Maybe, Someday

Chapter 8

Zyd's POV

I woke up in a sterile hospital room, the smell of antiseptic lingering in the air. It took me a moment to remember how I got here.

The last thing I remembered was the conversation with Serene at the bar. But now, I was alone, the beeping of machines echoing in the stillness.

As I slowly sat up, a wave of dizziness washed over me. I reached for the small table beside my bed, my fingers brushing against a water pitcher.

Just as I poured a glass, the door opened, and my family stepped inside, their faces a mix of concern and relief.

"Zyd! My baby,you're awake!" my mom exclaimed, rushing to my side. "How are you feeling?"

"Just a little dizzy," I replied, forcing a smile. "What happened?"

My dad stepped forward, his expression serious. "You called us last night saying you couldn't breathe, then we suddenly heard gasps on the phone. Turns out, you passed out. The doctors ran some tests, and they found that your coronary artery disease has progressed more than we thought."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I had known that my condition was getting worse, but hearing it confirmed felt like a dark cloud settling over my mind.

I had been managing my condition, going to treatment in secret, but I couldn't escape the reality any longer.

"Are they going to...?" I trailed off, unable to finish the question.

"They're going to monitor you closely and adjust your treatment plan," my mom said, her voice trembling slightly. "We're here for you, Zyd. You're not alone in this."

I nodded, but my heart felt heavy. My family knew about my condition, other than them, there's no one who knew about this. Even Richie, and Serene's family. Especially Serene. I had kept this secret from her, and now it felt like a betrayal. The thought of what she would feel if she knew the truth haunted me.

For years, I had struggled with my feelings for Serene. I had loved her since we were young, but after being diagnosed with coronary artery disease, I convinced myself that it was best to keep my distance.

I didn't want to burden her with the weight of my illness or risk her getting hurt if anything happened to me.

Every time she confessed her feelings, I pushed her away, hiding behind excuses and fears. I had watched her from afar, longing to be with her, but the fear of losing her consumed me. What good would it do to start a relationship when I might not have a future to share with her?

I became content with just being by her side. I'm afraid to take another leap with her. I'm afraid that in the end, she'll have to continue her life without me.

That's why I decided not to confess to her. I decided to keep everything away from her so she wouldn't worry too much about me.

The last thing I wanted to happen was to witness Serene, slowly hurting while watching me lose this battle.

Now that my condition was getting worse, and there's a lot of uncertainty for me, my urge to keep this away from her grew stronger.

After days of being in the hospital, I was finally back home. Everything felt familiar yet painfully different.

My family was relieved, and I was grateful for their support, but the one thing that weighed heavily on my heart was the void between Serene and me.

We had stopped talking entirely. Though our families remained close friends, the space between us felt insurmountable.