Flashback Part: 14-LAST.
(There is a long AN below, please read it all.)
They walked under the azure sky for some distance before reaching the large canteen where the fresh smell and fragrance of their favorite junk food and meals. They took a seat little on the corner after ordering a heavy lunch. Usually, Hilary would argue that she'd pay for it, but this time, engrossed in her own thoughts, she was feeling remorse for behaving rudely with Ryan.
She notes how gently he rolled his sleeves and buttoned them, and loosened a button on his shirt as usual, still everything being formal and respectful. She sighed carefully and picked her fork to start eating. Ryan started eating as well, softly devouring the contents of lunch and trying to keep up with the slow pace of Hilary left with enough food again.
Finishing his part, he gulped water and swished the left over covers in the bin. Hilary was done as well. As famished they were, they had really concentrated only in eating, without exchanging any talks.
"Feeling good already, hm?" He gave a dainty smirk wiping his hands with wet tissues. Hilary broke from her trance and raised her eyebrows inquisitively, "Thanks," she said.
"So what have been going on with you lately?" He asked knowing that it was his chance.
"Nothing," she shrugged curtly.
"Was there some fight between you and Margot and Delia?" He asked softly.
"Yeah," she said jadedly.
"C'mon, you guys are good friends, just sort it out already. It doesn't hurt so much to exchange sorrys and hugs," He smiled lucidly.
"Actually..." she stared at the silver bench before her, pondering how to explain him, "It exactly wasn't a fight, not even a argument...They just teased me." She said honestly, the disinclination of the event still glowering in her feelings.
"What? Are you serious?" Ryan asked taken surprised, a hint of incredibility in his tone.
"Hm," she murmured, still idly gazing at the silver front.
"Would you like to elaborate?" He smirked and rested his cheek in his palm, resting his elbow on the bench, tilting his face to get yet an another access to her facial thoughts.
"No, not at all," she said with a sullen look, "I didn't like what they did." She blinked worriedly trying to explain him, "We are good friends, why should I deny, but I didn't like their teasing. They took it to a whole another level." Ryan puckered his brows, still being patient to listen her, "It was verbal, don't worry, neither any cursing was involved, but-" she hesitated lucidly.
"You really didn't like it, right?" He offered, thus pursuing her.
"Yes," she pursed her lips.
He nodded, "Don't worry, I'll talk to them." He said in his usual tone but the hidden anger and seriousness was evident to the girl, she tensed up, "Ryan!" She called worriedly, "Don't talk about it to them, please." She looked pleadingly at him, "It was embarrassing, really." She implored through her words.
"I'm not gonna ask what it was about, that's the least interested thing, but I don't want them to tease you about it anymore further." Ryan explained her.
"They won't," Hilary mumbled looking away,
"Anyway, I'm speaking. You don't have to worry," Ryan said imminently.
"Okay..." Hilary felt already done. "You are understanding me, right? I mean, you may think it's just teasing which should be normal and I agree that its normal among friends, even when seniors do it to some limits, but... this is something, trust me, I REALLY don't like. Tease me about other things, not this, really." She said with nervousness, handling the rushing emotions best, "I'm really failing to handle, really." She shook her head miserably.
"It's okay. You don't even have to worry. I wouldn't want you girls to split, but even it ever happens, I'm by your side. Isn't that enough for you?" Ryan said clasping few fingers of hers,
Hilary felt a good feeling suddenly, the obscure hideous tension leaving her. Ryan by her side was more than enough, really. Why to worry about confession already?
The thought came intuitively.
Ryan might have not said her 'I love you' or stuff, but his calm soothing and words always made her feel loved.
"I'm really grateful to you," she smiled for the first time, "And yeah, I'll not talk to them for few days, but I'll eventually be fine later."
"You're not breaking up, are you?" Ryan asked in slight cautious tone.
"No, I'm not stupid," she smiled gingerly.
"You seem sleepy by the way," he said,
"I hate drinking coffee in morning, Ryan. Even though all girls prefer it," Hilary whined childishly and gave a look to him,
"Then I hate coffee from now on too," Ryan chuckled.
