Chapter 25: Game Over
There was a blinding flash of headlights. A loud screech of tires.
Reina didn't have time to think.
Using the entire weight of her petite frame, she shoved Ander out of the way.
The next second, she was struck by a massive force, throwing her to the ground violently.
Then everything went black.
Reina woke up in a state of hazy confusion.
The overly bright fluorescent lights were hurting her eyes, so she shut them back.
"Reina?"
She would've recognized that voice anywhere.
"Ander?" she spoke out weakly, blinking.
"Hey. Don't worry, you're okay." Ander's face hovered over hers, a tentative smile playing on his lips.
Refusing to be a huge cliché in asking where she was, Reina took her time in checking out her surroundings. "I'm... at the hospital?"
"Yeah. La Paz."
"What time is it?"
"8am. You were knocked out for some time." Ander's eyebrows began to furrow with concern. "Do you remember what happened?"
"Of course."
Ander stared at her.
"Okay, I don't remember," she admitted.
"You got hit by a car. Outside of Kluster. Must've been a drunk driver. Anyway, it should've been me. But you pushed me to the side, and the car struck you."
"Did you get hurt badly?!" Her eyes widened and noticed Ander's bandaged left hand. The angry scratches on the side of his cheek.
"You do realize that you're the one in the hospital bed..." Ander shook his head, chuckling. "I'm perfectly fine. And you will be too. Soon."
Soon? What does that mean?
Reina tried to prop herself up into a sitting position, but was stopped by Ander.
"Easy," Ander said.
"What's wrong with me?" Reina checked her arms, which felt fine. Then she wrinkled her toes and found that her right one was unresponsive.
Throwing the blanket aside, Reina gasped as she saw that her right leg was in a cast.
"Your hips and right leg sustained pretty heavy injuries," Ander explained quietly.
Reina gingerly poked at her cast. The whole thing felt so surreal.
"I'm sorry. I wish it was me who got knocked over." There was anguish in Ander's voice.
"What? No way. Don't say that," Reina replied quickly. As she gazed at Ander, it became clear just how heartfelt her words were. She would never, ever wish any harm on Ander.
Because a world without him would be fucking unbearable.
Ander returned her gaze. "Well, you saved my life. Thank you. I'm forever in your debt now."
Reina smirked. "Good. I'll prepare a long list of things that you can start on..."
Laughing in response, Ander said, "Sure."
"Hello, Reina," a new voice seized their attention. It was the doctor.
"Hi doctor," Reina answered. "How bad are my injuries? When can I walk again?"
"You're very eager, I see." The doctor smiled kindly. "Before I can give you answers, I will need to get you checked further."
"I'll get going then," Ander told Reina. "Keep me posted, okay?"
Reina nodded, fighting an insane urge to ask him to stay.
The impact from the accident, plus whatever drugs they had her on – all of that must be messing with her head.
Right? Right.
Later in the day, Reina was half-asleep when a figure approached her bed.
"Matteo?" she muttered.
"Reina. How are you feeling?" Matteo bit his lower lip. "I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier."
"Fine. The painkillers are doing their job." Reina couldn't help being cold toward him.
When Ander was describing what happened and Kluster came up, Reina had immediately experienced a rush of memories.
Of the electric moment between her and Ander at the rooftop.
Of her running away when guilt crept up, reminding her that she had lied to Ander about breaking up with Matteo.
Of the humid night air that greeted her as she pushed past Kluster's front door, desperate to escape the wave of emotions crashing within her.
Matteo ran a finger across Reina's arm. She instinctively pulled back.
"Baby. What's the matter?"
Reina frowned. There was something else about last night. The accident. The sight of the car that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere – a small sports vehicle with pearly white body paint...
She knew someone with a car like that.
"Matteo, where were you last night?" she wanted to know. At the same time, her hand reaching out to press the button that adjusts the bed position so that she could sit up.
Matteo shrugged. "Noel came over and we were playing Call Of Duty the whole night while chugging beers."
"Right." Reina looked at Matteo dead in the eye. "So you weren't near Kluster at all? At any point last night?"
"Of course not." Matteo scoffed. "Baby, what's this about?"
"I'll be direct then – Matteo, were you with Cruz yesterday?"
