Anyone Else But Her

With the tap of the pen, Athanasia blinked back to reality. She found herself sitting in a doctor's office with the doctor sitting across the table.

Right.

"Are you listening, Miss Athanasia?" The doctor asked, concerned, seeing Athanasia suddenly turns pale again. They then sighed, leaning on the back of their chair. "... Really, you should take care of yourself, Miss Athanasia. I'm glad that you first thought about going to the doctor when you felt something is wrong with you, though you wouldn't listen. What is it that always makes you push yourself to your limit?"

Athanasia looked down, lips pursed. "..."

"If you are going to continue like this, the next time you collapse..."

.

.

.

.

.

Lucas sighed, shoving his phone into his pockets as he walked out of the company for a short lunch, and for the first time, someone had the guts to invite him out except Athanasia who almost every time asks him out.

"I'm glad that you got the time to meet me at lunch." Lucas looked up, seeing Ijekiel waiting for him outside. He almost showed the silver-head his annoyed face and just nodded as a response. It's much better if you use that time to hang out with your girlfriend...

"So, what do you want to talk about?" He asked, making his way to the small eatery beside the company with Ijekiel trailing behind. "And make it quick, I'm planning to finish my work sooner so that I could get myself a good hour of sleep."

"Sounds something that a single adult man would do," Ijekiel muttered, though Lucas could hear him.

Lucas glanced at Ijekiel, irked at his comment. "And that sounds like something that a taken man who only knows how to brag about his relationship would say," he snapped. "You sure have the time of your life, huh."

Ijekiel held his hands up in defeat. "Okay, you win. Anyway, back to the topic, I wanted to ask you something."

"Go tell." Lucas nodded. The two arrived inside and decided to choose their orders while in line.

"It's about Athanasia."

Lucas raised a brow, but then shrugged it off. "What about her? Did you two fight or something?" As much as Lucas remembered, Athanasia slowly got to learn to put herself first thanks to his help and she has never been breaking down or collapsed after that. Which is great news. But why would Ijekiel suddenly ask him about her?

"No, that's not it," Ijekiel said as he shook his head. He sighed, looking away. "She's been acting weird..."

Lucas scoffs, he wanted to comment something sarcastic to verbally hurt Ijekiel for being the dense boyfriend he could ever meet. "Weird, how so?" He decided to beat around the bush. If he could just tell Ijekiel then he wouldn't learn. Teach the jerk a thing or two.

"You also didn't notice?" Ijekiel frowned. "You've been with her since I was gone. Are you sure?"

"Can I get set-A? And also paired it with a cup of coffee," Lucas ignored Ijekiel as if he was not listening. He turned to Ijekiel, hands shoved in his pockets after paying. "What do you want to order?"

"... set-D, please..." Ijekiel replied, sighing. "Now back to the topic."

"Hm."

"Every time we meet, she seemed like she wanted to say something to me or she looked fidgety. She even rarely smiles! If she needed to, she just faked it!" Ijekiel continued. Lucas just wanted to laugh at him as they got their trays and left to find a table.

"Really... Oh, I wonder..." Lucas muttered, uninterested. "What about you ask her, isn't that common sense?"

Ijekiel frowned, staring at Lucas with a surprised look. "I did ask her. But she wouldn't confess! She just smile and tried to change the topic. It's torturing me!"

"If you notice there is something wrong with her, shouldn't you try and watch her more and slowly engage her to talk about it?" Lucas said, scoffing again for the nth time as he took a seat, putting down his food. "If you're the boyfriend, shouldn't you know something?"

"It's my first time dating someone-" Ijekiel paused, noticing Lucas' look changing. "Lucas...?"

"There is no first time in dating or professional in dating..." Lucas coldly muttered. Ijekiel is really pushing him to the edge, he wanted to leave or maybe give this jerk a good punch before leaving. "If you love the person, your life should have revolved around them and theirs too should have revolved around you. You should know what to do when your lover is acting weird."

"..."

"Isn't that enough advice for you?" Lucas questioned, raising a brow, provoking Ijekiel. "Ah... I'm suddenly losing my appetite."

"So you sure do know what's happening to Athanasia..." Ijekiel uttered, eyes narrowed in suspicion. Lucas could see a hint of jealousy behind those eyes which annoys him.