"You don't have to," Hilary rolled her eyes, "Ryan I'm anti-everything but still we can be friends, you don't have to change,"
"We are friends already dude," Ryan gave a playful smile,
At this moment, she just want to hug him naively and tell him thanks but the short lived feeling ended and she thought she had shirked.
"Let's go, the class is gonna start in few minutes now," Ryan glanced at the watch.
"Yeah" Hilary said nervously. Something felt wrong.
She was almost shivering and squirming.
"What's up now." He asked her as they made their way to the college building. A few other pupils were also returning, eating left over sandwiches and laughing and taking cheerfully. They were under open ground's expanse.
"I think I'm not feeling well." She expressed stressfully.
"What happened to you?" Ryan's words followed. He held her wrist like he intuitively felt like she would escape, and kept his fingers on forehead. A wave of heat passed through. He felt edgy.
"Why are you having fever?" He asked. She shrugged.
"No idea..." she said with an unhealthy sigh.
Ryan ushered her towards the garden area and made her sit on the small island near the fountain, he rushed to the pharmacy store and purchased some medicine he knew should work out.
"We are getting late, where were you?" Hilary got up and shouted at him as he came running towards her with a small grin.
"Got something to drive off your fever," he handed her the tablets. He rolled her eyes, "Nonetheless, we should head to the class now," she said shivering a bit.
"Listen to me and go to your room," Ryan said. "Have these, sleep for few hours comfortably in your room. Missing a class wouldn't cause a havoc," Ryan advised.
"No, I'm okay," Hilary ignored and started to make her way in the large grounds' expanse, "I'll make it out,"
"You won't," Ryan said dully, "Just go, look at yourself, you're scarlet and burning." He said once again touching her forehead firmly.
"I'm okay, Ryan," Hilary urged. "Besides, those two will return soon to the room and I don't want to see their faces so soon," Hilary scowled to herself.
"God, I wonder how Tyson and others handle you there," Ryan frowned at her,
"They are used to me," Hilary smirked sarcastically, "And since when have you been in contact with Tyson,"
"Since that day when you had him meet me, we talk occasionally on phones and I have to lie how good you are," Ryan said mischievously,
"Oh wow, you guys are in contact too," Hilary was momentarily scared,
"He's such a good guy," Ryan smiled,
"I know," Hilary frowned, "By the way I'm not going to my room!" Hilary was willful,
"Fine, we'll go my room. Is that okay?" He tried, because he was convinced how willful and sick she was now.
"No!" She shouted, "No need," she squirmed once again feeling an ardent need to lie down.
"Stop being crazy." Ryan commented and almost dragged her.
"Shut up, Ryan! I'm not coming." Hilary shouted badly at him. The guy was shocked for the first time. He never expected her to shout at him. Never. He never did anything ever to anyone to make them angry or worse, shout at him. This was shocking to him. He felt a little hurt. He left her hand.
"Carry on, then." He turned to head in some other direction.
Hilary realized immediately what she did. She was being stupid. She felt horrible. She ran towards him and called him, "Ryan wait!" She called and clasped his hand.
"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry, I really didn't mean to shout at you. I shouldn't have!" She said urgently and pleadingly.
Ryan didn't reply, feeling strangely little upset with her, "Leave me," He said little jadedly.
"I'm sorry, please! Let's go to your room, please!" She requested, trying to appease him.
"You can go, you're free," Ryan nearly uttered.
"No let's go to your room, please!" She wanted him to accept her apology at any cost.
Ryan tried to free his hand but she kept on pulling him and there was a slight tug of war as Ryan didn't made much effort.
"I'm saying right, let's go to your room!" She squealed in aggression. Coincidentally, Margot and Delia were returning as well and they were just around them when they heard the two friends fighting.
Margot and Delia looked amusingly nervous at Ryan and Hilary. Hilary looked away in disgust from them while Ryan felt cringed and nervous.
