CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Before leaving the hospital
“Rome…” I sat stubbornly with my back held up by the support of the bed. He nodded as he sat beside me on the chair.
For the past two days I’ve been in this bed and this hospital. Rome would come and take care of me whenever he finished his work.
He would race here bringing me presents. But, I didn’t know why, that didn’t make me happy. I wanted something more, something more
then just presents. I didn’t want Rome to be here, I want someone else here.
“Yes?” Rome looked up from his magazine, as I didn’t reply to his nod.
“How did I get here?”
Romes’s POV
“How did I get here two days ago?”
Those words were like stabs to my heart. I didn’t want her to ask these questions. I hoped and prayed that these words
wouldn’t ever home out of her mouth. But they did, and they were truly mouthed by her since she stared intently at me.
“I…”
What was I suppose to say? That the love of her life brough her in? That she should go find him and be happy with him again?
That’s not going to happen. I spent the past five years making her happy, never rushing her to give me the question I asked four year ago.
I wanted her to be with me, but she rejected me completely. She didn’t even think about it, a simple no came out of her mouth. Did she even
know how much that hurts me? Even though she rejected me, I stayed with her and took care of her and Nattra, hoping that one day she will
forget him and come to me. But that day never came, and now he’s back, in her life. I frowned at the thought as I threw the magazine back on to the chair.
“Rome… ?” She asked again. Her eyes were cold, during the five years, her eyes never held the amount of love she ever had for him.
“Some guy, a stranger.” I lied, but you can’t expect me to tell her the truth.
“Really?”
“Yes, I wouldn’t lie to you.” I lied calmly, how ironic, I said I wouldn’t lie while I’m lying.
“Rome…”
“Yes?” I looked at her as she gazed out of the window.
“I saw Chakrit ”
I didn’t know why his name caused me so much pain in my chest. For a second I blanked out and concentrated on breathing.
She hasn’t said his name in five years; I knew that because she would never say his name. I said it once and she almost killed me with
her glare. But now, she’s mouthing his name so delicately, as if nothing happened.
“Oh, really?” I pretended to be nonchalant even though the pain was unbearable. “How is he? I haven’t seen him in a while…” I
looked back down at the magazine that lay beside me.
“…”
I could see the glimmers of tears welling up in her eyes. I might be doing something wrong right now. No, I knew I was
wrong for not telling her the truth about Chakrit bringinh her here. I knew that should have told her, because I’m destroying her
happiness. But how can I tell her when I’m so desperately in love with her? If I tell her, she will run back to him without even another
small glance at me. I couldn’t possibly allow that to happen.
I’ve always disliked Chakrit. I still remember the first time I met Ann, she was sitting in his office just like I thought.
I planned to take here away from Chakrit and then dump her which will break her heart. I never imagined that I would really
fall in love with her. I started this all because of my hatred for Chakrit. I remember when we were little, my father never payed any attention
to me after my mother died. He got to go the best schools, the best car and even all the family fortune was given to him. We are from the
same father, the only difference is our mom. Why does he have so much better things than me?
“You know what Ann? I gotta go now… call me if you need anything.” I needed a drink; I can’t stand being here anymore.
I grabbed my jacket and dashed out the door.
Ann’s point of view
I watched as Rome left and shut the door behind him. I was very disappointed in him, he lied to me. I’d never expect him,
out of all the people, to lie to me. And about something that’s so important to me. Why would he lie? I knew that I was picked up and
brought to the hospital by Chakrit. Why do I know that? First, I have my cell phone back; it’s safely in my pocket. Second, in my cell phone,
Chakrit’s new number was saved on to it. Third, after a long time of renewing my thoughts, I remember seeing Chakrit .
Rome really disappointed me.
*BTZZ BTZZ*
The sudden vibration from my phone made me jump causing the IV to pull on my hand painfully. I winced as I rubbed my
painful wrist and reached from my phone inside my pocket. I was in shock as I look at the name that appeared on my cell phone.
Chakrit’s name was clearly imprinted on the screen, causing me to not breathe for several seconds. Since I was admitted to the hospital, this
was the first time he called me. Even though he had my number and I had his, this was the first time. I was really not, really not sure
what I should do. But I answered the phone after the fifth ring.
“Hello?” I was surprised at how calm my voice was.
“Hey.” My heart skipped as I heard Chakrits’s voice.
“Hey…” I held my breath, hoping that this was not a dream. His voice was so soft, just like five years ago.
He didn’t change. He was still himself.
“…” No one said anything, I was too afraid to talk; I don’t know what he was doing. I can feel myself tensing up; I had butterflies
in my stomach. They were swarming around inside me, causing me to become nauseous.
“How are you?” I was so relieved to hear his voice again.
“Good.”
“Are you still in the hospital?”
“Yes.”
“…”
The silence filled the phone line again. I tried to think hard for something to say, but nothing came out. But I tried harder
for I didn’t want him to hang up on me, because if he did, I can never sum up the courage to call him up.
