Chapter 21
“Congratulations on your wedding, ma’am. Best wishes!” The nurse said this to me before releasing me. I was amazed; because of her small talk, I didn’t realize that she had treated my wound and bandaged it.
I said goodbye to her and thanked her before leaving the room, but I was surprised to see Ismael at the door. What the heck?
And he also seemed surprised that I was there. Wait, is he listening to what we’re talking about? I squinted and because of his smile, it looked like I was right. He heard what I said to the nurse earlier!
Because of my annoyance, I hit him. He blocked it while laughing. “I never knew you already thought about that between us,” he teased and suddenly wrapped his hand around my waist. I pushed him away from me.
“You wish!” I exclaimed. “I just went along with your pretense so she wouldn’t suspect us.”
“Oh, come on. I know you’re lying right now. You couldn’t look at me.” He grabbed my waist again and brought his mouth close to my ear. “Don’t worry, it might happen someday.”
“Oh, shut up, Ismael! It won’t! You’re not my type!” One of my lies. I pushed him and quickly ran away from him because the other patients were already looking at us. What kind of idea crossed my mind when I told the nurse that Ismael and I were married? Look at what happened-that man is teasing me nonstop! But on the one hand, it also helped me to reduce the weight I feel deep inside.
I couldn’t help but smile, especially when I saw Ismael smile earlier. It’s very rare for him to smile like that. I always saw him looking so serious, especially when he taught class.
I returned to the front of the emergency room, where Roxsielle was. I peeked. The doctors are no longer inside. Has she finished receiving the treatment? Can I go see her inside? I want to see her if she’s alright now.
“Where is my wife?” I immediately turned around because of that shout. I know that’s my brother. And I was not wrong. I saw Joth walking quickly towards me. There was anger on his face.
He immediately slapped me when he got close to me. “What did you do to her?”
I touched my cheek. His hand was so heavy that I could feel the pain coming from it.
“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to, Joth,” I said in my trembling voice. I could see on his face that he couldn’t forgive me, because what happened added to his reasons why he doesn’t want to see me anymore. He hates me.
“Miss Alvandra isn’t the one at fault,” replied Ismael, who was already here next to me. His face was serious as if he were trying to hide his anger. Wait, did he see my brother slap me?
I closed my eyes. I couldn’t help but feel ashamed and belittled. Why did he have to witness that?
“The doctor told me that your wife is suffering from stress and anxiety. It is the cause of the bleeding. He stated that she had just given birth to your child and should not be moving just yet because her sutures would have opened, but it appears she is performing some sort of heavy activity based on her physique. That was why she bleeds,” explained Ismael. Right. I also noticed that Roxsielle was very thin compared to my brother, who gained weight.
I saw how worried my brother Joth was on his face. Even though we haven’t been together for long, I already know why he reacted that way. He’s letting his partner do all the work. And I can’t help being annoyed with him and feeling sorry for Roxsielle. Roxsielle must be exhausted because of this jerk.
“Your wife needs to rest. Don’t push her to work. It is you who needs to do that for your family. You’re the man,” Ismael added, causing me to glance at him. His words and the way they came out of his mouth have mesmerized me. “Don’t worry about the bill; I already paid for it. So if you’ll excuse us, we better leave.”NôvelDrama.Org is the owner.
My jaw immediately dropped. He paid for Roxsielle’s bill?
Ismael grabbed Joth’s shoulder and patted it. “You better take care of your wife. Don’t blame your shortcomings on your sister. Your wife scratched my woman’s flawless arm and maybe that was the reason she was pushed.” Joth glanced at me as if he had lost his temper; pity took its place. “And don’t you ever hurt your sister again. She’s a woman you should love.”
“Let’s go,” Ismael said in his deep voice before he took my hand. I wasn’t able to react immediately but my body was able to follow him.
Ismael is holding my hand very warmly. In fact, it warms my heart. I didn’t expect him to pay Roxsielle’s hospital bill. I was supposed to ask my parents about this earlier but I lost my mind since I was so occupied by what happened.
“Wait a minute, Ismael…” I stopped walking to take my hand from him. He turned to me, still wearing a serious face. Prior to this moment, he was making fun of me; his expression had changed to one of irritation. “How much is the hospital bill for me to pay you?” I asked.
“Fifty thousand.”
I was stunned. What the hell? Fifty thousand? Where can I get such big money to pay him?
“F-fifty thousand?” I repeated.
“You want a receipt?” he asked as his forehead furrowed. I nodded and so he got his wallet from his coat. “My apologies, I didn’t get the receipt.”
I was stunned. “A-alright. I trust you. Can I pay it in installments?” I asked as I apologized. Why did I ask for the price in the first place and offer to pay? I even had a problem with the money I would lend Roxsielle because I felt sorry for her condition, and one of the reasons was me. If I hadn’t pushed her.
I shook my head. I am really disappointed by how my brother tortures him. A woman doesn’t deserve such poor treatment.
“Yeah, of course. Three nights are enough.” What he said surprised me. Am I a prostitute? “H-hey, what are you thinking? No, I wasn’t talking about that,” he added. “But if you insist, that’s the best suggestion.” He flirted.
I gasped in panic. “Of course not!” I lied, but well, I made him mine for one night for free, and there’s nothing wrong if he wants me to. I am willing to do it if he wants to take me for three nights.
Wait. What the eff? What am I thinking?
“What are you talking about, then?”
“Dean Dator told me that your section, together with the most outstanding booths, is going camping for three nights. So except for being exempted from my class, you will also get a prize from Dean.”
I was in shock. My eyes sparkle. “So, are you saying my section is included in the most outstanding booths? Hold on, did you just say except for being exempted…” My eyes widened. “… we made it to the top? We are the most profitable booth?” I asked. I couldn’t help but smile. Why does my mood change so quickly when I’m with him?
“Oh, I shouldn’t have told you that.” He grabbed his neck and scratched it, which made me laugh. “Keep it a secret from your class until the announcement.” I nodded. He’s so cute.
“Well, I just thought that you wouldn’t be attending so just to make sure you will be there, in order for you to be paid for your debts, go to that camping. You deserve a breather.”
I smiled but at the same time, I was surprised. Is he serious that this will be the payment of the fifty thousand I owe him? He has a point. I don’t mingle with others since my social battery can’t last long. But even then, is that enough in exchange for fifty thousand?
“Are you sure?” Is he this rich? Does a person with a lot of money like him think like this? A lot of money in exchange for a very simple favor? Considering that that favor wouldn’t benefit him after.
“Yeah. What else do you want me to include? You want to push the first one?”
I shook my head. “N-no, of course not! A night with you last time is enough. That can’t be followed. It was a mistake. It is my mistake.” I don’t want to get hurt again. It is better this way-our student-professor relationship.
“A mistake?” he asked. His mocking smile vanished, and disappointment seemed to take its place. I watched his eyes as if they were telling me something.
“Isn’t it?” I asked.
“Of course, it is to you. But I wasn’t drunk that night, Miss Alvandra, just so you know.” I immediately felt something strange in my chest. My heart beat faster and I could feel even my cheeks getting hot and red. What does he mean?
“W-what do you mean?” I stammered.
“Let’s go home now, so you can rest. No, don’t rest. Think about what I said. It is for me to know and for you to figure out.”