Left with the Right Choice

Chapter Three: No Such thing as a Perfect Gentleman

Ryshia's POV:

Even Luzalie could not utter a word amidst the boy's apoplexy and accusations combined with the old man's situation. I was frozen as the latter's eyes found mine. Albeit he could not speak, his eyes regurgitated a million words. I found myself unconsciously kneeling beside him, deaf to the rest of the world. I pressed his hand and felt him squeeze mine back.

"Hold on" I whispered "hold on"

I don't know if it was just me or it was the old man who indeed said it but I thought I heard him reply.

"Lorena..."

I felt another presence kneel beside me, though I am mostly oblivious to the rest of the world. I could hear the barbecue boy's weeping like a faint echo, I could hear indistinct syllables from the new arrival who had just knelt beside me, I think I could hear Luzalie's heavy breathing. In the distance, an ambulance wailed its siren.

But clearest of all was that word, that name:

"Lorena..."

I had my eyes locked on his face. His pupils were turning red, tears had begun to form around them; his lips were quivering, but they never opened.

I am hearing voices.
I am officially going crazy.
I felt a gentle hand guide me up and moved me sideways as they took the old man to a stretcher, pulled an oxygen mask over his face, and carried him off to the ambulance.

The barbecue boy and a slightly older version of him (maybe about my age) were having a rapid conversation with one of the respondents. The latter was nodding vigorously and gave an assuring pat on the shoulder to the elder of the two. They climbed up the ambulance. When the doors of the vehicle closed, a middle finger popped up the window and the angry face of the barbecue boy appeared before the ambulance sped him away to nowhere.

"Rysh..." Luzalie said from behind me "let's go"

I watched her struggling to pick up the placards that I had absent-mindedly dropped a while ago.

Well, at least now I know her arms are really injured.

I stooped to help her pick up the scattered items and offered to once more carry the protest materials by myself. We continued our journey in silence. Halfway through, I decided to break the ice.

"I'm gonna get you to the venue. But I won't stay there" I said

"What do you mean?" Luzalie asked, an eyebrow cocked.

"Something just came up, dad needs me for errands."

My best friend shook her head.

"Bullshit, Rysh. I know you better than that. You'd sooner be bulldozed rather than allow your dad to sabotage a schedules activity."

I don't know how to respond to that.

"Just tell me the truth" she pressed on "I have no problem with you leaving, I just want to know why. This is so important for you, damn it. This couldn't possibly be ruined by some shitty errand."

"It's an emergency"

"What emergency"

"Too personal" I half-lied "A matter of life and death"

She did not answer for some time but kept on walking.

"Your dad?"

"No"

"Your mom?"

I sniggered mockingly.

"No. Don't be ridiculous"