PSN: So, I'm actually at my Best friend's house at 2 in the morning because my laptop is being fixed by my dad finally.
So double update because I'm feeling guilty and generous :D
Just edited hospital scene. Not much change.
Mucho thanks to my reviewers :D
Nagi laid there, her heart monitored on a pacemaker and her whole body connected to machines and wires. She could hear the whirring of machines surrounding her. Her oxygen mask was filling up and she was trying her best to breathe properly. She felt helpless and pathetic in the state she was in now. From her blurry vision, she could make out shadows of the anxious doctors rushing in and out, checking her heart pace and noting things down before rushing back out.
One nurse had been by her side since she was transferred to the ICU. She had given her everything she needed and gave her sedatives to make the aching pain go away. Nagi felt grateful for the kind woman who had gone through such length to take care of her. Her own mother had only visited once with her step-father and instead of caring after her, she blamed her for running into the street. Her step-father just stood there, limp and brooding over whatever he always brooded on.
"Now, look what you did to my cream dress! Soaked in blood and ripped by the hem, what were you thinking running into the street?" Her mother had chastised, stepping aside from Nagi's bed as though she had the plague.
That hurt her….
"Leave her be, I think she needs to rest. She can't hear you, see her eyes are closed, she has yet to come out of her coma," her step-father had squeezed her mother's shoulders comfortingly and led her aside. He sat beside Nagi's bed and glanced at the IV drip that was attached, sighing as he ran his hand through his thick hair. "Listen Nagi, you must wake up. Your mother may not look it, but she wants you to be back."
No she doesn't, Nagi thought. She just wants to blame me more.
Her mother stood up and clenched her fists, her heels digging on the ground. She grabbed her bag and left the room hastily.
Her step-father glanced back and exhaled a loud sigh, "Look, you made her upset. But you wouldn't know that would you? You're dead to the world." He touched the necklace that was dangling from her collarbone and smiled, "At least one thing isn't broken."
Nagi could make out the small movements of her step-father and watched as he stood up, picking up his briefcase and quietly leaving the room.
They were blaming her; even though she was the victim, she was still being blamed.
That was the last time Nagi had seen her mother and step-father. After that day she had hardly any visitors. No flowers, no grapes or anything that were given to the hospitalized. She was truly well and alone.
She couldn't muster the energy to cry or properly open her eyes; they were always glazed and blurry. She knew that she looked like a horror and she didn't mind at all.
It was her who had run into the streets and right into the red car. The driver had ran away and left an uninsured car. Nagi was sure that she had seen the driver's face before the impact but she couldn't figure who it was. She felt that she knew the person who had run her over, but her befuddled mind couldn't conjure the effort to think.
"Nagi dear, I know you can hear me. Just move your hands for me, will you?" The nurse-on-duty stood by her bedside, her hands akimbo as she watched. "Now be a little darling and wiggle your fingers."
Nagi continued to lie limp, afraid to move any part of her body—it had been 2 weeks ago since her hospitalization and she was afraid to move any of her muscles, fearing the effort might strain her body. She just wanted to lie there, still as a statue until she deteriorated.
Because if she died, she would be peaceful and at least be happy. Being alive was too painful.
Too much an effort…
"Nagi, please do something. I was sure that you moved slightly last night. Please, do it again," the kind nurse pleaded, "one little wiggle and I promise that I'll go."
No, no way was she going to move. She planned to stay still. If she moved, her mother would be told about her 'progress' and then she would rush in and start her complaint about the dress all over again.
She just wanted to die, was that so hard to ask for? She didn't feel that she belonged in this world. And nobody wanted her. She was better of dead.
"Okay, fine. I won't force you. I'll be gone for 10 minutes okay?" The nurse waddled out of the room.
Finally, Nagi had some peace. She tried sleeping. She wanted to sleep and never wake up. Why did she always end up waking?
X—XxX—X
After what felt like a few seconds, Nagi woke up into the night, her eyes fluttering open for the first time and she looked at the dark ceiling.
She had a nightmare of a huge M.M towering over her, thrusting her against a wall and demanding her to give her rights back. It was she, she had screamed, who was meant to be the princess and stay at the Academy. Nagi had understood nothing and this irked M.M more so she tried to pummel her with her fist…
And that was when Nagi woke up, gasping for her breath as her heart rate increased rapidly. She was surprised that no doctor had rushed to her aid yet.
She simply laid there, the sound of dripping drip and the whirring of her pacemaker the only comforting sounds in the room.
Suddenly she felt parched and her throat was dry. She was thirsty, she wanted something to drink.
Nagi's eyes fluttered once more and saw the door open, admitting a nurse with a needle in her hand.
