CHAPTER 9：From Under The Tree

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Candy was sitting high on a tree branch in the hospital, hidden behind the myriads of leaves. It's a great solitary spot where no one could see her but she could look down and see things around her. Her favorite favorite place when she needed some time to be alone versus the staff rest area where she had to share with dozen of other nurses.

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Dear Candy,

I'm sorry to tell you that Terry got infected with influenza.

His apartment is under quarantine so is our neighborhood. But, don't worry. I'll do all I can with Fanny. After he's well, he will go to see you.

Yours,

Suzanne.

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The note was brief but the effect lasted long after she read it.

Poor Terry. She wanted to visit him badly but of course that's not possible. The whole neighborhood is under quarantine! Oh... Terry was fighting for his life and she couldn't even help. Candy cried until she couldn't cry anymore.

Finally, she noticed it's Suzanne who wrote the letter. Why her? How close are they together?

Feeling a bit jealous she stared blankly at the paper when she heard a low mumble of voices. Pausing, she listened carefully to make out the words to make sure it's not someone in need of help.

"No!" A woman screamed in anguish followed by more unclear mumbles.

Candy peered through the leaves but she couldn't see anyone from her angle. The voice disappeared for a moment before they resumed clearer a moment later. Apparently they moved closer to her direction.

"How much do you love her? Be honest!" the woman sobbed. It was not too clear but enough for her to follow their conversation.

"A lot." Candy heard a man's voice replied.

"Do you love me? Did you ever?" the woman asked.

"You're my best friend. My dearest friend," the man answered. His voice was so low, barely audible.

Candy heard footsteps getting closer. She held her breath and balled herself up so they wouldn't see her.

The woman started to cry. Candy felt sorry for her. She remembered how broken her heart was when she parted with Terry in New York or when she found out that Albert had a girlfriend.

"Friend?" she wailed. "Oh why can't you love me?"

"It's not about you."

"Then what? Tell me," she pleaded.

They were directly under her now, Candy could hear every word she said very clearly.

"I had loved her before I met you. No one believes me, though. Then I went to Florida. I thought I was over her but when I met her again I realized I'm not. I'm sorry but now I know that I will not… I can't… marry anyone else except her."

That was so romantic.The girl that the man loved, whoever she was, is so lucky to be defended by him, Candy thought.

Candy thought of the event years ago in New York. If only at that time Terry didn't let her go, she probably would have never returned to Chicago and stayed with him in New York. The accident with Suzanne was sad but she would not mind to bear the guilt together with Terry.

The woman started to sob. Candy debated if she should make her presence known. What they're discussing was deeply personal. It's not fair for her to keep listening. Candy straightened to climb down the tree and reveal her presence before she heard how the woman called the man.

"Who is she, Neal?" the woman demanded.

Candy bit her lips. Leaning closer forward, she tried to look at their faces but it's their back that's facing her.

"Tell me her name. At least I deserve that much," the woman begged brokenheartedly.

There was silence.

"Candice White Andrew," Neal finally answered. His voice rang loudly and clearly. Candy gripped the tree branch to stop herself from falling. Totally in shocked, Candy's knees buckled under her and she slid back to her original spot.

"You came here looking for her?" Daisy asked.

"Yes."

"Oh Neal, why can't you love me."

Neal didn't answer.

"But how come? She's just a dirty stable girl... You can't be serious!"

Candy's heart stopped beating.

"Don't call her that. Candy is a praiseworthy woman who works hard to earn her own living," defended Neal.

Neal said that?, thought Candy in disbelief. She never guessed that Neal praised her behind her back.

"But your mother hates her! She will want you to marry me instead of that little nurse!"

"It's not for mom to say," said Neal. A hard edge entered his voice. "From all women I have ever laid my eyes on, Candy is the most amazing to me. I am very proud of her and only have good things to say about her."

Candy clamped her mouth with her hands to keep her from gasping.

"But she doesn't want you! Didn't she reject your proposal?" Daisy screamed.

"Then I will have to keep trying."

"She means that much to you? Neal... oh Neal... Look at me. Can't you see how much I want you. Please, I'm begging you... Love me, please."

"Daisy..." Neal paused. "To be entirely honest with you... I have tried."

"No... no..." Daisy cried, sounded genuinely broken. Candy felt her eyes wet almost cried too for Daisy.

A hush fell over the hospital garden, broken only by Daisy's sob and the chip of birds. And when Daisy spoke again she sounded like a totally different person.

