TO GET TO YOU
"There you go," the sales clerk smiled at Xiao Yo after she handed in her payment.
"Thanks," Xiao Yo replied and accepted the small bag containing the books she purchased, and hurriedly left the bookstore, racing towards her father's car.
She had been in Toronto for the past two days to fix some of her papers at the university. Later tonight she will be going back to St. Paul. In a few days more Drew will undergo the eye operation, thanks to the doctor who was assigned to his case for his diligence in finding a donor.
Xiao Yo was excited, even more excited than Drew. And she understood. Drew is afraid the surgery might not be successful and he would still not be able to regain his eyesight after everything.
But she is optimistic. Drew still has a lot of things to do still a lot of things in store for him.
Her cell phone suddenly rang when she buckled herself up and frowned when she saw Qing He's name appear.
"Hello?"
"Xiao Yo!" Qing He said, obviously relieved when he heard her voice.
"What time is it out there?" she asked, wondering what he's doing calling her up at this hour.
"Three in the morning," he replied.
"Then why on earth are you still up?"
"Shancai told me to call you and tell you the news myself because their hands are full."
"News? What news?" she asked, suddenly sensing it is something serious, otherwise he wouldn't be calling her up in the wee hours of the morning.
"Xi Men had one of his attacks again."
She sat up straighter, alarmed now. "Attacks?"
"His ulcer," Qing He clarified. "It's bad, Xiao Yo. There's too much bleeding. Even his doctors are worried. Actually, everyone is. I have never seen Dao Ming Si and Mei Zuo so worried. Even Hua Ze Lei is flying in from Japan as we speak."
"Where is he?"
"He's in the ER right now, and tonight he will be transferred to surgery." Qing He sighed in concern. "It's bad, Xiao Yo. It's the worst he's had."
"Thanks for telling me, Qing He. I really appreciate it."
He must have sensed something in her voice because he asked, "Xiao Yo? What will you do? Xiao -!"
The line was cut off as Xiao Yo hung up and revved the engine to life and swiftly backed the car out of the mall parking lot.
A million possibilities befalling Xi Men played over and over in her mind but she shut them all down as she called the airport and booked a ticket for the next flight to Taipei.
She was in luck because the minute she arrived at the airport, she only had to wait ten minutes before boarded China Airlines.
It was only when she was miles above the earth, looking down at the clouds below, did she realize what she just did.
She had nothing on her expect her purse and the books she purchased at the store a while back.
And no one even knows where she is right now.
With unsteady hands she dialed the number to the Masters' home and waited nervously until Carol's voice came on the line.
"Carol, it's me," she said. "May I speak with Drew, please?"
"Hang on," Carol said and Xiao Yo waited as she pictured the elderly woman go to Drew's room to give him the phone.
"Raine?" Drew said.
"Drew," she breathed. "Hi. What are you doing right now?"
"Boring myself to death. You?"
"I just came from the bookstore," she replied. "Remember that book I was looking for? The one written by Syd Field? I finally found one."
"That's great," he said. "You've been looking for that book for ages."
Raine took a deep breath, plucking up enough courage. "Listen, something came up." She paused, and went on when he did not say anything. "I might not be able to get back later tonight, I'm sorry. There's somewhere I have to be right now."
He was silent for a while, then said, "No problem."
"I'm really sorry," she said again. "But I promise I will be there in time for the surgery. I wouldn't miss that!"
"OK," he said tersely. "You take care of yourself, Raine."
Her heart warmed and, at the same time, guilt gnawed at her. He's even asking her to take care!
"I will," she said softly.
When she hung up her eyes strayed back to her middle finger, gazing at the diamond that flashed against her skin.
Her thoughts went back to Xi Men and again anxiety reigned over her.
"Please, God," she whispered. "Don't let anything happen to him."
She had no idea how long she will be able to stay away. Any minute the doctor could make the call to tell them when the transplant should be performed, and Xiao Yo had no clear-cut idea when that would be.
She is bound to have a rough time ahead and it has already begun the moment Qing He called and let her know what happened.
