[EN] Unexpected Eletricity (an Apex Story)

Chapter 16

I walk through the door to her room and freeze when I see her lying on the hospital bed. I breathe a sigh of relief and my eyes are misted with tears. There is not even a word to express how happy I am to see her. I sit on the armchair near the bed and a deeply asleep Natalie. There is only her who can seem so peaceful after the horrific event that occurred. She literally looks like an angel. I told her in a very low voice:

''Hey, mi coneja... You... you scared me so much.''

My voice broke. I gently put my hand on hers.

''You know Natalie, I thought I was dying of sorrow the last few days. Seein' you ignore me, seein' you with another guy... But the worst was yesterday... when I thought I had lost you for eternity. 'Cause I know I'm dumb and always screw things up... but as long as we are both breathing, I'm gonna take every sec' of my life to prove you how much you matter to me.''

I rest my elbow on the mattress and bow my head towards her, still whispering to her:

''And I want to prove you wrong so bad. You told me that the two of us were a mistake, and... maybe I don't know much in life, Natalie, but there's one thing I'm sure of and that's the two of us wasn't. I'm in love with you, Naty...''

I curl up in the chair. I cry in silence for a moment and finally doze off. I wake up to the sound of the bedroom door opening.

''Silva?''

I rise my puffy eyes in Che's direction.

''Yuh... Yuh stayed with her all night?'', she asked.

I get up carefully to avoid making too much noise and signal Che to exit towards the hallway.

''Yo be careful hermana, Nat is sleeping. Whatcha doin' here so early?''

There is something off with Che's expression, like she is worried about something. With slightly furrowed brows, she answers:

''I... I'm here for the confection of her prosthesis. The Syndicate has already paid for the transplant of her mechanical arm. B-but you, whatcha doin', dih-they really let you spend the night in her room?''

I smirk, before saying:

''Yeah I admit that I sweet talked the nurse a bit, so she allowed me access."

I chuckle.

''What d'yuh mean?''

''Well, I just told her how I feel 'bout Nat.''

Che's eyes widen and I swear the expression she wears on her face is one of fear.

''Wait... What d'yuh mean, Silva? I need to hear yuh say it. Please.''

''... Okay. Weirdo. I told her that I am in love with her and that I was afraid of losin' her... Well, it was a pretty basic speech, but it was enough. Heh, I must inspire trust and sympathy. Are you sure you're okay, Che?''

She stares at me with the same expression as before and says, with an almost childish voice:

''No... not really... I think I messed up, Silva.''

''What, what did you do? You're worrying me, chica...''

''I-I really don't know how to tell yuh, y-yuh won't want to talk to me anymore, that's for sure...''

I finally managed to decipher the expression that emanated from her: guilt.

''What did you do?''

She stays quiet. I ask her thrice, more and more impatiently, dreading the answer to that question.

''I talked to Natalie 'bout yuh... it's... it's my fault... if yuh're in bad terms.''