Chapter 19: Hospitals….More and More Hospitals

Blinking my eyes, I stare up at the sterile white ceiling. I tilt my head, looking left out a window and right towards a beeping machine. Noting the heartbeat reader as well as my blood pressure I knew I was back in a hospital. Looking back up at the ceiling I sigh softly.

I was in a hospital room.

I hear a door open and look towards the sound of footsteps. A small head poked into the curtain. He smiles slightly when he sees I'm awake.

"Hi Yuki-kun, what's up?" I ask as he lifts the curtain and walks in.

"What's up? That's all you say to me?" I look up at him confused. He sits down with a sigh at the edge of the bed. "You've been unconscious for the last ten hours. The doctor told Oni-chan that you collapsed due to exhaustion, stress and mal nutrition. I know you don't usually eat much at breakfast and you didn't have any dinner last night but are you trying to starve yourself?"

I blink in surprise. "Sorry, Yuki-kun, I didn't mean to make you worry." I smile gently as I pat his head.

Yuki-kun stares at me before turning away sharply. It isn't me you need to apologize to. Oni-chan's been frantic this entire time. He left ten minutes ago to grab some food since he's been sitting here beside you the entire time."

At that moment, the curtain lifts again and Irie-kun pokes his head in, hope in his eyes. He rushes over and leans over. "Kotoko, are you alright?"

"Mmmhmm." I nod my head, smiling softly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry."

He leans over the bed and rest his forehead against mine. "I'm just glad it was nothing serious." I tilt my head and our lips meet in a soft kiss.

"Ah! I'm scarred for life! Seriously, get a room." I break the kiss and look over at Yuki-kun who was still sitting at the edge of my bed but had turned tomato red and was covering his eyes.

I nudge him with my foot. "You're safe now." I tease.

The curtain opens again and a man dressed in a white doctor's coat came in. "Hello Ms. Aihara, I'm Dr. Tomoe. I heard you were awake and came to check your vitals. How are you feeling? Any sign of dizziness?" He asks as he notes down my heartbeat and blood pressure from the health monitor beside me.

I shake my head "I don't feel dizzy, but when I first woke up. I noticed my blood pressure reading was a little high."

"Are you a med student?" He asks with a smile.

I shake my head "Nursing. We're studying how to identify vitals and what the readings mean."

"Well done, well it doesn't appear you have any lasting problems. You collapsed due to over-exhaustion, and lack of food. I want you to eat and get at least eight hours of sleep for the next week. Other than that, I'll have the papers for your release by reception. I see no reason to keep you here any longer. Good luck with your studies."

I smile and thank the doctor before he leaves, leaving Irie-kun, Yuki-kun and I alone in the room. "Should we get going?" I ask brightly.

Hi guys! I'm back! Sorry about the extended delay. Once I finished AP exams, I had my French Oral provincial exam which was tough. Anyhow, I got a bit stuck on this chapter which is another reason this got a bit delayed. It's a bit short, only because I have the plot for the next chapter, but I couldn't tie it into this chapter, so a bit of a jump cut next chapter. Anyhow, I'll do my best to keep posting, but between all my school graduation activities (and non school sanctioned grad activities) plus final exams, I'm still pretty busy from now till June 23. I promise I'll keep updating during this time. I apologies again for the short chapter, but next chapter will be good. I promise. Write to you guys next time. Ciao!