I woke up to the pungent smell of hospital disinfect, invading my nostrils. The room was silent apart from my heavy breathing and the beep beep sound you often hear in hospitals that indicates you're alive.
Who brought me here?
I was asking myself as I desperately tried to open my eyes and see what's around me.
I was immediately aware of how weak my body felt, to the point where it was hard to even breathe, at a sudden sound, I tried my hardest to twist my neck to look over. My vision was still very blurry, but I could just about make out a white silhouette walking in.
That person did not seem to notice that I was awake. They were bustling around in their own world. In the end, I could only speak up, though I didn't expect to hear such a hoarse, low-voiced.
How many days have I been sleeping?
"H-Heeey... you."
The white clothes person in front of me jumped and gaped at me with bulging eyes. It was a long after a moment that she screamed.
Yes, a woman for sure.
"You're awake!"
She rushed over to the bed and started looking around frantically. I hadn't a clue what she was doing, but whatever it was, she wasn't helping me up or giving me a glass of water.
I weakly summoned the strength to murmur the word. "Water!"
She quickly poured me a glass, but instead left it on the table where I couldn't reach and bent down to do something... Is she playing around with me?
I kept my face expressionless, unsure of how I was supposed to beg before she would hand over that glass.
Suddenly, the bed under me moved.
"Ah!"
The woman straightened and reassured me, "It's fine, it's fine. I've just adjusted the bed, so it's easier for you to drink."
I strained to move my neck and eyeballs, and only when I had confirmed that nothing else had appeared did I relax. Then I realized my posture had changed from fully horizontal to half-sitting up.
The woman in white brought the cup to my mouth, and there was even a straw placed inside. She reminded me with worry in her voice, "Drink slowly. Be careful of choking."
At this point, there wasn't a single question for me to ask her that was more pressing than the biological need for liquids. The moment I started drinking, I stopped caring about anything else.
I concentrated my entire being on drinking.
After that the doctor came in, checking my health with his stethoscope in hand and asked how I feel, like do I having a nauseous or not.
"Okay, you seem fine to me. But for the time being, we would like you to stay here as we do some more checked on. Don't worry, it just a measurement to make sure. That's all."
"Hai, I understand. By the way, doc."
"Hm?"
"How long I've been unconscious for? Who brought me here?"
Out of impulse, my hand traveled to my side, pressing the throbbing area. I felt the scar through my shirt and flinched at the pain.
At that time, I thought I was done for.
Is it her? Does she felt conflict after what she has done to me?
"A week." He blankly replied without any traces of expression in his face, just as he did at the beginning. "And while you in a coma, two high school girls have been exchanging their route to take care of you. Since we don't know how to contact your family, they've paid the money for you too, you know."
What did he say sound way too outrage for me? I don't think there are not that many good people out there who have that kind-hearted to do this much for a stranger such as me.
Still, I hoped that they should have just left me died out cold.
Because I have abandoned the thought keeping on living at that brink of death.
I tried to get up. Once I stepped on the cold, white tiles, I instantly fell back on to the bed. My body, engulfed in pain as if objecting my decision to stand up. I lay there pathetically, waiting for the pain to wash away. Staring at the ceiling, illuminated with white fluorescent light.
And as long as I'm in this white room apart from the outer world, I won't have to continue run and hide from them.
The room I stayed in was quite an elegant single private room. As I know, it comes with an extra bed fee too, for how long I'll stay here.
Those two girls must come from a very wealthy household.
My series of questions about them was interrupted as a young girl in her high school uniform, with black hair styled in a short bob cut and mesmerizing violet eyes behind her glasses. Emerged from the door of my room, with a mobile phone close to her ear, talking in a serious tone which softens once she saw me and finally hanging up.
She then came up to me and helped me lied back down properly, as she began some small talk to me.
"My name is Shitori Souna, what's yours?"
"Hazuki Mao."
"Nice to meet you, Hazuki-san."
"Yeah, same here."
"..."
"..."
A few minutes passed in awkward silence.
Well, I'm a grown-up 28-year-old woman. So I don't know what kids these days up to at all, and I don't expect them talking to me on my level either. She must be thinking the same as I do.
Eventually, she finally broke it.
"Hazuki-san, do you want to take a walk outside get some fresh air?"
"Thanks for the offer, but no, I'm fine."
"I see."
"..."
Yup, this is awkward. I need to suggest something to break down the wall between us.
When it comes to an older woman, I have could smooching them easily with my honey talk and acting cute. Also, there's no way I would do that in front of her.
"Soooo... Do you have any hobbies?" I threw the most common question at her.
She fidgeted a bit as she lowered her voice.
"I... I loved to bake."
Oh, that's unexpected!
