Brute

Part 7

Joong

It had been three days. Three days the last I heard that he came to the office. Knowing his perseverance, this was alarming. Did they start to figure it out, his connection to me? But, there's no interaction so far. This was the fourth day, and I was running out of patience to calm myself down. I asked the driver to drop me off at the entrance. Using the slim chance that I had greeting the guards to ask if he was around. They said he was not, but would ask the one who knew better to come and see me. There's a knock on the door, and an old uncle came in. 

"Good morning...Sir...". He must be the one my mother was fuming about, which I didn't believe a bit. There must be something that had happened, for Nine to be angry. 

"Good morning. Have a seat. No, don't be afraid. I just wanted to ask a few things", I said when the guard face paled up and he was obviously anxious. He sat but not looking at me, face facing down. 

"Could I called you Uncle? You are almost at the same age if my father was still alive", I started to ease the situation. The guard raised his face and shook his head, "No! I meant...it doesn't matter, Sir could call me anything". 

"Did something happen with my mother, a few days ago?", the guard was shaking, he looked stress. "Uncle, please, I really wanted to know the truth. If you're afraid that it would cost your job, I promise it won't", I said gently. "But, please, tell me the real happening...". 

He was still hesitating, so I changed the tactic.  Must be, he was really afraid to tell on my mother. "The guy, did he say something to my mother?". Suddenly the Uncle face raised up and his eyes were begging, "Sir, he did nothing but only help me washed my dirty hands. He never harm the Madam. Even if he was angry at her, that was because he was not from here, he must not know who Madam is. Please don't ask the police to do anything. You already banned him from entering the premise, and he complied. What he did for me, please don't take it on him". 

"Washed your hands? Did you fall down on the pavement, Uncle?". He became quiet again. "Hmm, could you just nod or shake your head as a sign? Meant, you are not telling on anyone", I tried again. "Did you fall down on the pavement?". He shook his head. "Then, Madam asked you to do something?". He nodded hesitantly. "If your hands were dirty, meant you touched some dirt. Her car is washed everyday, meaning something from the pavement". He nodded again". I could imagine the old man kneeling down to touch some dirt on the floor, meaning it must be her shoes. I didn't ask further, for I could see he was uncomfortable. "Alright, that's all I need to know". The uncle stood and almost walked out, before I suddenly wanted to know whether he knew what happened to Nine. "Ermm, sorry, Uncle, one more thing...", he turned and looked at me, questioning, "did the guy say anything else on that day before he's gone?".

"No, Sir". I nodded and smiled at him. "But, he seemed to not be well after the situation end, Sir...". My eyes widened in alarm. "What do you mean?". The Uncle tried to recall back and said, "He clutched his chests, face pale and difficult to breathe. I asked him to sit, while rubbing his back, and advised him to go back home to rest . Then, he didn't come anymore after that". 

After he went out, my mind went spinning. No, no, no. I should have just meet him earlier and everything would settle sooner. He must be tired with waiting for me all those time. I remembered Nine in all our time together. He never told me anything was wrong with his health, but I could see that he was not an active person. I just thought that it was his personality. There're a few times that he couldn't come and see me, when we were kid; or when we were in Uni, suddenly he would say he had other urgent matter to attend to just before we would meet. The next time he saw me, he showed nothing different from usual, all smile and sweetness. 

"Jay...help me! Please...", I said in urgent, as soon as Jay answered the call, "or else I'll go crazy!". 

Nine

I opened my eyes, blinking a few times. White ceiling, white light, people in white gown. "Nine...it's mom", I could hear my mother's soft voice, and felt her fingers caressing my hair. I looked at her, trying to digest my situation. "It's alright, dear". I tried to shake the deliriousness out of my system. I tried to talk again, but my throat felt coarse. My mother help me to have a few sips of water and I laid down again. 

"I fainted?", I asked my mother. She nodded. "Dad?". "He was here, but went out for a while, called by the staff, said to settle some documents". 

"Sorry...mom. This must have shocked you", I said in regret.

"It has been a long time since you have one of this attack. Your fever must have aggravated the pain". Yes, the pain could be felt time and again, but it was almost very rare that I fainted, the last time was when I was sick for a week, after leaving Joong. "What happened, Nine? You went out everyday, to where, you didn't tell me. But, that day, you came back, then fell sick for a few days. And now that you fainted, Mom felt scared, baby". I looked at my mom's teary eyes, and felt guilty. But, I really didn't want my parents to be involved in this situation that I chose to do. 

"I went out to see my friends, mom. It was so long since I last met them. Must be too much outing, and the city air that is so different from the rural area. Ah, my body is too spoil with doing only light activities now", I said and smiled, wiping the corner of her eyes that were wet. I could tell that my mom knew I was lying, but mom didn't push further. My mom understood that I didn't want to worry them with my sickness, and didn't want me to feel sad too. So she just smiled back and said nothing to contradict the feeble lie. 

Not long after, my father came back with a confused face, "You would be transferred to a private ward. They said it was arranged and paid upfront already for unlimited days usage. I was so afraid that they got the wrong patient. Where to get that much money to pay back, but the documents and patient's number is clearly Nine's. This is...uh, confusing?". 

Before he could say anything more, a team of people were busy arranging for my bed to be brought to somewhere else. I looked at my dad but keep my mouth shut. I could guess whose work was this. I was grateful, but also...mad. Because that stubborn baby, still chose...to hide.