NEON'S VISIT II

"Belle." Neon hugged his sister tightly and buried his face in her neck. His silent sobs broke her heart and she realized how selfish she was for leaving Neon. "Belle, I was scared."

"Hm? Why is my big boy scared? I thought you will grow strong and protect me?"

"I know. I always remember my promise. I never cried when you left."

Isabelle felt the air leave her lungs and she trembled while holding her brother. She missed him. She just realized it now. "Neon, when I get out from here, let's move away."

"Move where?" Eli could not help but ask. He planned to stay silent and give the siblings some space for themselves but hearing her words before he could even analyze anything, his mouth already asked her the question that his mind wanted to know, or probably it was his heart. He wasn't sure. "Are you going to quit your job?"

"I don't even remember anything. What's the point of keeping it?"

"But I promised to help you."

"What does it have to do with you? You can just go on with your daily life and forget about helping me. I'll find a better job."

Eli's mouth was gaping and he didn't know what to do. He hasn't repaid her yet for the things that she has done for him. "Do you hate me?" Eli blurted out of nowhere.

It was not just Belle who got surprised by this question, Neon was quite worried as well. He likes Eli because he was always good to him and he looked after him when his sister was not around. Facing this question, he was afraid that his sister doesn't like the doctor that he liked.

"Belle?" Neon called out which brought his sister's attention back to him. "Do you hate Eli?"

"Why are you calling him Eli? That's Dr. Rivera for you."

"But Eli says it's okay." Neon retorted with his puppy eyes that could melt down anyone's heart. "So, do you hate Eli?"

This question should have no meaning because she already gave up everything including her affection for him. What will she answer now? "I..." She looked at the doctor not far from them who was also waiting for her answer. "We don't need his help."

"That's not the answer to his question."

"Stop nagging." Belle retorted and squished her brother's face lightly. "I don't hate doctors."

Eli knew he wouldn't get the truth from her since Neon was around. He decided to let go of this matter for now and ask her later when another chance arises. He will make sure to get an honest answer from her. "I'll go out and get you some snacks. Since both of you are patients, you can only have fruits. I'll be right back."

As soon as he left, Neon giggled and kissed his sister's cheek. "Eli is really kind. "

"Kind people are scary," Belle replied which stunned Eli who was listening to their conversation. He didn't expect this statement to come from her since she was also kind and helpful. "Remember, we have fallen victim to a person who showed kindness to us once. We cannot let their façade fool us again."

"Belle, are you still angry with what happened?" Isabelle didn't answer but her silence was already an answer to Neon's question. "Are we going to be homeless again?"

Eli has heard enough and left. He didn't want to eavesdrop anymore because he felt annoyed for some reason. Belle was the kindest soul he has ever met and she deserved all the best in life. Hearing something bad that happened to her just irked him. He couldn't even understand why he was feeling like that. It wasn't just pure worry. There was anger in his heart as well. He didn't even feel like this when Jillyanna got kidnapped before.

He walked out of the hospital and bought some fruits for the siblings even though it wasn't his responsibility to do so. [I'll take it as doing my job as a doctor even though they're not really my patients.] He told himself as he picked some apples, oranges, and grapes.

"Excuse me," a lady approached him with a tentative smile gracing her lips. She was looking at Eliezer up and down as if she was studying him. "Are you Dr. Rivera?"

"Yes?"

"Uh...You see, our mothers met sometimes for afternoon tea and they suddenly asked me to visit you. I'm Rachel."

She was beautiful. A woman with long legs and right curves but Eli only looked at the woman's outstretched hands. "I came out directly from the hospital while taking care of children with different illnesses." The woman retracted her hand immediately and her cheeks were red from embarrassment. "I don't like it when people visit me at work for chitchat."

The woman didn't even bother herself to reply and chose to hide her face with her bag and ran away from him.

"Yo! That's not how you should treat women." His friend Cheska, an OB, suddenly appeared and slapped his back. "That was quite a beauty, you know."

"I am not looking for beautiful women."

"Owws?"

"Why are you here anyway?"

"Why can't I? I also have a break." Cheska snapped back and rolled her eyes at him. "So, who was that? Another one of your supposed blind dates?"

"My mother just wouldn't stop looking for one."

"What is it that you don't like about that woman this time?"

"She was a walking dollar. All she wore just to meet a man like me came from international brands. She reeked of perfume and I could still smell the scent of her freshly-done manicure. I can't afford a woman like that."

"What if she has her own work that pays really high? You just judge your blind dates so quickly."

"If she has a high-paying job, she must have a good position at work. Why would she meet a man like me? I am nothing but an ordinary man."

Cheska could only shake her head at this man who doesn't have confidence in himself. Sometimes, she really doubts if this man has moved on from Jillyanna Madrigal. "Anyway, let's not talk about that woman anymore. Let's talk about someone else. How's your junior who got injured from the recent medical mission?"

Eli instinctively turned to look in the hospital's direction even though Belle's room was in another wing. "She looks so much better compared to the day she arrived. At the same time, it feels like she has changed. Maybe because she lost her memories? Oh! She smiled for the first time after seeing her brother. The two of them haven't seen each other for over a week because of what happened so, it was heartwarming to see them reunited again. Neon was really a great kid. His sister has done a great job in looking after him. By the way, what do you think I should do to cheer her up? Last time..."

Listening to his nonstop chatter, a thing that never happened in the past, Cheska smiled meaningfully. Eliezer was innocently telling what he thought was a good thing and confided what he thought he needed to know. There was nothing wrong with what he was doing, at least, not in his opinion.

Cheska told Eli what he can do but Eli kept refusing her ideas because he felt it was too personal and Belle might get the wrong idea. In the end, he was left to deal with his own problems. "Just do whatever you think she will like. Stop asking me for ideas."

"Huh?" Eli scratched his head as he walked back to Belle's room. "Did I do something wrong?" Entering Belle's room, the scene in front of him took his breath away. Belle was telling Neon something and it must have been fun because the two of them were laughing. She didn't look like the woman who wanted him gone. She looked so carefree and charming. "Charming? Who's charming?"

"What are you whispering about?" Belle inquired when she happened to see him standing there while muttering to himself. "You must not let anyone see you muttering to yourself. They'd think you've become crazy."

"Eli. Eli. I have a story for you." Neon expressed excitedly while running towards the doctor.

"Really? I'd love to hear that. How about you tell me while I wash the fruits?"

"Great. Belle said..."

Isabelle suddenly felt tired and she could barely open her eyes. Her view of the handsome doctor was getting blurry and Neon's cheerful voice was growing distant. "Please take care of him."

When Eli looked back to see Belle, she was already sleeping in an uncomfortable position. It was the first time that he saw someone fall asleep in a weird way.

"Eli, can you help my sister? She will feel sore when she wakes up."

"Hm. Okay."

Eliezer pulled her up and held her back to support her weight while he fixed her pillow. With them chest to chest, he was able to feel her beating heart which was gradually thumping faster. "Belle?!"

The minute he pulled to look at her, he met her disoriented gaze. "Why are you touching me?" She muttered and fell asleep once again.

Eli blinked his eyes several times and looked at Neon who covered his mouth to stifle his giggles. "She was sleep-talking, right?" Eli asked Neon softly and the kid nodded his head. The two of them chuckled faintly and he continued to rearrange her position for a comfortable sleep. "Let's leave your sister for now. I have to work and you need to rest."

Taking the doctor's hand, Neon looked up at this reliable man before shifting his gaze to his sleeping sister. "Eli, when can I visit her again?"