Bad news

I smile because my drawing was perfect and I was satisfied.

"WOW, You are a pro. Can you draw me too?" I heard someone saying behind my back.

I acknowledged his voice immediately,

Wait, is he?...

"What, am I not welcome?" Here he comes teasing me again.

I never said something. I say in my head while rolling my eyes.

"Hey Ryan, since when are you back?" Interrupt my dad.

"Couple days ago, uncle. What happened to you, uncle? Are you fine?" In a shocking face, he looks at my dad.

"Long story I will tell you later. Join us." Smiles, my dad.

He comes running as a child and sits next to me on the bench.

"Uwe, you are getting better at painting.

Just kidding, you always were good at painting. HaHa."

He hits me in the back. I m so annoyed by the way he behaves.

You are disturbing me right now. Can you sit still and not move? Or else I can't paint you.

"Yes, ma'am." He says jokily, what makes my dad and him laugh.

What is there to laugh about, I ask them.

" I haven't seen you being soo annoyed for soo long. It is nice to have someone that can be by your side and tease you at the same time, says my dad while smiling at me."

Dad, are you on my side or his side? I ask him annoyed.

"I am on no one's side." My dad says while he knows this is annoying me.

"What about I go back, and you guys catch up? asks my dad."

Are you sure you can go back alone?

"Don't worry about me. I will tell nurse to help me."

Can you tell the nurse to call me when you are in your room, please?

Or else I will be worried.

" Aya Kapitin, My dad says while laughing out loud."

I call the nurse for him, and she takes him back.

****

Ryan's Pov:

I go out of the hospital for fresh air.

I just hate hospitals. The smell and everything just make me wanna vomit.

There is one thing I like about this hospital, and that is their garden. It is so beautiful. When you go there, you just want to stay.

After a while, I see someone, and I think that is Alice.

I walk towards her with a big smile. It is nice to see her again.

WOW, You are a pro at this. Can you paint me too? I ask her with an innocent face.

She doesn't say anything.

I tease her a bit.

Her father looks at me and asks me when I am back.

Just a couple of days ago, uncle. I say to him.

What happened to you, uncle? Are you okay?

"It is a long story. I will tell you later."

I knick at him and see that he is uncomfortable talking about it, so I try to change the suspect.

Uwwww, you are getting better at painting, Alice.

Just kidding, you were always good at painting. Girls were always jealous of you because of that. I say while hitting her lightly in the back.

After a while, her father tells us that he will go back and give us some space so that we can talk and catch up with each other.

I can see she is worried about her father. I wonder what happened.

After her father goes away, Alice sighs and sits next to me.

Aren't you going to paint me too? I ask her acting cute.

"No, I am tired. I want to rest."

I can see that. Alice has bags under her eyes, and she looks a little pale.

"So what are you doing here? she asks me."

My friend was in this hospital, so I came to visit him.

"Oh, what happened to him?"

he was riding his motor when he got in an accident. But it is not that bad, which makes me at ease. He always rides his motorcycle without a helmet.

" I see you care about him a lot."

Yeah, he is like a brother to me. He is my diary. I always tell him if something is bothering me or if I am sad.

But enough about me.

What happened to uncle?

"Oh, he got into a car accident, which damaged his Spinal cord.

Now he is disabled."

He can't move his body, only his head though, Which I am really happy about. The doctors said that it is already a miracle that he is awake. She begins to cry while telling me her story."

Hey, It is alright. Everything will be fine. I hug Alice while saying some comforting words to her.

It must be hard. Seeing someone you love getting hurt.

Hey, why don't we take a walk? And eat some ice cream.

"Do you eat ice cream in the morning? She asks me with an amused smile."

Why not. I LOVE ICE CREAM!!

She laughs

"Oke, no problem. But you buy!"

Deal! I say

We stand and take a walk while eating ice cream.

I am happy that I can help her while she is in this situation.

I am happy that I can be by her side when she needs someone now.