With raised eyebrows, Matteo responded, "Cruz? No. Why?"
Reina studied his expression. He seemed a little too calm for her liking. "I think I saw his car when I was leaving Kluster."
"You mean like driving by the street?"
"I mean like hitting me until I ended up in this bed," Reina intoned curtly.
"Are you saying that Cruz was the one who knocked you over?!" Matteo shook his head. "That's crazy. Why would he do that?"
"The car was aiming for Ander."
"Oh. In that case, he was helping to clean the streets of Madrid from useless Las Encinas scum. He should receive a medal of honor."
"I'm serious, Matteo," Reina said impatiently, slamming one hand down on the hard mattress.
"Hey, now. Calm down, Reina," Matteo murmured, trying to sound soothing.
He took Reina's hand but she pulled away.
"I want you to be honest," she persisted. "I know what I saw. The only question now is, why would Cruz even think of doing that? He barely even knew Ander."
Reina's voice was firm as she continued, "So tell me, Matteo. Were you there last night with Cruz?"
Matteo sighed. "First, you need to promise me that you won't freak out –"
"I KNEW IT." Reina's eyes narrowed yet emitted a fiery energy that made Matteo take a step back. "You were there with Cruz in the car."
"Well what was I supposed to do when my girlfriend was throwing herself at the biggest loser of Las Encinas?!" Matteo exploded, finally revealing his emotions.
"What are you even talking about?"
"The pictures and videos on Instagram. That Marina took and you reposted," Matteo said through gritted teeth. "I kept seeing you dancing with Ander. Laughing with him. Hugging him. It was disgusting."
"Are you that insecure? You were the one who told me to get close to Ander, remember?"
"Forget that fucking plan. All I know now is that I don't want you to be even within five meters from him." Matteo's breathing became heavy, and he began pacing around the ward like a restless animal.
Reina was this close to ripping off her IV drip and getting up to punch Matteo. "Excuse me? I'm not a goddamn mindless thing that belongs to you and serves to fulfill your every demand."
"I belong to you and you belong to me. That's how it's always been, hasn't it?"
"You're insane," Reina scoffed. "And let me get this straight. You got pissed off by all the Instagram stuff, and instead of cooling off or texting me about it, you decided to get Cruz to drive you to Kluster and ram Ander down?!"
"Of course not." Matteo threw Reina a defensive look. "I was going out with Cruz. We had a couple of beers and then decided to head out to Maison – but we detoured after what I saw on Instagram. I wanted to go to Kluster and beat Ander up. But I spotted you out on the sidewalk, and then Ander behind you. And I just lost it."
"You lost it all, all right," Reina remarked bitterly. "And I'll bet you had more than just a couple of beers."
Matteo shrugged.
"Fuck, Matteo. Do you know that the police are looking for Cruz's car? And now I find out that he was intoxicated behind the wheel. Perfect. I hope you're proud of all that happened, Matteo. I'm done with this. And done with you. We're over."
"What? C'mon. You don't mean it," Matteo laughed hollowly. "Quit playing."
"I am quitting. Game over."
Matteo's handsome face twisted with rage. He walked up to Reina and leaned down so close to her that she could feel his hot breath on her cheeks. "Don't. Push. It. You don't know what I'm capable of."
Shocked by Matteo's threatening demeanor, Reina instinctively recoiled.
Just then, a firm knock on the door was heard.
Reina and Matteo turned around to see Diego Velásquez coming in through the doorway.
"Matteo, you're here," Reina's father observed coolly.
Matteo straightened up his posture and nodded. "Just came to see how Reina is doing. I've been so worried."
Reina glanced at her father, who wore a skeptical expression. "Well now that you've seen her, you can leave now."
"I'm sorry?" Matteo asked, taken by surprise.
"Do you really need me to repeat myself? Just go, please. Now." Reina's father folded his arms expectantly.
Matteo exhaled and made his exit without another word.
Reina's tensed shoulders began to relax. "Thank you. For that," she mumbled to her father. Somehow he had sensed that something was wrong, and acted on it.
He had come to her rescue.
Perhaps miracles do happen after all.
Her father cracked a slight smile. "That's what a father is for, isn't it?"