Yesterday's You |18+|

Chapter 21

With the arrival of Chris and Diane, I had prepared them with a plate of pan-fried tilapia with Italian sausage stuffed zucchini. Chris took a seat beside me while Diane took a seat in front of me at the dining table.

"So, Chris, how was your game?" Diane asked, initiating the conversation.

"It's fascinating. The weather in Kentucky also great," he answered.

"You have any plan on going anywhere after this?" She asked after taking a bite of tilapia. I realized that she had started her interrogation.

"Kinda. If the scholarship application is accepted, I might go to Duke University," he explained.

"Wow! I knew that university. Kyrie Irving is a Duke player in the NBA. I like him," she said.

"You knew him?" He asked.

Diane nodded her head. "So, how far does thing go between you two?" She asked.

"Diane," I interfered.

"What? I'm just happy seeing Chris here," she replied which totally didn't make sense.

"Yah, but you're not a police officer," I replied to her back.

"Actually, I think I have seen your face before. But I couldn't remember where and when," Diane said to Chris.

He frowned. "Really?" He asked and Diane nodded.

"Nevermind," she continued to bite a piece of sausage.

We continued enjoying our meal seasoned with laughter and joy. Diane seemed so comfortable talking with Chris and I was glad that she was happy for me and him. When our dinner was over, I walked him to his car. Unfortunately, it was raining cats and dogs so I opened a big umbrella to protect me and Chris from getting wet.

"I'm sorry if Diane made you feel uncomfortable," I apologised to him on behalf of Diane. He didn't say anything instead, he just put his arm around my back and held my arm. He took over the umbrella for him to hold. "So, when will you know the result?" I asked.

"In a week, I guess," we stopped in front of his car.

"And then, you will fly to Durham," I sighed heavily.

"In two months, Grace," he whispered.

I looked down and then, he pulled out something from his pocket. "What are you doing?" I asked.

He gave me a piece of tiny paper which was written with 'Prom?'

"Did you just ask me to go to prom with you?" I smiled brightly.

"Yah," he nodded and he smirked.

I wrapped my arm around his neck and looked at him in his eyes. "Yes, yes, yes, in all language!" I plant a kiss on his lips before he lifted me and we twirled under the rain together.

-

I was alone, sitting at the library. I was finishing the final project because Phoebe asked me to help her preparing the slides and she would do the research. Although I had argued the topic with Barbara, I knew it can't go any further. I put my earphone so I could listen to There is a Light that Never Goes Out by the Smiths peacefully.

"I love the Smiths," I still could feel that somebody was taking a seat beside me. I turned my head to look who it was and turned out, it's Gabriel.

"Hi," I said as I opened the earphone from my right ear.

"Hi, I'm sorry if I was disturbing you. I didn't get the chance to say sorry to you for that night," he said.

I chuckled. "It's fine, Gabe. I was panic at that time, I couldn't control myself."

"Yah, all of them knew you were arrested and fined that night, though," he said.

"Oh my God!" I laughed a little. "It's embarrassing!" I said as I covered my forehead with my hand.

"By the way, I've passed the pre-trials by Sir Andy. I took these yesterday," he showed me his result. It was improved than the last time.

"Oh my God, this is impressive! Congratulations," I smiled at him brightly.

"Thanks. I was so nervous that our final exam is just a month away. The final project needed to be settled a week before the final exam. It was so hectic," he sighed.

"You're lucky you don't get Sir Andre for this year's English. He's very strict and really firm," I looked at him. "You can do it, anyway," I convinced him.

"I've heard that you have some miscommunications with Barb in discussions. I'm sorry for her," he exclaimed.

"It's fine! Sometimes, it can happen in friendship. She just wants the best for her result after all," I replied.

He nodded. "She could be complicated sometimes," he said.

-

Chris brought me to the hospital because I requested to see how his father undergone treatment. By any chance, I hoped I could meet Oliver too if he worked there. We entered the hospital lobby and Chris rushed to the counter to ask about his father. Then, he held my hand to walked me to the elevator and we arrived at Level 5. His dad was waiting for chemotherapy and he was talking with a guy in a white suit.

"Dad," Chris hugged Louis.

"Hi, Louis," I hugged him afterwards.

"Katherine, this is Xavier. My new companion," he introduced Xavier to me and Xavier pulled out his hand to shake mine.

"Nice to meet you," he said.

"What are you doing here, by the way?" Louis asked.

"Um... Katherine wanted to see how you receive your treatment and so on. She insisted," Chris explained which made me smile brightly.

"Mr Louis Daniels," a staff called out his name. And when Louis turned his head to show the staff that he was here, the staff instructed him to enter the room. Xavier pushed his wheelchair and then, the staff took over at the entrance. Xavier took a seat beside me on the bench after Chris excused himself to answer the call.

"So you are Chris's friend?" Xavier asked, breaking the silence. I nodded. "How long have you known them?" He asked.

"Not long enough to say I really know them. Just about a month and a half," I replied. "I knew that this question is going to sound so stupid but why does Louis has to receive chemotherapy for an abundance of times?" I looked at Xavier.

"In some patients, like Louis, chemotherapy is given directly to the liver or we called it as chemoembolization. It aims to reduce the size of the tumor for surgery purpose," Xavier explained.

"Do you think he has a chance to survive?" I asked again. He just gave me a wry smile.