Chapter 177: It's Me
After a few more words, the call got cut off, leaving Daniel feeling even more down in the dumps.
Brad probably didn't see that call coming either. If he had, he might've just let it go to voicemail.
Back in the day, Daniel was the big man on campus. Smart, good-looking, the whole package. He even landed a sweet job offer in his senior year. If it wasn't for that car accident, he'd be living the dream right now.
But that car crash wrecked everything. Now he can't even stand up, let alone see the morning sun. All that stuff he was so proud of? Gone. How could he not feel lost?
He was already barely hanging on, and that call just rubbed Brad's success in his face, making him feel even worse.
I stood by the door, worried, not daring to let them see me.
I thought Brad had it rough, but I didn't know it was this bad.
I also thought Daniel would be bummed out, but I didn't expect reality to be so harsh.
Brad's really got it tough, trying to look out for me and keep Daniel safe.
I was scared that this strong, tough guy would one day just break under all this pressure.
"Brad, you've got a healthy body, a great career, our parents' attention, and tons of friends and colleagues. I've got nothing, absolutely nothing. Brad, I'm begging you, give me Jane, okay? I don't want anything else, not even Hugh and Emma. You can have them all. I just want Jane, okay? Please, give her back to me, I'm begging you."
Daniel clutched Brad's sleeve, crying like a lost kid, tears and snot all over his face.
I thought Brad would blow up, but he didn't.
His tall frame swayed, the sadness making him look so heavy.
He wiped his face and spoke in a pained voice, "Daniel, it's my fault you're like this. If I could, I'd give you my eyes and legs, everything. But Jane, she's my world. I won't give her up to anyone. Even if I die, I'll still love her. I'll never let go of her, no matter what."
Tears flowed uncontrollably.
Brad, my love, even in such tough times, he chose me.
"Brad, I'm begging you. I like Jane, I miss her, I think about her all the time. I messed up in the past and hurt her. I've been trying to make up for it all these years but never found the right chance. Now I'm crippled and blind, it's even more impossible. But the one thing I want most in this life is her. Her heart is so soft, I became like this to save her, she'd agree out of gratitude, wouldn't she? Brad, if you just let go and talk to her, she'd definitely agree. Brad, I'm begging you, please. Do you know, Brad, I'm almost forgetting her face!"
Daniel collapsed on the ground, curled up into a ball, pitiful, pathetic, and hateful.
Repay a life-saver with your body.
At that moment, I wished it was me who got hit by that car.
Brad stood up, his back to me. I couldn't see his face, but I could feel his determination and disappointment towards Daniel.
"Daniel, I'm telling you one last time. I can give you my eyes, my legs, everything, but Jane, she's my treasure. Don't even think about her, I won't allow it."
More tears fell, and I could barely keep it together. I covered my mouth, my hands shaking, but my heart was filled with warmth.
I was so lucky to have someone like him.
But I couldn't just sit around and wait for him to fix everything. I had to help him, make things easier for him.
"What about me, Brad? I have nothing left. What about me? What should I do?" Daniel murmured painfully.
"Daniel, get up first. Let's talk when you're up." Brad bent down again to help Daniel.
Daniel suddenly lost it, pushing Brad away with both hands, blindly searching for direction, dragging his numb legs, crawling aimlessly.
Brad wasn't ready for it, got pushed to the ground by Daniel, his back hitting the wheelchair armrest with a dull thud.
"No, go away, leave me alone. You're all liars. Mom said she'd be my eyes, Dad said he'd be my legs, you said you'd always take care of me. But the one stuck in darkness is me, the one who can't walk, the one who even needs help to go to the bathroom, is me. Have any of you really thought about my situation? It's all just talk.
My whole life is ruined, all because of your fake illness. If it weren't for you, how would I have become crippled, how would I have become blind? Brad, you owe me for this life, you'll never repay it. Brad, with me like this, even if you and Jane are together, won't you feel guilty when you see me, won't you feel pain?
Jane was mine from the day she was born, how dare you take her, how dare you say you like her? She is mine, mine! Brad, give her back to me, I won't blame you for the past, just give me Jane, I won't hold anything else against you."
Brad stood with his back to me, his body stiff as a board, his hands clenched tightly, his voice heavy and sorrowful. "Jane is not an object, I have no right to give her back to anyone, it's her choice to make. Daniel, Jane is my life, without her, I'm as good as dead. So, I'll give you my life."
Daniel became even more frantic, wildly flailing his hands.
I bet this wasn't the first time Daniel had such an outburst.
I only saw it this once and was driven to the point of wanting to hit someone. Brad lived and worked under such pressure every day, and still had to take care of him. How hard it must be for him.
"No, I don't want your worthless life, I just want Jane. Brad, you took your brother's girl, you're a monster. I hate you, I hate you! Even if you two are together, you won't be happy. I'll be a shadow, always standing between you two, so you'll never live in peace. This is what you owe me!"
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