"Um, we are going to the class, actually-" Delia said in hesitation.
"We too!" Ryan said with a sweatdrop. He couldn't believe he was in this situation right now. Margot and Delia looked amused, hilarity on their faces but they strolled ignoring the duo.
Hilary gave a dull look to her friends, "Looks like I've no choice," he pursed slightly. Hilary grinned victoriously and patted him vigorously.
"You don't seem to be sick at all," Ryan said. Hilary nodded. "I'm just little unwell. I'll be okay,"
"Anyway, I'm in no mood for class now, I'm heading to my room." He sighed jadedly, "You may join me if you want to," he turned and stared at the far hostel building.
"I'm coming too," Hilary said, feeling in no mood for the lecture now.
...
Hilary's fever amplified in minutes and by the time they arrived at his room, she shivered slightly. She wanted to get wrapped in some heavy blanket. She didn't say anything yet to him.
He sensed her, and offered her the medicines which she gulped with water quickly. She balled herself and squirmed as she sat on the couch.
"Are you okay?" Ryan asked as he kept his bag and took clothes out to change.
"Don't you use blankets in winter?" Hilary quaked.
"Are you cold?" He asked pulling out his apron off.
"Damn, yeah."
He took out a blanket from a small wardrobe and swished it with rustle and cleaned it and kept it on his bed, "Lie down and get some sleep," He said as took his towel and headed to washroom, "Are you leaving?" She stuttered.
"To shower, for few minutes," He glanced her at once before disappearing.
She felt too cold but she made herself comfortable and lied down on the bed, curling herself in shivers and enwrapped in blanket.
A few minutes passed and she was in a good slumber. Ryan strode out after some minutes and got himself dried and nearly dresses in loose Tee and tracks. He peered over Hilary and saw her sleeping deep already. He sighed.
A nostalgic memory came to him as reverie. The last time when she was here, she was tipsy and demanding. Demanding me.
He felt a sense of thrill as he remembered their tryst and he looked away. Nonetheless, he still was expressionless and calm, nothing like one would guess him.
He smiled sympathetically to himself and sat on his study chair in front of the table, his back towards her. He opened his phone to see few missed calls and messages. Suddenly he felt irritated which he ignored again. He knew exactly whose messages they were. He ate a sandwich he'd placed in oven a few minutes back after he returned and summoned the courage to check the messages.
You'd holidays last month, why didn't you come! You're such an uncaring son, you know Ryan. Mom's so ill. She misses you so much. I've tons of patients to handle already at hospital. Couldn't you just think about me once?Mom once? ~ 19 hours ago.
Are you even reading my messages? What the fuck is wrong with you? Just pick the calls, you brat. ~ 14 hours ago.
You know what Ryan, you're such an insolent, heartless bastard. I hate to call you my brother. Just listen to me for once: Mom is sick. Really sick. She misses you so much. Dad has already left us, mom feels so ditched and down. Why are you ignoring us, Ryan? Why? Please Ryan, don't do this. You may really regret permanently. I'll never forgive you. I'm anyway coming at your place. Don't cause me to cause a scene in your campus and have a fight there like last time. Just get it already. Ryan, mom loves you, please understand. I'm coming. Just wait. ~13 hours ago.
Ryan let out a shuddered breath, feeling claustrophobic suddenly and breathless nauseatingly. He hadn't read the messages before. Sudden tears built up in his eyes. He wiped it off and tried his best to ignore.
There were reasons why was he not replying.
There were reasons why he didn't visit them.
There were reasons why he had taken admission in this college despite of being worthy getting a chance to study at his home place, Austin. He was American, after all.
He loved his mom but coming he has so many reasons as he grew up. Huge dramatic and scary voices echoed in his head and it scared him. He abruptly got up and headed to washroom. His heartbeat paced up, his eyes dilated in tension and perturbation. Old memories and feelings could be seen and felt. He wanted to ball up in corner and disappear.
"You idiot! Can't you complete your homework at time!"
