---
In the early evening at the hospital...
Edrik, seeing an unfamiliar, cute-faced girl crying in front of Vins's room, decided to approach her. He stood there confused, witnessing the mess of fruit she had dropped, all scattered across the hospital corridor floor.
"Hey... Are you okay?" Edrik asked the girl.
The girl got up from where she was sitting, wiping away her tears with her hand in front of Edrik.
"Wait, aren't you an 8th grader? You're Sis Belina, right?" Edrik blurted out spontaneously after getting a good look at her cute face.
"Oh, yeah... Hi, I'm Belina... How do you know me?" Belina asked, still wiping away the last of her tears.
"Hahaha... Who doesn't know the girl rumored to be Sis Ivana's rival in beauty and achievement? You two are that popular!" Edrik replied enthusiastically.
"Ahh... I'm not that great or popular like Ivana! Hehehe... Besides, I'm not even an Ontreight Middle School student anymore..." Belina replied, her tone still betraying that she had been crying.
"I know you transferred schools after two months in the 8th grade, Sis! By the way, why are you crying here? Do you know the student being treated in this room?" Edrik asked, curious about what the cute senior was doing.
"No... I just slipped when I passed by here.... Hehehe... That's why I'm crying, my hand really hurts... I actually came here to visit Dani..." Belina said, attempting to lie to Vins's friend.
"Oh, you're visiting Bro Dani... I thought something else happened to you! Bro Dani is really lucky to be visited by a beautiful and popular girl! Hehehe..." Edrik said, scratching his head awkwardly.
"Hehehe... I'm not that great, you know? What's your name, kid?" Belina asked Edrik while picking up the scattered fruit.
"My name's Edrik, Sis! Nice to meet you... Hehehe..." Edrik replied, helping her.
"Oh, Edrik! What are you doing here? Are you also going to see Dani? Want to go to his room with me?" Belina asked, trying to convince Edrik that she was indeed going to see him.
"Oh no, Sis! I already met Bro Dani this morning! I'm going to the room behind you... Two of my classmates are being treated here..." Edrik responded.
"Huh? Really? I hope your friends get well soon... Well, I'll be going now..." Belina said, about to walk away.
"Okay, Sis! Be careful, okay? Don't fall again..." Edrik said, waving his hand at Belina.
Edrik watched the cute girl he admired walk away from where he stood. He saw Belina look back, smile, and wave her hand.
Edrik then noticed that Vins's room door wasn't fully closed, leaving a small gap that allowed one to peek inside.
He was about to open the door, but through the gap, he saw Vins being spoon-fed cake by Karina instead.
He abandoned his intention to open the door, suddenly understanding what had actually happened to Belina. He frowned, rubbed his face, and shook his head, as if he couldn't believe the situation unfolding.
"What a damn idiot!" Edrik muttered, barely containing his annoyance after realizing why Belina had been crying.
Edrik then quickly ran to find Belina, heading to Dani's hospital room.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Excuse me..." Edrik said politely.
"Yo... Just come in!" his senior called out from inside.
Click...
Inside the room, Dani was seen eating, being spoon-fed by a girl.
Edrik, mistakenly thinking the beautiful girl around his age was romantically spoon-feeding his senior, believed he had interrupted an intimate moment.
He reconsidered going in and closed the hospital room door again.
"Uh, sorry for interrupting, Bro! Hehehe... Carry on, Bro! Carry on! I feel bad now... Hehehe..."
Thud!
"Hey! Roasted pig! Oh my gosh... He misunderstood!" Dani yelled, his mouth full of rice.
"Who was that, Bro?" Dani's little sister asked.
Gulp... Gulp... Gulp...
"My friend, sis! He misunderstood... He probably thought you were my girlfriend!" Dani answered.
"Hahaha... He's pretty funny!" Dani's little sister said, laughing while covering her mouth.
Dani then got off his bed, intending to chase after Edrik, who had misunderstood the situation.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
"Hey, roasted pig!" Dani yelled, his voice echoing down the corridor.