"Dude? That's the one you that makes you all worked up?" Lucas laughed, putting down his spoon. "Not the safety of your girlfriend? With that attitude of yours towards her, do you even have the place to act jealous?"

"I'm her boyfriend."

"And you're not doing any good with that title."

Ijekiel was pushed to the edge. His eyes widened in anger at what Lucas said and immediately raised his fist but before he could hit him, they heard a phone call from their table.

Lucas just sat there, unfazed. His eyes never left Ijekiel's as he answered his phone. "Why don't you cool off while I answer this call? Or maybe you could leave, I'm fine with either."

Before Ijekiel could reply, Lucas stood up and left, his food untouched.

Lucas raised his phone to his ear, not checking who called. He was too pissed to be noticing small things.

"Hello?"

"Lucas?!" It was Jennette's voice, which surprised Lucas. He then finally checked who called and it was Jennette. She rarely calls him, what would be the reason why she called?

"Lower your voice a bit, you're at my ear..." Lucas sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "What is it? And please hurry, I have something to deal with here."

"That's not important!!"

"Huh?!" What's more important than destroying Ijekiel for being a jerk to Athanasia?!

"It's Athanasia!!"

.

.

.

.

.

Lucas bursts into the hospital doors, shocking the patients and the workers inside. He ignored their complaints and went to ask a nurse.

"A-Athanasia Obelia!! Where is she?!" He yelled, sweat dripping all over the table as he gasped for air. He's been running to the hospital from the eatery. "Tell me where her room is!"

Before Lucas could even get pissed at the nurse, who is panicking from his sudden burst, Jennette came from behind. "Lucas!" She called, the panic on her face was still there since Athanasia collapsed.

Lucas turned and left the nurse as soon as he saw Jennette. He runs towards her and holds her by the arm. "Where is she?!" He exclaimed.

Jennette immediately pushed his hands away, in pain of how tight he was holding her. "Follow me. Also, calm down! Nothing good will come if you're acting like this!"

Lucas gasped, a sudden realization hit him like a truck. His eyes widened, looking down at his sweaty hands, he sighed, lips shaking as he dropped his face in his hands. "Right..." He breathed. "I... I'm sorry..."

Jennette watched Lucas, worried. She then put a hand on his shaking shoulder. "She'll be okay... How about we go see her...?" She made sure to be calm, seeing Lucas in a huge panic like this. It would be hard if she would also panic. "The doctor still won't let any visitors come into her room but we could at least see her from the window..."

Lucas sniffled, nodding with a short hum. He followed Jennette while letting himself give a gentle pat on his back from her. He needed that. Even for a bit.

As soon as they arrived, Lucas took the courage to look up to see Athanasia in a coma with those wires and tubes all over her. His eyes widened of how pale she was laying there, unconscious. It took everything from him to break the glass and go in to hold her hand.

"How did this... She was getting better..." Lucas muttered, eyes never leaving Athanasia's body.

She promised.

"Didn't Ijekiel with you?" Jennette asked, looking around. "I heard from Athy before she was..."

"I don't want to hear that bastard's name anymore..." Lucas said with gritted teeth. "Everything's all about him... He didn't even bother to think about her, it's always Athanasia who always tries to make their relationship work... If only... If only I broke them up before this happens... If only she... she choose me..."

"Lucas... You..." Jennette let out a light gasp, eyes widened in surprise. "You... Towards Athy..."

Lucas didn't answer, he was so focused on regretting what happened and cursing Ijekiel in his mind. He forgot that Jennette was standing beside him. But he doesn't care. All he cares about and what's in his mind right now is Athanasia.

Jennette noticed the look on Lucas' face. She knew that he needs some space alone instead of someone to comfort him. She then cleared her throat, deciding not to question him any further, and walked away. "I'm gonna... Call Kiel..."

Lucas was left alone with Athanasia on the other side of the room, still unconscious. Watching her look like this pains his heart. She was getting better before. He took care of her. Why... Why did she... If only he didn't leave her be even after Ijekiel came back. If only he continued to take care of her. He was too focused on how Ijekiel treated Athanasia that he forgot how's her well being.

It wasn't only Ijekiel.

It's also him.

As Lucas stood there, a doctor suddenly came up to him. "Uhm, excuse me..." They said carefully, knowing what Lucas is looking right now, being calm is the best option. "Are you her boyfriend, may I ask? Or a relative?"

