Amnesiac

Thirty Fifth

Every traffic rule has probably been violated at this second.

My speed limit was skyrocketing and even Liz, the reckless best friend, was being too scared for our lives. I know we both love speed driving, but my version of speed driving right now was far from the speed driving that we usually do. This speed driving is like trying to tell to everyone that I have a death wish.

Finally, the hospital was coming into sight and I was soon parking in some space nearby. I didn't even bother to perfect the parking before I doze off from the driver's seat and went to rush in the hospital.

"ColleenLabajo, please," I said in the nurse in the front desk. My fingers tapped the stone desk and waited for her to give me the directions to wherever the room for Colleen was. I was being driven by my impatience and it took all of me to not hop over the desk, tackle the nurse away and search for her name myself.

"Room 201, 4th floor, the third green door in the left hall," she finally directed.

I mumbled a thank you then dozed off to the elevator.

The songs in the elevator were no help, too. The loud beating of the drums and guitar just made my heart pound just as loud. I have to count the seconds in the elevator to try to at least calm myself and finally after 128 seconds, the ding erupted and the doors spread open. Just as soon as it open, Karlos was visible, there sitting on one of the hospital stools against the wall.

I breathed his name and rushed to him, taking him in my arms. It took him in surprise, considering that he didn't really notice me in the first place. Maybe it was because he saw Liz too or maybe he noticed that my hair was black and blue when he hugged me back.

I realized that my shirt was getting drenched because my boyfriend was crying. "Sh, it's okay. It's going to be okay." I said. The words seemed to be nonsense for now, but I am confident enough that it would make sense sooner.

"What are you doing here? Don't you have classes?"

I patted his back, still inclined in the embrace. "I skipped." I said. "I guess I am more concerned with your sister than with my grades for the second."

"You don't have to do tha—"

"I wanted to." I said. "It's okay. I'm here now, I won't leave you alone."

-

Karlos and I were in the hospital room, watching, observing and just being there for Colleen who at this moment wasn't the energetic kid I have come accustomed with. She lays there still, her hands by her sides and her curly hair sprawled over the white sheet of the pillow case. Her face was pale, not filled with pink blush.

"It hurts seeing her like that, you know." Karlos whispered, "I got scared, Andromeda." He moved closer to me. I put his head on my shoulder, holding his cheek with my right hand and my free hand gripped his hand, entwining our fingers together.

"There's nothing to be scared of, Karlos." I said, "Colleen would be fine in no time. She's too tough for a five year old."

"I know, but it still scared me shitless." his hand tightened his grip on mine. "I thought she was about to... leave me. Like how everybody in my life did."

I sighed and patted his cheek lightly. I know that in the simplest way, this gesture is what comforts him the most. Karlos likes that kind of simple approach of reassurance and console.

"Colleen won't leave you," I pressed. "We are not going to leave you. We're going to stick around until you get sick of us."

His cheek shifted lightly under my touch and I can hear the smile over his voice. "We?"

"What, you don't want me to stick around?"

"I'm not saying anything like that."

"Sounds like it, though," I faked a pout.

He straightens from his position, and then turned to face me. If he was smiling because I'm such a baby, I don't know. All I could think of is that I am happy that he's finally smiling. His hand caresses my cheek, the earlier roles reversed.

"Andromeda Martinez," he said, kissing my nose, "I fucking want you to stay in my life and never ever leave."

I smiled. "Kiss me, then,"

Karlos leaned in and closed the gap between us, the rightful pieces of our lips finally meeting. I smiled through the kiss and started to devour every taste I could adapt from his lips.

"Maybe you want me to go to your house and get you some clothes?" I asked when we pulled away.

"Nah, I'll come with you." he says and I nod.

I stood up from the small couch and aimed for the door.

"I'll just go home and take some shower, Leen," Karlos whispered to Colleen, but the volume was enough for me to pick up, "You might not want to smell me when you wake up. I'll be right back. Please be up by then, okay?"

I looked over my shoulder and saw him kiss Colleen on the forehead before he joined me by the door's frame.

-

"Do you want me to come with you or not?" I asked Karlos in the car.

"I can go alone, Andromeda," he smiles at me, "Please just wait for me here in the car. Don't go anywhere."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "I'm not."

Karlos got out of the car and made a bee line to the machine nearby. He said that he would just withdraw from his account for money to pay the bills in the hospital. I offered to help, but Karlos being Karlos, he declined and almost cussed me out when I pushed it. So I just dropped the subject instead of getting into an argument which is what should not occur right now, considering his situation.

Karlos comes right back shortly, gets in the car and buckles himself. He shoves the bills in his wallet before shoving the wallet inside the side pocket of his tight jeans. He smiles at me. "Well, drive," he commands.

I nod and gave him a mock salute, like the one that Colleen does when they greet each other in the morning like soldiers. "Yes boss."

The drive to the hospital from the small bank branch we came from wasn't much long, so in no time, the sight of the hospital was visible. I parked in the nearest possible lot and the two of us went out of the car afterward, entering the hospital with our hands entwined. This was probably not the best place to do PDA, but, nah, it's cool.

Karlos and I went to the front desk to ask for some directions to where the bills shall be paid. We found it curtly and Karlos talked to the one in charge. "I would like to pay for the bills under ColleenLabajo, the patient in room 201."

The woman in the desk went to look over her computer, her brows knitted together as she scanned the screen. "Sorry sir, but the bills under the patient's name is already paid." She says.

"What? How could that happen? I just withdraw some money for the payment." Karlos explained and looked at me. "Maybe you got the wrong name,"

The woman double checks her screen. "Sir. The bills under Colleen L22abajo are covered. I mean, entirely,"

Dumbfounded, Karlos turned to me. I was just as baffled as him, not knowing who would cover his sister's bills. It could not be me, neither would it be Liz. Karlos and I decided to ignore it for the meantime, and went to Colleen's room.