"Look at Nyhan, he's your older brother, learn something from him!"
"If you continue doing this, you'll not even pass primary school, let alone high school."
Ryan felt frightened. He was trying his best to solve the problems and get good marks in tests. Ryan tried but Nyhan always got the biggest scores and good name. Ryan was still trying.
Ryan gulped in, he thumped down on the floor as more haunting memories flooded.
It was mid-nighttime, he was still preparing for his tests tomorrow in simple equations. He was trying his best, but he was scared as well that his mom would again taunt him of how weak he was. He couldn't take it anymore.
Since he was a kid, he has been suffering with taunts, scolding, insults, derision, stupid mockery at every failure, sarcastic comments.
He fell sick that night and he'd very high fever in morning and though he'd prepared he didn't go to school. The next day when he got a notice that he has been absent, his mom didn't say anything and told that he wasn't capable of handling his health.
"You can't even take care of your health. Do this before your finals and you'll waste one damn year!" Her mom accused him.
He was still not recovered from his sickness. He didn't know she was expecting from him, he was put under the pressure from the start. He wasn't a prodigy like Nyhan who excelled at everything and was never scolded my their mom.
Ryan as a kid, cried so much that night with breaking sobs and got sick even more for another two days. His grades even fell.
"Just get well soon, I'm tired of serving you people! Just learn to do your things and carry your shit!"
Maybe her mom was just sullen at times, but she shouted at him most of the times. Each time he was accused, he felt literally heart-broke, but he hid it and lied to himself that his mom cared, but she was just tired due to work. His mom was always strict, be it for studies, discipline, they never dare to even open the second button their shirts, wear shorts out of their room, far was the thought of drinking, flirting or dating. But parents cared, they loved, didn't they? These were the reasons why Ryan was soft and calm while he spoke, because he was brought up like that.
Ryan's face was paled, drained off and shot with tears, his eyes seeming bloodshot. He gave a maudlin laughter as the memories came. He hugged himself as he balled. He wanted to be truly loved, but he never felt so.
"Ryan, don't be sad. Mom gets angry sometimes."
"I know. I love mom as well,"
"Good boy, now go and say sorry to mom. Tell you'll score good in next tests."
"I'll."
"That's my good brother, I'm proud of you."
Ryan apologised and his mom nodded. Hoping he'd compensate everything, he returned to his room for studies.
A few days later, he was going from his room to Nyhan to ask few doubts. He stopped when he heard few voices:
"I'm worried about Ryan. If he doesn't try and concentrate, how will be good enough?"
"Don't worry mom, he's trying."
"No, he isn't. He should try even more. He should learn from you."
"We both are different. Really, Ryan is trying. "
"Stop siding your brother!"
Ryan stopped and returned disappointingly to his room, just thinking why he was so weak and not sharp. He was appreciated sometimes in class, at least, though he wasn't the best, but he never received any appreciation in home. Never. It was just Nyhan.
He also wanted to be admired sometimes. If not always, he tried his best to please mom and now, these efforts were transforming into tension, burdens, worries and negative feelings.
He began living in fear. There was fear of taunts, at anything, be it house chores, the time he woke up, the way he liked food, things, the way he talked, studies.
Was he really at fault? He became so under confident. He lived in fears. He lived in life filled with accusations, so much corrections that he hated the rights.
Ryan closed his eyes miserably, sinking in the past depression hitting him now. His chin wobbled. He felt so worthless, so down, he couldn't even define this bloody feeling. He couldn't even just feel what he was feeling. It sucked.
"Everyone passed 10th grade in your class with such awesome grades. Why couldn't you do?"
"Mom I tried. I at least got overall B plus,"
"You could have tried at least for A, leave A plus."
"Mom, please trust me *hic* I really worked hard for this, I've WORKED for this. Please don't be disappointed with me"
"Ryan, just go and take this damn result sheets. Or else, I'll dump it somewhere!Don't test my patience already!"
Ryan smiled cruelly at himself and slammed his back of head against the wall behind him in aggression and anger.