Edrik turned and approached Dani. Just as they met, an unfamiliar woman suddenly emerged and immediately scolded them.
"Hey! You two are still so young but have absolutely no manners! Don't you know this is a hospital? Stop screaming!" the unfamiliar woman scolded them.
Dani grabbed Edrik by the collar, dragging him back into his hospital room.
"Yeah, sorry, Ma'am! My friend is a bit deaf... He has too much fat... It got into his ears... Sorry again, Ma'am! Hehehe..."
Thud!
"Ughh... You roasted pig, you completely misunderstood! This is my little sister! Her name's Dina!" Dani said, clearing up the misunderstanding.
"Oh, so this beautiful, charming girl is your little sister, Bro? Hehe, what a relief..." Edrik said, gazing at her, entranced by her beauty.
Dani, annoyed at seeing his little sister being stared at for so long, shoved his hand in Edrik's face and flicked him on the forehead.
Thwack!
"Ow!" Edrik yelped in pain from Dani's flick.
"Hey! Roasted pig! 'Relief,' huh? 'Relief,' my ass! Know your place! Seriously, don't stare at my little sister like that!" Dani said angrily, spreading his arms to block the view.
"Uh, sorry, Bro... Hehehe... I just tend to lose my senses when I see God's most beautiful creation..." Edrik replied.
Dina, seeing Edrik's funny behavior, got up from her seat and placed her brother's dinner plate on the bedside table.
"Hahaha... You're funny... What's your name?" Dina asked Edrik, extending her hand.
"Huh? Hehehe... My name's Edrik! The manliest guy in the 7th and 8th grades at Ontreight Middle School! No need to tell me your name! Your beautiful face alone already explains your lovely name!" Edrik replied confidently.
"Hahaha... Hello, Edrik! I thought you were older than me, but it turns out we're the same age! Nice to meet you..." Dina replied.
Dani, annoyed at Edrik getting close to his little sister, could only fume at the sight of it, shooting a glare at Dina as well.
"Ouch... Ouch... What are you doing, Bro Dani?" Edrik asked, confused as Dani grabbed his chubby arm.
Edrik simply resigned himself, following wherever Dani pushed him. He was then forced to sit on the patient's bed.
"Stay quiet, you! Now... Sit! SIT RIGHT HERE!!!" Dani said, shoving Edrik onto the bed.
Edrik just stayed silent, following Dina's brother's orders.
"There... Just stay quiet right here, okay!" Dani told Edrik.
Dani then took his dinner plate and handed it to Dina.
"Hold it, Din! Hold it quick! Ugh... Hurry and hold it!" Dani said sharply to his little sister as she took the plate from him.
Edrik and Dina, confused by Dani's erratic behavior, just stayed silent, watching the school's tough guy. Dani then dusted his hands off, as if he had just finished a dirty job.
"There... You two stay put! I'm going for a smoke first! You two can spoon-feed each other!" Dani then hurried out, grabbing a pack of cigarettes from his bag and a banana from the table.
"What's wrong with your brother, Din?" Edrik asked.
"HAHAHA... I don't know, he just gets like that sometimes! Alright, here! open wide first... Aaaaaa..." Dina replied, extending a spoon full of rice.
"Aaaaa-Gag..."
Just as Edrik opened his mouth, he suddenly choked as something was shoved into it.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"There, eat that banana peel!" Dani said. He had come back inside because he forgot his lighter.
Annoyed by Edrik's flirting, he had shoved the banana peel straight into Edrik's mouth.
That made Dina giggle as she saw Edrik's mouth full of banana peel.
Dani then went out and closed the door.
SLAM!!!
But it wasn't long before he pushed the door open again, saying,
Creeeck...
"Don't you two try anything horrible!"
SLAM!!!
---
Outside the hospital...
Dani made his way outside on his crutches, heading toward the hospital parking lot located right by the main entrance. He lit a cigarette and stood with his hands on his hips, striking his signature pose.
