In A Day Or Two

Chapter 7: The Request

Days passed without a single word from her.
Not a message, not even a shadow in the window.

I tried the hospital, but the nurse at the front desk told me she left strict orders: No visitors except her mom.
Even me.

Every day, I stayed out on their balcony until eight in the evening, sitting there like some hopeless idiot, hoping to catch even the smallest sign that she was home. But her curtains stayed closed, the lights inside dark, as if she'd vanished from the world entirely.

I was going insane.
Every day I fidget, I pace, I drink, I stare at my phone like it owes me answers. I can't put my thoughts together—hell, I can't even remember the last time I slept properly.
The last time I saw her, she looked so fragile it scared me. And now I keep replaying that night in my head: her mom telling me to go home and rest, me actually listening.
If I'd known she wouldn't let me see her again, I would have stayed, even if it meant sleeping in the hallway.

"Any news about her yet?" Edmund asked, leaning back in his chair, sipping from a can of cola like this was just any other lazy afternoon. His eyes didn't meet mine—maybe because he knew if they did, he'd see the wreck I'd become.

"None," I muttered, shaking my head and finishing my own can of beer. "All I know is she got discharged today... but no one's home yet." My gaze wandered back to her empty balcony.

Edmund tilted his head toward me. "You should rest, dude. I'll wait here if you want me to."

I gave a humorless laugh. "No. I wanna be the first guy she sees when she gets home. I'm not giving up on her, even if she keeps pushing me away."

He smirked faintly, shaking his head. "Very sloppy."

"Whatever, Edmund. You'll understand me soon enough when you actually find a real girl for you."

"Hey!" He suddenly grinned, doing that stupid body-curve gesture with his hands. "Those are real girls. Real humps. Real plumps."

I rolled my eyes and smacked the back of his head with my empty can. "Wasn't talking about your manwhore life."

"Careful with the hair!" he barked with mock offense, then chuckled—before his expression shifted into something uncharacteristically serious. He looked me up and down like he was inspecting a crime scene.

"But dude," he said quietly, "honestly... you need to rest. And shave. You look like bearded shit."

I forced a smirk, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Thank you so much. I'll take that as a compliment."

But my eyes drifted back to her dark window anyway, because no amount of jokes or insults could stop the thought eating me alive...

What if she never comes back?

It was already past 8 p.m., and I was about to leave the bay when an unfamiliar car pulled up beside the house. I stayed put, watching as it parked and came to a stop. My heart skipped — maybe it was her.

But to my disappointment, it wasn't. Instead, a raven-haired girl stepped out, carrying a large box. Her eyes, though... they were the same shade as Xia's.

I shook the thought away with a sigh. Probably just a relative. Slowly, I turned to leave, convincing myself she might just be camping somewhere.

"Hey, you! The man who can't be moved!"

I froze, half-sure she wasn't talking to me, but turned anyway. She pointed straight at me.

"You're Francis?"

"Yeah... how do you know me?" I asked, hesitant.

"Not really," she said with a shrug. "I'm Margaux." She extended a hand, and I shook it slowly. "Aunt Melinda sent me here to look after the house while they're away. She told me if I saw you, I should tell you—" She straightened her voice as if quoting. "'Francis, Xianon requested that we stay in the city for a while. Don't worry about us, Xianon's fine.' End of quote. Now, I go inside, and you go home. Shoo, shoo. Bye!"

She turned to leave, but I called after her. "When will they come back?"

"That, mister, I don't know. Now, ciao!"

But her eyes told a different story. She knew more.

I sighed, deciding not to push it — for now. My feet felt heavy as I walked away, carrying the hollow reassurance she'd given me. At least Xia's fine... but what if she never comes back? What if she gets worse and I never get to say goodbye?

No. I can't let her leave me like this.

I looked back. Margaux was still outside, struggling to drag the box. I jogged over and took it from her without a word.

"Can you give me her address?" I asked, giving Margaux a pleading look.

"No!" she snapped. "Clearly, Xianon doesn't want you going after her, so why bother? Besides, she said she'll be back. You just have to wait, lover boy." She rolled her eyes.

"I can't." It almost came out as a whisper.

"Well, you have to. She just wants you to live your life normally before things get worse. By the time she needs all your attention, you'll be ready. Until then, you do what she wants and live without her."

"You know it's not that simple. She's the only one I look forward to seeing every day." My words slipped out, raw and honest.

"Mmhmm. For the record, you still have your friends and family. You've only known her for half a year. Having Xianon is just... a jackpot bonus." She shrugged and started carrying the box toward the house.

"Please, Margaux... can you just give me her address? I promise I won't show myself. I just need to see her. I'm going crazy not knowing, and I miss her." I followed her, desperation edging my voice.

"Oh god, don't do that." She stopped mid-step, dropping the box on the porch, clearly debating something. After a long sigh, she threw her hands up. "Alright! Fine! But if you get caught, my name is off-limits."

"I won't. I swear." I drew a big X on my chest to seal the promise.

She nodded, pulling out a paper and pen from the box. With a small smirk, she handed me the address. I handed her $4 — a payment for her "broken promise" and insurance that her name would stay safe if I got caught. I just needed to know Xia was okay.

"Just please, Edmund, come with me! Help me find her!"

"I already told you I won't. It's Sunday." He shook his head.

"What about Sunday?" I crossed my arms, hoping he'd change his mind.

"I've got my lifeguard shift. I can't trade money and bikinis for your little hunting game."

Edmund seemed resolute, so I pulled my last card: the Ace.

"Okay, so Xianon's cousin, Margaux, is tending the house. She's as hot as Xia—well, actually, hotter. Black shiny hair, all that..." I added quickly, "But Xia's hotter... for me." Internally, I smirked, knowing Edmund couldn't resist a dark-haired girl.

"What? You didn't tell me about a cousin!" he gasped, sitting upright.

"Why would you care?" I shrugged, turning my back. "You're not going anyway." I glanced at him over my shoulder.

"Did I say something like that?" he countered, acting oblivious.

"Yope," I said, faking a frown. "Money and bikinis. Remember?"

"I did not! Oh, fracking god, since when did you make up such stories? I'm your best friend!" He clutched his chest dramatically.

"You're a liar, Francis!" he pointed at me and stormed off.

"Oh really? You don't get to walk away from me!" I chased him to the hall, grabbing his shoulder. "You said no a while ago."

"Did not!"

"Did too."

"Did not!"

"Did too."

Finally, he gave a resigned smirk. "Okay fine, I did say no... a while ago." He started walking away, looking back with his signature grin.

"See you tomorrow, Pope! Don't be late!" he shouted, bumping into someone along the way.

I just chuckled, shaking my head. That jerk...