"Neal Leagan!" Her voice trembled with fury. It's so scary that Candy found herself shivered in spite herself. "I won't let anyone take you away from me. Just watch!" Candy then heard her retreating foot steps as she fled the scene.

Neal sighed deeply but he didn't run after Daisy. He lingered for a moment under the tree before he slowly retreated away too.

After their footsteps faded, Candy rose to peek at them. Right, it's Neal. She sank back and sat perfectly still, her heart was too shaken by shock. It was hard to believe to hear what Neal said about her. After all he did to her, now this? Why is he so obnoxious whenever they meet then?

Candy's alarm rang telling her the break was over. She quietly got up, climbed down the tree and back to her ward.

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Candy worked hard for the whole afternoon. There were more influenza patients coming, more doctors and nurses got sick. The day was too hectic for her mind to keep dwelling on Neal issues. When her shift was over, she gathered her stuffs and went home.

She passed the hospital main gate and suddenly remembered Neal who used to wait for her there asking for lunch, dinner, offering bouquet, or what not. It felt simply weird. Instinctively, she looked up and stopped cold.

Neal was there. After disappeared for almost two years, the familiar sight was there again.

He stood next to his car wearing perfectly tailored dress, as always, one hand in his pocket, one holding a large bouquet of pink roses.

Neal straightened when he saw her. Candy averted her gaze and looked straight to the front to show she disliked him as usual. But after what she heard what he said about her this afternoon, this time it wasn't easy. She was aware of him watching her. Lifted up her chin, she tried to stay calm although her heart pounded frantically.

"Candy." He stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

Candy nodded curtly, wouldn't look at him. Her heart beat even harder. She walked faster trying to avoid him before her nervousness became apparent but from the tail of her eyes she saw him following her, his hand was holding out flowers.

"These flowers are for you," Neal snorted. He shrugged like it's not a big deal. "If you care take it. I don't care. I have a line of admires at my door."

Candy was out of words. This is all he could do to show love? He was so rude and aggravating. Whatever happened to all those romantic words she heard him saying this afternoon? She was about to pick the bouquet and slammed it to his face when it occurred to her that her manner to him wasn't any better either.

Neal was just a spoiled rich boy who doesn't know how to be nice to others, thought Candy Suddenly her anger disappeared and she pitied him instead. I will show him how to behave nicely to a woman!

Candy stopped walking and took a deep breath. "They're lovely," she murmured. Candy took the flowers and inhaled their sweet scent. "I like it." She smiled. "Thank you." Life is so precious. Why not a truce?

He seemed shocked.

"Y-you like it you said?" asked Neal.

Candy could tell that he didn't expect her answer. "Yes, thank you." Hear heart tickled gleefully at his astonished face. She tried so hard not to giggle openly.

"You really like it?" His face lit up, his eyes softened she never saw that before.

He moved forward. She instinctively inched backward.

"Yeah. Anyway, get to go. Have a good evening, Neal."

Candy turned around to leave, but he held her elbow.

"Dinner? This Saturday is okay with you?"

Candy groaned inwardly. Here we go again. "It'd be great but no thank you I have had things planed."

Neal kept on insisting and Candy kept on rejecting politely with a string of excuses. It didn't work.

"Sunday brunch?"

"Sorry," Candy finally said. Running up excuses she said, as the last resort, "I have to be my daughter this weekend." That answer usually stopped men from pursuing further.

"W-who?" he gawked. His eyes never looked bigger.

She repeated herself, slowly. "I have to be with my daughter this weekend. She has a sport meeting in school this Saturday."

"Your d-daughter? You have a daughter?"

"Yes," she met his gaze levelly. "I'm a busy bee. My daughter's school has a sports event for parents. We can meet there. That's the only time I have."

Candy walked triumphantly. Now he would never come close to her anymore.

"Fine!" he cried even before she even finished her first step. "I'll see you in the sport meeting! Which school?" To her disappointment she heard Neal yell from behind her. Candy stopped, groaned secretly.

If anything I could find out more about Candy's daughter, thought Neal.

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To be continued...

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Thanks for reading:

To those who sympathize with Daisy: her story has just begun.

ABOUT Terry: Sorry to cause worries. Could anyone guess though? The winner will get two electronic cookies :DDD

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Sabrina: I'm sorry about Terry. But this story isn't going to be as deep as Mizuki's. It's pretty shallow, you'll find out. Thanks.