Mending Heart's Affliction [Phoenix Countesses: ETHEREAL MAIDENS SERIES I]

Chapter 69

Forcing to remember

I sat in the sterile, fluorescent-lit waiting room of the hospital, my hands trembling as I clutched the edges of the uncomfortable chair.

The minutes felt like hours as I anxiously awaited the doctor's update on Arik's condition. Arik lay in a hospital bed behind those intimidating double doors, unconscious and vulnerable, and it tore at my heart.

Lucas sat nearby, his presence providing some comfort. He offered a reassuring smile, but his eyes betrayed the same worry that gnawed at my soul.

Arik had collapsed without warning, crumpling to the floor as if all the strength had been drained from his body. It was Lucas who had rushed over and helped me call 911.

Nabalik lang ako sa ulirat nang marinig ko ang mga yabag ng kung sino. Nang inangat ko ang tingin ko ay doon ko nakita ang isang babaeng doctor.

She was a middle-aged woman with kind, tired eyes, but I couldn't focus on anything other than the news she was about to deliver.

"Are you the family of Mr. Rioflorida?" the doctor asked, her voice gentle but tinged with professional gravity.

Tumango ako. Ramdam ko ang paghampas ng puso ko.

"Yes, I'm his partner, Celeste. This is Lucas, a close friend."

The doctor explained that Arik had been taken for a battery of tests, including scans and blood work, to determine the cause of his sudden collapse. She reassured us that the medical team was doing everything they could to diagnose and treat him.

However, she couldn't provide any concrete answers just yet, and that uncertainty gnawed at me like a relentless monster.

"Ms. Celeste," the doctor inquired, her eyes fixed on what seemed to be an iPad, where she reviewed Arik's tests and medical records.

"I've seen his medical records, and he has amnesia, correct?"

"Yes, doctor. May problema po ba? He had an accident recently, and that's why he's experiencing amnesia," I replied, feeling a heavy knot of anxiety in my chest.

"I can tell," she responded, "Because it's the reason he's so stressed. He's pushing himself too hard to remember, which isn't good for him because it's draining his strength. He should rest more to regain his strength because if he continues to strain his mind, he might face even more problems. I will call his doctor to discuss this matter with you."

With that, the doctor left the room.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Lucas saglit bago ako bumalik sa inuupuan ko.

I looked at him, the suffering etched on his face. He was deathly pale, even his lips, and despite the coldness of the room, beads of sweat clung to his skin. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong abutin ang kamay niya at mariing hinalikan iyon.

I couldn't bear the idea of losing him, and my worry for his well-being weighed heavily on my heart.

I couldn't fathom why he was pushing himself so hard to regain his memory when the doctor had been clear: he needed time, and it would come naturally. Why, Arik?

"Celeste."

Lucas's voice brought me back to reality. Hindi ko siya tiningnan. Nanatili lang akong nakasubsob kay Arik habang tahimik na nagdadasal.

"I'm sorry. I heard about what Hannah did. I swear, those photos didn't come from me. I had no idea what she was up to. I just came back from Japan, and..." Lucas trailed off.

Hindi ako sumagot. Alam ko namang iyon ang totoo. It was highly likely that he was the man in those pictures with Hannah, with my face edited onto hers.