Chapter 8

It's cold, wet and dark. All I hear is the raindrops falling and the rumbling of the thunder. I think I know where I am. I am here again.

I heard a gunshot and another two gunshots. I walked in the woods and the next thing I knew I am witnessing again the killing scene of two men. The men stabbed the other and bang!

"Nooo!"

Even though I have dreamt it a hundred times, I always end up yelling. I can't help myself but to shout. I woke up with a cold sweat and heavily breathing. I opened my eyes and it's so bright.

"Are you okay Colby?"

I felt pain in my forehead and some parts of my body.

"Where am I?"

I tried to sit but my body feels so tired.

"Don't move too much young man."

She looked worried and her eyes are swollen that it seems she just cried.

"Where am I Aunt Zild?"

"You are in the hospital Colby. Last night, Donald just called me saying that you are rushed here in the hospital, so I went up straight here. I didn't have the chance to ask what happened to you because I was worried about your condition. When I saw you covered with blood and looks helpless I thought I'll be losing you."

And then she burst into cry. I held her hands.

"Don't cry Aunt Zild, I am still here. Look!"

I stretched my arms to show that I am okay.

"I will ask you Colby, who did this to you? And what happened?"

Her expression is serious. I know this face, she will surely forced me to tell the truth. I can still remember what happened last night.

"I-It's..."

The door opens.

"Aunt Z.. Cole?"

He runs to me and hugging me.

"Cole! Thank God you're okay!!!"

He looked at me and hug me again tightly.

"Cole!!!!"

"Ouch!"

He immediately released me.

"Oh, I'm sorry"

My body hurts and I don't have the energy.

"Look at you cole? You looked like you have just fought with a beast."

"What?"

He handed me a mirror.

"See for yourself"

I saw my reflection and it's indeed. My cheeks are swollen and I got bruises under my eyes. I have a bandage around my head.

"See? You are not as good looking as I am."

I rolled my eyes.

"Donald? I forgot to ask you last night what happened to Colby. It seems Colby didn't know what happened and who did this, but I guess you know it, right?"

I tried to stop him, but once he started to talk, he's unstoppable.

"Oh, Gulliver and his friends did this to Colby Aunt Z. We won against his team in basketball yesterday."

I looked at Aunt Z and I was right. She didn't like what she's hearing. But Donald seems not to feel it. He keeps on talking.

"He can't accept it Aunt Z that's why he get revenged to us, but unfortunately he saw Colby alone and took that advantage. They beat him Aunt Z and then I found him lying on the ground full of blood. But I-"

I sensed some deep sadness in her eyes when Donald tells how helpless I was that time so I stopped Donald. I know where this ends. Donald just realized what he says. I glared at him.

"So-so.. Sorry Aunt Z"

She's teary eyed now.

"But you know what Aunt Z, if she didn't come to help Colby, I don't think Cole can- mmmhmm"

I covered his big mouth before he mentioned about death. Any moment now, her tears will fall and she will surely go to my school and report Gulliver. She won't let this just to happen. She'll do everything to protect me. I remember when I got injured and she really warned me not to play basketball at all because it seems that after my grandparents and father died because of harsh death she became allergic to any activities I am into.

"Don't worry Aunt Z, before I found Colby, there's this girl who helped him and beat those guys."

I looked at him questioning.

"A girl? Who?"

He looked at me and ask me while he's smiling.

"Do you want me to say it to Aunt Z, the girl who saved you?"

I don't feel okay with every word that is coming out of his mouth. I move my fingers to signal him to stop. But I failed.

"Her name is Heidi Gomez, Aunt Z and she's the girl that Colby has been seeing lately."

She looked at me with her confused expression.

"Colby? Is this true?"

"N-"

"Yes, Aunt Z! Actually, she texted me a while ago and she said that she'll be here in a minute now."

I got panicked in everything he's revealing right now.

Knock! Knock!

Someone knocks on the door.

"And maybe she's here"

The knob turns and my heart is beating like a bass drum. I am sweating and I can feel the coldness of my hands and feet. I don't want her to look at me this way. The door opens. I hold my breath.

No! No!

"Good day Mr. De Ville, how are you doing today?"

The nurse entered the room.

"Hahahahaha! Look at your face Cole! Ahahahaha you looked so tense. I was just kidding."

He burst into a laugh. I throw the tumbler from the side table.

"It's not funny."

"Donald, who are the guys that beat Colby? I want you to give their full name."

"Why, Aunt Zild? Don't tell me-"

She looked serious and pissed.

