Chapter 148 Promises

Chapter 148 Promises
Uriel's POV

I was in a white gown, looking lost and somewhat different.

My body felt lighter, numb.

My eyes scanned the environment I was. It was as empty as a desert. White cloudy smoke filled everywhere.

Chuckling, I teased myself. "Am I in the sky now? What kind of weed am I on?"

"Uriel!" A voice called, making me flinch. My head snapped up, eyes wide.

It was a man, his face was without a proper form. It was as though I was seeing so many things at once.

"Who are you?"

"Doesn't matter." He looked me up and down. "You're not supposed to be here. Not now at least."

"Where am I?" I whispered, still confused.

"Go back, your loved ones need you,"

Before I could ask for more clarity, my body jerked. It felt like something heavy had been added to me.

A beep sound fainted unsounded in my ear, continuously, until it got louder, sharper.

Where was I?

My nose picked up it's sense of smell, taking in the awful smell of methylated spirit and drugs.

Ew.

I tried to move my body but only my hand twitched. The minute it happened, I heard a voice screaming for a doctor.

They kept saying.

"She moved! She's waking up."

Just like that, the memory came crashing in. The dorm. The food. Bia's guilty eyes. My chest heaved up and down.

I was dying.

Somebody save me!

My eyes shot open, my body jerking up.

"Take it easy, Uriel. You're fine," a lady in white lab coat said, smiling softly at me. "Breathe darling, breathe."

Slowly, I became cautious, breathing in and out, softly.

"Just rest a bit okay? We'd check your vitals in few minutes and then we can talk," the lady spoke. My eyes dropped to the name tag on her dress.

Doctor Stella.

My eyes roamed round the room. It was a hospital.

Someone saved me.

Thank God!

Tears streamed down my cheeks. It was tears of joy.

"Your family are waiting for you. Just get enough rest okay?" Doctor Stella adjusted the drip thingy, smiling at me before leaving. "I'll approve for visits if you pick up with treatment."

I nodded, laying down slowly.

I was going to pick up. I had to see Ryder.

_

It took only four days until the Doctor approved for visitation.

My mother, Gina, my uncle, Paul and his wife, alongside my dad, Benjamin, his fianceé and Eve came to visit first.

Eve joked about how I was trying to beat her record in dying and how she didn't appreciate it because then who would look after Ryder for her.

They stayed for a while, really happy to see me. My dad ensured that Justice would prevail as Emma and Lance who was her accomplice were arrested.

It broke my heart hearing Lance would want me dead. But then again, they didn't do it alone...

They had an inner man.

The next day, Shelly and Bia came. Shelly and I cried together in each other's arms, too emotional from what had happened.

"It was me," Bia admitted, crying like a child. "I planted the food there knowing that something was wrong with it. You could've died," she sobbed into her palms.

My jaw clenched, my eyes hard.

"She threatened to leak out my family crisis. She found out about my stepdad and I's situation, digged some evil dirt my mother tried to cover up for years and threatened to expose it if I didn't do what she wanted. I ... I was scared."

Shelly couldn't stand the confession so she left us. Also, I had a feeling that she knew I was going to forgive her. She had told me how she hated my soft heart a lot.

"It's fine, Bia. I forgive you." I told her dryly. "But I don't think I want to associate myself with you anymore."

"I'm really sorry. I've been asked to withdraw from school so you don't have to worry about seeing me anymore," she sniffled, staring at me with red eyes. "I'm sorry, Uriel. I really am."

She bade me goodbye and left.

Shelly returned, filling me in on how Lance threatened Ryder. She also told me how Ryder came to save me. Now, that made me crave to see Ryder more. I didn't know why he was taking so much time to come see me.

The next day, my friends and I did a video call from their different countries. We all cried and laughed afterwards.

Then finally... On that sunny afternoon, someone knocked. My eyes lifted to the door, closing the book I was reading.

When Ryder walked in, my smile grew.

"I was starting to think you were never going to show up," I folded my arms, eyeing him up and down.

His jaw clenched. His eyes slowly met mine, guilt and pain evident in them

"Ry? Are you okay?" I asked softly, sitting up properly.

He nodded, his eyes glossed with tears. He gently pushed the flower bouquet to me, dropping a gift bag on the bed.

"Thank youuuu," I smiled, inhaling the sweet smell of the flower. "Just drop it on that table. Come sit too. I've missed you,"

He did as I said, walking back to sit close to me. He cleared his throat, his eyes fluttering.

"Hey! I'm alive," I whispered, holding his face in my hand.

"I... I'm sorry I came late that day," his voice broke. "I'm fucking sorry."

"Baby, you saved me. What are you saying?" My voice was soft, my hand holding his.

He shook his head. "Imagine Bia hadn't called me, Kinky. You would've been... Shit! The more I think about it, the more it fucking hurts!" Ryder groaned, shutting his eyes. The tears rolled down.

My lips quivered, my heart melting.

"Stop thinking about it then, hunnie. I'm here now." My finger brushed against the back of his palm. "Let's live in the now and forget about the past. The most important thing is the now. And now, I'm here with you."

He opened his eyes, the guilt gone. It was replaced with something else - gratitude.

"Thank you for staying alive, baby," Ryder engulfed me in a hug, pressing my head to his chest. "Thank you."

"Stop it!!" I rolled my eyes on his chest.

He pushed me back softly, holding my face in his large hand. "I promise. I promise to always keep you safe, Kinky."

My eyes softened, "I know, baby. I know."

His lips stretched into a smile, "hope you don't taste like drugs cos I'm about to kiss you," Ryder teased.

"So if I taste like one, you won't kiss me? Wow! I thought you love me,"

"Come here," Ryder pulled my face in, crashing his lips into mine. I forget whatever I was saying, melting into the kiss. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as he pulled me closer into his body. Heat crawled up my skin, my core throbbing.

"You know we can't do it in the hospital right?" I said through heavy breaths.

"Who said?" Ryder chuckled, pushing his hand into his pocket. My eyes grew wide.

"No way you brought a condom!" I covered my mouth.

He rolled his eyes, bringing out his hand to reveal a tiny ring.

My eyes fluttered in shock. "What?"

"Uriel..." He started, sighing heavily as if to let off tension. "I don't want to ever lose you in my life. I never want to do life without you..."

My lips quivered, staring at the beautiful gold band ring. He took my hand in his, smiling softly.

"So, here's me promising to never ever let you go," he smirked, pushing the ring onto my engagement finger. "It's a promise ring. As we progress in our relationship, I'll complete the remaining parts of the ring,"

Oh my God.

Tears fell down my eyes, landing on my thighs. "Ryder."

I threw my hand around him, crying in his chest.

How did I manage to win this angel to myself?

"I love you, Ryder."

"I love you too, Uriel. So fucking much."