Pufff~
Not long after, he heard the sound of a girl crying. It nearly made him jump out of his skin when his eyes locked onto a figure weeping on a hospital garden bench.
Curious and wanting to make sure, he gathered his courage to approach her. He was genuinely worried that what he was seeing wasn't a human, but a ghost.
"Whoa, Belina? I thought you were a ghost! What are you doing sitting out here all by yourself?" Dani asked, surprised to find it was indeed Belina, still in tears.
"Sniff! Sniff! Don't bother me right now, Dan! I just want to be alone! Sniff!" Belina replied, crying.
"Hey, Bel! It's already 9 PM, you know? Aren't you going home? You shouldn't be crying out here all by yourself!" Dani said, warning her.
"Ughh... Just go away! Don't bother me! Sniff! I'm heartbroken, Dani! Sniff!" Belina told him.
Dani, unable to bear seeing the girl sitting all alone in the middle of the hospital garden, asked her what was wrong.
"Alright, just tell me! What's up? Relax... We're not even in the same school anymore, so you don't have to be embarrassed talking to a bad kid like me!" Dani said, trying to coax Belina into sharing her story.
"Throw away your cigarette first! The smoke is annoying, you know? Sniff! Sniff!" Belina grumbled, irritated by Dani's cigarette smoke.
Dani immediately put out his cigarette and asked Belina once more why she was crying.
"There, see! I already put it out! Why are you crying here all alone instead of going home?" Dani asked again.
"I... Sniff! I'm disappointed in Vins... Sniff!" Belina explained.
"Huh? Vins? You know Vins? How come I'm just finding out about this? Don't tell me you're actually his girlfriend?" Dani asked, extremely curious about Belina's relationship with Vins.
Dani bombarding her with so many questions at once made Belina feel uncomfortable about sharing her story. She ended up grumbling at him instead.
"Ugh... Sniff! You're so annoying, Dani! Sniff! Never mind... Sniff! Can I just ask you for a favor, Dan? Sniff!" Belina asked Dani, who was left confused about what he'd done wrong.
"Alright! Alright! Just say it, Bel! If it's about Vins, I think I can help!" Dani said, agreeing to Belina's request.
Belina briefly recounted everything that had happened between her and Vins all this time. Dani, listening to the surprising facts, was left speechless. He just nodded along to Belina's story, occasionally lost in thought because he genuinely empathized with how she felt.
Belina then handed Dani a letter. She asked for his help, whispering a few parting words that only Dani could hear. Dani was visibly shocked by her words, and he apologized to Belina for not being able to help her much. As someone who used to be her classmate back in the 7th grade, he sincerely hoped she could find peace.
Not long after, her mother arrived to pick her up. Belina shook Dani's hand and said her goodbyes.
"EH??? BELINA!!! YOU FORGOT YOUR FRUIT!!!" Dani yelled, lifting the plastic bag full of fruit that Belina had been carrying since the afternoon.
"IT'S FOR YOU GUYS!!! SHARE IT TOGETHER, OKAY???" Belina replied, looking back and waving her hand.
Dani stood silent for a moment, watching Belina and her mother leave. Not long after, he took out his cigarette and lighter, lighting it up once Belina started to disappear from his sight.
Sizzle...
Pufff~
"Well... What's done is done... What can I do?" Dani muttered.
---
On the same night, at 9:30 PM. Specifically, in the hospital corridor...
"Hey! Val! Where are you going?" Vins yelled, calling out to Doval.
"Oy, you asshole!" Doval retorted, approaching Vins.
"Awesome! You're already out and about! I just came from the restroom... Jafar's brother just arrived! So, I can finally move around!" Doval continued, teasing Vins.
"I've only got bruises, you know? I'm heading to the canteen, Val! Wanna come?" Vins asked.
"Let's go! I wanna grab a bite too! I'm starving, dude! Oh, where's Karina?" Doval replied, agreeing to Vins's invitation.
"She's back there... Just trailing behind me!" Vins explained.