Despite she got such an eccentric looked on the face and a graceful aristocratic manner. I didn't know she also got a girly hobby too.
"And playing chess."
Yeah, something like that.
"Oh, chess huh? I do know the basic rule of the chess game. Maybe next time, we should play." I gleefully suggested to her.
She gently smiled in agreement.
"Hai, when we meet off again. I'll bring a chessboard."
Well, at least it's a good start off for both of us.
"Sona-chan, isn't it time for you to go home? Your parents must be worried sick for you."
Like, just leave already.
I curled my lips, forcing myself to smile in spite of feeling very tired and mostly annoying toward the innocent young girl, who had a serious-looked on her as she was carefully inspected the chess pieces.
"After this match." She mindlessly answered.
That was what you said to me fifteen minutes ago, too!
I sank into my bed and sighing in defeat.
At first, she was like 'let's have fun' with eager, but after losing me for ten matches. Her face began to turn sour bit by bit like she really didn't expect me I was that good, or maybe she was too good she wanted to go easy on me at the beginning, but thanks to my ignorance attitude, she now getting irritated by my over the top performance. Then saying do not go easy on her with a deadly serious tone of voice.
Now thinking back again, I think I accidentally flipped her switch on.
...what the hell am I saying? I'm the one at fault here, obviously.
Couldn't figure out the next move to free the king from its desperate stated, she adjusted her glasses and said solemnly.
"No one ever outwitted me in chess game before, but you're the first and only one, Hazuki-san. And, this is the first time I'm feeling ashamed of myself."
Her head was tilted down just enough to keep me from making out her expression, but she couldn't hide the pink flush spreading across her cheeks. It contrasted well against her white - but not excessively pale skin, as did her jet-black hair.
Feeling bad, but mostly guilty about what I did to her. I frantically don't know what to do, I then unconscious reached my hand out to her and patting her head, comforted her. However, it was not lasting long in a second.
Just as I brushed her hair and feeling how silky it was to the touch. Sona knocked my hand out and screamed out at the top of her lungs: "Please, don't treat me as I'm a child." Leaving me in shock for a moment by her overreacting.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. Excuse me."
She took the bag and left the room with her head hang low, trying not to make eye contact with me. Even so, I caught a glimpse of a droplet tear run down on her cheek.
I really want to go after her and apologize for my rudeness. But if I did that, she properly would hate me more than she already did. Like, I don't need your pity.
Guess I must have to wreck open my brain to do some thinking on how to apologize to her.
Also, I couldn't believe the one who always leeches money from women like I am, concerned for the high school girl that I had only met yesterday.
Just as I was waiting patiently, working on my courage and hoping to meet her the next day. In the end, she didn't come to see me for the next three days, and today is the day I will be checked out of the hospital.
Sigh... Bet that she held a grudge against me after all.
*SMACK* I slapped my both cheeks so hard that I felt stinginess sharply on my skin, to take off some burden weighed on my mind and trying to think positive instead.
Thank you for everything you did to me, Sona-chan. I won't forget this debt for the rest of my life, and when we meet again, I'll payback for sure. From this moment on, I renew myself to be a better person.
"Ah! What a wonderful day."
I gazed at the blue sky, enjoying the warmth of the sun shone upon me, gracefully its natural beauty to my heart contains as I breathed in the fresh air for the longest time I never had. Just as I was happily enjoyed by myself, someone's rough hand grasping my shoulder interrupted me.
"What is it?"
When I turned back to see who dared to intrude my serene and tranquil time at the moment. My hands began trembling, and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead uncontrollably, I then thought to myself. "All is over."
It was those scary men in black suits chased after me for those times of years. I was definitely sure that they lost my whereabouts when I was hospitalized. But now they here, fucking in front of me.
Damn it, what should I do?
"How do you know I'm here?" I tried my best to act tough while I can, with my finger pointed at them, as I quickly surveyed the area around me to see how many of them and an open route to escape.
"That would be me who notifying them." Said the voice come from behind those men in black, as they stood aside one by one to open a path for her.
That stern voice, there's no doubt about it. It was Sona-chan.
I can't believe that my savior sold me out.
The man who grasped my shoulder still stands next up close to me, with a big scar across his face beaming at me while I was deeply in sorrowed, cursing my life. He took my hand and shook it with cheerful.
"Please, don't worry about your debt. This beautiful lady here has already paid-full in your stead. So, there's no need for you to be worried."
He then took out the paper that had my father's signing in it and ripped it to pieces.
"Does that mean..."
"Yes, that's right. So, congratulation to you."
When I about to celebrate and thanking Sona-chan fervently. She then coldly gave me a shocking announcement.
"That's also mean from now you will working for me as a servant."
"Sorry, what?"
