One Last Time

Chapter 14 | Alarm Clock

"WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"

I throw the bear-shaped alarm clock off the bedside dresser, happily hearing the batteries fall out as it lands on the rug. I stretch my arms before getting out of bed to shower. After I came out fully clothed while drying my hair, I check my phone to see that it's two o'clock in the afternoon. I overslept today. Huh, I haven't done that since college.

I picked out black denim shorts with a white short-sleeved peplum top for our date. Reed's probably taking a rest right now after earlier's activity. He recently joined me with my morning jogs around the park. When we finished, he said wanted to celebrate our official one month anniversary at the The Salvator Library since that's where we first met. I grin recalling how excited he was when he told me about it. I told Reed I'll meet him at the library because I miss riding my bike. I haven't done it in a while since he started picking me up for work. I can't help but smile wider at the memory. The past month has been amazing.

One of our dates was helping at an animal shelter the entire weekend. At our second week together, we volunteered in a bake sale with the Saint Laura's Orphanage in the neighboring town. Whenever we're off work, I'll either help Reed with revising his novel or we'd have picnics at Wonderland. I still clearly remember how Reed accidentally back-hugged someone at the grocery store mistaking her as me. I ran out of there after paying, laughing at his embarrassment while he kept apologizing. Other times, we'd go to the beach with Ronnie and eat at Benita's for lunch. Reed was even sweet enough to provide all the necessities for mine and Ronnie's girl's night last weekend.

It didn't take long for me to reach the library. I posted an advance notice three days ago that the library will be in personal use for today. I surveyed the place wondering if Reed's already here. I called out his name to check, "Reed, I'm here! Where are you?"

"Just a small town girl"

Here we go again

"Livin' in a lonely world, " Reed continues singing, "She took the midnight train goin' anywhere.."

"I'm not doing this with you, city boy."

Reed laughs at my stubbornness before lovingly embracing me. I squealed when he begins to spin me around, then proceeds to carry me to a round table at the center of the library. He cooked for us steak with mashed potatoes and hand-made ice cream for dessert. I was almost finished slicing my steak for a bite, but Reed took my plate and exchanged it with his. He already cut the steak into small pieces. I held in my smile as we continued eating.

"This library's a gift from my dad, by the way."

"Wow, that's incredible! If you don't mind me asking, why did you decide to share it with the public?" Ronnie was the only other person who asked me that. Not even Liam questioned me about it when I mentioned it to him. I replied, "After my dad passed away, I wanted to have a special remembrance of him. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people who loved him in this town. They're mostly old now or moved out of town. He was a great guy, completely lovable!" I paused once I felt myself begin to tear up.

Reed consolingly grasps my hand. I exhaled, "I thought, if everybody got to experience this wonderful thing he made, nobody would forget him. Admittedly, I started working here with the same thought. The same hope that people would remember me." It feels strange to confess this with someone else. Simultaneously, it felt the first intake of breath after diving into the depths of the ocean. A gently kiss on my hand brings back my attention to Reed. He spoke tenderly, "You're not someone I'd easily forget, Maya. Not even close."

For the rest of the night, we decided to spend it at Wonderland. Reed grabs my hand and kisses it with a cheeky smile on his face. We sang along to the radio until a sound of thunder interrupted us. As quick as the thunder came, raindrops pour from the sky. The heavy rain makes it hard to see the road. Right when I was about to suggested for Reed to stop driving, we hit over a curb. I screamed as the car chaotically swerves to the side, then a bright light shines in front of us. A sound of a truck horn pierced through my ears.

The impact caused the car to tumble making Reed and I hold on for our lives. The the chips of the broken windows cut my face and arms as Reed covers my chest so I won't fly forward. In return, I grabbed Reed's head just in time before he could hit the steering wheel, but it resulted to my fingers to get hurt. The car finally came to a halt but I banged my head in the back of my seat. My effort to protect Reed was in vain when I caught sight of him crashed to his side window. I can't hear anything but the loud ringing in my ears. I know I've been screaming for a while by the soreness of my throat. Both of us can barely move now. I struggled leveling my breathing as a rise of a panic attack comes. I can't wipe away my tears due to the blood on my hands, agonizingly reaching for my phone in my packet.

All I could do now was wait for a response while staring at Reed's unconscious figure. Blood trails down from his head, seatbelt possibly crushing his ribs. I shake my head to push away the memories, my heart silently breaking. I gently placed a kiss on his hand, "Please be okay," I begged.

"911, what's your emergency?"

————

I patiently wait for the doctor to finish stitching the area of my upper left forehead as well as the news about Reed's condition. He's been in the ER for hours while the nurses tend my wounds. The door creaked open and I freeze in my tracks. Standing in front of me is someone I did 't expect to meet ever again in my life. I tried making sure of that.

"Surprised to see you here again, Maya."

I kept a straight face, "How is he, Dr. Owens?" There's no need to exchange any formalities. This reunion is something that I really didn't need right now, especially under this circumstance. Dr. Owens scratched his neck with his lips pursed, "His vitals are stable and there's no major damage to the brain. We were able to stop the excessive bleeding. You called for help at a perfect time or else he wouldn't have survived the crash. He'll be waking up soon." Coincidentally, a nurse enters the room announcing that Reed's awake. We both rush to his room without a haste.

I let out a sigh of relief before marching straight to Reed where he's lying on the hospital bed. I feel the tears in my eyes as I smiled at him, "Hey, are you okay? How are you feeling?" Reed looks at me a bit weirdly. I scrunch my face confused with his reaction. He nods his head then puts on a polite smile on his face. Nothing prepared me for what he said.

"Considering that I just exited the ER, better than expected. The only problem is that I don't remember much of what happened. Who are you, by the way? Do I know you?"

My face completely drops along with my heart. The trembling of my hands stopped as my body grew stiff. "No, no you don't. I'm no one. Sorry, I must've mistaken you for someone else," I replied numbly then walked out of the room without turning back.