Losing You's a Thing That I Dread

Chapter 10: Archie

A/N: Wasn't happy with how it originally turned out, so I had to scrap a few parts and redo it. This isn't beta'd.

But hey, we're already at Chapter 10! Can you believe?

Edit: I added an image of Archie from last week's episode. Ganyan siya the entire time sa hospital - making heart eyes at Roxy. 😍

***

Tuesday, 01:14 AM

"Are you the next of kin?"

He didn't bother answering after speaking with several people in the last hour. Nurses, doctors, hospital staff - none of them was the person he was waiting for.

Archie was tired and hungry. Cranky was the term Gino used, which was probably accurate too. He was angry. Deep inside was a boiling rage that would only be pacified if he punched something again. Or someone.

But mostly, he was terrified.

He remained seated on the chair. Both of his hands, bleeding knuckles and all, clasped her cold right hand - the one that was free from the IV line. It was her dominant hand, he made sure to tell the nurse earlier when they arrived at the emergency room.

He couldn't take his eyes off her, and after what happened, he probably never will. Her face was white as a sheet. It probably mirrored his, when he found her barely conscious and incoherent. She was sitting on the ground leaning against a wall close to the bar's back entrance. Eventually, the culprit was apprehended. Gino and his friend, Yosef, tried to restrain the asshole that roofied her.

Later, they realized that they should have restrained him instead.

Monday, 11:43 PM

He floored the gas pedal, not caring if he committed numerous traffic regulations.

"What do you mean? You promised you'll keep an eye on her," he asked, panic slowly creeping in.

"I know, dude. But your sister called and I couldn't hear her. I had to go out," Gino explained.

A red sedan swerved in front of him, and he stepped hard on the brakes to avoid hitting the rear. He honked the horn like crazy, rolled the window down and yelled, "Get off the road, asshole!"

"Archie, be careful," his friend said, trying to calm him down. "I'm sure she's fine."

He maneuvered around the other vehicle and said, "I talked to her earlier." He started gaining speed again. "Nakainom na siya, dude. She's a happy drunk, you know," he told him. "Pero 'di maingat. God. She'll talk to anyone - and she has a mouth on her. What if mapa-away 'yon?" And then he suddenly remembered, "Wait, Kenji should be there."

"Nope. Didn't see him," Gino replied, his voice drowned by the loud music.

"Fuck."

"Hey, we got this. Yosef and I are looking for her," his friend assured him.

Monday 11:56 PM

GINO: Back entrance

Archie had just set foot inside the club when he saw Gino's message. He quickly turned around, exited the crowded place, and hurried through a narrow alley beside the establishment.

He heard loud voices - yells, just as he turned the corner. He'll never forget the scene that greeted him until the day he died.

It was a nightmare. There were a few club employees, and a small group of people who were probably wondering what the commotion was about.