I questioned the man while eyeing the huge sunglasses on his face.
Whipping off his sunglasses, he looked at me in delight. “We met at the hospital back then. Don’t you remember me? Or am I really that unmemorable?”
At that, I scrutinized the handsome countenance that suddenly appeared before me. The man was at least a meter eight in height. The black sports attire he was wearing showcased his perfect figure, complementing his lovely golden-brown hair. He had bright eyes threaded with a hint of childishness, a straight nose, smooth skin, pink thin lips, and exquisite features.
His face seems really familiar… Ah, I remember now! He’s the guy I collided with back when I was kicked out of the hospital room.
“I remember now. I accidentally ran into you at the hospital previously.”
Since I was in a sorry state both times we met, mortification swamped me. I ducked my head, no longer daring to look him in the eye.
“Bingo! I knew you haven’t forgotten about me!” A smug smile bloomed on his face upon seeing that I had recalled him. Staring at me, he then asked, “Where are you going right now?”
His clear eyes glowed with warmth as he looked at me.
“I’m thinking of going to the hospital.”
I hadn’t been to the hospital in two days, so I was a tad worried about Steven. Besides, my mother wouldn’t even take my calls now. Every time I phoned her, she would decline the call right away.
“It happens that I’m headed to the hospital as well. So why don’t I give you a ride?”
The beaming smile on his face gave off a sense of youth and sunshine. Sure enough, it was great to be young. Judging from his looks, he was probably around twenty-five years old.
“No, it’s okay. That’ll be too much trouble for you,” I declined without an ounce of hesitation.
It was merely our second meeting, so we were yet strangers. For that reason, it seemed rather inappropriate to accept a ride from him.
“It’s no trouble at all since I’m going to the hospital anyway. Besides, I’ll even get someone to chat with me during the drive.”
Despite my demurral, he was still quite insistent. His enthusiasm went beyond my expectation, so I couldn’t think of a reason to refuse further at the moment.
“In that case, thank you in advance.”
Seeing that I had agreed, a grin split his face. Then, he swiftly strode over to the passenger seat and opened the door for me.
I flashed him a stiff smile before getting into his car.
Subsequently, the car started moving. The atmosphere felt awkward as I sat in the car with a stranger, for I didn’t know what to say.
“Oh yes, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Ronan Moore. What’s your name, miss?”
Just when the tension in the air was so thick that one could cut it with a knife, he finally broke the silence.
“I’m Anna Garcia,” I answered after glancing at his profile.
“Anna… one full of grace. That’s a good name.”
Ronan’s face lit up with a smile again upon hearing my name.
I eyed him in astonishment, not having expected him to easily discern the meaning of my name when he appeared blasé. Truly, he surprised me.
“Back at the hospital then, I noticed that you were kicked out of the hospital room. May I ask why?”
Ronan turned slightly and looked at me. After a moment of silence, he turned fully and regarded me with puzzlement in his eyes.
My expression stiffened at the mention of the incident that day. I really didn’t know how to give voice to the fact that it was my family who kicked me out of the hospital room. Furthermore, he was a stranger to me, and I didn’t want the entire world to know about my family issues.
I averted my gaze, no longer looking at him. My silence was a clear indication that I didn’t want to speak of that matter.
“Okay, it’s fine if you don’t feel like telling me about it. It was just a casual question.”
Noticing my taciturn, he didn’t pursue the subject further.
He drove very fast, so we arrived at the hospital in no time. After thanking him, I parted ways with him. When I alighted from the car, he persistently asked me for my phone number.
I actually didn’t want to give it to him, but he was simply too glib that I couldn’t find any reason not to do so. In the end, I jotted my number down and handed it to him.
He didn’t seem to have malicious intentions, so I wasn’t all that worried.
When I arrived at Steven’s ward, I stood outside the door. It was very quiet inside. Peering in through the glass window, I saw that my mother had made some soup and was feeding Steven patiently. Her expression was as loving as ever, one I had never seen before on her face.
After standing at the door for a while, I finally gathered my courage to push open the door and walked in.
My mother looked over her shoulder at the sound of the door opening. As soon as she caught sight of me, her face soured at once, and fury glinted in her eyes.
I knew that she was still holding a grudge against me, but I was already ecstatic that she hadn’t kicked me out right away this time.
“How are Steven’s legs, Mom? What did the doctor say? I inquired softly.
With my gaze pinned on her, I halted in my tracks.
“Why are you still asking when you can see it for yourself? Do you think he’s fine when both his legs are broken?” my mother snarled coldly as she regarded me with wrath written all over her face.
At that, I knew for certain that she was still feeling resentful toward me.
“Don’t worry so much, Mom. He’ll recover soon,” I comforted after having walked over to her, patting her on the shoulder.
Steven is everything to her, so it’s only natural that she’s feeling bitter to see him lying on the hospital bed now.
“You’re not worried because it’s not you lying on the hospital bed. If you were in his shoes, you wouldn’t be saying such a thing.”
Although my mother didn’t kick me out, her words still carried great rancor toward me.
Sighing, I walked over to her and remarked in exasperation, “Mom, what’s done cannot be undone, so don’t be mad anymore, okay? Steven’s legs will heal very soon.”
Honestly speaking, I had long since grown accustomed to her sarcastic remarks. But what difference would it make even if she resented and detested me right then?
“Just leave if there’s nothing else, for the sight of you is irritating me greatly!”
She coldly dismissed me before I had even said anything much.
I looked at her sorrowfully as anguish inundated me. Why? Just why can’t she get over it when the reality is already such?
“You’ve been at the hospital for several days now, so you must be tired. I’ll stay and take care of Steven tonight so that you can get some rest.”
It was plain as day that my mother had lost much weight in the few days she had been staying at the hospital. Thus, I couldn’t quite bring myself to see her exhausting herself further. She was my biological mother, after all, so I still felt distressed at her current condition.
“Forget it. Who knows whether you’re sincere in taking care of him? You might even just leave him here to his own devices.”