“So…” His voice was the one to cut the silence again. “When are you going to be released?”
“In about an hour,” I was relieved that he was trying to bring up a topic for us to talk about.
“Oh... how about you have dinner with me tonight?” My eyes flew wide open as I grabbed onto his words.
Did he really mean this? Did he really want to have dinner with me? I was in shock, so I didn’t reply for awhile until he
spoke up again. “If you already have plans then it’s fine.”
“NO!” I practically screamed into the phone, maybe I should’ve responded in a more lady-like manner. I couldn’t almost here him
chuckle on the other side of the conversation. My face immediately lit up in shame and embarrassment. “Sorry...” I didn’t want else to say
except for apologize for my dream.
“That’s ok.” A soft chuckle fasted through his mouth. “So, I guess I’ll pick you up at around five o’clock. Does that fit your schedule?”
“Yes, that’s fine.” Even though I was thinking I will squish anything out of my schedule to have dinner with you. But I didn’t say that
since it will make me sound crazy. We soon hanged up after saying goodbye. I waited impatiently as I looked for clothes to wear for the
next hour. It looked like Rome brought me clean clothes, a tank top with a light jacket were in my closet instead of the jeans I wore yesterday.
I was still pretty mad at him, why did he lie to me I didn’t understand. He knew that I was brought here by Chakit, or did he…
Maybe he didn’t know and the nurse just told him some guy so he had no idea that it was Chakrit. That lightened my mood as I
shook my head and got ready to see Chakrit.
*BZZZ BZZZ*
“Hello?” I picked up with a rush not even taking a glimpse of the caller ID.
“MOMMY!” I stared blankly at the phone for a second as a young girl’s voice passed through my cell phone.
I quickly snapped out of the thoughts as smiled as I said hi back to my daughter.
“Mommy where are you? How come you aren’t coming to take Nattra home?” Nattra’s voice was really hurt I could tell, she must
have missed me. I haven’t seen her in awhile.
“Nattra, Mommy has some business to take care of now. I will come for you today at night, wait for mommy okay?”
I tried to comfort her as I heard sniffles on the other end of the line. My heart throbbed as I thought about the possibility that
my daughter may be crying.
“No! I want to see Mommy now! NOW!” Nattra started sobbing at the other line, tears fell from my own face as I heard
her sob and cry for me to pick her up now.
“Okay Nattra, I will. I will pick you up now. Wait for Mommy patiently okay? I will be there in twenty minutes.” Nattra sounded
much happier as she hanged up leaving me to ponder in my words. How am I going to pick her up? I’m supposed to go have
dinner with Chakrit. I couldn’t possibly take her with me. But, maybe I should, she is indeed his daughter as well. But… I debated for the
next five minutes until my phone ranged loudly.
“Hello?” I picked up the phone to hear Chakrit’s soft voice.
“Hello.” He said.
“Hey, are you here already?” I asked as I looked towards the window. I could see a black BMW outside, which was probably him.
“Yup, come down or should I go up?” I told him I would go down and hanged up running downstairs with my purse held tightly
in my hands. My heart was beating like crazy while I ran fiercely down the stairs; I didn’t even bother taking the elevator because it
would only slow me down.
By the time I arrived downstairs and outside I was puffing and breathing heavily and sweating. Great, to have Chakrit see me
like this. But he walked towards me like nothing was wrong and a bright smile appeared on his face as did mine. I was so eager to see him.
“Hey.” He said.
“Hey.”
“Where do you want to go?”
“… actually about that…” Great, how am I supposed to tell him that I had to go see my daughter or OUR daughter?
“You see, I haven’t seen my daughter for almost four days now, I think I should go see her and pick her up.”
Silence filled our conversation.
Chakrit’s POV
“You see, I haven’t seen my daughter for almost four days now, I think I should go see her and pick her up.”
She looked at me with pleading eyes. But I hesitated, because her daughter is my daughter… right? I tried to look
comfortable because I could tell that she wasn’t that comfortable right now.
“Do you… know?” Ann’s soft voice sounded as she looked down to the floor.
“Yes…” She immediately shot her head up towards me.
“Do you remember?” Her voice was filled with hope; I glanced down because I knew I was going to crush all her hopes.
“No.” I could almost feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She sighed but didn’t say anything more. “I’m sorry…” That was all I could say,
what else was there to say? I was the one that left her alone to take care of all the business. Even though I don’t remember any of it,
but I’m sure she wasn’t lying when she told me those things.
“It’s okay. We don’t have to go to dinner.” My head was the one that shot up at her sudden words.
“No!” My words rushed out without my consent, she looked at me, confused. Damn, got to control my own thoughts and words.
“She can come to dinner with us.” To speak the truth, I was scared, scared to see my daughter. I was also scared to face my
girlfriend that I abandoned, and to face my daughter that grew up without my protection.