AS A SLEEPING FRIEND

20. Asking to keep (Javier POV)

For the first time, I set foot in this Hospital to visit Aunt Arbei. Yes, I decided to accompany Elin here not just for fear of her escaping from my supervision, but because I also wanted to see the state of Aunt Arbei. However, she was someone who took care of me when I was a child, even she took care of me first rather than her own daughter, considering that she had worked at my parents' Mansion before she got married.

Since Aunt Arbei was still in the ICU room, Elin and I would visit him in turn. At first, Elin was surprised to find out that I was also about to see her mother. Obviously he was astonished, because he never remembered that I had known his mother in the past.

But I don't want to explain to him about it. I just said I wanted to see his mother's condition and I convinced him it wasn't wrong. Eventually, Elin agreed.

Elin first swiped Aunt Arbei in the room and I waited outside.

Moments later, Elin exits the ICU room with her face covered.

"Have you?" I asked and the girl nodded.

I stepped up and passed Elin's body in the doorway. But, not yet had my finger held the handle to enter the room where Aunt Arbei was being treated, suddenly Elin blocked my arm to make me stop my footsteps.

"Have you ever known my mother before, brother?"

I frowned for a while, did Elin begin to remember the past where I was the son of her mother's master first?

"Why did you suddenly ask that?" Instead of answering it, I asked a question as well.

"none. I'm just wondering why you're wasting your precious time just looking at my mom."

"I'll answer after I see your mother" I said convincingly. "Please wait a minute" I continued as I stepped into the room that had been on the verge of an eye.

In the silent room that only heard the sound of the ECG attached, I saw Aunt Arbei's body stiffened like there was no sign of life from her. I was quite moved to see her, Arbei's aunt's age was younger than my mother's, but she was already suffering from an illness that caused her to have to go through this kind of severe pain.

"How are you, Bi? Does aunt remember me? It's me, Jav," I said whispering near Elin's birth mother.

I saw no response from Aunt Arbei regarding my words, but I still invited her to chat.

"Bi, sorry for coming so long. I should have come here sooner to get Auntie."

I held onto the pale fingers of Aunt Arbei's, somehow I felt like my own mother and now a sense of sadness began to surround me in this room.

"Did Elin tell you about me to Auntie?" I said softly, looking at the condition of Aunt Arbei who was not struggling in the slightest made me want to cry now, maybe because I also remember her kindness at the same time.

"I met Elin about two months ago, Bi. I'm sorry if I used Elin for my own benefit."

I pulled the nafa deeply until I finally got a final decision that was resolved just like that when I saw the condition of Aunt Arbei at this time.

"But, Aunt calm down, I promise I'll keep Elin and she'll stay safe with me."

I don't know why I had to make a big enough promise to Aunt Arbei regarding her daughter's life, but I don't regret it.

"May aunt recover soon and recover soon."

I turned around but my hand felt touched to make me reflex turn around right then and there.

"Aunt Arbei?"

"Jav ..."

The voice was like a whisper, very slow and barely even audible.

"Oh my God, are you conscious, Bi?" I was very surprised by this, my hand immediately grabbed the call button to complain about the condition of Aunt Arbei who was suddenly aware. It was like a miracle that suddenly appeared before my own eyes.

Done calling the doctor to immediately come to the ICU room where Aunt Arbei was treated, I was about to get out of there to tell Elin about her mother's condition but Aunt Arbei first spoke again in a weak voice.

"Jav ..."

"Yes, Bi? I'll tell Elin first that aunt's conscious."

The woman nodded slowly. "Look for Elin, Jav.." he asked in an imploring tone. Her eyes were watering with tears in them, I knew she was squeezing me.

"Hmm, I'll take care of him." I said, nodding my head. I promised you this before, even before Aunt Arbei regained consciousness.

The middle-aged woman seemed to want to say something again, but I did not hear clearly what she said this time.

Not yet Arbei's aunt repeated her vague words, The doctor and two nurses came in droves to enter the room, and I was asked to wait outside.

As soon as I came out I was confronted by Elin who seemed to want to interrogate me right then and there.

"I'll explain" I said as if I knew the contents of Elin's head who wanted to ask her mother's condition.

I took Elin to sit in the waiting chair there. We sat side by side with gazes that ignored each other. The views of the two of us were both straight forward without any intention of looking at each other.

"Say, Brother."

"Your mother realized when I was almost out of her room" I started.

"How come? All this time I've been luring her to wake up but she never showed me any signs of it."

"Where do I know, Elin. Can I arrange that?"

"What did you say to my mother, brother?"

"nothing. I'm just saying that he'll get well soon and recover."

"Other than that?" elin Urge.

"I just mentioned my name. That's all."

"So it's true that you and my mom know each other? How could? When and where?"

"Don't think about it, the most important thing now is Aunt Arbei's condition."

"Ah, you even know my mother's name." Elin looked flabbergasted in disbelief.

"Alright, Elin. What is clear is your mother's primary condition now."

Elin was about to protest but the exit of doctors and nurses from the ICU room made her turn her attention away from me.

"How's mom doing, Doctor?" Elin immediately greeted the Doctor with her question.

"Mrs Arbei is conscious, already" said the Doctor with a faint smile. "It's a miracle and we're still monitoring vit@lnya. For the next, if he shows signs of better healing, then we can do follow-up treatment for his cancer," he explained later.

"Would you get out of the ICU room?"

"For now, not yet. He'd better be in the ICU for some more time."

"alright. Thank you, Doctor."

I could hear enough of their conversation there even though I didn't respond to it at all. In my heart I am grateful that Aunt Arbei is completely healed.

"Did mom say something to you, sister?" Elin came back to manage me.

"I told you-"

"Don't cover it up, brother. What did mom say?" sergeant Elin interrupted my words.

"Your mother just asked me to take care of you."

Elin was grieving, like she didn't like my words.

"Why? You don't like your mother's request?"

"Yes, I don't like it. Because I asked the wrong person. You're not the one to take care of me, brother. Because I'm nothing to you!" said loud.

What really happened to Elin, why did she suddenly change? Why is he showing such an attitude now that he doesn't like me very much? Is this a form of self-defense to avoid me?

...Connect .......