Last Teardrop

Chapter 14: Hurting

---“In case he hurts you, I’ll just be around.”

What is this all about? My heart felt like it’s about to burst. I don’t understand but it makes me feel happy to hear it from him. Why am I like this whenever Daniel is around? I cannot like this guy. I just can’t.

“Dan…”

He smiled. And instead of hearing what I am going to say, he suddenly excused himself. He said that they will be having basketball practice and he’s already late.

I was left standing alone thinking what that was about. My mind was wandering and I could not just focus myself. Why did Daniel tell me that? Is it just because he’s my friend? It couldn’t be something more because he is currently attached to someone. So why is he giving me mixed signals? Or am I just assuming things?

“Samantha!”

Jasmine called from behind. Did she see what just happened? But there was no reaction coming from her so probably not. Instead, she looked worried.

“What’s wrong?”

“That new kid, Patrick… I heard he got into a fight last night. Rumor says that on his way home, 3 guys were waiting on the road and they….”

“Oh my God! Where is he?? ” I didn’t let Jasmine finish it. I knew exactly what happened. He was hurt. The 3 guys that tried to harass me turned to Patrick for payback. He couldn’t do it alone. He could not just fight them all alone. I was really worried.

“WangDu Hospital.”

After hearing it, I ran as fast as I can. It was my fault. If Patrick wasn’t trying to save me, he would not be hurt now. And he would not be lying in the hospital bed filled with bruises. And slowly, my tears were falling down as I made my way faster to the hospital.

When I reached the place, I went to ask what room Patrick was. And I couldn’t bear the thought that he was there. If only I had let him bring me home that night, would it have changed anything? I went nearer and grabbed his hands.

“Pat… Please be okay.” I whispered.

Suddenly the door flew open and standing there was a lady, with worried eyes and bronze hair. She smiled when she saw me, a familiar smile – like that of Patrick’s. Despite her troubled expression, she still managed to look beautiful. She must be in her forties.

“Hi. I’m Sam, Patrick’s friend.”

“It’s nice meeting you Sam. Patrick has been talking about you.”

He’s been talking about me? But we just met two days ago.

“By the way, I’m Francine, Patrick’s mother.”

“It’s nice meeting you Ma’am. What exactly happened to him?” I asked and looked at Patrick again.

“They said that three guys were trying to chase him last night. And together they tried to pester and hurt my kid. And it was not enough for them, they had a knife. And they tried to cut him but a police saw them. When they brought him here, he was already covered with blood.” She sighed.

“I’m Sorry.” It was all I could say.

“You don’t have to be. That moment, I knew I couldn’t bear losing my child. Do you know how it feels to be losing someone so important in your life? That despite all that happened, you couldn’t just give up because even the slightest hope that creeps in your heart is still hope and maybe it would change a thing?”

I remembered my mom. It hurts not to fully remember what exactly happened. But even if I forgot it, the feelings were still there. I remembered every pain, every tear.

“Yes.”

Surprised by my answer, she looked and slowly hugged me.

“Tell me about it.”

“I don’t know how it happened Ma’am, nor even remember who I’m with. All I knew was that I was crying and my father was there. I was 5 when Mom died.”

“Eliza.”

I don’t know if who looked more taken aback. -  Me or Patrick’s mother. I was just standing still and it was surprising how I found the words to say.

“How did you know my mother?”