I didn't knew I was so worthless at time. He laughed for a second.
"Ryan, you've to get a medical seat through scholarship. We can't afford a free one,"
"You've to get in Austin. Or else I'll make you do repeats,"
"Just look at your brother, he's such a studious guy, learn from him. He's got a seat in Austin, in our home place. You ALSO have to get it!"
Ryan tried his best and 11th and 12th were the worst of all. At least in school, he laughed there, had good friends, they played, they ran, they stole each others tiffin, compared who got the least marks and gave treat to that one. They had fun times and Ryan at least laughed a few times. Julyan and Lyan always consoled him. They were such good friends and they were his only persons in his life he could confide in. Lyan, as much as rude and cold he seemed and was, when it came to Ryan, his heart bled of what he was going through. He could only console him. Julyan helped him as well. They bladed sometimes, relieved stressed sometimes. Ryan could never forget them.
Coming to secondary school, it all seemed even scary. Everyone are behind studies and he felt like life was running even faster. He couldn't run anymore. The pressure was too much to handle.
The entrance exam passed and he did nothing in the break till the results came with allotted seats except that he prayed that he doesn't receive any scolding. He'd never worked hard in his entire life as he worked during these two years. Sparse food, sparse sleep and even sparse encouragement.
Results came daunting by the end of July and that's when everything ended. Ryan had been allotted a seat in Florida which meant he'd to shift. At first, he felt doomed when bundles of accosting and accusation shot him dead. He didn't reply anything. He just stood and took every shooting. He never knew he'd have to shift. Days passed and more silence took over him, more heart breaking aura he felt impinged upon. He nonetheless completed the formalities and attended the counseling.
However, before his departure, he felt a little relieved. He wasn't accused anymore. Nyhan and mom helped him in packing and he was finally bidding good bye.
It ended and it was late night. At least, they didn't had to pay for studies, just for the hostel expenditure.
"Ryan, only if you would have listened me and worked harder, you could have stayed with us and continued your studies. Now bear the consequences,"
Ryan didn't say anything. He was leaving. Couldn't his mom say a few good and soothing words to him?
He closed the lights and slumped on his bed, waiting for tomorrow to come. 'Never would I ever come back here, again.' He swore.
He plugged in his earphones with soothing music, to embrace this sadness finally leaving him. He'll leave
Tears in amid slid down.
He was finally leaving. 'There'll be no one to scold me'. Another tear down. 'No one will accuse me. No one will taunt me. I can study with my heart, not under pressure. I can become a doctor who will treat patients with care, not under pressure.'
He smiled satirically, 'I'm leaving with worst memories here. I'll never unfold them. Ahead of me lies a new journey, I''ll love to embrace it.'
Little did he know how even beautiful his life was gonna be. He'd have wonderful life here, fests and events, no restrictions, he'd have freedom to study, he'd have friends, and mostly, he'd have Hilary...
Ahead of this kind of thin branch that seems like it may break,
Your future is being born
So don't prune off the days you haven't seen yet
I want to protect you who laughs and looks back at me now
Ryan got up and wiped his tears. He looked in mirror how horrible he was looking with that teary face. He wiped off his face with cold water, splashing it relentlessly on his face. Tears uncontrollably, unruly rained and he kept on splashing water. His tee got wet and he felt clammed. He removed his tee and sighed. He stared at himself in mirror, thinking how he was seen by his mom a few years back. Did he look naughty? Did he looked like he didn't try?
His eyes dropped low, he breathed in. Why.
He'd paid them just two visits and it went fine. He felt exasperated when he was asked about what his grades has been, and other things. He was on a visit of a week, he could have been rather welcomed and presented with good food, and they could have given him amiable conversation, a comfortable feeling. He felt nothing as such. If this was care, he fucking hated this care.
Now when his mom's sick, he's worried but he's already scared too much that he don't want any visits. And why is his mom missing him suddenly? That felt bewildering and highly unbelievable. Why not in these entire years? He cared but he didn't want to have anymore visits now. He's already been through so much. Nyhan was with her though, Ryan lwas no need to her. Nyhan was praised, he'd have sufficed.
