Chapter 48

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Kara’s POV

*

“Kara...”

“No.” I groaned and snuggled into a warm chest, heaving a contented sigh at the warmness emanating off him and caressing my skin. He chuckled above my head and kissed me.

“Wake up baby.”

“What?” I almost whined but caught myself at the last minute. “I’m still sleepy.”

“Your phone is ringing.”

I groaned aloud. This position was too comfortable for me to think of slipping out. As if knowing my mind, he released his tight grip from my stomach and turned to face the ceiling. I finally rubbed my eyes and propped my upper body on my lower arm, smiling down at him. He looked better compared to the time before we slept.

“Did you sleep well?” I asked. We both knew the answer to that.

I bit on my lip and looked down at him, staring straight into his captivating blue eyes as I propped my head up with the support of my elbow. He chuckled and kissed me. Can I live like this forever? Like, pretty please with a cherry on top?

Just then, my phone started ringing again. Groaning once more, I sucked on Stephano’s lower lip and got out of his bed with hazy head to search for the phone. I groaned aloud when I realized who the caller was. Adrian.

My teeth merged together as I hissed at my carelessness, glancing up to check the time. It was past three PM. I slept for more than two hours when I had initially planned on going to Adrian’s place later today.

When my thumb slid down, I waited for her to speak but no words were uttered. Did she butt dial- I heard muffled sobbing and sniffing. The sound registered and my heart did a weird flip.

Then loud, extremely loud sobbing was the next thing I heard on the other line. I looked down at the caller ID again, just to see if I had mistaken the caller for someone else because of the grogginess.

“H-hello?”

No response.

“Adrian? Are you ther-”

“He’s going Kara.” She sniffed.

My heart did two flips. I clutched my chest tightly with my left hand as an unsettling feeling settled at the pit of my belly.

“What? Who?” I asked calmly. I wasn’t calm. Panic was slowly rising, in a dull but noticeable form in my belly.

“Lu-lucas, he’s going. He is leaving me.”

That cleared the grogginess from my eyes. I sucked in a harsh breath, imagining the worst. I moved closer to Stephano’s reading table and rested my lower side on it, biting my upper lip in confusion.

“Wh-where did he say he is going Adrian?”

“What do I do Kara? I-i really like him. No, I think I love him. We’ve been together for two years already...” She released a bitter sob and I could barely contain my emotions as I listened to my friend wailing helplessly on the other side.

“What do I do Kara? Oh God...”

“Alright. I don’t kn-”

“I swear Kara, this isn’t even funny. Like, why would he do something so inconsiderate?!” She snapped.

“Adrie, calm down. Take shor-”

She let out a pitchy scream and then I heard clanking and banging on the other end.

“Shit! Shit!! Shit!!!” I cursed as the dull, panicky feeling at the pit of my belly intensified by ten times. I paced around the room, planting my left hand on my temple as I rubbed it slowly. I didn’t even know what was happening yet, but tears slowly blurred my vision as I tried not to go wild with my imagination. Adrian finally found someone she was willing to settle for after so much insecurity that led to her first beginning the ‘friends with benefit’ relationship with him.

“Adrian, talk to me! What’s going on there? Are you there?” My hands trembled. Gosh, if I was feeling like this, then how would my Adrie be feeling? “Gesu (Jesus) Adrian, I swear talk to me babe.”

“Kara?” Stephano called behind me, his voice etched with concern.

I felt the heat emanating off him caress my skin, meaning he was very close to me. He snaked his hand around my waist and slowly lifted me up from the ground, helping me sit on the bed. When did I even crouch? I couldn’t remember.

“He’s fuckin leaving me Kara.” She sobbed so bad that the tears blurring my vision dropped. “I’m going to fuckin kill him, he’s a fuckin son of a fuckin bitch!”

“Adrie,” I called calmly.

She was cursing on and on. Stephano removed his hand from my waist, but sat beside me, his eyes growing soft with concern.

“Adrie!” I snapped.

She stopped. Then coughed and wheezed for some seconds. “Y-yes?” And she was back to slowly sobbing.

“Where are you?”

“I-I’m at Oak hospital.” She stated. Her once emotional voice was now blank, devoid of emotions. “I might leave before you get here. I- I don’t know, maybe go somewhere, a cafe or something, or maybe go see someone or...” She rambled on, and I knew she had started crying again. My heart twisted at the sound as my hands trembled and.

What exactly was going on? What was she doing at the hospital?

