Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Zarinna felt herself take in a breath, a pleasure she hadn’t got to feel for seemingly an eternity.
She lifted her lids, one after the other, her nose filled by the smell of betadine as she felt her senses come alive. Gradually, her vision cleared, revealing white painted walls that seemed to glow as the light touched it. Warmth from the soft cushion behind her back came to recognition. She’s in a hospital.
Her eyes widened in revelation, her memories coming back as she took each breath. She glanced sideways around the room. How long had she been unconscious? Immediately the desire to rise consumed her, and it wasn’t long when she found her arms upon the bed, her elbows in support as she sought to get up.
A groan escaped her lips, her body sinking back down to the bed as she felt excruciating pain on her back. Her chest heaved in exhaustion. With another breath she slowly lifted herself, this time biting her lip as she endured the pain whilst she sat. Finally, a heavy sigh escaped her lungs, her back now upright. She looked towards the window on the room, the side behind it void of light. What time is it?
With much care she slipped her legs off the warm blanket and stepped on the cold floor. She took in a breath, gathering momentum as she pushed her body upright. Immediately her body gravitated sideward, falling till she felt her shoulder hit concrete. Thankful for the wall beside her, she took a step and walked towards the window.
She lifted her gaze, in awe as she saw millions of stars peering down upon her. The light from cars and other buildings set the hospital grounds alight, allowing her a view of the wide hospital around her. What floor could she be in? And what hospital is this?
“Zarinna!” Her gaze widened in shock as she heard her name. She turned her head.
“Zarinna, why are you standing up?” David walked towards her in haste, studying her form as he approached. “Let’s get you back in the bed.” He beckoned, offering his arms in support as he walked her towards the bed.
“How long had I been asleep?” Zarinna asked, sitting as David slowly let her go.
"Three days,” David replied,
“Three days!?”
“Yes,” David heaved a sigh, his brows furrowed as Zarinna lay back down. Zarinna’s heart came to a halt, wonder taking over as she saw the look on David’s face change.
“Zarinna,” The man sat on the side of the bed, his gaze unaltered. “Please, please don’t ever do such a thing again.”
Zarinna lowered her gaze, taking in a breath as she caught the concern ringing from his voice.
“Well-“ Zarinna lifted her shoulders, “You did the same for me so-“
“Promise me!” She was taken aback, her gaze shifting upwards as she felt his hand on hers, “Promise me you’ll never do such a thing again.”
She felt tears well up her eyes, “I,” She sucked in a breath, “You can’t expect me to just stand by while I see some person shoot you,” She lowered her gaze in haste, concealing the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. “I can’t,”
“And what about me?” She lifted her gaze up to him as he spoke, “How do you expect me to live if something would’ve happened to you?” He gazed away momentarily and took in a breath. “I can’t… I wouldn’t be able to-“ He shut his eyes, unsure of how to express the fear he felt. “Just… please,” He locked gazes with her, “I can’t lose you…”
Zarinna felt as though her heart could’ve leaped over a building, taken aback of the words that slipped his tongue.
“You can’t be serious,” She breathed, “I know what Lauren had told you that afternoon. I’ve heard it all.” A tear now escaped the confines of her eye, putting in the open the pain she had felt. “You know my past. How can you say that?” She lowered her gaze, “I know, maybe you wouldn’t have kissed me in the first place had you been informed earlier.”
Silence filled their midst at her words, and all the more it proved her words to be true.
“I’ve known, Zarinna,” David confessed, “I’ve known even before we went to that teacher’s camping.”
Zarinna’s gaze shot open, astonished of what she had just heard. “Y-you knew?”
David nodded. “Lauren had told me that Sunday you’ve first came to Allapo Lumnay’s house. She told me everything later that night.”
Zarinna respired in disbelief, “So why do you this to me if you knew!?” Her voice rose, a pair of tears sliding to her cheeks, “Does this amuse you!?” She buried her face in her palms, “H-how could you. How could you have-” She took in another breath, interrupting the sobs that slipped her mouth.
“I’m sorry, Zarinna,” He lifted his hands, wiping the tear from her cheeks, “I’m sorry if my actions grieve you. I can’t help it,” He took in a breath, meeting her gaze as he spoke, “I love you, Zarinna.”
Her tongue ran void of words, gaze narrowing as she tried to process what he just said. “You, what?”
“I love you,”
Zarinna could not believe her ears, unsure if all this was actually happening. For a while she sat in her place - silent. Did she hear him right? Or was this all a dream?
" H-how-" She shook her head in confusion, "When did this happen?"
"I didn't know when it all began, Zarinna." He knit his brows as he spoke, "All I know is ever since I saw you in that spring, I couldn't seem to take my mind off you.."
“E-even if,” She paused, lowering her gaze, “Even if you know what I’ve committed?”
David shook his head, a smile adorning his lips, “I couldn’t care less of what you’ve committed. To me,” He shifted forward, “You’re still the Zarinna I’ve fallen for beginning that day in the spring.”
“I-is this true?” Zarinna swallowed hard, her gaze locked with him as she spoke. He was only a breath away, and she would have sworn he could hear her heart beating from her chest.
Once more David nodded, and with this a smile adorned Zarinna’s lips, tears now flowed unrestrained as she shut her eyes. David smoothed her lower lip, and before she knew it, he closed their distance, shifting forward as he covered her lips with his.
Zarinna felt her stomach flutter, her heart throbbing wildly against her chest to his touch. She pulled away momentarily, gazing towards his eyes that reflected her face.
“I love you too,”
With this, he cupped her face with his palms, pulling her in a trance of pleasure as her lips surrendered to his.