Oh actually, where is aunty? I haven't seen her yet.

"Ohh, she went home. She said she is going to come to visit later. She is busy with work."

Okay, tell me when she visits. I haven't seen her for a long time either. I would like to say my greetings.

I will. Don't worry

Liam's Pov:

Wow, she really has a temper. How could she get mad so simply? But she really looks like someone. I just can't remember who it was.

I hate that I can't see her face, or else I would have known by now if it is her or not.

Not being able to see people's face is really annoying. I can't see their facial expressions.

I take my coffee and go outside for a bit.

The fresh air is really nice today. It is sunny, and the flowers in the garden are beautiful.

I go to a bench and sit down and begin drinking my coffee.

One of my habits is drinking coffee in the morning. No matter if I am in the office or at home, I always need to have coffee first thing in the morning.

It keeps me active.

I see someone walking towards me, but I can't recognize their face but from the clothes, I can already guess who it is.

"Hey, son, how are you doing?"

Ohh, hi, dad. I am fine. I just need to get used to this. You know, not being able to see people's face.

"I understand. Do you know you have to get better soon? The company needs you."

I know dad, Don't worry about that.

"So what are you planning to do till you get the surgery??"

I will tell Oliver to bring me some paperwork. So that I can help you and so that you can have a rest too.

"that is my boy. You can never forget the company. You know it is the only thing that is still going on that reminds us of your mother?"

I know, don't worry about that. I would never forget the company dad. That is what you taught me. I smile at him.

He stands up and hugs me.

"I will go now. I have a meeting with some important businessmen. I will tell Oliver to come to visit you."

Okay, I say, and he goes.

My father and I were never close. I was closer to mom than dad. After my mother died, my father became very strict. I had to study every day and every minute. I couldn't even go outside and play with my friends.

My father always wanted me to be the best in class.

If I didn't get 100 points on a test, then he would take away all my toys, and he wouldn't even give me food until I would recall everything he told me to.

It was very tough for me at first, but then I started to get used to it, and later it became an ordinary thing for me.

So now, even if I work two days in a row, I am still okay, even though my body can't take it sometimes.

*****

Elizabeth's Pov:

I wake up in the morning and look around.

She still didn't come. I can't believe she still is with her dad even after telling her that he cheated on me.

Even after I fed her and gave her love, she didn't even think twice before choosing him!!

I am so angry and annoyed.

I will go to her for the last time. I will ask her who she is going to choose. If she still picks her dad, then she will have to bear the consciences.

*****

Alice' Pov:

*****

It was really amusing to be with Ryan. Although he is really annoying, sometimes he knows how to comfort people.

Thanks to him, I feel so much better.

I go back to my father's room, but I stop when I see nurses in a panic running towards my dad room.

The paintbrushes fall on the ground.

I run towards them, but one of them stops me.

"Sorry, you cant go inside right now. The condition of your father is not well at the moment. He got an attack... we will be back shortly.

Hopefully, It will be good news.

Please wait in the waiting area" she closed the door behind her.

What's going on with my dad? I am freaking out.

The tears started to slide down my cheeks.

"Hey, what's going on?" Ryan runs to me.

She told me that my fathers condition got worse and I don't know what is happening.

Ryan quickly hugs her and sushes her.

Elizabeth's pov:

I go back to the hospital.

Hello, is Mr Jonathan in the same room as before? I ask the lady at the reception.

"You are Mr Jonathan's wife, right? Yes, he is in the same room as before. Have a lovely day."

Thank you.

When I go to the hall, I see a boy hugging Alice.

She is crying outloud.

I walk closer to them to see the boy's face.

"Hey, auntie. It is me, Ryan." He stands up... Alice follows him.

"Mum?" She takes her distance from me.

"Ryan, can you leave? I need to talk to Alice in private.

He walks off. I could see in his face that he's full of questions.

"Mum, what are you doing here?"

I came for you, honey. Did you think about what I said last time?

