Louisa's p.o.v;
I woke up to the alarm which I forgot to turn off again. After turning it off, I got out of the bed and walked to the kitchen since I felt hungry as I woke up. When I opened the refrigerator, it was empty.
Did I forget to buy groceries again? It's difficult to get used to living alone after having a roommate around. After a shower, I must hit a convenience store otherwise I have to go to nearby food stalls again.
I took the egg out of the refrigerator and made Scrambled eggs out of it. After having scrambled eggs for breakfast, I took a shower and walked out of the apartment to go to a convenience store.
After a while, I arrived at the convenience store. I looked for bread, eggs, butter and cheese which is the easiest breakfast to prepare in the morning once I wake up. Once I got everything, I walked around to look for instant noodles. Since I'm going to stay at my apartment during the holidays, should I look for another part time job? If I wanted to go, what kind of job should I look into? A job that relates to my field of study will be more helpful in the future while pursuing a job. Yeah, I should look for a job related to my studies.
While billing the products i bought, i realised that i left my phone back in the apartment. I paid with the cash and walked out of the convenience store with my stuff.
While I was walking to my place, I let out a yawn as a result of going to bed late last night. After making an appointment with that dealer, I couldn't sleep at all, thinking about not getting caught by him. I should exactly act like a seller towards him till I get his trust. Will he trust an 18 year old girl? Since I'm taller than the girls my age, it would be my advantage but still I hope I don't blow up my cover by myself. I have to be very careful in front of him.
When I entered my apartment, I kept the stuff in the refrigerator. While I was placing the eggs, my phone rang. I placed every egg inside the refrigerator and closed it.
I took the phone from the bed and saw there were many missed calls from Everly. Why did she make so many calls to me? Didn't Bernie take her calls?
I dialled her and asked, "What happened…"
Before I finished, she said, "Do you have Bernie's parents number or their address?"
Doesn't she know that they're in the US? And, why does she sound like she was crying before making a call?
I asked, "Why do you need their address right now?"
"I-It's Bern. H-He met with an accident. When I checked his phone, he didn't have his parents number in it. I don't know how to contact them…"
"Which hospital are you in?"
"Jules hospital."
I ended the call and rushed out of the apartment.
Bernie met with an accident? How did this happen? Why was he so careless? Doesn't he know how to drive his motorcycle properly?
After a while, I came to the hospital which Everly mentioned. I asked the receptionist for the room number after telling Bernie's last name. Once I got the room number, I rushed to the room through the steps forgetting that there's an elevator that goes to the eleventh floor.
When I came to the eleventh floor, sweating all over, I saw Everly in the hallway crying while looking at the room in front of her. After seeing me, she hugged me and sobbed while being in the embrace.
"What happened?" I asked after taking a long breath because of running upstairs through steps.
She mumbled in the beginning, but wiped her tears and said, "Bern and I were on the way to see a movie. He got a call and was speaking on it. While he was on a call, I thought I could buy a present since today's our anniversary so I told him and went into the store. When I came out, Bern wasn't there. All I could see was a group of people standing murmuring something to each other. I walked and saw Bern being in a pool of blood, struggling to breathe. I couldn't stand it after seeing him like that, Louisa." And she continued crying.
"How did you know it was an accident?"
She said, "Someone in the crowd said it was a car that hit him and didn't stop." And hugged me again.
"What did the doctor say?"
"They're saying it's difficult to save him since he lost a lot of blood."
I patted on her back and said, "Don't cry. He's way too stronger than we think. He'll be alright." Said while wiping the tears in my eyes.
She broke the hug and asked, "Did you contact his parents? He deleted his parents number from his phone during a conflict so i couldn't contact them."
"I'll inform them." I wiped her tears and said, "He'll be alright. Don't get worried."
While I was consoling everly, I saw a doctor walking out of the emergency room.
I stopped him and asked, "What's his condition doctor?"
He looked at both of us and said, "What blood group are you two?"
I answered, "B type, doctor."
Everly, "AB group."
"The patient needs A negative type blood right now. I've informed the blood banks already. Do ask your friends and family for the blood quickly. The patient has lost so much blood because of the impact, which may lead him to go into a coma if we didn't get the blood type in time." And left.
Everly started to cry after hearing Bernie's condition from the doctor.
I walked away from her and made calls to the people I know. But none of them had the type of blood I needed. I made a call to Mateo. Among Ace's people, I had only Mateos' number with me since he's the one who took me to and from college while I was staying at Ace's residence.
When Mateo answered, it was not a success either. Mateo said that he'll ask others in the house and ended the call.
While I was waiting for the call from him, I made a call to Raphael. He answered the phone.
As soon as he answered, I said, "I need to file a complaint."
"What happened?"
"My friend, Bernie… Bernardo has met with a car accident. The driver didn't stop the car and ran away. It's a hit and run case. Can you file a complaint against the driver ?"
