MGA PAKIWARI AT PAGMUMUNI-MUNI (An AlDub Collection of Poems and Short Stories)

Breathe (A4Day24)

A/N: I am not a doctor nor am I a medical practitioner. So any medical terms used below are based off of what I researched through Google. If they are not right, I apologize in advance.

//

They met at the hospital. She was there for a checkup. He was there to be admitted. They were both waiting at the lobby, beside each other - she, with a phone in her hand to while away the time; he, with nary a thing but only his eyes as he watched her tinkering on her phone.

She looked up and sideways when she felt his stare, frowning at first but smiling tentatively when she noticed that he was in a wheelchair, a blanket on his legs, looking quite pale. Still - it didn't hinder him from smiling brightly back at her when she met his gaze.

"Hi," he croaked out softly, his deep dimple peeking, his eyes shining as he looked at her.

"Hello," she answered back just as softly, placing her phone on her lap, putting a stray hair of hers that escaped from her ponytail behind her ear.

"How are you? What are you in here for?" he asked before his eyes widened as he realized what he just said. "Oh my, I'm sorry! That was quite insensitive of me. I shouldn't have asked that. It isn't--"

She chuckled, stopping his babbles - her tinkling laughter making him slightly gasp.

"What?" she asked upon hearing him, her grin widening when she saw him shake his head. "You're cute."

He blushed, the tips of his ears reddening slightly - the compliment bringing color to his otherwise pale skin.

"I'm Richard," he said as he continued to smile, reaching out a hand for her to take.

"Nicomaine," she answered as she took his hand and noticed how large it was that it swallowed her own, despite it being cold and clammy - whether from nervousness or sickness, she didn't know.

Then she heard her father call for her from the other end of the lobby where the elevators were, signaling for her to hurry up and follow.

She waved a 'yes' at her father before standing up and facing him, a slow smile appearing once more when she saw that he now had a happy disposition on his face, despite his tired eyes.

"I have to go. My doctor is probably in. Take care, Richard."

"You too, Nicomaine. I hope to see you around," he answered before stammering, "Well - n-not exactly here at t-the hospital because that would mean t-that you m-might be-- I-- uhm-- I meant that I will--"

She laughed again, her giggles infectious as he grinned sheepishly up at her.

"I get it, Richard. I hope to see you around, too."

And then she turned around and walked away. While he remained seated, a huge and happy smile on his lips.

//

"Hi, Richard."

He turned his head towards the melodious voice that greeted him, smiling when he saw her approaching. He was at the hospital's garden, still in a wheelchair but now with an oxygen tank and an IV drip connected to him.

"Hello, Nicomaine," he greeted back, the happiness radiating from his eyes belying the truth of what his body was feeling. "How was your imaging?"

She shrugged as she sat on the bench beside him, looking towards the fountain in the middle of the garden. "I have it," she answered quietly.

"Oh..."

He gently took her hand in his and squeezed, making her turn towards him to give him a rather watery smile. He smiled back, though it felt more like a grimace due to pain than an actual smile.