Xiao Yo was not sure going to Taipei to see Xi Men is the best thing to do right now but she wants to be there
And, without really thinking about it, she took the ring off her finger and slid it inside her purse.
It was almost dawn in Taipei when the plane touched down, but Xiao Yo did not seem to notice as she went about the routine procedures through the airline security. With her purse and the bookstore bag under her arms she literally raced out and flagged the first cab she saw and told the driver the name of the hospital.
Mixed feelings roared within her as she willed the cab to suddenly grow wings and take flight amid the city s rush hour traffic. The actual ten minute drive from the airport to the hospital seemed to her like an eternity.
Xiao Yo did not have long to find where Xi Men is. By the time she stepped into the hospital lobby, she instantly saw Mei Zuo walking in from the opposite direction, two cups of coffee in his hands.
His eyes widened when he saw her.
"Xiao Yo!" he exclaimed in disbelief. "What on earth are you doing here!?"
Xiao Yo acknowledged him with a slight nod. "I just got here. Where is he?"
Mei Zuo did not immediately answer her; he was still bewildered to see her there.
"When you said you 'just got here'...you meant 'here' in the hospital, right?"
"I just got here, in Taipei," she clarified and more shock registered on his face. Before he could say anymore, Xiao Yo grabbed the other cup of coffee from him and pulled at his free arm.
"Come on," she coaxed. "Take me to him."
Still speechless, Mei Zuo simply led Xiao Yo to the far wing of the hospital, where she saw almost everyone.
There was Xi Yong and A Li, looking all haggard and worried. Beside A Li sat Shancai and Dao Ming Si who also obviously looked all worn out.
Standing by the side were Hua Ze Lei and Qing He, who was the first to see Xiao Yo.
"Xiao Yo!" Qing He rushed forward to meet her.
Xiao Yo merely nodded at the others as Mei Zuo got the cup of coffee from her hand and gave it to Xi Yong and A Li.
"How is he?" she asked Shancai.
The only reply she got was a slow movement of Shancai's head towards the door nearby. Xiao Yo turned to read the words written across it.
Intensive Care.
She swallowed and looked at Hua Ze Lei, then at Dao Ming Si. They both looked worried. When she glanced at Xi Men's parents, she saw the same stark expressions on their faces.
Mei Zuo was the one who spoke. "He has been in surgery for hours. Right now we are just waiting for any change in his condition."
"How long has he been unconscious?" she asked, fearing the worst.
"He has never regained consciousness since he was brought here." Dao Ming Si sighed. "The doctors said it was a good thing he was brought here in time, or the worst could have happened."
"If Liz had not called..." Qing He's voice trailed as Hua Ze Lei gave a slight jab at him with his elbow.
But Xiao Yo did not comment on this; neither did she ask on who 'Liz' is. Somehow she had an idea who Liz would happen to be. But there's no room for jealousy now...not when Xi Men's life seems to be hanging in the balance.
On leaden feet Xiao Yo moved forward and stopped by the small window of Intensive Care, hesitantly gazing through the glass. Something constricted in her throat as she saw him lying there in repose, tubes connected to him from blinking machines.
Xiao Yo sensed someone coming to a stop beside her and looked up to find Xi Yong also looking in.
"He looks so peaceful, doesn't he?" he said softly and Xiao Yo returned her gaze to the subject of their discussion. "Such a shame, really. The longest sleep he gets in a long time happens to be induced by drugs."
"What happened?" Xiao Yo heard herself ask.
"I thought you might have the answer for that."
Surprised at his remark, her eyes flew to him and she was relieved to find him smiling kindly at her. "Oh, no, I'm not saying you are to blame for any of these. If anything," his eyes turned towards his son, "there is no one else to blame but him."
Finally he answered her question. "Everything went downhill for him...I am guessing since you left. He buried himself in his work and, under other circumstances I would have had no complaints. But he skipped meals, he did not eat much, and every night he would drink himself into a stupor. No one can control him. I only found out about it when it was quite too late."
Absentmindedly she spoke, as though forgetting Xi Yong was there listening.
"I told him to take care of himself."
