Chapter 32
Tengneung waited impatiently outside the ICU room. He was worried for both Mint and Boy, but mostly Mint. Sammie and the rest arrived at the hospital as soon as they got a call from Tengneung..
“Teng, how’s Mint?” Sammie asked crying.
“The doctor hasn’t come out yet.”
“Where’s Mak and Margie?” Yaya asked looking around.
“They’ll be here in a bit.”
Margie and Mak arrived at the hospital shortly after before the doctor came out. Everyone rushed by the doctor’s side.
“Doctor, how are the kids?” Tengneung asked, hoping to hear some good news from the him.
“Khun Pakorn lost a lot of blood. He needs AB as soon as possible. The blood we have here isn’t enough Is anyone here a relative of khun Pakorn?”
Nadech shook his head, “No one here is but the only person I know that has that type is his father, but he‘s out of the country.”
“Well, we need the blood as soon as possible within 24 hours or else, he won’t make it by tonight.”
“I I have AB blood” Margie said raising her hand
The doctor nodded, “Good. We’ll need to check out your health and everything first.”
“Doctor, what about my daughter?” Sammie asked.
“Khun Chalida…she’s safe……”
Everyone sighed with relief
“But….”
“But what?” everyone asked at the same time.
“When the bullet hit her from the back, it hit her internal organs. Her whole nervous system from the waste down is damaged…”
Sammie became speechless, “Oh my god…..are you saying…..she’s paralyzed?”
“Now, let’s not lose hope. There is a chance for recovery as long as the patient has enough moral support and she is willing to do therapy…..”
“How long will this therapy take doctor?” Tengneung asked comforting Sammie
“Well…it depends on the patient…..I’ll leave you to discuss it among your family. Right now I have to take this young lady for check-up before donating her blood.”
After Margie left with the doctor, everyone sat in the waiting room, speechless, shocked.
“Mint’s not gonna accept this when she finds out” Yaya said holding back her tears. “She’s a very stubborn girl.”
“So….what are you guys gonna do?” Nam asked.
“We’re all for it with the therapy” Sammie said “but like Yaya aid, is Mint? She’s lived a happy life and this has to happen?” Sammie cried even more.
Mak shook his head with sadness, “I don’t even know what her reaction is going to be when she wakes up and finds out she won’t be able to walk anymore…..”
Mak felt Nadech’s hand on his shoulder, “Well when she does wake up, we’ll be there by her side…….”
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Margie watched Boy lying there on the hospital bed, being hooked to the IV machine. She cries softly as she blames herself for everything that has happened to her friends. Yaya and Nadech walks in the room and saw her crying.
“Margie, why are you crying? The doctor said Boy is safe now…”
She quickly wipes the tears off her face, “It’s all my fault Yaya. If it wasn’t for me, Boy wouldn’t be lying there unconscious and Mint wouldn’t be paralyzed…..”
Nadech comforted her, “Don’t say that. It’s not your fault. If you want someone to blame, blame…..uh….”
Margie nodded, knowing what Nadech wanted to say, “My dad, it’s okay, you can say it.”
“Can I ask what happened to him now?”
“He’s arrested. He’s been pressed with many charges, including…attempted murder….”
“You mean…” Yaya didn’t want to mention her mom.
“He’s the one that burned down the house. He confessed to me….”
“I’m sorry…..”
Margie shook her head in disagreement, “I’m the one that should be sorry….”
When all three heard Boy’s soft cough, they rushed by his side and was happy that he finally awoke.
“Boy, how are you man? Nadech asked.
Boy looked at each one of his friends carefully, “Where am I?” he asked softly.
“The hospital..” Margie answered. “You got shot, remember?”
Boy went quiet and thought back to the accident.
“What if he doesn’t remember us?” Yaya whispered to Nadech.
“Boy…you remember us?” Nadech pointing to the girls and himself. “We’re your friends from school. My name’s Nadech. This is Yaya and that’s Margie, your girlfriend, remember?”
