Love in the Time of Corona

6

As I was driving, I glances at my problematic-looking brother.

"What's with the long face?" I asked. Of course, even if we aren't the typical, loving siblings, I do care about him. I was waiting for his response when I heard him fake-laughed.

"They must've forgot how hard it will be for us to move freely when all of them are sitting there, pretending to enjoy each other."

I sighed. "Yeah, definitely... but let's just let it be. For Dad." Though I don't know either what Dad will get from this, I want to add, but I stopped myself.

Suddenly, Kio looked thoroughly towards somewhere in his window. "Krys, stop! Park here for a sec." He sounds like he's in panic and despite my confusion, I immediately did what I am instructed. Upon parking, he rushed outside and of course, I can't let him go on his own so I got out of the car too.

"Martha? What are you doing here in the middle of nowhere?" I heard him ask. Yep, I don't want to meddle so I kept my distance. The girl, who I think is Martha looked up at him as she was seating on the pavement.

"Nothing! Leave me alone, Dude!" Her ears were red and her eyes look puffy. I can tell that she cried. Kio, being his usual self, of course, sat beside her. She didn't seem to mind it and made space for him. The thought of going back inside the car entered my thoughts. Maybe if Kio wants to tell me, he will... so I hace decided to go back to the car.

As I am chilling on the driver's seat, listening to some music on the radio and just feeling the atmosphere, I heard my name outside. I quickly looked at the side mirror to see if Kio and the Martha girl is still doing fine. In my unfortunate case, it didn't seemed in the way I expected. I was expecting to see them fighting or something! What I saw was my brother holding an unconscious woman, laying on his lap. God. What a damn good way to start a fucked up day.

Of course, I ran as fast as I could towards them.

"What in the world happened?!" I was screaming my lungs out, as I don't know what to do.

"Shhh! Help me out, we have to bring her to the hospital." He tried to remain composed, yet, worry is plastered on his face.

"I'll go get the car, wait for me here." He nodded and as I ran back to the car, a random thought entered my system. What if he got her... pregnant? I shook off the thought. That's just impossible.

When I started the engine, I backed the car towards their place and as fast as I could, I helped Kio lay her on the backseat.

When Kio was about to enter the passenger side, I stopped him.

"Stay at the back. Try checking her pulse." I said, as if I know anything about that stuff.

Without inhibitions, he went to lay Martha's head on his shoulders... which got me astonished.

While I was driving, I looked at him through the rear view mirror.

"I know you have a lot of questions."

I nodded. "As a matter of fact, I do."

"Ask away."

"Are you actually gay?" This was bugging me since day 1. He always tells me he is, but when things like these happens, his actions tell me the opposite.

"What?! Ya, of course!" He defended.

"What's the deal with you and this girl?"

"She... is my bestfriend. Whenever you're at Dana's, I would always call her and we'd stay up all night. She's like a sister to me... and I would obviously do the same thing when this would happen to you." He calmy stated, as she cleared out the strands of her straight, brown hair.

Hmm. Seems legit, but I am not yet convinced.

"Oh. Okay, I guess." I simply closed the conversation. He didn't talked back and so I just increased my pace to get her to the hospital faster.

As we have reached the hospital, I talked with Martha's relatives through the phone while Kio carried her towards the emrgency room. Not long enough and her Mom came, looking a little bot mad, as I suspected.

"Mrs. Durnham!" I called her attention. She immediately noticed me and went towards me. I was about to speak when I felt the weight of her hands against my face.

"What have you done to my daughter?" She was furious... and I am still in shock. I stared at her blankly and looked at her from head to toe. I stepped forward, making her take a step back.

"Didn't we talked?! Didn't we? WE FOUND HER ON THE STREETS!" I am trying to be as calm as I can, but I just can't. Luckily, Kio came to my aid and held my shoulders.

"Hey, Fatima. What happened?" Kio was flustered.

"I am the one who's supposed to ask that. What happened to Martha?!" She still got the nerve to raise her voice. Much to my dismay, Kio answered. If I were him, I'd just leave her clueless. She's being a bitch at the wrong time.

"Well, I don't have the right to tell you as she told me not to tell anyone. Why don't you go and wait for her to tell you, herself?" Kio looked at me and noticed the hand mark on my left cheek. His brows suddenly rised.

"No wonder I'd find Martha in the middle of nowhere than to be near you." The polite Kio has vanished. Fatima gasped. I was about to mutter a word when I felt Kio push me away from the area... which was pretty practical.

When we finally sat beside each other on the car, I exhaled heavily.

"I need yogurt."