Unorthodox Love

CHaPtEr sIxtEEN

Rose left after an hour of slightly awkward small talk. Once the door shut my lips shifted from a smile to a tight line. I turned to Xavier.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I-I can explain..."

"You don't have to." I said blankly. But still honestly. At the time I spoke to Rose, I learned a lot of things. I figured out a hell lot too.

I also saw some things coming from Xavier. The way he looked at Rose, I knew then and there the whole reason why he came home late. But I didn't know if I should be happy or not. But if I'm to be blatant I would say I'm not happy.

Why? Because it means my brother values Rose more than me.

But during that hour of conversing with Rose, a smile was plastered on my brother's face. I even thought it was forced, or it would hurt a hell lot.

But he barely looked fazed.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You... understand?" He asked, as if I was lying.

"Yeah, plus if you need advice I'm very much willing to give you some." I winked.

He let out a breath of relief and chuckled lightly. He smiled. "I'm glad then." His smile dropped and turned to a look of shock then excitement. "I have good news by the way." He smirked.

It was my turn to be confused. "Then spill it." I said as if it was the most obvious thing ever.

He grinned like the Cheshire cat. "It's for me to know and for you to find out."

>|《¤》|<

It was past visiting hours. And after an hour of persuasion Xavier finally gave in and left me with a promise of coming back earlier tomorrow.

The nurse came in and told me to get some rest. I just said "Okay" and she left, as expected.

Now I lay here, on this uncomfortable hospital bed. It's not that the bed's hard or lumpy. I just couldn't take the fact the someone could've died on thus bed, or was atleast on the verge of dying.

Foreign blood, urine, vomit, sweat, and who knows what, lays beneath these covers. And who knows maybe I've already contributed my memorabilia on this hospital bed.

Aside from the soft hum of the heater, all there was was silence. I hummed along the song Moon River by Andy Williams. Whenever something was bothering me, thus was the song I would sing to myself and eventually I would fall asleep.

In short, I would sing myself to sleep.

I didn't think. I didn't talk. Didn't care. I just silently whisepred the lyrics to moon river and that was it.

My eyes slowly drooped to a close, but before I could close it I spotted a figure slip into my room.

He stood beside me and stroked my hair. He leaned down then I felt something cool and wet on my cheek. He was crying.

"I know you're awake." He whispered in my ear, sendig millions of chills down my spine. "Things will get better soon." he spoke.

Before I could utter a word his warm presence was gone and I didn't even hear the door open or close. All I felt was the comforting warmth going away.

And that night I dreamt of him, I dreamed about Axel. A smile slowly curved up my lips as I drifted away to sleep.

> | 《 ¤ 》 | <

Doctor Adam walked into the room. Xavier took some lunch and I was left in this dreaded room, but atleast I'll be discharged tomorrow. Xavier still hasn't said a word about his 'surprise' but I think it's either about his relationship status, or how early his shift ends.

You'll never really know with him.

"Good morning, Ava. I'm just gonna give you a brief check-up before we discharge you. Is that okay?" I nodded. "Okay, good."

He was checking my blood pressure when he spoke again. "Xavier hasn't mentioned anything to you... about..."

"A surprise?" I finished for him. "No, he hasn't. Why? Do you know amything about it?" I eyed his face, waiting for a reaction or something. But there was nothing.

"Well--"

"I brought greasy fastfood!" Xavier cheered.

Doctor Adam grimaced. "She shouldn't be eating those."

Xavier paused, he must've noticed he interrupted something. "What were you talking about?" He placed the food on he table and took a seat.

"He was going to tell me your surprise." I said.

He raised an eyebrow "Surprise?" He asked then sudden realisation came upon him "ooooh... that surprise."

I sat in anticipation. But after a moment Xavier still didn't say anything. "Well?" I prompted.

"Oh yeah. Why don't you guess?" He smirked as if his words were the greates on this earth.

"Um... you're going to come home earlier?"

He blinked. "That, and another thing. So guess again."

"You're going to spoil me with anything I want?"

"That could be it too, but no."

I thought long and hard. What on earth do I want so badly that Xavier could give to me? Food? Money? Clothes?

Think.

I opened my mouth to say whatever I had in mind but thought against it. "I give up."

He groaned. But still looked hyped up and excited. "Okay fine I'll tell you."

Maybe what he was going to say was going to shock me out of my bones. Maybe he could give me a unicorn. World peace, maybe? I waited in excitement and also in fear.

Maybe his surprise could change everything.

"After years and years of searching in every hospital, each doctor and surgeon, we finally found it." He smiled proudly.

"Found what exactly?"

His grin widened, if it was possible,

"Ava, we could make you see color again."