Thanks for the nice feedback so far! I really appreciate it and I hope you guys like this chapter :)
My Astronomy books were open and sprawled all over my desk. There were pens and pencils loose and notebooks full of math equations along with them. Then there was a very tired me sitting on a chair in my pajamas.
The dark bags under my eyes were begging to be put to rest but I had homework I needed to finish before class started. I thought that I had finished yesterday in the afternoon before I went to Anteiku, but Professor 'Devil' Guen decided to add 3 more assignments. So much for getting a good nights sleep.
I exhaled slowly before picking up my pencil and turning the page in the thickest book I had ever owned in my life.
There was light snoring coming from my roommate Lynn on her side of the room. Her hair was a mess and she still had her clothes on from last night. The skin tight party dress and a black leather jacket. Not to mention she reeked of alcohol from which ever party she went to last night. I could've almost woken up with a hangover as well but I had politely declined her invitation. So instead I stayed doing homework. My original plan was to hopefully have Kaneki and Hide come over but Hide had a another class and Kaneki told me he had a book club meeting at the local library. I felt relieved at hearing that because it meant he hadn't gone out with Rize like I thought he would. That was one pound off my shoulders which let my do my homework in peace. I genuinely felt better knowing they were safe.
Wait I need to finish this. I can't let thoughts distract me. I'll fail if I don't turn this in. Okay Alice, focus mode.
I starred down at problem number 44. Let's see blah blah blah...
Uuuugghhh. This is boring.
I think it's time for a break. Yeah a nap sounds awesome right now. My pillow and soft mattress. Yes I defiantly deserve one. Besides I can't do homework half asleep. That's unhealthy and I won't be fully concentrating on the problems.
I extended both my arms in the air and stretched them out. I let out a quiet much needed yawn. As I was standing up, my phone began to vibrate on the desk. The caller ID read 'Sunflower Hide' Slide to answer. I frowned and picked up the phone.
"Hey I'm about to take a nap can I-"
"Alice it's an emergency." Hide spoke in a nervous voice.
Panic suddenly broke all throughout my body rapidly.
"Huh? What happened are you okay?" I began to ask frantically feeling my heart beat faster.
"It's not me. It's Kaneki! He's in the hospital! They say it was a ghoul attack! He went through surgery last night."
My breath hitched.
No.
Everything around me froze. My stomach knotted in fear. I got an endless feeling of angst as the worst possible scenarios rushed through my mind. My hand gripping the phone almost began to feel like jelly.
No. No. No. No. No. No.
God this can't be happening. My nightmare is becoming a reality. A ghoul has attacked someone close to me. There's no doubt in my mind who this ghoul could've been either. I knew I wasn't crazy for smelling Rize so close by and her blood being spilled. I knew it... My free hand turned into a hard fist urging to rip apart something.
Even if I had specifically told her not to, she didn't listen. But I left her a consequence. I'm not one to break a promise either.
"What hospital is he in?"
##
The waiting room is freezing cold. I probably should've changed before I went crazy and dropped everything to come here. All I had on was my pajama shorts and loose top. The pink slippers on my bare feet didn't help either.
I hugged my knees closer and shut my eyes.
It made me uncomfortable to see all these nurses and doctors pass by me in their uniforms. Their noisy footsteps hitting the fluorescent tiles. It made the situation I was in seem so much more realistic. And I didn't want to have to face the guilt it brought upon me.
I'm so sorry Kaneki. It's my fault you're here.
Isighed.
The sound of muffled crying was playing from the old woman 3 seats away from me. She had been here as long as I was. Two hours and counting. Although I don't know why she's here, I really do hope whoever she's crying over is okay. For 2 hours she been murmuring prayers under her breath and asking doctors for the condition 'Zeto'. Probably a son or husband. I don't know.
On my left side, there was a child and father who had been here for maybe 20 minutes. The little blonde sat impatiently in his seat continuously asking when he'd meet his baby sister. The father would smile and tell him to wait. That mom was showering or something like that.
It's just so crazy that on one side we had life, and on the other we had possible life or death. Then there was me in the middle with life as well. Only he was resting and plugged to an IV. I didn't want to imagine what he looked like with all those machines near him. Keeping him in peace. I felt sick to my stomach at the mention of it but yet I felt some anger. Angry that I could smell Rize's scent on the floor I was in. Hide did tell me that he got an organ transplant from another woman on the sight of the accident. A construction site. The woman was crushed under metal tiles with a 100 percent confirmed death. Rize was dead. She was gone from my sight but her smell lingered on in the body of my friend. I don't know what putting her organs in him can do but, it's probably for the best. He is alive after all. No need for me to worry Hide assured. He had left a while ago. He was here before I was and only got to see his body from a window. He also spoke to a police officer but they had no concrete details on his wounds. That's why I'm waiting here. That's why I'm missing my first class and staying in this cold waiting room for the doctors word. Only then can I really be at ease.
"For the condition of uh...'Kaneki Ken'." A female spoke up looking down on her clipboard. She wore a white coat meaning doctor to me.
Finally!
I bolted up from my chair quickly and raced to her. She took a step back adjusting her glasses.
"Are you here for Mr. Ken?" She asked.
"Y-yes." I replied anxiously.
The papers on her clipboard were filled entirely with reports and a picture of Kaneki. I was able to make out 'surgery' and '...night...blood loss'. I swallowed feeling my body begin to tense up. My legs feel like jelly below me.
"Is he alright?" I asked in a nervous voice.
Her name tag read 'Honagiri' in a bright gold polished frame. Her turtleneck reached her chin and I realized she look fairly young.
She turned a page from the papers and mumbled a few words quietly. She looked back up to me and began.
"He's fine. He got out of surgery six hours ago but he is being put on bed rest for 72 hours until his next checkup from a senior doctor. It's my first week here so I can't tell you much but that." She inquired sadly sniffling her nose.
I exhaled.
I felt a little relieved knowing he's okay. He's still alive and well so I should be grateful but I have to see him. I have to just to be sure. I can't celebrate just yet.
"Thank you." I replied with a small smile.
She bowed her head lightly.
"But can I see him?" I asked her.
She looked back up at me and fixed her falling glasses again to read the clipboard in her hands. Another doctor entered the waiting room across from us.
"He has requested no visitors right now but I will let him know you came." She mused in a cheery tone.
My eyes dropped. I can't see him yet. According to her tone of voice though I can infer he's doing okay. He had requested no visitors but why? Nothing's wrong with him right? He shouldn't have any scars or anything hopefully. But why can't I see him...
He's okay. He's okay. He's okay. He's okay. Cmon Alice he's alright.
"Thank you." I sighed.
"No problem. But wait what's your name so I can tell him?" She asked with her heel turned ready to leave.
"Alice." I simply stated. She nodded and spun around to walk in the other direction.
I stood there right under an air vent. The cold air rushed all through me and I let it despite how cold I felt. I hugged my shoulders lowering my head.
Kaneki is okay and that's all that matters.
Now I have to get back to class. I want to shower first though. I need to rinse of the stress and continue on with my homework.
I turned around to the busy hallway I came in from. I saw the old woman hysterically crying as she hugged an old man on a wheel chair. Of course he hugged her back. I smiled.
Everything is okay right now.