“I- I’m coming right now! Stay there, don’t go anywhere! I swear Adrie, don’t go anywhere!” I commanded. She always took irrational decisions when she was down and now she wasn’t just down. She was no longer in the right frame of mind, especially because it involved her boyfriend. Over the two years since they’d known each other, their just sex relationship had intensified and just like I predicted, Adrian was now probably in-love with him.

He was also very possessive of her and would always be at her beck and call, even taking some time off work to spend with her and taking her to different countries so they would have a more memorable relationship.

I didn’t understand fully, but I knew clearly that it was never just sex. She told me he was an ordinary guy who kind of liked her but he didn’t want to put a name to their business. What do you call it when a guy and lady have sex at every interval? Then when she tries to get together with anyone, he goes all ‘you’re my girlfriend and you can’t just go around dating other guys because it’s cheating?!’

There was more to their no strings attached relationship and now something was wrong, something that would probably tear them apart. The strongest girl I had ever met was breaking slowly, and I didn’t even know how to help.

I jumped off the bed and dashed out, running to my room. I pulled a beanie over my head, knowing I was running out of time and my best friend needed me at this time so there was no time for dressing presentable or even combing my hair again.

I had a hunch about why she could be in the hospital, but I didn’t want to believe it. I couldn’t believe it.

Had they gotten into an argument that resulted in an accident? Or had he discovered she had a dangerous, life challenging illness and dumped her?

Lucas didn’t seem like the type that would do that even though he wasn’t committed. He was quite possessive and wouldn’t easily let her go.

“Kara, I’m coming with you.” The gruff voice sounded hastily behind me as I dashed out of the house. I breathed. This was too emotional for me to hold in.

Turning around, Stephano was standing at the door step, in jean pants and plain white shirt, his hair combed neatly.

He was wearing palm sandals. He stretched out his arms and I got in for a few seconds. Then I pulled away and made my way to my car, my bunch of several random keys I attached together already clanking against each other.

“You’re not alone in this, baby. Let’s go in my car.”

Nodding, I entered beside him and he started the car, driving out of the estate. The ride over to the hospital was quiet and filled with tension. When we got to the hospital, Stephano parked.

“Wait.” He bit out. He hadn’t even parked properly when I placed my hand on the door handle to open it. “A car is coming right behind us.”

He turned off the engine after parking properly and got out. I did the same. He held my hand and we both hurried in. Then everything registered. It was so familiar.

The soft paddling of nurses flat shoes as they hurry past patients waiting to be attended to or patients loved ones and down to another floor or hall— the familiar smell of drugs and disinfectant, the quietness that made people angst because they didn’t know if it would be broken by a ‘congratulations’ or an ‘I’m sorry.’

I took a gulp and looked around as people sat in groups, most wearing forlorn expressions while a woman was groaning in pain and clutching tightly to her stomach.

Then I sighted her. Head in her palms, legs supporting her propped up elbows. She was wearing washed blue high-waist jeans with a tank top, her hair pulled up in a messy bun.

“Adrian,” I called.

She looked up, and then looked around. Snot was running down her nose, which she swiftly cleaned with the handkerchief she had in her balled fist. She ran forward and wrapped her arms tightly around me immediately she spotted me, sniffing as I ran my hand down her back slowly.

“Are you okay?” I pursed my lips after blurting out that question, knowing she clearly wasn’t okay. Still my eyes roamed over her body as I prayed I wouldn’t see signs of beatings. My head was floating with several options of what could have happened between herself and Lucas.

“He’s leaving me Kara. Fuck, this is too much for me.” She croaked.

“Explain.” I took her back to the steel chair and helped her sit. She was so light; meaning she probably hadn’t been eating well in a while. Stephano remained standing beside us, but not too close.

“I didn’t want to call you. I mean, I thought it would be something I would tell you during New Year’s Eve which is tomorrow and just say ‘we scaled through’ after everything has been sorted out but life was laughing at me while I had this in mind.” She chuckled bitterly.

“What exactly is wrong?” I asked for the umpteenth time.

“He has cancer...” Tears leaked. “Brain tumor. He’s had it for a while but just started treatment when I forced him to do so. I noticed he’d been vomiting, having severe headaches, sometimes feeling dizzy and before he left the last time, he would sometimes talk to himself for a very long time without knowing I was watching him... The doctors say he might not make it.” she groaned.

My heart dropped into the pit of my belly. Brain tumor...he might not make it.

Those two words blared like siren in my head. I remembered all the times Lucas had smiled while talking to me, dimples on his two cheeks and his eyes twinkling with excitement. Lucas was an amazing guy. Very cheerful, and had this amazing vibe one could roll with.