"You're awake? What a revelation!" The nurse walked towards her, enthused over the miracle, "now, I'm sorry but I'll have to sedate you." She held the needle in her hand and smiled reassuringly. "You won't even feel a thing!"
Before Nagi could protest, the needle plunged right into her arm and she lost all signs of consciousness….
When Nagi came to, it was already dark again—how long was she out? She noticed that her mobility had returned.
She wiggled her fingers and was surprised to see it move. Though the effort was great, the movement put a smile. Maybe it wasn't so bad to live, she thought. Maybe she could give the world a chance.
No, think about what they did to you. Her conscience chastised. You were left all alone in this world.
Nagi shook her head. Her own emotions were getting muddled up and she didn't know what to feel. She was torn between hating the world and forgiving. Her conscience had resurfaced after her accident and it was making her go crazy as it blamed everybody for her unfortunate accident.
Just remember what they did to you. Her conscience struck ominously.
Before her conscience could strike again with more snide remarks, a nurse entered the room, pushing a tray of medication with her. Nagi strained her eyes to see the tag that was pinned on her uniform. Upon closer inspection, she saw the name 'Yoko' written on it.
Yoko beamed when she saw Nagi look at her. "Oh, your pretty eyes opened! What a surprise! You might be feeling drowsy right now," she closed the door and smiled again, "oh, did I tell you that your parents will come later?"
Nagi watched with attention as Yoko the nurse poured a disgusting-looking solution on a plastic spoon. She picked up another object that looked like a tympanic thermometer with her other hand and strode towards her.
"I'll be reading your temperature after you take this. This will make you feel better."
Nagi pursed her lips uncooperatively and shook her head. She felt drowsy and sick. She didn't want to drink that thick, gooey gloop.
Yoko tutted at her and shook her head with disapproval, "How will you recover if you don't take your medication? Nagi, you need to get better and healthy. "
Nagi reluctantly opened her mouth and closed her eyes as the heavy stench of the purple solution hit her nostrils. She refrained from pulling a face and complied by swallowing it quickly.
Yoko gave her a big smile and patted her bandaged leg. "Great! Now we will check your temperature," she inserted the thermometer in her ear and waited. At the beep, she glanced at the results and shook her head. "Still having a high fever, you need more fluid in your body. I'll have to get assent from the other doctors if you could take solid food," she put her finger up. "I'll be back soon, don't worry."
Nagi faced the other way, the tangy taste of the medicine still lingering on her tongue. She glanced at the wall and frowned. The leaflet about the Seven Rainbow Realms Academy was pasted on the wall. How did it get there? She thought as she looked at it again.
Didn't her teacher take hers? Was somebody playing a prank on her? Or was it… dare she think, M.M who had visited her?
You're such a fool Nagi! Her conscience reprimanded slyly. Why would the girl who caused your accident, come to you?
"She…didn't…do…it." Nagi disagreed, not realizing that she was speaking aloud.
"What was that darling? Did you talk?" Yoko returned and she puckered her brows. "Who were you talking to?"
Nagi shook her head. "No…one."
Yoko raised her eyebrows but didn't comment further; instead she stood by the window and pulled the drapes. She squinted at the glaring sunlight and exhaled. "Whew! The darkness was depressing, don't you think?" She smiled before she picked up a sharp-looking needle from the tray. "I'll have to get a blood test from you."
Nagi winced as the needle plunged into her skin. She watched as the blood was extracted from her body and was amazed at the redness of it. She was fascinated by the colour of blood.
Yoko patted her arm softly and put on a plaster on the small wound. "Your mother and father will come. It's..." She looked at her watch, "4 pm which is visitor times here."
Nagi froze at the mention of her parents. Her step-father and mother hadn't seen her ever since her admittance to the hospital. Her mother had seemed reluctant to see her and when she came, she just ranted about the dress.
As for her stepfather...
Nagi didn't know what to think of him.
"Oh, I think that may be them. Hold on sweetie, I'll call them in." Yoko sauntered toward the door and twisted the doorknob. She smiled, her lips forming a straight line. "Ah, Mrs and Mr Aizawa* we were expecting you. Do come in."
Nagi's mother glanced at her daughter, strapped into bed and heavily bandaged and she nodded gravely. She ushered her husband in who loitered at the door. He too, glanced around and smiled awkwardly at Nagi before his gaze strayed toward the ceiling.
"Private time please..." Nagi's mother said to the nurse in her clipped authoritative tone. She put her bag down and ran a hand through her hair.
Yoko nodded immediately and with a comforting smile, she packed up and left the room briskly.
The moment Nurse Yoko left, her mother stood by her side, her arms awkwardly at her side. "Well... we didn't think you'd make it. The doctors had said that you were a goner. And in a way I wished you were. It would be less time consuming to take care of you."