Lucas turned, surprised. He immediately wiped the tears on his face, taking a deep breath before facing the doctor. "No... I'm just her friend..." He replied. "And her relatives..." He paused, checking on Athanasia worriedly before going back to the doctor. "She... Doesn't have one..."

"Oh... I'm so sorry..." The doctor held their head low. "Then, may I have a word with you in my office, sir? It's about Miss Athanasia's health."

As soon as he heard Athanasia's name, Lucas didn't hesitate to nod. "Yes. Lead the way, doctor..."

The doctor smiled gently and nodded as a reply. "Then follow me..."

.

.

"You see... Miss Athanasia's been coming here for a long time. Getting checked up and such. Every day she comes and visits, she is getting better. She told me about how someone took care of her and made her think about her health more than anything else..." The doctor told Lucas, hands clasped nervously on the table. They eyed Lucas, seeing if he is still listening, he is. They then took a deep breath. "But then... Suddenly, every day she comes here, she's getting paler and paler... She collapsed one time here while talking to me... I tried to ask her about what happened but she wouldn't confess..."

Lucas took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Please do not cry. He has to stay strong. He has to. For Athanasia.

"How... How is she doc...?" Lucas tried to change the topic and was also anxious. He hoped it was nothing. She was just tired. Please. Please. Please.

The doctor noticed Lucas' expression. Their brows scrunched up, taking another deep breath. "Unfortunately... I can't give you what you wanted to hear..." They muttered, looking down at their table where a file was laying down, it was the file on Athanasia's health. "She has Coronary Artery Disease..."

And with that Lucas' world collapses.

"Stress, overworking, less sleep... This was the last straw of her disease to act up... She was lucky enough that her friend immediately called for the ambulance. It would be hard to cure her if she ever pushes herself... Don-"

The doctor's voice faded away, passing from Lucas' ear to the other. His heart was beating fast in panic, it was beating, it was breaking. What should he do?

Athanasia.

She's gonna.

Before the doctor could even finish their talk, Lucas bolted up and left the room, stomping. He knew where to go.

"Ah, Lucas!" Jennette called as soon as she saw Lucas walking down the hall. "Ijekiel's here. Where were you?!"

Lucas didn't answer and just walked past Jennette, almost bumping her shoulder. He didn't stop until he stood in front of Ijekiel. He raised his fist, holding back... "Clench your teeth..." And hit Ijekiel hard on the cheek, sending him to the side.

Jennette gasped, covering her mouth as she saw what happened. "Kiel!!" She called. "Lucas, what are you doing?!"

"I'm doing what I have wanted to do..." Lucas replied, muttering angrily before giving Ijekiel another one. This time, blood came out of Ijekiel's mouth. "This isn't enough... You need to break more..."

"Lucas, enough!!" Jennette pulled Lucas by the arm with another help from a male nurse. "Calm down!! What's making you act like this?!"

"LET GO, Jennette!!!" Lucas yelled, trying to move away. He's being held back by the workers in the hospital. "He deserves it!!! He needs to be in pain after what he's done!!!"

"What..." Ijekiel groaned, finally finding his ground. Everything in his sight was spinning around.

"Don't give me that look!! You were such a narcissistic bastard right after you dated Athanasia!!!" Lucas exclaimed, tears now running down his cheeks. "What?! Now you've come running towards her when she collapsed?!! Now you care?!! You know nothing but you still acted like it wasn't your fault?!! You fucker!!!"

"Lucas..." Jennette paused as she watched Lucas yelling at Ijekiel. Lucas' voice was breaking as he cried, he was still fighting, hands itching to hit Ijekiel even though his heart was breaking as he cried. Jennette turned to Ijekiel who was in shock as he listened to Lucas.

"Now she has this heart disease!! I don't... Why..." Lucas slowly calmed down, tears were still flowing as he dropped to the floor. "I don't know what to do... Why did she even love you when she was like this...? It could have been anyone else... If she's gonna... I don't... Athanasia..."

Lucas couldn't even mutter any words. Jennette was just standing, all teared up while Ijekiel was still the same. The hall was back in its silent state except for Lucas' pained cries.

Jennette turned to the window where Athanasia was lying down on the other side of the wall.

I could have been anyone else.

But her.

--short but angst kekekemy heart broke writing this T~Tsorry for the late updatesorry if it's short the next chapter will be long^^