"Yes, I will go to the principal now and make sure that they will pay their consequences. Donald you know my number and text me everything okay? I'll be back soon"

She grabbed her bag and left the room. Donald is typing on his phone.

"You know Aunt Z won't let them get away with it. I hope I have a mom like her."

He smiled, but I know deep inside of him, his longing to have a mother.

"Donald? Is it true that Heidi saved me from Gulliver? Are you sure with that?"

"Yes, I am a hundred and one percent sure Cole. She's really a badass woman."

I can't believe it. She saved me? A girl? Against Gulliver and his friends?

"She is really great in fighting them. I did not see the whole thing, but when I came, she's standing there while the group of Gulliver is lying on the ground. It's like a scene from Killbill."

I was amazed at everything I heard.

"Aah!"

My head still hurts. It feels like there's a knife stabbed in my head.

"Calm down, just take a rest."

I lie down and held my head.

"Gulliver is really pissed to hit you that hard. Tss. I will just go out and find someone to check on you."

He left and I closed my eyes. I am thinking about the things that happened yesterday. I don't know what to feel right now. I should feel angry, but I just don't have the energy to feel it.

Knock! Knock!

I didn't open my eyes.

"Come in!"

I relax myself. There is no one talking.

"Donald? Where's the nurse?"

There is still silence. I tried to turn right side to face the person.

"Don-"

"Hi, how are you?"

I was shocked when I saw her. She looks so worried, but staying on her ground.

"Hailey?"

I am not feeling well and I am not feeling okay right now. I turned slowly to face the window. I don't want her to see me like this. Swollen and full of bruises.

"By- ah Colby? Are you okay?"

I took a deep breath and answer her with my coldest voice. I may be rude, but hello? Why would she care now?

"I'm good. Why are you here?"

Yes, I have moved on but it feels not okay to see her right now. Not like this. Helpless. I don't want her pity.

"I just got the news earlier on what happened yesterday in the old building. I heard that you got beaten by Gulliver. So I wen-"

I turned to see her. She looks like she's about to cry, but why?

"I'm good and I will be better soon. If you don't have anything to do just go, I need to take a rest."

She put the basket of fruits on the table and then she leave. I don't know, but I saw something in her eyes. But why? I never see her like that. It's hurting me again. It's all coming back to me, the memories. I covered my face with a pillow and shout.

"Argh!" That hurts. Like literally hurt.

The door opens

"I told you that I need to rest Hai-"

"I'm sorry, maybe I'll go back later.

My senses came back. I got up and almost fall in my bed.

"Can you stay calm? Jeez!"

She helped me to lay me down.

"I'm sorry, I just did not expect you... to come"

"It's fine. Anyway, I just passed by to see if you're okay. The last time I saw you yesterday-"

I remembered that I don't look okay right now. I immediately covered my face with the blanket. She laughs.

"It's okay, I saw you got beaten up, so what's the difference now?"

I still covered my face.

"It seems you're okay. Maybe I'll just pass by tomorrow."

She's about to leave,

"Heidi wait! I have something to ask you"

She closed the door and face me.

"What?"

"Ah, I just wanna know if you really have saved me yesterday? Donald told me that you fought the group of Gulliver. Is that really you?"

She smiled.

"Just pray and thank God you're alive. I have to go. Get well soon."

She opened the door and leave the room. She did not answer my question. Maybe she is. It seems impossible, but who knows right?

The door opens and I automatically covered my face.

"Cole! I saw Heidi outside? Did you guys talk? How was it?"

"Nothing. I asked her if she really saved me, but she didn't answer it. She just said that I should pray and thank God that I'm alive.... Unbelievable."

He chuckled.

"Cole, of course she won't tell you that right in your face because you might get insulted."

"Why?"

"You're a guy and she's a girl. Between you, you are more capable to fight and protect but it seems you're not. She's right just thank God that the sister of Mike Tyson just rescued you"

He didn't stop laughing. I got annoyed with his loud voice and throw the pillow at him. Donald saw the basket on the table.

"Did she brought this to you? Aww. She's so sweet."

He took an apple and bite it.

"No, Hailey brought that"

Donald stopped with his face shocked.

"What? Hailey? Why? When? How?"

"Take it easy, she came minutes after you left. She didn't take long because I ditch her."

His eyes widened.

"What?! Why?!"

"Shh."

He whispered, "What?"

"Yes, She said she just passed by and want to know if I'm okay then I don't feel like entertaining her so I told her to go."

He took a deep breath.

"Maybe she still cares, but anyways, Cole I have to go now. Mr. Richardson wants to talk to me. If you need anything, just call the nurse or call me or Aunt Z. Okay?"

I nodded and he left.