My heart beats for you

What?

Just as the driver hastily walked past us and took the wheels, he was looking in the front and joking around with the driver while tightening his hands against mine. I look down, thinking it will be the last and we won't see each other again. Tears threatened me, but I tried my best not to let it come to me. I heard them laughing and when I looked up again he chuckled looking at me and shockingly introduced me.

"She's my ex," he said proudly as ever.

I was so caught in his mischief and shock that I didn't respond for a moment. "You're kidding right?" I asked him, frowning, and he laughed at me.

"I told you I will introduce you that way," he chuckled.

Then I started scolding him about it, which reminded him of every person who knew it. He and the driver laughed at how I nagged, but it only made him tighten his hands on mine. He then took his phone and opened his social media, turning in a live greeting cool.

"Hey, there, folks. This is my ex," he said and turned the phone to me 

He started chuckling, looking at his phone and grinning at me. "The hell is your problem?!" I yelled to defend myself as he was still live. His phone screen reflected emojis as a reaction and most were 'wow' and heart. He shoved the phone at me and I read some comments.

"Look, they believe you and urging you to make a 'comeback' with me when we haven't even been," I said with my eyes on the screen.

He laughs at it, and I return the phone to him, earning a sweet smile from him. My eyes notice the familiar block where I need to pull down, so he let go of my hands slowly and taps my shoulder, calling to the driver to stop. "Be sure to take care of yourself. Know that I'll always be around." he smiled.

The moment his hands pull away, I feel the same old pain I felt before. I felt like my soul was leaving my body and giving me a slow ache in my core. I struggle to steady my breathing and my tears won't listen to me but I rush to pull down and tell my gratitude to the driver. My mind was filled with a thousand thoughts as I felt the pain 7 years ago but this time it was twice what I endured before. I felt another shattering inside me and I clenched my fist to keep my composure. But then, "Aibrean." he called.

It was the first time I heard him call my name and it felt like he would leave and go to other places without getting back. Back then he used to call me by my nickname and hearing it that way my heart races again looking at him with those gloomy eyes that stare at me and show the same emotion I feel. In a blink, he replaced it with a smile and a wink at me waving goodbye and mouthing 'I love you'. The E-bike moved and he kept looking at me before it turned and disappeared in my eyes.

"I love you too," I whispered turning to walk. 

My feet feel heavy and so I drag my body to walk and keep myself composed. I ignore my phone keep on beeping on notifications and head straight home where the noisy environment melts whatever feeling I possess. Errands erase my thoughts and my tired body rests when my surroundings turn silent. When I grabbed my phone and turned it open, I was surprised at the messages of our common friends even former teachers. Most were teasing me but my former teachers scolded me and I had to explain things that it was Chejo's mischief again. 

"That scowl," I cursed as I backread the screenshots that was sent to our group chat and burned in embarrassment. Until I saw my closest friend in the same group chat posted their 'my day' of our picture with a caption and laughing emoji. We hadn't even slept for the day but their social media updates were faster than lightning. 

"Why on earth did they do that? Do they expect us to be together?" I whispered explaining things to our former classmates and colleagues.

After explaining to everyone, I went sleeping trying to forget how mischievous he was. The next day, another flood of messages and screenshots was sent to the group chat and I understand my friends got scolded by our former professors which makes me laugh literally. Above all the chaos, he remains silent reading the group exchange messages. I tried to tease everyone at the same time hitting how irritated I was for their assumption yet I made them laugh until the chats died and I returned to working. 

Days later I saw him in my dream kissing me on my lips and hugging me before I snapped out of it. It was dawn and I couldn't sleep then I decided to go to church since it was Sunday. When I reached home, I saw my friends at my door waiting for me. They were quiet and unlive in contrast to their nature which is noisy at any given time of the day. Just as I stood in front of them, one hugged me bursting into crying while one of them who is a male broke the news to me that shook my entire sanity.

"Chejo is in the hospital."

Those words turn me frozen before someone touches my cheeks which snaps me. "C-can we go s-see him? I asked wiping my tears and the friend that hugged me loosened up to speak "He has been waiting for you since last night according to his mom that's why we came here to inform you." I look at them and rush inside asking for permission to leave and then leave with them. 

My male friend shoved a helmet on me and lifted me to load on his motorbike before we sped off to the hospital. Chejo's sister was waiting and she recognized me and hugged me immediately which made me feel as nervous as ever. As we rush inside the ER my hands feel cold and my knees start to shake. In the corner of the big facility, there he was lying with dextrose and a lot of tubes. He was topless and his eyes were closed. Before I could greet his mom tears were falling from my eyes.