Everything Seventeen

Joshua

"Hi, Carat. How are you today?"

"Shut up, Joshua! Stop asking me how my flipping day is every single time! You keep asking me if I'm ok like some naggy mom. Get away from me! I'm doing well on my own!" I snapped.

With disappointment written on his face, he nodded and apologised. He went away and I heaved a sigh of relief. He kept asking if I was ok every day at school and when he got my number, he asked on the weekends as well. It was getting pretty annoying and after a few months of it, I snapped. I had enough of him making me remind myself of how I really was feeling.

Then he stopped asking me. It was a relief. It felt weird that week not being approached by him but I would get used to it eventually.

When he left, life decided to give me a punch stronger than the previous few.

I received a text message from my aunt during my last lesson of the day.

"Your mum is in the hospital. She collapsed while she was working. Come down to Eagles Hospital straight after school. I'll pick your younger brother up for you."

I was on the verge of tears. In the middle of Physics class, when my brain was already a wreck, my heart decided to take a trip along with it. I could barely focus. Many things went through my mind: Is my mother going to be ok? How do I get there with barely any money left with me? Do any of my friends have parents willing to give me a ride? Definitely not. All of them were taking either the bus or train home today. My deskmate took no notice of it thankfully. I did not want any unnecessary attention drawn to me.

The moment class ended, I stuffed my items into my bag and rushed out of class faster than the teacher. I left class and headed down to see it raining heavily. I searched my bag.

"Shoot, I didn't bring my umbrella. I guess I have to make a run for it and beg people to give me a ride quickly," I cursed.

I ran out into the rain and to the main road near my school. I waved about to cars passing by but none stopped. A taxi stopped by but at the mention of 'low price', the taxi driver drove off, shaking his head. By then, I was completely drenched head to toe.

Then, finally, a black car pulled up in front of me. I could barely see inside. The driver rolled down the windows and I asked her if she could give me a ride to the hospital. Without hesitation, she nodded.

I opened the door to the back seat and someone there held up a towel. I could not see the person until I took the towel from the person's hands.

"JOSHUA? Why are you here again? Didn't I tell you to go away?" I exclaimed.

By then, I was already in the car and it was moving. I could not leave the car. I removed the large towel I wrapped around myself initially. I frowned.

"I just want to help you. You can chase me away all you want but I'll still watch out for you. Admit it, I'm being a help to you now and you are definitely not ok. So wrap yourself up and dry off before you catch a cold. Your mother and younger brother who rely on you wouldn't want that," he explained, clearly concerned for me.

He was right. I grumbled and wrapped myself in the towel, re-inviting myself to the warmth it provided. He grabbed a smaller towel from the back and lightly rubbed my head with it and then left it there when I swatted his hand away. It was a silent car ride with me looking out the window and ignoring Joshua the whole time.

Soon, the car pulled up at the drop-off of the hospital.

"I'm coming too but you go with Joshua first," Joshua's mother instructed me.

As much as I wanted to be as far away from Joshua as possible, I gave in and heeded her instructions. I was pretty dry by then so I left the towels in the car. When I got out, I sped off to the ward with Joshua.