Mom, I loved you; but the way you cared was hard on me. It left me broken and scared. Please don't cause me to revive me my old buried wounds.
He felt so guilty still of what he was doing. He felt like stabbing blades in his skin. He'd still not change.
He stared once again in mirror and saw how his eyes looked lifeless. He felt slightly giddy but he blinked and got fine. He lucidly rubbed off his tears, smiled reluctantly like he was the happiest person right now and opened the door.
Much to his surprise, he found Hilary standing right in front of him. Her face was full of worry, questions, confusion, a painful anger and a lot of, ocean full of sympathy for him. Ryan gazed at her simply wordlessly.
"What is it?" She tilted her head slightly asking in gentlest tone.
"So much that I can't explain," he said with a sad smile and hugged her without any more words. Hilary immediately hugged him, very protectively. Her heart bet fiercely seeing him like this.
No words were exchanged, she consoled him through continuously rubbing her palms on his back soothingly.
She pulled back and held his face in her palms, and looked in his eyes with full sympathy and pity. Ryan's eyes were not visible, he'd not closed them either.
"What up, Ryan?" She asked softly. "Tell me,"
"Don't ask. Did I force you the same way?" He said in a low voice.
"Its okay. I'll not ask you then. But just remember, you've me. Okay. I'm by your side. Just don't forget that." She smiled and empathized. He nodded.
"See, its raining." She looked out and gave a chirpy smile, "Let's go out."
Ryan gazed at her. Would she love me?
He gazed at her so softly and yet urgently that she felt almost squirmed under his gaze. She broke the eye contact, looking anywhere but not his bare shirtless figure or eyes. "Aren't you cold?"
She broke from her thoughts, "I'm okay. The tablets seemed to work."
"I'm feeling utterly hot though," he scratched his head absent-mindedly. Hilary almost smirked but still flushed.
He dragged a medium sized plastic couch into the balcony where it rained serenely. He took out a shirt and wore, buttoned it vaguely and pulled her into the balcony along with him. For a moment, Hilary just flowed with his action, no thoughts, no questions. For a moment, Ryan didn't treated her as a friend, it was little more.
He sat next to her in the couch, close and warm. Hilary was stupefied for sometime. Seeing how naturally the tension dissolved, she relaxed and cooed into him, blissfully getting wet in the rain along with him. It was such a priceless feeling for her. And it was even more precious sensation reviving Ryan.
The grey blue sky was beautiful and ethereal. It was cool, the pitter patter sounds of raindrops even more vibrant and giving an ultimate jubilant feeling to them. "Will you be by my side?" Ryan suddenly asked, still looking at the greyness of the clouds.
Hilary stared at him, "Always," she tightened her hold on his wrist, just to confirm. She looked back at the sky. It was vast, endless, undefined in it's own beauty.
"When emotions take over, I'm going no where. I'll be with you." She said suddenly, with a serenade.
"Closer to you by Rasmus." Ryan chuckled.
Hilary looked little surprised and she chuckled, "Damn, you're so well versed and perfect."
"My phone's water proof sorta." He got up and brought his phone and earphones and played that song, plugging one earphone in her ear and another in his, sharing the same feelings of the song.
"Awesome. It couldn't be any more sweeter." Hilary giggled happily.
Every time you walk inside I pull you closer
Standing with your heart in your hand
And your weight on your shoulder
I'll be waiting
When emotion takes over
I'm going nowhere
Come closer to me (Closer to me)
I'll be waiting
When the seasons grow colder
And as we grow older
I'll end up closer to you
Closer to you
Uh, uh-uh
Closer to you
Uh, uh-uh
By each other's side, under the magnificent downpour, fragrance of soil in water coming up, mellifluous music they shared, this day was becoming one beautiful unforgettable memory.
