Loving You Too Long

Nathan sat upright with his head slightly bowed forward, while Gilbert slept with his head leaning on Nathan’s shoulder. They would surely wake up with uncomfortable neck and shoulder positions. And Haisley felt guilty about it. If only she hadn’t drowned, she wouldn’t have troubled the two brothers. She really had to make it up to them. And an idea suddenly crossed her mind.

“Haisley woke up from her bed. She needed to use the bathroom urgently but hesitated to wake up Nathan or Gilbert. She removed the oxygen mask from her nose, grabbed the IV stand, and walked silently.

A few minutes after finishing her business, Haisley was surprised to find Nathan standing in front of the bathroom door. “Why didn’t you wake me up?” he asked, his eyes narrowing sharply.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to disturb you,” Haisley replied softly. She walked ahead of Nathan to return to the bed. She noticed Gilbert sleeping, his head tilted back, leaning against the chair. His neck would surely be stiff tomorrow.

“How are you?” Nathan asked again. Now Haisley was sitting on the bed, and Nathan was still standing in front of her. They were quite close.

“Better,” she replied, looking up at Nathan. “Where are we?”

“We’re back in town,” he answered in his usual tone, placing the IV stand back in its place.

“What about Loretta and the others?” Suddenly, the image of the beautiful girl flashed in Haisley’s mind.

“G has arranged for them to return as scheduled. Are you hungry?” he asked, abruptly changing the subject. Haisley rubbed her slightly painful stomach. When was the last time she ate? She didn’t have proper lunch and dinner.

“Wait here; I’ll find some food. I hope it won’t take long,” he said. He then left Haisley after handing her the TV remote.

“Hasn’t he changed?” The question made Haisley turn toward Gilbert. He was moving his apparently stiff neck.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“What do you mean? Didn’t you sleep?”

“Not since you woke up. I just pretended to sleep and wanted to see what Nathan would do. How are you?”

“Better,” Haisley replied with the same words. Gilbert got up and walked closer to the bed. He helped Haisley adjust the bed position before sitting on a chair he had purposely pulled close to the bed.

“Thank goodness,” he said in relief. “Want a drink?” he asked. Haisley nodded. Gilbert took a glass from the bottom of the water dispenser and filled it with warm water before handing it to Haisley. “He seems worried. Don’t you realize he was the one accompanying you in the ambulance from the mainland to the first hospital?” Haisley shook her head after finishing her drink. “He’s the one who asked the paramedics for permission to bring you here. I think he was panicking at that time. He really cares about you. And that means he’s already paying attention to you.”

Haisley snorted in response. She placed the glass on the bedside table and then pulled the blanket up to her mid-thigh with her hand, her other hand free from the IV.

“Everyone would feel the same way, G. Not just Nathan. I’m sure others would feel the same worry if someone they knew suddenly drowned in front of them.”

“If that’s what you want to think, go ahead. But I see it differently,” he continued with a sharp gaze fixed on Haisley.

“I’ve decided to stop hoping, G. I won’t fall for Nathan anymore. Whether he treats me well or not, I won’t take it to heart. And if I see him being nice to someone else, I won’t be jealous either. So, even if you think Nathan has started to change a little towards me, I’ll always assume he’ll do the same thing to a stranger.

“I don’t want to let myself fly and then be dropped because of empty hopes I’ve built.” She replied with a melancholic face. “It’s all over. My ten years are over. I choose to step back before falling into a hole too deep and ending up in pain.”

Unbeknownst to Haisley, someone heard her words outside the door, their hands clutching a package they carried.”

On the second day of her treatment, her friends who had gone on the trip together came to visit her at the hospital. Haisley welcomed them with a bright smile on her face, grateful for their attention, especially considering she had only recently met them. Haisley’s room, which had been quiet, suddenly became lively with their presence. Luckily, the hospital staff didn’t reprimand them.

They gathered in Haisley’s room for quite some time until they decided to leave, each of them uttering ‘get well soon’ before departing. Among everyone saying their goodbyes, Haisley asked Reia to stay a bit longer. She was the only woman in the group whom Haisley felt she could trust.

“Yes?” Reia turned around, approaching Haisley’s bed. “Do you need something?” she inquired.

Haisley smiled shyly, nodding her head slightly. “I need your help,” she said softly. “Do you have any information about flats that might be available for rent soon?” she asked in a hushed voice.

Reia frowned upon hearing Haisley’s question. “For whom, H?” she asked, surprised. Everyone knew that Haisley was currently staying at Gilbert and Nathan’s residence. So, it seemed odd for Haisley to be searching for a new place. Especially a flat. Why would she want to leave a place with better facilities for a small, possibly noisy, and cramped rental?

“For myself,” Haisley replied honestly. Reia’s forehead wrinkled further in confusion.

“You want to move?” Reia asked, unsure. Haisley nodded again. “You want to live alone? Move out of Gilbert’s house, is that it?” she asked, trying to convince herself. Haisley nodded once more in response. “Why?” Reia asked, curious. “I mean, why do you want to move? Isn’t it more comfortable to live at Gilbert’s?”

“No specific reason,” Haisley shook her head slowly, smiling gently. “I just want to learn to be independent. I don’t want to keep bothering Nathan and Gilbert,” she reasoned. “Besides, from the beginning, my plan was just to stay temporarily at their place. Until I got to know the area well.” Yes, Haisley had thought about it since the beginning. Although she didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. Her initial plan was far from moving out; she had intended to win Nathaniel’s heart first. But now? That desire had dissolved, disappearing along with the seawater that had nearly drowned her.