I'll see you, Kira," Daniel says warmly before leaving. "Bye, Daniel," I say to his back.