Secretly in love

20. The man who can't breathe

I was shook after opening the door and Grace is in the kitchen then turning around with a big smile in her face "Hi Summy" she greeted me with the warmest hug of a mother that I never think that I'll be needing during this sad time "oh my, why are you tearing up?"

There no words but hug her again and feeling her embrace around my body.

"I dropped by because I cooked hot meal and I know that both of you are busy at school" her mom gently stroking my back only building more tears "Are you okay? Is school gives you a lot of pressure?"

I wipe the tears then look her with a soft smile "sorry mom, just—I don't know, maybe hormones?" I say between chuckle.

She examined my body then frowning afterwards "both Ice and you look so thin right now. I should be dropping a lot to cook some hearty meals"

I'm thankful and grateful for Ice mom, she always look after me.

Grace prepared the dinner while I offered to help but she declined and told me to sit and wait "I also bought you some cute summer dresses" she look over my shoulder and when I turn around there's a paper bag.

"Mom you don't have to"

"Come on, you know how I love shopping girl dresses. You know Ice, that child whines whenever I buy her cute dresses" she placed down few plates of mouth savoring dishes in the table "3 sons and Ice? It felt like I have 4 sons and It never made me feel like I have a daughter to dolled up, that's why I'am so grateful to have you. I just can't wait to have you in the family! Of what's taking forever, geez!"

I just awkwardly smiled as if her greek god sons will like me, I wasn't even a standard.

And honestly being in the closet feels like I'm betraying them....

"Honey can you call Ice so we can eat dinner all together" she says while almost finishing preparing the food and plates.

The thing is—we haven't speaking for more than a week now and I promise myself to never be the one reaching her "Summy?" Mom calls out.

I cleared my throat before saying "she might be busy with Jaden"

Mom forehead creases while thinking "Who's the girl she's busy with?"

"Uhmm....it's not a she it his future boyfriend. I believe she'll introduce Jaden soonest, maybe she's just finding a perfect time"

"What?" Mom stopping in mid preparation and in awe after hearing it.

"I mean I feel bad that you have to hear it from me so please mom, don't tell her that you know"

"Ookay?" She shook her head then sighed before sitting in front of me "let's eat"

We ate our dinner while catching up, she has a lot of fun stories from her last trip to Europe. Her job requires her a lot of free travel almost all over the world, that's what you get when you work on cruise-ship. Not to brag a lot but Ice family has a very good career standing, I mean his dad is a pilot if that's not enough to be impressed about.

Her brother is composed of, Ares a soon to be lawyer, Aries is a model in Paris and the Eros the eldest is a newly promoted head publisher of a well known publishing company in New York and of course Ice is their future doctor.

So how am I supposed to fit in their standard?

I'm all out drifting away, not being aware that Grace is ready to leave when she calls out my name "Honey, sorry to ask you a favor, you don't have class tomorrow right?" I nodded in response "Do you mind to drop this hot meal to Ice? You know that little brat, she always, always skip eating meals and very serious on studying although I don't mean anything, of course, I'm grateful that they all grew up independent but worried that it might affect their health and you mentioned Jaden right awhile ago that he's busy every Friday with his teammates?"

How can I say no to Grace if she showed me love and kindness? "No worries" she opened her arms to invite me for a hug which I gratefully took.

After watching her mom driving back in the road, there goes my pounding heart. And of course I know where Ice is right now. Her first graveyard shift. And yes again, I memorized her schedule.

I might be or might not be out of my will to drop by this meal right now where my eyes were already pinned to the hospital.

If only I have the heart to leave this to the front desk and just call Ice but no. Deep down, I miss her a lot. At least, this can my last excuse to see her.

With all the mixed nervous, excitement and thrill, I walked inside to asked about Ice and one of her colleague recognized me. She told me that Ice might be in the 5th floor canteen.

I thanked her before walking towards the elevator and trapping myself there while thinking that a lot of things might happen inside this little box in the middle of the night, to a hospital. Not that I'm scared but what if the elevator horror game is true? What if I pressed the non existing 13th floor and this will take me to another dimension?

—-what if. "Hhi" my voice cracked when I was in the middle of my imagination when the elevator went open and two nurses are giving a weird reaction.

I let out one last weird smile before stepping out from it. I better stop watching 3am challenge.

And now back to reality. The hallway is empty and creepy but then the canteen sign is just right at the end of the hallway on left side.

Following the direction, the canteen is also empty and just vendo machines were lit up.

—-but then there's a familiar person sitting on the floor next to a coffee vendo machine.

I hesitated for a minute but Ice looked so tired. She's leaning against the wall with her eyes closed. She still look so freaking attractive, especially seeing her personally on those scrubs. My little heart once again pump into delicious heartbeat. Back to crushing her again.

".....Ice" my feet stop right in front of her and watching how her tired eyes opened and right now staring back at me "Your mom dropped by to my place and she asked me to bring you this meal. Of why are you sitting here instead of using an actual chair? There's a lot and there's literally no one here—" I gesture the place and even turning around but frowned "or there is? I just couldn't see them?"

Being a nonchalant person she is. She just ignored me, so I place down the thermo bag in the floor.

I knew this will happen.But it definitely still sting.

"Did you see the old man who can't breathe in the elevator?" My feet halted after hearing it.

I slowly turned back at her. "....there is?" my voice sounded frightened. She checks her wristwatch before nodding at me.

"Every 1:30am. He showed up. He has this oxygen in him and you can hear his faltered breathing"

"You described it very likely insidious 3. The oxygen old man" 

She even nodded at me "Yes you remember the wheezing demon right?"

Maybe it's the uncomfortable chilling feeling that made me check over my shoulder and noticing the empty hallway, adding this dim canteen but something eerie is there. So I slowly joined Ice and sat next to her.

"Just exactly 1:30 or after that he's gone?" I even move a little bit closer to her and the feeling that our body is touching makes my pounding nervous less aggressive while checking the surroundings.