He never spoke much to me. Maybe just to complain Adrian that was talking non-stop about one guy she met in campus or at some family meeting and telling me to help him find out if she liked the guy. He had blonde hair and he was quite good looking. But he wasn’t the type I would want to picture falling into such predicament. Had he gone for chemotherapy? Did his hair fall out? How was he feeling?

“He’ll be going in for the operation tomorrow. This pain is too much Kara.”

“I know Adrie, I know and I’m terribly sorry.” I rubbed Adrian’s back and listened to her slowly mumbling to a Tatiana Manaois’s song ‘kiss me into the new year’.

And I know you hate when I ask you a thousand times,

But baby why can’t you just stay with me?

I always see you work so hard,

I’ve never been so proud, I’ll be the first to let you know,

Oh but now it’s cold, and you gotta go,

”

no you can’t be home right now…my dear...

But I guess it’s okay, I know you can’t stay, just promise me you’ll be here,

To kiss me into the new year… Adrian sniffed as she trailed off.

The song held so much meaning that my heart clenched as I listened to her voice which got hoarse as she sobbed the words out and I rocked her back and forth, humming along. I didn’t know how else to comfort her.

Should I say ‘oh Adrian, don’t worry. He knows you’ll be waiting outside for him and he’s going to pull this through come out alive?’

Or ‘don’t worry Adrian. Lucas is definitely going to be here to kiss you into the New Year though he’s not here to comfort you yet right now...’

Or ‘everything will be fine...’

What if everything got worse? We stayed in that position for over an hour, till I started feeling the numbness on my shoulder but I didn’t say anything. Stephano was staring at me intently. He nodded at me, sensing my unease. Adrian was now asleep, only mumbling some words slowly and groaning in her sleep. She was still sniffing, and tears were occasionally dropping but she had slept off while hugging me.

“I’ll ask around for the doctor and see him, and then we’ll take her home. She needs rest.” He looked down at her then got up and left. I nodded in appreciation even though he could not see me.

He returned minutes later. “Let’s go.”

I tried to wake Adrian but he shook his head and puffed air out of his lips. Then he leaned in and carried her like she weighed nothing. I followed him out of the building and took the keys from his pants pocket, unlocking the door and helping him settle her in.

I sat at the back with Adrian’s head on my thighs.

“There’s fifty percent chance of survival and the operation will begin at six AM tomorrow morning.” He told me. His voice was strained as he looked at me through the rearview mirror. I nodded and stroked Adrian’s hair, noting it was a bit wet.

When we got back home, Stephano carried her up and into one of the guest rooms. The same one Paul used when he was here and Adrian sometimes uses that room when she is here. Even when I tell her to stay in my bed, she just replies that she’s a guest and should be treated properly and not by me tossing myself on her during the midnight like I do at school, to which mama scoffs at.

I decided to sleep beside her later that night. But could I really sleep?

“How is she doing?” Mama asked with her head poked in after an hour.

“She’s sleeping. But she keeps groaning in her sleep.”

“She’ll be fine. We just have to hope the boy will be too.” She stood beside me and caressed Adrian’s cheek. My sleeping friend flinched but later relaxed.  I puffed air out of my parted lips, knowing I couldn’t really say anything about that.

“Let’s see what the future holds for our Adrian. The doctors told Stephano when he called again that the specialists will be traveling all night. So by seven am tomorrow we should be back there.”

“Let’s hope.” She murmured with a loving gaze down at Adrian. My heart clenched at the sight, my eyes watering.

“She’ll be mad if she knows the water I gave her earlier had been drugged by some sleeping stuff.”

“What Adrian doesn’t know won’t kill her. You don’t have to tell her everything bambino. Get some rest now.” She left us and I snuggled into Adrian, muttering comforting words as I yawned and drifted off into sleep.

~°~

“Why didn’t you wake me?!” the exasperated voice screamed in obvious exaggeration.

“You were sleeping Adrian.”

“But h-he in that room, unconscious. He can’t sleep without taking drugs.” She sobbed silently into her fisted hand, covering her mouth as she groaned. “I need to leave.”

“That’s why I woke you. It’s thirty minutes to seven now and the operation will begin soon. Let’s go bathe.”

She gave me an ‘are you kidding me’ look but I returned a fierce one back. “I’m leaving now Kara.”

I scoffed. “And you think he’ll be happy knowing you're just light as a feather, not eating, sleeping or bathing?”

She sniffed her armpits. “I’m not stinking!”

“I didn’t say you were stinking and you’re bathing, no arguments. Now go bathe.” My tone bid no argument as my scowl turned fiercer.

She huffed and dragged herself to my en-suite but stopped at the entrance. “Bathe me?”

