The One Thousand Days

Chapter 28. Little Things

I was still stuck in front of the window while the paramedics were busy giving Rael help. All of that only seemed like a hazy picture as my eyes were only fixed on the figure that was now lying. I bit my lips while my body was still shivering. Alex also stood beside me and occasionally squeezed my fingers. He might just want to calm me down so I'm resigned.

“He'll be fine\-all, Za. So you take it easy!”

“Hopefully,” gumamku ogled.

I don't know how long it's going to take. That numbness in the legs is what the parameters are that I have been standing for quite a long time. I held my breath as one of the doctors came out with a tired face.

“How are things, Doc?” Alex asked about Rael.

“Patients have passed the crisis period.”

“Really?” this time I asked because I tried to convince him that the doctor's words were true.

“Iya, don't worry!”

The doctor smiled kindly. Pat Alex on the shoulder and move on leaving us. I breathed a sigh of relief. Geral survived, at least for now.

 “Now you rest!”

“What?”

“Rest, Enza!”

“But, Kak–”

“Kakak will take care of Rael. You rest, okay?” cut it fast when I'm not even done talking.

“I still want here.”

“You can sleep in the car.”

Alex's eyebrows are linked, a sign he doesn't want to be denied. A smile splashed across his face as I finally nodded and agreed to his proposal. I also thought that when he pulled my hand, leading me through the long corridor that was once crowded now seemed empty. My eyes looked straight ahead. I'm not just once or twice in a hospital a night\-night like this. The atmosphere of the hospital has always been like this. However, everything has not been the same since that fateful night. Everyone passed by\-lang back then. Sobs mingled with screams as mama's body lay on top of the gurney. My breath's choked. The night's events repeated three months ago. As I ran down the corridor, only to find Geral's body lying stiff and lifeless.

“Enza!”

“Huh?”

I immediately turned my head because Alex's voice jolted me from the daydream. The corridor was back. I sighed, the crowd was only in my mind then as if\-make it come true. A kind of flashback scene in the movie\-film.

“You okay\-what?”

I'm shaking. The feeling of tightness began to fill the chest cavity when all the memories were still chasing in the eye pelupuk. Everything is fresh in the memory like it happened last night. Alex clasped his hands together and squeezed my fingers harder. Being around him makes me more comfortable. He's still my brother\-lak.

“Do you want Brother to accompany?”

“No. Take care of Rael!”

“Good.”

I positioned myself in the passenger seat when Alex had lowered the seat backrest until my head could lie down comfortably.

“You're really okay\-nothing alone?” ask again.

“Iya.”

“Kakak enter first.”

“Iya.”

Alex closed the car door, leaving a slight gap in the glass at the top. Not too wide to make me cold, but enough to remove the stuffy. After that, I just looked at Alex's back moving away. I don't know why until he wants to keep Rael in there willingly. It's not that I don't trust Alex, it's just that judging by his nature, he obviously\-obviously dislikes Rael.

It feels strange even though I'm trying to find a justification. I took a deep breath, really unable to endure this curious bite any longer. I stepped down and quietly\ followed him. Our distance was far enough that he would not notice my presence. He did not look back even once. His eyes were on the phone in hand.

He was sitting on a row of benches that we occupied just a moment ago. I hid behind a wall at the end of the corridor. Still staring at Alex who still seemed busy playing his phone. I honestly don't trust him. He was suddenly\-suddenly too kind to Rael. The suddenly good guy is suspicious. In addition, I know very well Alex's nature, he is never easy to accept the presence of new people. If I could, it wouldn't be this fast. Moreover, Rael was once the trigger for our quarrel last time. It's really\-suspicious. I held my breath. Five minutes passed, Alex was still playing the phone in his hand. I'm still waiting.

Kebas started running my legs. I patted the leg that started to numb due to long enough standing. My head is looking up, Alex is now drowsy\-captured in his chair. His arms folded and his head swung up and down. Sometimes his head moves left and right, sometimes backwards. Alex is tired. Silently\-silently, I walked over and slammed my butt in the chair right next to her.

“Your neck will hurt like this, Kak.”

I squirm. Someone was rubbing my hair softly. A familiar and comfortable touch. The soft surface also supported my head. Opening eyes that are still reluctant to wake up actually. Samar\-pretty I see a smile.

Eh? I overslept?

My breath's choked. I hurriedly woke up and my eyes looked at Alex who was now smiling.

“Available?” sapana.

“Kakak?”

“You let me sleep for a while, Za. Thanks for the shoulder!”

Ah, crap!

 I found out that last night I quietly\silently sat next to him and put his head on my shoulder. Why overslept? You idiot! You idiot! Sleep in Alex's lap.

“Za?”

“Eh, yes\-”

The man now smiles. Dehemed softly as nervousness began to chastise my mind. It's nothing\-nothing, it's just that we haven't been this close in a long time. My face is starting to heat up.

“Your face is flushed!”

 “So Brother should rest, instead of letting me sleep,” I grumbled while tidying up my hair, trying to distract. The temperature on my face is really\-up.

“You are also tired, Za.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Although so, Brother wants to take care of you.” Alex rubbed my head slowly.

“But, Brother\-”

“Sstt!” Alex cut off the protest that started to slide off my lips. “Let Brother do small things for you when Brother is unable to do big things.”

I'm nodding. Twisting the fingers clumsily. Wish my fingers were elastic and turned into webbing so that I could blur my current mind.

“Rael\-”

I took my eyes off my fingers and looked at my brother's face. Slow, relax. Don't show me that I care about him. Alex wouldn't like it if I cared too much about strangers.

“We can visit it.”

“Oh.” I tried to hide the burning feeling in my grateful chest.

“He has passed the critical period, he has also been moved to the room inpatient.”

“Sgratitude.” I smiled thinly.

“You want to meet him?”

I'm nodding. Alex pulled my wrist. We walked into one of the rooms at the end of the corridor. The man pushed the door, let me in first. He followed me after while closing the door. I was stuck when I saw Rael was still lying with his eyes closed. A scar\-scarred scar still filled his face. Bandages also wrapped around his head and wrapped his arms.

I really wanted to touch his face, link his fingers between my\-fingers. She stroked his sheep and whispered his name in the young man's ear. I just stood there near him. My eyes are not yet out of his face.

I looked around, the room was too dark. Patients need fresh air to recover quickly. I approached the window and opened the curtains.

“Enza!” alex's voice is still

“Ya?” I'm looking at him.

My originally orderly breath is now hunting fast. My heart began to run fast as if it was about to jump from its nest. My finger squeezed the thick curtain cloth as I stared at Rael. The young man slowly started to open his eyes.