Ryan was tired, but this moment was so priceless that he wanted to live forever in this. Hilary's hair were tied into a straight ponytail. She swung it aside and made herself more comfortable. It was more than an hour they have been sitting here out and the downpour has ended a few minutes back. Hilary glanced at Ryan. He has passed into sleep. He leaned towards his shoulder with his lips slightly parted. Hilary got up, took off the earphones and took the blanket which she used and wrapped on him and sat beside him. He leaned towards comfortably upon her side and shoulder and even though how wet they were, she wanted him to sleep peacefully. Intuitively, she accidentally kissed him on head. She gulped in, but sighed when she noticed he was sleeping still.
She kept staring at the orange, deep blue darkening sky, the sunset just gone. It was cool and she didn't want to catch fever again, but she couldn't do anything now. She just let him sleep over her. She herself got into another sleep.
There are times we're beautiful
I'm in love with you,
I'm drowning in your feelings,
Be it your woes or healing.
Hilary woke up in midnight feeling cold. She shoved off the blanket, and found Ryan still asleep. This wasn't good. They could fall sick in the wetness. She gently woke him.
"Get up, Ryan," she shrugged him.
He woke up with bleary eyes and dullness. He gave a bare smile and kept a hand on her shoulder and took support and got up. Hilary smiled at him as he got up.
"I'll leave, Ryan. I've to get changed. Might be I'll have another cold tomorrow." She chuckled.
"Okay," Ryan nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow,"
"Hilary," he said, "Thanks so much for being such a good companion."
"You nailed it." She winked. "You've got me. Always."
.
.
.
Hilary walked to her room and unlocked the door. The girls were asleep. She slowly closed the door and locked it. She plodded carefully and kept her bag aside. Switching on her phone's torch, she pulled out a warm nightwear. She wore it and she felt the warmness of being in dry clothes than in wet. She dried her hair with towel, cleaned her bed carefully and lied on her bed. She checked her phone. There were messages from Delia and Margot asking about her. She closed her phone after keeping her alarm and dozed off. The reflecting moonshine made her smile.
A/N: Okay, so this was the last Flashback, and I hope the arc of Flashbacks was satisfying and I didn't miss out any details, or something more you were eager to know.
(Timeline reminders: Year 2019, late mid-4th year, Medicine, Florida- Ryan passed out.
Year 2021- Team split and left Tyson, Tyson lost his title, Kai won it, Grandpa went in coma and importantly, Tyson and Ash met in sequence. In the next chapter of present day, its almost the end of year 2021.)
-Flashback Part 1 events would fit after this chapter, actually. Just so it doesn't confuse you. (THOSE were events of late 3rd year, Medicine, when his health was finely going very down.)
-Ryan's life before coming to Florida was not easy and you saw what he have been through. Maybe you might say he should have been brave at that time, but remember that all those accusing, taunts and remarks was from a tender age and coming from his own mom, anyone would break. You may give your opinion, but for me, Ryan was kindest and calmest soul and he had bravery to still be a good student, friend, good and humble person who didn't let circumstances change him to a cold person even after coming to Florida.
- In this Flashback too, Ryan had already developed healthy feelings for Hilary and he acknowledged her love for him. He was just waiting for their studies to get over, or his health to get stable and handle his mindset before thinking about this deeply and confess her.
-As for Ryan's mom, Mrs. Finlay, might be it was the pressure and anger that her husband left her (ditched her, actually,) and all responsibilities were on her shoulders for raising her two sons. Or might be, she was SO wrong. Might be she should have been gentle with Ryan. I won't say much, but I personally don't like her because of what Ryan has been through.
-Do you agree with Ryan's mindset of not meeting his mom? Or should he have visited once? You all remember right, that how his mom died?
-Hope you pointed out at least few things in the flashbacks of THIS chapter, the things that didn't match about what you know of Nyhan. I won't say much. YOU tell me the doubts or questions?
-I would have written more about his health issues, but I really didn't want to. Was that necessary after knowing he was eventually kept on ventilator after all those horrendous steroids and sedatives he had to take and feel like death roaming around him?
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