I nodded at her puppy dog eyes. Adrian was the only person I knew that would ask someone to bathe her. Like hello, how can you just ask someone to bathe you?

She did it twice when we were in our second year and once when we were in the third year. Each time, she would sound so spoiled and demanding, like a child. She’d always look so serious too. She’d just enter the bath and expect me to wash her and she would clean herself and leave.

Such a brat. I smiled a little.

When we got into the hospital, the atmosphere grew tense. Adrian pulled her hand out of mine and I swallowed. I understood her. She didn’t like skin contact whenever she was nervous or anxious. She loved being in her own space.

Two hours after pacing around the entrance of the operation room, an elderly man in doctor’s coat came out and professionally shut the door with a soft click. Adrian snapped into attention and quickly approached him. I was right behind her.

“Doctor-”

“Lucas Davensworth?” He asked with crinkling eyes.

“Yes. We came together four days ago.” I looked at Adrian.

Four whole days since I’d been calling her while she was unreachable and she had been strong on the phone when she called earlier today, just telling me she was going through a phase. Was this what friendship meant? Being strong for each other and not telling ourselves the truth sometimes? I felt a pang of shame that my best friend was going through such a phase and I didn’t even notice. Instead I was asking her to apologize to Diego.

“He made it.” The doctor gave a small smile. “He’s been put on careful observation but his heartbeat is steady. Congratulations.” He left us there.

My legs were trembling, but I held still and rested against the wall. Tears pulled out of my eyes as I held Adrian by the shoulder and pulled her against me, taking in her shock filled state. Her shoulders were quaking as she tried not to cry out loud but she burst open. Her body quaked with each breath. Turning around, she held me tightly against herself.

She sniffed, her face breaking into a smile. “He made it. Thank you God.”

For the first time since yesterday, I giggled at the refreshing sight of the smile that stretched her lips and made her face crinkle adorably.

“I knew he would.” I assured. She pulled away with shaky hands but kept muttering incoherent words about how ‘she knew he would make it,’ and her lips were trembling. Her eyes were on the ground. I was observing every of her moves. I led her to a long chair which was a few feet from the room Lucas was at.

The pain I felt when I saw Stephano acting mentally unstable began to surface when I watched Adrian mumbling to herself but I reminded myself that Adrian wasn’t sick in the head. My heart clenched in pain at the sight of her pale face.

Lucas’s family was at Philippines and I wondered if they knew their son and brother was in such a critical condition. “Adrian, you should eat something.”

“Hmm...” She shook her head and rubbed snot off her nose with the back of her hand, cleaning it against her jean trousers.

“Look, Lucas wouldn’t b-” The sounding of machines caught my attention.

One minute, I was telling Adrian to get something to find something to eat because Lucas wouldn’t love to see her looking so unkempt. The next minute, two women and the doctor from earlier were rushing back into the room. Adrian jumped up and dashed for the door but a large female nurse came and held her down.

“Wha-”

“You can’t go in ma’am.”

“You bitch!” She screamed, frightening me as she fought to release herself, sobbing bitterly. “Let me go. He needs me, Lucas please come on. Lucas, what’s happening? Lucas, don’t you dare do anything reckless like leaving me here. Lucas please, you’re all I have and yes, I’ll marry you and we’ll travel all around the world like you’ve always fantasized about. Fuck, we’ll get that malnourished child you’ve always imagined yourself coming across and saving in the wilderness. Please…Don’t leave me, Lucas!” She was screaming so loudly.

“I’m sorry ma’am.” The nurse looked sorry but was still holding her down. She was screaming like crazy and cursing at the nurse.

Then the loud beeping sound became long and agonizing, stretching through the four corners of the room and even floating through the ears of those around. I gritted my teeth.

I didn’t want to think. The fear of what that beeping could mean was making my heartbeat unstable as I watched emotions play on Adrian’s face. From scared, to shocked, to a panicked expression.

He was fine.

Maybe something was wrong with the machine. Mayb- “doctor?” Adrian croaked and got up slowly, pulling herself from the hold of the nurse that had held her down. The doctor was looking glum.

“I’m sorry, h-he didn’t make it.” My world crashed.

Adrian gasped, going limp beside me and I caught her just in time.

I cried.

*

Lucas wasn't a major character but every time I wrote something related to him or Adrian was talking about him, I always envisioned this blonde playboy who only wanted to feel loved by the woman he liked but was scared of rejection so he opted for just sex. He was always smiling. Always happy. He was special in my heart.

Rest on Lucas Davensworth.

PS; I cried writing this chappie. SBTTB lost a beautiful character.

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Your girl,

Hephzibah.