Anne, Lisa and Carol's past (8)

Lisa's message made Henry burn with so much anger, he had so many mixed emotions that he didn't know who he was angry with exactly. He didn't know if his anger was directed at his parents who never tried so hard to become richer than Lisa's family. He didn't know if he was angry for turning a blind eye to his level and ending up with Lisa who was way out of his league and him being powerless and not helpful such that he ended up losing to Lisa's mum. He didn't know if he was angry at Lisa for giving up just like without giving a fight. Though they ended up living together with Lisa due to circumstances Henry's feelings towards Lisa were unquestionable. He was the kind of guy who would get so attached, clingy, and a bit possessive when he loves something or someone and he would give it his all. Also, those feelings grew much stronger each day and time they spent together, which is why he never thought of them separating anytime soon no matter the circumstances.

Just the thought of everything made him feel like he was going crazy such that he almost threw the phone in his hand on the floor. He got to understand why Lisa was acting more than sweet than usual, most of the time whenever situations arose, she would get so emotional and sometimes cry. But she just changed and that is also when she asked him some weird questions that he couldn't give a proper answer to and she never discussed what was on her mind until she left. He re-read the message over and over again as if he couldn't comprehend what was written. Whilst his gaze was still focused on his phone, he then noticed that there was another message that he didn't open. It had always been his habit that he doesn't touch his cell phone until he gets home, which is why he didn't notice that message which was sent in the afternoon.

He noticed that the message was sent from the volleyball national team department, which made him feel very bad. He proceeded to read the message and it was informing him that he was no longer legible to be part of the team. Though the tone of the message was polite, there wasn't much explanation as to why he could no longer be part of the team. He didn't need to think so much to figure out the one who was behind it all. He read the message about three times and the only reaction he did was to laugh at himself bitterly. He had just lost the two things that he held dearly in his heart, his world was crumbling and as for his future, it was just bleak to him. He closed his eyes for a moment then, opened them and looked at his phone again, and he noticed so many missed calls and a message from his dad's uncle and he was asking him to come back home as soon as the following day because there was an urgent matter that needed to be addressed at home. Everything had happened once, he couldn't take it anymore, and he even lost his appetite to eat his favorite dish that Lisa had prepared for him. In the end, he didn't take any shower, he just threw himself on his bed without getting dressed into something fresh and clean.

On the other hand, after about 30 minutes Lisa's father got home, which was earlier than usual because Carol had informed him about Lisa's arrival. The moment he got inside the house, he went straight to Lisa's door. He tried opening it and then realized that it was locked. He began to knock softly, and gradually the soft knocks turned to loud and vigorous knocks but no one answered. He began to shout, asking Lisa to open the door as well as hitting it with his palm. The noise was too loud that it got Carol's attention who came out of her room to observe what was happening. Her mum also couldn't avoid looking up from downstairs as she tried to understand what was taking place. As the knocking and shouting progressed, that's when it occurred to Lisa's dad that something wasn't right. He quickly rushed downstairs to the garage and grabbed every tool that could help break the door.

He returned and began to try with his all, to get the door opened. He was making so much noise in the process that Lisa's mum almost asked him to stop because in her head she thought Lisa was just throwing a tantrum because of the discussion that they had earlier. However, she wouldn't dare to because both of them were not in good books, so she just sat down and waited to witness how the small drama that was happening in her home will end. After a few minutes, the door was wide open and, Lisa was lying on the floor. Fortunately, the towel that was wrapped around her body earlier was still intact, also because of the heat of the moment Lisa's dad had no time to think about how she was dressed. He lifted her from the floor and laid her on the bed facing up, he moved his hand on her nose to check her breathing, and pressed his hand on her wrist, to check her pulse. She was still breathing and alive but the process was so messed up and not normal. He almost called for an ambulance but hesitated because of the news about his family that was trending all over the internet. He then called their family doctor who didn't take too much time to arrive.

(After the examination and minor treatment) "She is stable now but her condition doesn't need to be treated from home. I suggest she gets admitted into the hospital as soon as today. Her blood pressure is too high over and above normal, she has been too stressed for quite some time, as well as worn out. Seems she had been putting on a show but deep inside she was dying. Looking at her condition both mother and child's lives are in danger, so once you agree an ambulance will be here as soon as possible." Said the doctor briefing Mr. Stevens about Lisa's condition.

All this while, whilst the doctor was giving a brief both Carol and her mum were in Lisa's room witnessing what had just occurred. However, Lisa's mum wasn't quite moved, she just hoped that Lisa loses the baby and that would serve her all the effort and energy to go out of the country and get her hands dirty too.

(Distressed, anxious) "Oh, o-okay doctor but may you please ask the ambulance driver to turn off the siren. My family has been in the spotlight and it's no longer comfortable. I don't want to draw more attention." Said Lisa's father feeling so helpless.

"Sure, Mr. Stevens, let me inform the hospital right away." Said the doctor, dialing the hospital's emergency number.

In a few minutes, the ambulance arrived and Lisa was taken to the high-class private hospital. She began to receive treatment there, her dad and Carol were the ones that were always visiting her most of the time as for her mother it was just here and there. It was almost a week when her mum came to see her again. Lisa was awake, reading a book that Carol had brought her so that she won't get bored. Besides she didn't bring her cell phone when she left where she used to stay with Henry.

"Good morning mum," said Lisa, trying by all means to avoid eye contact.

"Didn't I tell you that good days ceased to exist…"

"So how should I greet you? Hi mum," said Lisa in a soft voice, and her head lowered.

(Chuckling) "Just a few days in the hospital you have grown wings and even became bold enough to talk back to me. This is interesting, indeed you are your mother's child after all," said Lisa's mum as she stood right beside Lisa with no intention of sitting down.

Lisa didn't move an inch from the position she was sitting, though her mother's presence was making her uncomfortable it was like the past days she spent in the hospital had changed her a bit. She was tired of running and chickening out, she decided to make herself heard and also be strong and stand for what was right for her.

"What brings you here, early like this?" Asked Lisa who felt it deep in her gut that her mother's visit wasn't friendly.

"Oh yeah, you surprised me such that I almost forgot what brought me here. (Taking out two passports from her handbag) Since you decided to play tricks and avoid accompanying me to get us visas, I finally did it myself. So even if it takes a million years for you to get discharged, I will always be waiting for you to go abroad and deal with that b*st*rd you are carrying. My time is up, and I hope my message is noted and well received." Said Lisa's mum sarcastically and she left.

Instead of getting worried or stressed, Lisa was getting more used to her mother's insults. Also, she knew she couldn't escape all this since she got back home, though she wasn't ready, the few days she spent in the hospital made her think and decide quickly. Besides she was also looking forward to going abroad because she had already things planned in her head. Three more days passed and Lisa was discharged. Her dad and Carol were the ones that came to take her home, the relationship between the three wasn't quite well such that there was tension and awkwardness until they arrived home. The following day her mum had a heated argument with her dad because Mr. Stevens was against the idea of taking Lisa abroad and yet Mrs. Stevens wasn't backing down on the idea. He finally backed out after Lisa convinced him that she will be okay and she had no option but to agree to the idea because it was her fault that the once peaceful family was now a warzone all because of her. Her father then gave up, and the following day at 11 pm, Lisa and her mum set off for the airport. Lisa's mum was the one who was driving, and the moment when they were halfway to their destination, suddenly a black car appeared from nowhere in front of them.