Unconscious
/-Liam-/
I can't take my eyes off her as she wiggled her waist to the beats of some cardi b thrash. Something's different about her. This isn't the same girl who wanted Dean back desperately.
"You seem unusually happy these days. What's changed?" I ask. She wiggles her brows.
"You enjoy seeing me sad?".
"No but...."
"But nothing. You should be happy I'm finally getting over him. I wanna move on with my life and what's better than music on a Sunday morning?" She grins.
"I'm not against your happiness but I feel it's a bit sudden. Your fairy godmother couldn't have just whispered in your ears and boom you decide to forget about him. What's the real reason your moving on?" I ask.
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. I hope you like lasagna cause there's no second choice for you" She changes the topic.
"Riley, are you being honest? This sudden change is natural? Like you didn't bump into any loose sperm that filled your head with nonsense?" I ask suspiciously. I know how gullible she can be most times. Some idiot could have just spilled some sick story about Dean and her naive mind readily accepted to back off.
"Why do I feel you're more on Dean's side than mine? What's up with you and Dean any way? You're always so defensive of him. Are you by any chance..."
"Don't fuckin dare. I have absolutely no interest in Dean. I'm into blue-eyed blonds. More like Renzo. I can't handle Dean" I state and she grins.
"And why is Dean above your control? I thought your sharpedged tongue could handle anything" She snickers and I roll my eyes. She thinks cause Dean is willing to bend to her will, he'll do same for anyone.
She has no idea who Dean as before he met her. His temper was out of this world and his mere presence was terrifying. Plus, he's not into guys.
"Think whatever you want".
From the look on her face, I know she's about to tease me so I quickly exit the kitchen. The front door opens almost immediately and Renzo walks in.
"Oh, pardon us, King of the universe. Your humble servants didn't hear you knock. How may we of service to you, my Lord?" I sneer.
"We need to talk" He states.
"What are we talking about?' I reply evenly.
"You've been avoiding me. You ignore my calls and texts too" He begins.
"Do I have to throw myself on you especially after your dick of a frien broke my girl's heart?" I scoff. Someone smacks my head from behind. I groan and Riley shoves me out of her way.
"That was rude. He didn't push Dean to do what he did" She says. I roll my eyes and fold my arms as she hugs him.
"Renzo, you don't look too well. Are you sick?" She asks and I glance at him. He looks worn out. What's stressing him?. I wait to hear his reply but none comes.
"Renzo, is everything okay?" She asks.
"No" he mutters. No?.
"So...?" Riley asks but he doesn't look like he's ready to disclose it.
"Come on, I thought we're friends" she pouts.
"It's Dean" He finally replies and an awkward silence follows. I glance at Riley who seems torn between inquiring further or walking away.
"What's wrong with Dean?" I decide to spare her the whole stress.
"He...He...I..actually...we..." He keeps stuttering until I interrupt.
"What's wrong with Dean? Nobody understands your 'i..we..actually..' Is he okay?".
"He needs you back" He says and relief washes through me. I thought something serious happened. Riley huffs.
"And you had to be his mouthpiece huh? Well tell Dean I don't need him back. The baby and I are doing great without him".
"You don't understand. You have to take him back. He didn't mean to hurt you" He says.
"And how would you know that, huh? Why isn't he here to speak for himself? Look, whatever he's brewing will certainly not work. Riley doesn't want him back. He can go to hell with his love and everything else he thinks he can offer" She barks.
Even I, am shocked at her reply. Something's definitely wrong. Riley would have been jumping to hear Dean wants them back together.
"Alright. At least see him" He pleads.
"I don't want to" She shrugs.
"Please. Do this for me, please" He pleads desperately.
"Alright, let him in" she surrenders.
"He's not here".
"I don't want to believe he expects her to come over. If he wants her back, he should be here not the other way round" I say finally.
"He can't. His condition...I mean the...fuck, how do I say this?" He sighs rifling his hair.
"What's really going on? Why can't he come? What condition?" I ask.
"He's in the hospital" He spills and Riley gives an ugly laugh.
"Oh, I see. That's why he suddenly wants me back. I'm so disappointed in you, Renzo. You came here to convince me to hurt an innocent baby, right? Damn you all. Get outta my house".
"That's not what I meant. You're getting it wrong, I swear. It has nothing to with the abortion. It was a heart attack" He says.
"Right, I totally believe you now get lost" She snaps.
"Riley..."
"Leave!" She says coldly and he walks out.
"And to think I scolded you for being rude to him" She seethes. I keep staring at the door. Heart attack? Since when?.
"Riley, give me a moment" I say heading to the door. Renzo's already in his car but his head's on the steering wheel. Is he telling the truth?.
I walk over and knock on the glass. He raises his head to stare at me sadly.
"Ten minutes to prove your story" I state and a small smile curves on his lips. I get into the passenger's seat and he drives speedily to the hospital. I trail behind him as he rushes in.
His ten minutes is long spent but I really wanna confirm his story. A few nurses throw sympathetic glances at him. I follow him to the ward and my breath hitches.
"The doctor said they've stabilised him but it's been five days and he's yet to show any sign of life. He regained consciousness, Liam. I'm scared. I don't know what to do" He tells me.
I walk closer to get a better look at the figure on the bed. Greasy hair, dry lips, pale skin. He barely looks alive. A little panic sets in at the thought but the constant beeps of the heart monitor gives me assurance.
Delilah is asleep by his bedside too. She looks no better than Renzo.
"How long? How did this happened? What..when..why..." I can't even find the words to speak. It's like my entire system is frozen.
"I don't know. He locked himself in for more than three days. He buried himself in alcohol and self-condemnation. I had no idea he was going through so much cause he hid it so well. He buried himself in fear. It's partially my fault too. Maybe if I wasn't so quick to judge him, he would have opened up earlier. If I had tried talking to him instead of ignoring him, this wouldn't have happened. Could you imagine Dean still feels responsible for what happened to Tatiana and Grace? He stills blames himself for their deaths. He even concluded he would kill Riley too and....." He stops unable to speak anymore as his voice threatens to break.
"Tatiana? Grace? That was like three years ago. I can't believe I forgot about it too" I mutter staring guiltily at my feet. News about Tatiana and Grace had reached Omar during that time and I was asked to arrange another psychologist. A male this time so he would grow attached. I had no idea he still lived with the guilt.
"What do we do now?" I ask.
"I don't know. Hope, I guess. It's what I've been doing for the past five days" He say wearily.
"I need to tell Riley about this" I say taking out my phone. I just hope she's still at home.
/-Diane-/
Pregnant huh? Absolutely perfect. I watch her rush out of the house hurriedly and hail a cab. I wonder where she's off to.
I step out of my car and walk inside. Ever since I found out about the pregnancy, I've been waiting for an opportunity to strike. I had to stay away so when things go wrong, I'd be the last person on their mind and now's just the perfect time.
I open the fridge and take out strawberry juice pack. I have nothing to worry about since Liam doesn't like strawberry. I remove the pills and crush them perfectly before pouring the powder into the juice pack.
I seal it and stuff it back in the fridge. Let's see how you escape this one, princess.
I walk out of the house and shut the door before driving off.