Pen Of Destiny

Chapter- 9

Ryan

We had been waiting outside the operating theater for what felt like an eternity, unsure of how much longer it would take. A nurse eventually appeared, leading us to a restroom. I was certain Luke had orchestrated it, but when I glanced at him, he simply shrugged, maintaining his serious expression.

Luke was always overprotective when it came to me. That was just who he was. So, we all stood up and followed the nurse's guidance.

Neil had left an hour earlier after I insisted he go home, although he had wanted to stay. Afterward, Luke brought coffee and muffins for everyone, which everyone accepted except Farkle.

He was acting mean.

And then there was Shayra, brightening the atmosphere with her words. She was one of those people who could make others smile regardless of the situation. I quickly realized that.

Oh, right. I know her name now because she, unlike the outgoing Aria, introduced herself. The doctor informed us that Aria was out of danger, bringing a sense of relief to all of us. Well, except for one person whose face still burned red with anger—Farkle. I had no idea what was wrong with him. He hadn't said a word to me until that moment.

Whatever.

I hadn't bothered changing my clothes yet; I didn't want to miss the moment when the doctor would come out and tell us it was a success.

My dad had called several times, but I kept rejecting his calls. I didn't feel like talking to anyone at all.

Since Luke was here, our home was also locked up. Even though I insisted, he refused to leave me alone in the hospital.

How ironic!

My situation was pathetic, and my entire body ached. Not that I could do anything about it, but I felt nauseous and couldn't stand the strange chlorine-like smell.

Ugh! I hated it. But I had to endure.

What else was there to do in this place?

I glanced around and noticed a lady, not dressed in a uniform, approaching us. She had a stern expression, and I wondered if she had ever smiled before. But that was none of my concern.

"Are you here for Miss Aria Reeves?" she asked, her gaze fixed on me. I exchanged looks with Luke and then nodded, "Yes?"

"Is she alright?" I asked eagerly before she could respond. Aria's dad stepped in front of me, blocking my view. "What about the operation? Why didn't you let us, or at least me, stay outside the operating theater? How is she now?" He bombarded the lady with multiple questions, but she remained unaffected.

"She is okay. Follow me," she replied, still looking at me. Then she turned and started walking, expecting us to follow. And we did. I trailed her like a faithful pet, never letting her out of my sight. I almost ran because she was walking fast at her own pace.

We reached a room near the end of the hallway, labeled 302. With each step, my breathing accelerated, and as she reached for the doorknob, I felt my heart almost stop.

No, Ryan! You have to be strong.

She finally opened the door and stood in front of me for a moment before stepping aside. I gasped when I caught a glimpse of Aria lying in the bed, still unconscious. Her face was pale, and a white bandage was wrapped around her head. Several machines were positioned on the left side, their wires connected to her left hand.

"She is doing fine. You can talk to her; she might hear you. I'll leave you alone now. The doctor will be here to provide further updates in about an hour and a half," she informed me, glancing at her wristwatch. Then, without another word, she left the room, closing the door behind her. As soon as the nurse was gone, I felt a heavy weight of gazes upon me. Everyone, except Luke, was staring at me, their eyes filled with judgment and resentment.

But why?

At that moment, I couldn't help but feel like the most unwanted person on the face of this earth.

How self-centered can people be?

"Fine," I muttered through gritted teeth, stepping out of the room and slamming the door shut behind me.

Luke followed me, gently squeezing my shoulder. "Don't take it to heart, Ryan. They're just friends and family. They needed their time," he said, looking at me with understanding in his eyes, wiping away a tear that had escaped my cheek.

I was trying so hard not to let my emotions show, but sometimes the overwhelming emotions took over.

"And what about me?" I burst out. "Why can't people forget about themselves for just a little while?" I gestured with my finger to emphasize my point.

Luke wrapped his arms around me, offering comfort. "Stop behaving like this. It hurts to see you like this, bro. You know that," he said, his voice filled with genuine concern.

I pulled back with a smile, quickly wiping away my tears before he could notice. I playfully poked his chest. "Oh, please! Cut it out. Being all concerned about me and stuff. Look at you now, you're practically a crybaby," I said, chuckling. Then I added, "I'm fine, okay?"

"Really?" Luke asked, still amused by my antics, not letting my blabbering bother him.

I nodded. "Yes, as fine as one can be after all this," I replied, injecting a hint of sarcasm into my tone. I heard Luke chuckle, and I joined in with a fake laugh.

Sometimes, you had to pretend, pretend that everything was fine, that you were fine, just to give your loved ones some semblance of reassurance. Yes, sometimes pretending was necessary.

"I must look like crap, don't I?" I glanced down at my blood-stained clothes and then looked at Luke, awaiting his response.

"Nope! My brother always looks handsome," he chimed in, raising an eyebrow playfully. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his comment.

"I know, but still..." I boasted with a smirk.

"No, seriously, Ryan. You should take a shower," Luke suggested.

"If I can find a bathroom around here?" I replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Sure thing," Luke said, taking my hand and leading me toward the same restroom we had visited earlier.

"Here's the bathroom, and your clothes are in the closet," he pointed to the adjacent room.

"But...?" I began to protest, but he cut me off.

"Just go in already and take a shower," he said, giving me a gentle push from behind.

Well, I guess I should do that now.

I entered the bathroom and took the quickest shower of my life. I found the closet and changed into clean clothes. Afterward, I hurried back to room 302, panting heavily. I waved a hand at Luke as I entered and took a seat beside him.

"That was fast, man," Luke commented, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," I replied, my breath finally steadying.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and both Luke and I turned our heads toward the sound. Mr. Reeves stood at the entrance of the room, his voice barely above a whisper.

"She expects you inside," he said.

Wait, what?

Does she expect me?
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Amusing? Ya!

Let's see what happens next....

Thanks and see you until next time.

Next will be Aria's pov. I hope she will get well soon, very soon😉