Nagi knew that this was her mother's attempt at small talk. She probably thought that she hadn't heard anything about her ranting of the dress. She wasn't even surprised to hear that her own mother wanted her dead. It was a fact that she had accepted long ago.
"Your mother was really worried, Nagi. Frantic and on edge," her step-father gave a tentative smile, trying to bridge the tense situation.
Nagi blinked, looking at her mother who really did look harassed and stressed.
Not for her sake.
"Nagi, we didn't come for a while because of your father's business trip. It was really important," her mother smiled at her, as though everything was okay. "Actually, I have to go right now; I wanted to see your condition and you seem fine to me. My agent wanted to talk to me about my debut comeback and I really need to go."
Her step-father squeezed her mother's shoulder and nodded solemnly. "Your mother is right."
Nagi gave them a pleading look. She was craving for human comfort but her mother was shunning her—indirectly. She watched with dismay as her mother grabbed her bag and sauntered out of the room with her step-father at the back.
She next realized something very important right then.
Her mother had not touched her at all, not even once.
The agonizing silence that followed blinded her with overwhelming sadness. She just couldn't take it anymore. Her life was not worth living if she had to return home for nothing. Thoughts of suicide occupied her mind as she thought about the most dignified way of dying.
Nobody would notice your death. Your presence was never significant! Her conscience said.
Nagi glanced at the ceiling and bit her lips, trying her best to control the tears that were threatening to spill. She turned to the other side, looking at the leaflet stuck to the wall and gritted her teeth. She was angry, angry at herself for even thinking that she could go to the academy and live a happy life.
It just wasn't for me. She thought disappointment. I never had a future.
She closed her eyes, relaxing her fist and laid there in silence. She breathed in deeply and tried her best to ignore to the aching pain gnawing at her heart. She wanted to sleep, she was feeling too tired right now.
"Lonely..." She muttered. "Sad...afraid."
Conveniently Yoko was back again this time, her smile wide as she carried a basket of...
Flowers and chocolates?
"My, you have a secret admirer Nagi!" Yoko giggled as she heaved the basket in, a knowing smile on her face. "Ooh, why didn't you tell me?"
Nagi strained to look at the package and frowned when she saw a card lodged in between the chocolates.
Who could have possibly sent these? Nagi was perturbed, rather than interested. No one else had visited her in hospital since her admission and she knew that nobody other than her family would.
She gave a small smile to Yoko who beamed, happy that she had a friend.
"An admirer! Why am I even surprised? You're a gorgeous girl, Nagi," Yoko's remark made Nagi blush with embarrassment. "Go on," she coaxed, "read it!"
She approached Nagi and sat at the edge of her bedside, removing the card that was lodged in between the chocolates. The card was red, shaped in a heart and decorated with intricate flowers. Nagi wondered if this was a prank and that her reaction would be videoed.
Nobody would make such an effort with me. She thought cynically.
She remained stoic and void of any emotions as she received the card between her thumbs. She carefully opened it and raised her eyebrows as she read the contents. The note began in a swirly black handwriting. Nagi did not know of anyone with such beautiful handwriting and she felt surprised.
"Dear Nagi,
I'm sorry to hear of your accident. It was dreadful to hear that such a pretty girl like you would suffer such a fate. I offer my compensation towards you—with chocolate and flowers.
However, having said that, my sole reason for contacting you now wasn't just to offer my condolences towards you.
The real reason will be revealed tonight at midnight.
Until then stay safe and be happy.
Yours truly,
M.R"
There was a small drawing of a pineapple and a smiley face attached to it. A small smile leaked from Nagi's lips as she read it, glancing at the chocolates and flowers.
"What did it say?" Yoko asked, blinking rapidly.
Instinctively, Nagi hid the letter under her pillow and gave sweet smile to Yoko who raised her eyebrows. "Nothing…."
Yoko gave an understanding nod. "Ah! Sweet nothing whispering of lover," she grinned, "why didn't you tell me you had a secret lover?"
Nagi's cheeks flared with colour as she stuttered. "No!...I don't…have…"
Yoko waved her hands. "Don't worry; I'll keep it a secret from your parents," she stood up. "I'll help put the flowers in a vase."
Nagi watched as the nurse produced an empty vase from the drawer and filling it with water. Meanwhile, she glanced at the leaflet on the wall and she wondered if the letter and the leaflet were somehow connected.
You're hoping for too much Nagi, have you forgotten already the ordeal that you have been through? It is a scam….a walking scam hitting you right in the face! The flowers and chocolates are probably poisoned.
Her conscience had yet again returned with its cynicism.