Boy didn’t answer.
“Maybe he did lose his memory” Nadech whispered back.
“Dude, I got shot, I didn’t get hit in the head alright, geesh….”
Nadech chuckled, “Oh so you do remember us. Well next time say something instead of going quiet on us.”
Boy noticed Mak nor Mint were there with them, “Where’s Mak and Mint at?” he asked.
The three looked at each other, not knowing what or how to answer Boy.
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Mint awoke to find her parents sitting by her side. She remembers being shot during the chace in the woods and collapsed while riding on Mak’s back. She was happy she was alive.
“Mom…dad…”
“Mint…you’re awake…”
She was happy to see her parents there but Mak was no where to be found.
“Where’s Mak?”
“He left home to go shower. He’ll be back soon” Sammie told her.
Mint tried sitting up but somehow she couldn’t feel any muscle from her legs. She touched her legs but couldn’t feel anything. She looked at her parents who looked at her with concern.
“How come I can’t feel my legs?”
“Uh….” Sammie didn’t know how to tell her daughter.
“Why can’t I feel my legs?”
“The doctor said when you got shot, the bullet hit one of your internal organs, which damaged your nervous system from your waste down………”
Tears dripped down from Mint’s cheeks. She began to laugh a little, “Dad, I know I like to crack jokes but this isn’t the time.”
Sammie caressed Mint’s hair, “No sweetie. This isn’t a joke…….”
Mint pushed her mom’s hand away, “So I’m paralyzed?! I’m not going to walk anymore?! This can’t be happening!”
Mint cried even more and Sammie pulled her in to comfort her,, “Mom…tell me this isn’t true…..”
Tengneung held on to Mint’s hands, “You’ll be able to walk soon. The doctor said if you agree to d therapy--”
“No! That’s not gonna guarantee anything! It going to take forever for me to recover!”
“Don’t lose hope now Mint. If you have enough moral support and you‘re determined, you’ll recovery in no time.”
Mint shook her head. She didn’t want therapy, “I want to be alone…”
“Mint….”
“Please…I want to be alone!”
Tengneung and Sammie left Mint there alone by herself. When they came out, Mak had just got back, bringing Mint a bouquet of flowers.
“Mak, Mint woke up already…” Tengneung told him.
“Really?” Mak was happy for a moment then he became concern, “Does she know?”
Sammie nodded with sadness, “Yes and she didn’t take it too well either. She doesn’t want therapy…”
“Why not?”
“She think it’s not going to work…”
“Maybe I can try to talk her into it..”
Her parents nodded as he walked inside. Mint heard the door open and thought it was her parents, “I told you I want to be alone!”
“Mint…it’s me” Mak said softly walking slowly towards the bed.
Mint who was still crying turn to look at Mak.
“Are you okay?” he asked, setting the flowers on the table next to the hospital bed.
“How do you think I’m doing? I just found out I can’t walk anymore for the rest of my life!”
“Don’t say that…” He tried reaching for her but she pushed his hands away.
“I know what you’re gonna say and I’m not going to do it! This can’t be fix so stop trying to fix it!”
“We’re just trying to help you recover okay?”
“You don’t know what I’m feeling right now and it’s not going to work. What are the chances of me recovering? Will I be able to walk with my class in three more years when graduation comes? Will I be able to travel around the world like I always dreamt of doing?! I don’t think so!”
“You will get to do all those things if you’re determine.”
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better….”
“No, I’m not.”
He pulled her into his arms after seeing her cry. She tried pushing him away but he just kept holding her tight.
“Let me go! I want to be alone!”
“I’m not gonna let go…”
When he didn’t let go, she started pounding on his chest. But he still held on to her and when she realized he wasn’t going to let go of her anytime soon, she finally collapsed into him.
“It’s going to be okay” he promised as he caressed her hair.
And for a long time, she let him hold her as she cried….