"Vins! Wait up! I was just tidying up your room!" Karina said, annoyed at Vins for leaving her behind.
"Ugh... You're such a tease! You think you're cute acting like that with my friend, huh?" Doval retorted, annoyed at Karina's behavior toward Vins.
"Shut up, Goldfish! Singles aren't allowed to complain!" Karina shot back, exasperated.
"Hey Vins, come here! Here! Let me whisper!" Doval called Vins to come closer.
Vins approached him, and Doval put an arm around his shoulder.
"So? Is it good? Is the left one bigger or the right one? Which one's kinda hidden? Hahaha..." Doval asked Vins in a whisper.
"Hahaha... Dammit! Dammit! Come here, Val!" Vins replied, urging Doval to lean closer so he could whisper back.
"The right one's bigger, the left one's a bit hidden, Val! Hehehe..." Vins continued, explaining to Doval.
Karina, who heard their whispers from behind, suddenly yanked both of the perverted boys' hair.
"Hey! Do you two really think I can't hear?" Karina said, annoyed at hearing their conversation.
"Ow, ow... It hurts, Kar... Mercy!" Doval groaned in pain.
"Hey, Goldfish, ughh... You're really asking for trouble with that mouth, huh? I'm so annoyed with you!" Karina said, venting her frustration at Doval.
"Ow... Mercy, Kar..." Vins groaned in pain.
"And you too... Ughh! I really don't like it when you talk like that! If you really want to talk about it, just ask me directly! I'll tell you, won't I?" Karina said, annoyed at her crush.
"Huh? Damn! What the hell is this? Your life's too good, Vins! Go on, Kar, just keep yanking, drag me to the floor if you want! Here, just slit my throat while you're at it so I can disappear! Let me... Let me die! Rather than hear words that make me jealous!" Doval grumbled, unable to accept Karina's blatant favoritism.
The two of them laughed, amused by Doval's dramatic rant about his unfair fate.
As they walked, the corridor on the next floor was completely deserted; there wasn't a single soul in sight. Karina, being easily scared, held onto Vins's arm very tightly.
Doval, noticing Karina's 'mountains' pressing against Vins's arm, felt a twinge of envy and annoyance.
However, Doval knew that this was the very corridor where Dani's room was located. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head; he decided to scare his two friends.
"Hey Vins! Kar! There's a rumor that there's a ghost in this place, you know? Its head pops out at the intersections! Its smile goes all the way to its ears! Its eyes are all black and big! It likes to watch us from afar... If we get closer, it moves to another intersection!" Doval whispered to Vins and Karina.
"Ughh... You jerk, Goldfish! You're just trying to scare us, huh?" Karina grumbled at Doval.
Vins, who wasn't afraid of the supernatural, remained calm and relaxed as they walked down the corridor.
Suddenly...
"WAAAAAAA!!!"
"Aaaaaaaaaa..."
Doval and Karina screamed in shock, seeing a tall, dark, and large figure suddenly emerge from one of the rooms.
Karina, terrified, tightened her grip on Vins's arm, while Doval immediately hid behind Vins.
"Hahaha... Hahaha... You're such a wuss, Val!" Edrik exclaimed, revealing himself as the figure who had just walked out of Dani's room.
"Damn it! I got scared because a crispy dark roasted pig suddenly popped out, seriously!" Doval retorted, unwilling to accept Edrik's mockery.
"Ugh... Just making excuses!" Karina scoffed, having been annoyed with Doval this whole time.
"Hahaha... Seriously! You guys are hilarious!" Vins said, thoroughly amused by his friends' antics.
"Who are they, Drik? Come on! Let's go find my brother, Drik!" Dina asked, having stepped out after hearing the commotion.
"Whoa... What kind of dream are you having? Coming out of Bro Dani's room with a girl?" Doval questioned, feeling indignant toward his friend.
"Hahaha... Obviously! Only the manliest guy in all of Ontreight Middle School can do that!" The chubby, dark-skinned boy declared proudly.
