S. F. - 23

***

New.

I immediately shut my eyes as I felt a pang of unbearable pain cross my head.

"New?"

I squinted my eyes to focus on Gunsmile who was standing beside me. It was then I recognized that I was in the hospital.

"White please call the doctor or the nurse," he told White who then immediately went out.

"Wh-what happened?" I asked in a hoarse voice.

"We saw you lying on the pavement when we went to the police station after settling things at the bar. You kinda hit your head. You've been unconscious for two days," Gunsmile explained.

I winced as I touched my bandaged head. It was then when I remembered what happened.

"M-my parents. Have you seen them??" I grabbed Gunsmile's arm. I was starting to get nervous. I tried getting up but he didn't let me.

"New. It's best if you rest for a while," he smiled at me as he fixed the blanket.

"It was a nightmare right? I dreamt of P'Hom telling me about my parents getting into an accident. I mean, they're just fine right? They're coming to see me. Right, right? Answer me, Gunsmile!!"

I was starting to panic. I mean, it felt like I was dreaming, but at some point, it felt real.

A doctor and a nurse then came in to check on me, but I whisked the doctor's hand away.

"I have to go home. My mom's waiting for me. My father's gonna get mad at me if i come home late. You know him, Gunsmile. He doesn't like it when I don't tell him where I am. I have to go home. I have to go home," I uttered as I attempted to get off the bed despite being dizzy, pulling off whatever was inserted unto my skin.

"New. Please calm down," Gunsmile tried holding me down into the bed, but I resisted. I pushed him as much as I could but given my state, I could only nudge him a little.

I was clutching my chest as I found it hard to breathe when I felt something on my arm before losing consciousness.

***

"Mom," I slowly approached my mom, but she didn't say anything. The non-existing lump in my throat was making it difficult to swallow as I watched my mom hold my father's picture.

It had been ten months since the accident and ever since then, I hadn't talked to her the same way I did before.

She became distant. She became cold. She became non-existent. And I could feel that she was blaming me for what happened. And I was blaming myself, too, for if I hadn't wallowed myself in sadness over a guy who left me without a trace, my dad would have been still alive. And my guilt was eating me up every day as I look at my mom silently crying.

My mom may have survived, but it seemed like she didn't. And I couldn't even look at her without wishing that it was me who died that night instead of my dad.

I was about to call her again when my phone rang.

"New. You have to be at the company right away."

I heaved a deep sigh as I heard my father's secretary on the other line.

"Okay. I'll be there."

I was forced to take over the company and I regretted not even giving a damn about how to manage it when my dad was still alive.

I glanced at my mom before going out of her room.

***

"Some of the stakeholders are pulling out their shares and several investors have backed out because the company is not making any progress. If this continues, this company is definitely gonna crumble down. The board of directors gave you a year to prove that you're worthy of your position, but it seemed like you're just wasting your chance."

I heaved a deep sigh as I listened to Mr Yui, the head of the board of directors, rant about the current state of the company.

The company was struggling even before my father died and I just found out that he borrowed a large sum of money from the Vihokratana's.

"I'll see what I can do. I-I'll try my best to save the company."

I had to do anything to save the company. My parents, especially my father worked hard for it and saving it only means saving what was left of him. And for sure, my mom would loathe me even more if I failed to keep my father's legacy.

"Of course you should because if you won't make any improvements in your remaining two months, you definitely have to step down your position."

***

"You're not okay."

It was a statement, not a question.

I massaged my temple before looking at Earth who was sitting across me. For the past ten months, Earth had never left my side and was consistent in courting me even if I had already told him he didn't have a chance. And I hated how he could easily tell if I had problems.

"Just a little problem at work," I replied as I removed my suit and placed it on the backrest.

We were currently at his unit. He just came to the company in his car and invited me for dinner, saying he'd cook for me.

"I can always help you with anything."

"I don't wanna impose on you, okay?  I can manage this...I think," I hesitated for a while.

Earth held my hand that was resting on top of the table.

"I told you it's okay. You don't have to worry about anything."

Earth had offered help several times, but I didn't take any of his offer.

"Earth, I don't wanna take advantage of you."

Earth had already established himself in the engineering industry in a short period of time. As someone who came from a family of prominent engineers, it wasn't hard for him to do so. In fact, he was also managing their construction company while being a civil engineer at the same time.

"It's not taking advantage, okay? It's accepting a friend's help. Well, a suitor's help in my case. I can always help you, New. You said your father borrowed a large sum of money, right? I can help you with that."

"Tsss.. I know you have the money Engineer Earth, but I can manage, okay? I will find a way. I must find a way."

"You're just so stubborn, aren't you? Fine. But if you need anything, you can always count on me, okay? You know I'd do anything for you," he squeezed my hand tightly before letting go.

We talked about random stuff over dinner, but we never mentioned P'Tay. Over the course of our friendship, he had already known almost everything about me. In fact, he was one of the very few people who knew about me and P'Tay though nothing really happened between me and him.

"You wanna watch a movie?" he asked after we finished eating dinner.

I didn't want to stay any longer, but I couldn't bear to go home knowing that my mom would spend another night silently crying in her room.

"Sure," I replied and sat on the sofa.

"Okay, great.. I've been wanting to watch this horror movie for some time but I just couldn't find the chance."

I tightened my jaw as I recognized the movie he was talking about. It was the very same movie I watched with P'Tay in his unit. The very same movie we watched the night I confirmed the reason behind my racing heartbeat every time he was around.

"Have you seen this one?" Earth turned to me.

"I-Uh. No. Not yet."

"Okay, great!"

Okay, I lied. Earth seemed to be excited about the movie and I didn't wanna spoil the moment so I pretended not seeing it.

I bit my lips as the familiar scene came unto the screen, the scene where the characters made out in the car. I tried holding back my tears, but failed.

"H-Hey? Are you okay?"

I looked at Earth who was gawking at me, probably confused as to why I was crying.

"Y-yeah," I could hear the crack in my own voice as I stopped myself from crying.

"New, are you crying over a sex scene?"

I held my tears back as I looked at him, but the surge of emotions that came rushing into my system was something that I couldn't take any longer.

And so that night, I cried in Earth's arms....for the nth time.

***

I was on my way out of the house when I noticed something shiny on top of the table. It seemed like a gold card. I didn't wanna mind it at first, but something was telling me to look at it.

I gasped the moment I read what was on the card and for no apparent reason, I suddenly found it hard to breathe.

With shaking hands, I fished out my phone from my pocket to call Earth.

"E-Earth where are you?"

"I'm at the company. Why? Do you need anything?"

"I'm on my way."

I immediately ended the call and rushed out of the house.

I took several breaths to calm myself before turning on the engine and driving off.

Earth had called me several times but I didn't answer. I just wanted to see him as soon as possible. I needed to see him as soon as possible.

I quickly got off the car the moment I arrived at his company. I wasn't even sure if I parked it the right way, but I didn't care.

Earth might have notified the security about my arrival because the guard told me to proceed to Earth's office.

"Are you okay?" Earth asked the moment I barged into his office. I didn't even bother knocking.

"It's a yes," I exclaimed, making the most unexpected decision I had ever made in my entire life.

"Huh? What yes? What do you mean?" he asked as he approached me. His forehead was furrowed, an indication that he was just as confused as I was at the moment.

"You've been courting me for a while, aren't you? Then it's a yes. I'm saying yes to you," I blurted out before I could even change my mind.

***

A/N: Hi! Read all your comments on the previous chapter and I just wanna say ✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️

Love y'all.💕💙

_ladycrookshanks