"What are you talking about? she replies.

So, who are you going to choose? Me or that man?

"Mum, how can you say that right now? Cant, you see that dad is in a serious condition?"

I don't have to do anything with him anymore. I am not the one that should care for him. When he was cheating, he never thought about me either!

"You are lying! Stop accusing him of things he would never do. You can go if you want, but I am not leaving him behind." she crosses her arms.

I got what I wanted. See you, my precious daughter, but know that you have to bear with the consequences. I walk off when I hear the nurse calling her.

Alice's pov:

The way she made her comeback didn't surprise me anymore, after what she did to me last time.

How dumb of me to think that she came for us two.

"Alice, come here, please." the nurse calls me.

When I go to stand in front of her, she becomes silent.

What happened? Is dad okay now?

"I am sorry, your dad's condition is not good. He has less than a month to live, but his condition can become worse at any time." She looks down.

I couldn't help but cry so loud. Everyone tries to comfort me, but nothing helped.

I WANT TO SEE MY DAD! NOW! PLEASE!! I crawl on the ground.

Liam's pov:

"Sir, you can go home for now. You must be back two weeks later for surgery. Do not overwork yourself and rest a lot. See you next time!" Says the nurse to me.

I can finally go home!!! YAYYY!!

I am happy. This hospital really made me homesick.

*******

Two weeks later.

*****

After I had my surgery, the doctor told me that I have to stay for a few more hours, and then I can leave.

After a while, Oliver comes with my suit.

"Are you sure that you want to go to the office? You just had your surgery a few hours ago."

You know that my father was upset that I didn't go to work these last weeks.

"You and your father, Bro. I am sorry about that. I really wouldn't want a life like yours." says Oliver while shaking his head

I have everything a human could only dream of, and I have achieved that with my hard work. You know, the company is the only thing that reminds me of my mom, so I have to work harder to make her proud of me.

Maybe she is cheering for me from up, so I can't make her disappointed in me. I say while looking up.

"I understand, bro. Let's go now. Your father is waiting for you." Oliver says while patting on my back.

****

Alice's Pov:

It's been two weeks since I got the news that my father didn't have long to live anymore.

Since then, I haven't been sleeping well. And I have no appetite to eat anything.

It looks like the world stopped spinning for me. I am lost in my thoughts, not knowing what I am doing.

The only thing that makes me mad is that mum didn't even bother to call or visit us.

How can she disappear like that? Did we not mean anything to her after all these years?

If she left us like this... I will never forget this moment.

In the meantime, I looked up for work to pay off the hospital bills since mom took all the money.

"Alice, are you there?" my dad wakes up.

I hold his hand and kiss it.

"You should at least change today and come back. You haven't eaten, changed or slept good these days. My little girl, you have lost so much weight... do you want to die? Go get some good food and come back."

Dad... how can you joke even when you're sick?

"Go before it's dark stay home tonight. you have an art exam tomorrow, right?" He says softly.

Uhm... yes, dad. I say jumpy and walk out.

Wait! I kiss him on the head and say my goodbys.

I don't want to tell dad that mum took all the money. She didn't leave a single penny. That is the reason why I stopped going to university.

If he comes behind, his condition might be worse. And he will be mad at me when he gets to know I don't go to my lessons anymore.

I was shocked at first and confused. I didn't know what to do, and I don't want to go to her. I don't even want to see her anymore!

I am not the type that lies often. I like to be honest but not now.

Deep in thoughts, without knowing where I am walking, I bump into someone.

My head is on his chest then he points out his finger and pushes my head away from him.

"I can't lie... you are everywhere I come in the hospital, but too bad for you, I am leaving this hospital today." he puts on his sunglasses proper.

I don't have time for your nonsense today. Move! I walk away

"Wait! What is that smell? Oliver, take me out of this hospital... you know I hate its smell!" He reached out his hand for support.

Is it me? Does my hair smell this bad?