"Obedience has never been one of my son's strongest points," Xi Yong sighed. Then he turned to look at her. "You flew in all the way from Canada just to see my son?"
When Xiao Yo met the old man's eyes, there was no use trying to hide what is in her heart. Xi Yong nodded, smiling slightly.
"And Drew doesn't know?"
With a degree of guilt, Xiao Yo nodded. At this Xi Yong sighed once again, louder this time.
"You care far more for my son than you appear to be," he said. "But I won't get in the way. You are all old enough to make up your minds. I only hope it all works out for the best for all of you."
He went on. "Love is such a fickle thing but once you feel it, and it is true, there is no stopping it. Not even time. Not even distance. Not even the most well-crafted lies."
But she was no longer listening. Her attention was focused on Xi Men and what she thought was a slight movement of his head.
She cried out when she saw his head move again.
"He's awake!" she exclaimed and, before anyone could stop her, she pushed open the door to the ICU and rushed to his side.
But Xi Men was not entirely awake as she found out when she gazed upon his face. His eyes were visibly trying to open but he could not.
"Xi Men!" she whispered loudly. "You're OK!"
When the doctor came in, accompanied by a couple of nurses, Xiao Yo had to step out of the room and waited outside with everyone else. After a few minutes, the doctor came out with a smile on his face.
"He's out of danger," the doctor declared. "Of course he's been through quite an ordeal and will be needing a lot of rest. He has not fallen into coma, thank God. You now all can rest easy."
"When will he wake up?" A Li asked.
"I just gave him some tranquilizers so he might be fully awake by tomorrow. Meanwhile, I will have him transferred to a private room right now." He nodded at all of them. "This is a wonderful sight, seeing all of you here. I hear Mister Hua Ze even had to fly in from Tokyo."
Hua Ze Lei nodded and looked down, but not after sliding an amused glance at Xiao Yo. She was worse! She had to fly in from Canada!
When the doctor had left and they all saw Xi Men transferred to a private room, Dao Ming Si insisted Shancai should go home and rest and Mei Zuo and Qing He went along. Hua Ze Lei stayed behind and spoke with Xi Men's parents first before finally leaving.
Xiao Yo stayed in her seat, her eyes staring forward at the asleep Xi Men, not even heeding Xi Yong's glances at her.
She only looked up when she felt A Li's hand on her shoulder. "You should go off now," the elderly woman said. "Have you booked yourself into a hotel?" she asked and Xiao Yo shook her head ruefully.
"I didn't have time to," Xiao Yo replied.
"Well, we could have a room arranged for you at our house," Xi Yong offered.
Again Xiao Yo shook her head. "There's no need, Uncle," she said. "I will just stay here until he wakes up."
A Li and Xi Yong exchanged meaningful glances. Then they looked back at her.
"You don't mean to stay here all night, do you?" A Li inquired.
Xiao Yo nodded. "I'll be fine, really."
"Nonsense!" Xi Yong scoffed. "We would not let you stay here! Why don't you go to a hotel and come back tomorrow when he is awake?"
Adamantly she shook her head in refusal. "I will wait until he wakes up."
"But..."
"Please," Xiao Yo said pleadingly, cutting off A Li's protests. "Please let me stay here. I just want to be here when he wakes up. I don't..." she took a deep breath. "I don't have a lot of time..."
Xi Yong stared at her, then nodded in understanding. Tenderly he took his wife by the elbow and said, "A Li, let's leave her alone."
A Li, after a moment of hesitation, relented. She nodded and smiled at Xiao Yo.
"We'll see you in the morning then."
Xiao Yo only nodded and watched them as they left the room. When she was finally alone, her eyes strayed towards the bed.
Suddenly she felt the urge of going to him and shaking him violently until he opens his eyes and explains to her why he is doing this.
She wanted him to wake up, look him in the eyes and tell her exactly what she should do.
Xiao Yo stifled that urge and remained in her seat, determined to stay awake until he wakes up.
What she said to A Li was true. She doesn't have enough time. Any minute a call could come through, and she would have to leave.
But not until she had spoken to Xi Men.
