AT THE HOSPITAL!

$1,000,005 is what was written under the total available amount on his bank account, and he couldn't believe it. He was not crazy! It was real! The voice in his head is real.

Right then, a big smile flashed on his face as he let his body fall on his bed, and he felt like he was floating with the clouds. "Hahahah!" He laughed, as if he had won the lottery, and even rolled on his bed out of joy.

****

"Bess!" Lay smiled when Fiona opened the door of the hospital room where her mother was admitted.

"Waaah!" She was stunned for a moment to see her best friend in a new haircut and casual attire. Her almond-dark-brown eyes widened a little as she looked at him from head to toe.

He is wearing neat clothes: a white polo shirt, skin-tone shorts, and white sneakers, which are all new and look expensive.

"Wow!" She gulped when her eyes fell on the bouquet of red roses and the basket of fruits in his hand. "You looked amazing!"

"The fruits?" He sarcastically asked because her eyes were fixed on the basket of fruits in his hand. Then they just both laughed!

"You don't have work today?" She immediately asked.

"Nope!" was his quick response, and he smiled sweetly.

"Don't smile too often. You're making me fall in love with you!" Her tone is so serious that Lay was unable to speak for a moment.

"Kidding!" Then she faked a laugh, which made Lay chuckle too. "What happened? Did your wealthy family let you come back home already?" She curiously asked.

"Will you not let me in first before your interview?" He asked, which made the girl laugh a little, but her face was suddenly painted with sadness.

"Oh, sorry! Come in!" She widely opened the door and let the man get in. "You're just in time. I just finished feeding Mom." Her eyes were full of worries as she looked at her Mom on the bed.

"Oh, Lay!" A joyful smile flashed on the face of the woman, who looked like she was in her 50s with the wrinkles on her face. She's a bit pale and obviously weak.

"Good morning, Auntie." Lay greeted her with a big smile on his face. Then he put the fruits and the bouquet on the side table. "By the way, how are you feeling now?"

"Don't worry, I am feeling better now, and if we can pay the bill today, I will be released tomorrow already." Her eyes were full of joy and admiration for the strong young man. She and Fiona know how much he has suffered all these years.

"That's good to hear, Aunt." He smiled sweetly, and Fiona couldn't help but secretly admire his enchanting smile.

"I bought some fruits for you! Do you want to have some? I will peel one for you," he humbly offered. His tone is very kind and gentle.

"Oh! You're such a nice and considerate man! Thank you. I just had lunch; I will have some later."

"You didn't tell me you'd come here today, but thank you. Look how happy my Mom is now!" Fiona sat beside her mother.

"Ain't you the one more happy to see your man?" The old lady teased her daughter.

"Mom!" Fiona blushes and can't look at Lay directly anymore.

"Hahaha!" Lay chuckles. "Auntie, you're teasing Fiona again."

"You two!" She gazed at Lay. "If you only don't have a girlfriend with whom you are very loyal, I won't mind having a thick face and leaving my daughter in your hands. You two were very close and have had each other's back since you were kids anyway!" The lady seriously said.

Lay's heart seemed to have been stabbed by a sharp knife after hearing what the old lady said. He remembered how Cheska cheated on him with his stepbrother again, seeing them in a room together.

"Mom, enough. You're embarrassing me!" Fiona complained and shifted her gaze towards Lay, who looked out of her mind right now. "Have you eaten lunch already?" she asked, but the man seemed to not hear her.

"Lay!" Fiona called.

The man twitched and looked a little bit shocked. "Huh? What did you say again?"

"Are you okay? I'm asking if you have lunch already!" she said.

"Oh, yeah! Don't worry, I had eaten lunch before I came here." He smiled sweetly, trying to compose himself and stop thinking about his ex.

"Damn! This man! I told you not to smile too often!" Fiona was screaming in her head as her heart beat very fast. She just clenched her teeth to stop herself from screeching.

Gosh! She's very much attracted to his smile. He just looked like an angel to her with his kind face and innocent silvery gray eyes—a man of her dreams.

"Oh! That's good!" She faintly laughed and immediately looked down to hide her blushing face and control her racing heartbeat, which she really can't control every time she sees his angelic smile.

"By the way, I won't stay here for long too. I still have something important to do." Lay stands up and looks at Fiona's Mom. "Auntie, I'll just visit you at your house if I have time soon. Don't work and stress yourself too much again. Get well soon, okay?"

"Thank you, son. You too, take care of yourself always." She smiled.

Fiona stood up too. "I'll just send him outside, Mom," she said, and her mother just nodded.

Outside the room, Fiona's worries about her mother's health and their hospital bill that she's just hiding in front of her mother were painted on her face again.

"Dude, uhm—" She wanted to ask him about the payment for the money that he borrowed, but she was a bit shy.

Suddenly, Lay pinched her cheeks while chuckling. Fiona immediately pouted, but she looked very cute. She really hates everyone pinching her flawless, round, cute face, but when it comes to Lay, she secretly loves it.

"You're so cute, Bess!" He chuckles, and here we go again. Fiona's heart started beating fast as she stared blankly at his handsome face while he enjoyed pinching her cheeks.

"Dude, enough!" Fiona took his hands off her cheeks and quickly turned around to hide her blushing face.

"Come on! Don't be sad and stop worrying now! You look ugly if you don't smile." But she didn't answer or look back at him. She just breathed deeper to calm herself.

"I have sent $5,000 to your bank account already and paid your Mom's bill," he said, which made her eyes widen in shock. She immediately turned around to face him.

"Really?" She couldn't believe it.

"Hmm!" He nodded.

"You're really my angel!" Fiona hugged him immediately with a big smile on her face. She was totally happy.

Without malice, Lay hugged her too and patted her back. "You look beautiful when you're happy!" He whispered in her ears, which gave her goosebumps. Her heart pounded erratically, like it wanted to pop out just because of his sweet little compliment.