"I need more details to file a complaint. Can you explain to me when and where this took place?"
"Wait. I'll give it to his girlfriend who was with him during the accident. And, be more careful while asking, she's really not in the right state."
"Okay."
I passed the phone to her and said, "He's a friend of mine in the police department. Just tell him what happened to him like how you did to me before and answer his questions clearly."
She nodded and took the phone from me and spoke to him.
While Everly was talking to Raphael on the phone, I looked at Bernie who was lying on the bed with so many pipes and wires connected to his body.
"You'll be alright. I can't let you die without knowing why you moved out of our apartment so hang in there and get to answer me when you wake up."
Everly tapped on my shoulders and said, "Your phone."
I took it from her and sat in the chair staring at Bernie's room without a blink.
After a while,
"Louisa!"
I heard Mateo's voice. When I turned Mateo was walking towards me along with valentine and Ace.
Mateo said, "Valentine's Day is A negative type of blood too."
I asked valentine, "Please help me, Val. My friend, he's…"
Before I finished, Valentine said, "Mateo told me about everything. I'll take care of it." And walked to see the doctor after getting a hug from Everly.
Everly went together with Valentine, Mateo said, "I'll go take a look at what's happening." Leaving me with Ace. It's been a week since I saw him, it felt awkward to talk so I didn't.
I took a seat and stared into the wall. Ace took a seat beside me and was in silence too. Does he feel awkward around me too?
I broke the silence and said, "I was born into a rich family. My parents are always pretty much occupied with their business meetings and business trips. I never had time with them neither did they. When I started schooling, I thought I could find happiness which I couldn't get from my parents. It didn't go as I thought. I was bullied to my point where they began hurting me physically. Whenever I return home with bruises, they never ask me things like 'what happened' 'does it hurt' 'can i come talk to them' or anything. All I hear from them is 'behave properly in school'. They didn't have time to hear my cries either. One day, I heard that my mom is pregnant. I thought having a sibling around would be good. When he was born, Miguel, my little brother. They didn't allow me near him saying that I'll spoil him like me. I got to see him only twice. The time when they brought him home from the hospital and when they sent him away for his schooling. No one believes me if I say that we're brother and sister."
I let out a chuckle and continued, "I went to middle school, I made new friends and started to hang out with them. I thought my worst part of life was over but I was wrong. Because I didn't realise that it was about to get worse. After some multiple events, I realised I got friends since I'm from a conglomerate family, they leeched on me. Whenever they want to go somewhere expensive, want to have some nice elite food, they'll take me with them. Even though I know their intentions, I went along with it so that I'll be having friends in the end. During a fight, they used me as a scapegoat. I couldn't stand it and beat the hell out of the person who hit me. That was the moment I realised that I can also stand for myself. As a result of assaulting a classmate, I got suspended. I should have got dismissed but my parents got involved in it and got me a suspension period. When I got home, I got beaten and cursed by them. When I returned back to school after suspension, no one talked to me. I was isolated once again but this time, I liked it. I studied hard and concentrated on my studies. I realised that being alone can also be good. From that time, I never needed a friend. It continued in my high school too. I moved to Sao Paulo to live away from my parents. When I got into college, I distanced myself like I did in the past years. Since I was running low on money for the rent, I decided to have a roommate. I met Bernie Bernardo as my roommate. He and I were totally on different terms. I was an introvert and he was an extrovert. He brings girls to my apartment and drinks till morning whereas I stay in my room all day and come out only to go to college. Suddenly, we hit it off. We became friends. The first friend I got in all my years. And, he's the only friend I have too."
When Ace patted my back, I asked, "Since Everly was crying and sobbing, I took the responsibility to be strong in front of her but it's difficult for me. You said earlier that I can be weak around you. Can I be now?"
After he nodded, I moved to him and hugged him while saying, "I'm scared, Ace. I'm scared that Bernie will… I'm scared. I don't want to lose the only friend I have. If he's there because of being my friend, I'll stop being friends with him. All I want now is to hear that he's alright, Ace. Please say that he'll be alright, Ace."
He patted on my back and said, "He'll be alright, Louisa."
He broke the hug and said, "My real name isn't Ace. I'm Salvador Ribeiro. When you were calling out some made up name while hugging me, it felt bad."
I stood up and when I tried to walk away, he stood in front of me and held my hand and placed something in my palm while saying, "You forgot the ring."
When I looked at the ring, it was the ring which Lucas gave me. It was the ring I lost on the night when I saw Lucas with another girl. Why does he have it? I thought it was lost that day.
Ace, "I know it's a lot to take in while you were already sobbing for your friend. I shouldn't have come here. I'm sorry." And he left.
Ace? Salvador Ribeiro? Who did I fall in love with?