Chapter Fifteen
Genrou hurried down the corridor, stopping briefly at the nurse's desk to drop Hikou's file off for the list of the medications to be given. He circled 'Bone Marrow A+' in bright red ink above it, smiled his thanks at the young woman on duty, and hurried to his office. He glanced at his watch. Would there be enough time for a cup of coffee?
Heck. I need the caffeine.
He backtracked and stood there for a moment, trying to get his bearings. It was easy to get lost in the hospital, but he had memorized the routes as soon as he got here, for the fastest attendance to a patient. With a prayer, he turned the corner to the right, and walked forward swiftly, brushing past two young nurses chattering gaily and rounding the turn as the winking lights of the drink dispenser greeted him. It wasn't the first thing he saw however, but the object of his stunned gaze made him freeze in his tracks.
Houjun?
Did you come to find me?
That thought shattered immediately when he saw who sat beside Houjun. He watched, with detached horror, as Houjun lifted a hand and placed it on the woman's with a small smile on his face.
He came here to dump me officially…that's it…
"Doctor?" a nurse tapped his shoulder from behind, uncertainly. He whirled, looked at her for a moment, his breathing labored and his eyes dilated and blinking fast, a strangled gasp emerging from his throat. Well, I don't want to speak to him. I don't want to see him. I won't give them the satisfaction. He fled.
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Hikou lay in bed, his thoughts flitting randomly from one thing to another. He hurt all over nowadays.
Kourin…
He had awoken to the smell of her, the sense of her presence around him. He loved her, and he knew he had pushed her away. But it was hard not to. She didn't understand. And yet, by not telling her, perhaps he had given her reason not to. Kourin, I'm so sorry…know that I do love you…I do…
The door swung open, and he blinked. I must be dreaming…it must be the drugs…
"Hikou, you're awake!" she looked anxious, and worried, her familiar face stricken with emotion as she hurried forward. "How are you feeling?"
His eyes switched to the figure behind her, a tired, slumped figure. Houjun…you told her…
But what does she feel now?
He had done it this time. He had turned his girlfriend over to his best friend because of his selfish insecurities.
"Hikou."
His name, whispered in musical syllables that rang in his head, made him turn back and look at her. She was so beautiful, with her hair loose and flowing like this, her eyes sparkling… He realized they were shining with tears.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, Hikou. But I will be, now."
He nearly wept when she pressed her small hand into his, and sat by his side. He smiled then, feeling the pricking pain of the needles, of his senses, fading momentarily into the background.
Houjun…thank you…
He remembered vaguely the doctor, suddenly, and felt mildly annoyed. Where did this fit into anything? As he smiled at Kourin, lifting his other hand to touch her face to reassure himself that she was really there, the nagging image of the auburn-haired doctor stayed in his mind.
Was there something he was forgetting?