"Ughh... Gross! My ears hurt just hearing that..." Karina retorted.
"I'm looking for Bro Dani! He hasn't come back for about an hour now!" Edrik replied.
"Alright... Let's just go together! We're heading to the outside canteen too..." Vins added, inviting his friends along.
They all went out together, heading toward the hospital garden. Along the way, they got acquainted with Dina, Dani's little sister. Once there, they finally spotted Dani, still smoking his cigarette.
"Oy! Bro Dan! Share some, I'm craving one too!" Doval said, approaching his senior.
"You smoke, Val? Wow! Don't do it if you've never tried it before!" Dani replied, forbidding his junior.
"I do smoke, Bro! Just give me one stick!" Doval clarified.
"Hey Vins, how's your condition?" Dani asked, handing a cigarette to Doval.
"I'm all good, Bro! Oh yeah, sorry about that... I apologize for dragging you into the counseling room!" Vins said, apologizing to the senior he had been feuding with.
"Me too, Vins... I apologize to you... I didn't know it would end up like this either! Sorry, okay?" Dani said, clenching his fist toward Vins, offering a fist bump.
Vins returned Dani's fist bump.
"Oh yeah... Do you guys want some fruit?" Dani asked, offering the plastic bag.
"All good, Bro! Hehehe... Wow, what kind of fruit is that, Bro? Share some!" Vins replied, casually taking a banana from the bag.
"Me too, Bro! I'll take a pear..." Edrik added.
Karina and Dina excused themselves to go to the restroom. Dani handed the plastic bag of fruit to Edrik. Edrik stood silent, staring at the bag, feeling like the assortment of fruit looked strangely familiar.
"Hey, this plastic bag looks familiar, Bro! Is this from Sis Belina?" Edrik asked.
"Huh? Belina?" Vins interjected, surprised to hear the cute girl's name.
With a lit cigarette in his mouth, Dani reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter.
"Here! Just open it, Vins!"
Vins, who was in the middle of peeling his banana, was startled by the letter in Dani's hand.
"Huh? What's this, Bro?" Vins asked, puzzled.
"Just open it! After you read it, I'll explain everything to you, Vins!" Dani stated, taking a puff from his cigarette.
Karina and Dina then returned from the restroom. Vins opened the letter. He appeared very serious as he read its contents.
---
Dear...
My Prince on a white horse...
If this letter has reached your hands, it means that by tomorrow, I will have left this city... The city where I grew up with the person I will always love, no matter what...
I'm truly sorry about that night...
Honestly, I couldn't bear to say such cruel things to you... I cried so hard after you left that night...
I was forced to do it because my mother threatened me...
But I will accept it if you hate me now :)
But honestly, I am truly broken without you...
Even if our peers always saw you as weak, a crybaby, a tattletale, and a mama's boy...
You are different in my eyes, you're so very different in my eyes...
After my father passed away, you were the only one I felt could protect me besides him...
I still remember the day you stood tall, defending a weak little me...
The day I became so sure that my feelings for you weren't just some childish crush...
I'm sure you always remember that day too, right? Hehehe...
The day you made Brando and his friends run away in fear...
You looked so cool back then...
Thank you for protecting this weak me, for always trying even when you actually couldn't, and for always being there for me anytime, anywhere...
Thank you too for never getting tired of pedaling your bicycle for me these past 5 years...
I'm sorry if this letter is full of smeared ink. I couldn't hold back my tears when I wrote it...
Take good care of yourself, my Prince...
I love you...
Belina...
---
Suddenly, tears streamed down his face...
His hands trembled violently as he held the paper...
His friends around him just watched in silence...
Not a single one of them dared to utter a word...
He then ran with all his might towards his house...
Accompanied by the night wind and fragments of memories in his head...
He kicked off his footwear, not caring what lay before him...
Only hoping that it would help quicken his pace...
In his mind, even without a chance to say goodbye...
At least...
He could witness the departure of the princess he had loved all this time...
---
-To be Continued
