Chapter 27

OLIVIA

I WAS not with myself; even the paramedics came and took the lifeless Zoey to the ambulance. I was with her in the ambulance. Nova was with me as well. I held Zoey's hand, and Nova was patting my back slightly. The liquid coming from my eyes was not stopping.

The paramedic had given Zoey the first aid the first time they got there, and when they said that Zoey was still alive, I was relieved. But she is still unconscious, so my anxiety grows again.

"Zo, please fight. You can do it. You are stronger than me, remember? S-so p-please," I felt that my words were choking me. I couldn't finish my words and started crying again.

"She'll be okay. Zoey will be okay," Nova said. Not a single tear will be seen in her eyes, but I know she's worried sick about Zoey, too. "Right? She's okay, r-right?" Nova clears her throat.

I held her hand while my other hand was holding Zoey's.

"She is fine for now. There were no major concussions aside from the one she got on her head," said the lady paramedic. "However, we can only do first aid. She still needs to be thoroughly checked," she added.

We just nodded. I was silently praying for Zoey's safety when I remembered our parents. They don't know what happened to Zoey yet.

I was about to call Mom when we heard Zoey moan.

"Zola," I immediately called her name and held her hand.

Nova came near, and the same as me, she was waiting for Zoey's answer.

Before we could answer her, we arrived at the hospital. Luckily, there was a nearby hospital at school.

The paramedics immediately and carefully lowered the stretcher from the vehicle. They immediately put her in the waiting gurney and doctors and moved inside the hospital.

"What do we have here?" I heard the doctor ask the paramedic while we were running with Zoey, heading to the emergency room in the gurney.

I heard the lady paramedic telling her about Zoey's medical condition and what she did so far to ease Zoey's pain. But I was not concentrating on them because Zoey was conscious, and I heard her calling my name.

"Vi... Vi..." she said weakly. My eyes are damped again with tears.

"I am here, Zola. I am here. We are at the hospital now. Y-you'll be fine. B-be strong," I manage to say. I was holding her in one hand.

Zoey was mumbling something, but I could not hear it because they took her to the emergency room. I was left with Nova outside, and since my knees were too weak to stand, I sat on the waiting seat nearby. Nova did the same.

"I will call Uncle Zaldy..." I heard Nova say, but I was zoning out.

All I keep thinking is about Zoey and her condition. I was staring blankly on the floor. Nova did what she said when I did not react, as I could hear her talking to someone on the other line.

I keep thinking as well if who did this to Zoey? I understand that she has been bullied a lot but not to the extent that they will hurt my step-sister physically. However, if I think of it, I don't know any bullies of Zoey other than The Charmer. But it's impossible; the girls are okay now with Zoey. Except for... No! It's wrong to judge someone without concrete evidence.

I was unknowingly clenching my fist. I promise to myself that I will get to the bottom of this and make sure that the culprit will pay for the consequences of their action.

"Uncle Zaldy and your mom will be here soon," Nova said. I looked at her and saw that she was looking up at the ceiling while her back was leaning straight on the chair.

"How did you know? Did Z-Zoey tell you?" I asked her when I absorbed the words that she said.

"I am Zoey's best friend, Oli. I think you have forgotten," she said, still in the same position. "I know when she was lying, and I practically know everything about her. Even if she doesn't tell me everything, I know. I always know."

So, she actually knew. All this time, Nova pretended she had no idea of the actual relationship between Zoey and me. I did not see that coming.

"How long have you known?" I asked.

"Ever since Uncle Zaldy married your mom," she revealed. "My Dad slipped one time while we were video calling. He said Uncle Zaldy got remarried. I asked her more about it, and she said it was supposed to be a secret. But Dad was shocked that I did not know about it because he thought Zoey had told me about me. I was already in South Korea by that time, by the way. So, I attempted to ask Zoey about it, but we got lost in touch, and Zoey was becoming busy. I was really intrigued by why Zoey wouldn't tell me those important things. So, I decided to make an investigation on my own with the help of my father's connection."

"Investigation? Or more like stalking?" I couldn't help but say that.

"I am not stalking, Oli," Nova defended herself.

"Are you obsessed with Zoey?" There, I said it. I felt like this is the correct term for what Nova is actually doing.

"I am not obsessed with her." Nova calmly said. It pissed me off that she's so composed even when we are in this situation. She's still even-minded even if I am interrogating her. "Zoey is like a sister to me. I treat her as a family because she has always been on my side and supported me even though I am not that good enough. I am not smart and talented like my sister. Though my family loves me so much and doesn't mind my shortcomings, people are cruel and compare me with my sister. Every time I hear other people talking and comparing me with my sister, it hurts me. The worst part is I even hear those comparisons from my relatives. I was beginning to hate my sister because of that. But when I met Zoey, she taught me how precious it is to have a complete family. To appreciate that I have a sister because she does not have one. She envied me so much because I have a sibling. With that, we promised each other that even when we are not blood-related, we will treat each other as sisters, and we will take care of each other no matter what."

Ah, so that's what happened. I was envious, too. I was envious of Nova and Zoey's closeness.

"Zoey's more than a friend to me, Oli. She's like my twin sister. I love her with my dear life. So I wanted to know what was going on with her but not force her to tell me. I swore to protect her as much as I could because she was too clumsy, and people were quick to judge, especially when her mom died. I believe you know how much she suffered from her bullies when her mom died, right?" I nodded as a response. I am not sure if she saw that. "Then I was not there to protect her. I couldn't do anything because I was away from her at that time. Zoey was hurt in pain, but every time we talked over the phone or video chat, she was always happy and just told me the good news. Little did she know, I always knew if she was just acting or lying. She's a bad liar, do you agree?"

"Yeah..."

"So, I asked Piper to look out for Zoey while I am gone," Nova continued. So, that is why Piper was always appearing on the scene every time The Charmer was bullying Zoey. It makes sense now. "Then I learned that Uncle Zaldy got married, and Zoey has an instant sister. I don't know if she forgot to tell me this, but I am unsure. Anyway, I was happy that she came to have a sister but a little bit jealous at the same time. I was relieved that there was someone who would fight along with Zoey. However..." I could sense now that Nova was looking at me. "I thought Zoey had found someone she can rely on except for me… But I was wrong..."

I can't look back at her. I can't face her judging eyes because that scares me.

Before continuing our conversation, which is a bad idea, Uncle Zaldy and mom came rushing in. It was good timing because the doctor came out from the emergency room and updated us on the condition of Zoey.

We were all relieved when the doctor said that Zoey was fine; she was okay. I began to sob for some reason, and mom was comforting me. That was tears of joy.

Zoey was transferred to the private room. She was sleeping because of the sedatives. And a little while later, Camila and Aubrey came. They were so late, but I did not have time to ask them what took them so long. I was afraid to face Nova too. The police came there too to get our statements about the incident.

I have never seen Uncle Zaldy angry before, but he was totally exasperated now. Good to know that mom was there to calm him down. I totally understand where Uncle Zaldy is coming from. If I were in his shoes, I would feel the same way. I might have done worse, actually.

After getting our statement from the police, they said that they would do an open investigation. We stayed at the hospital and were waiting for Zoey to wake up. But the visiting hours were over, and only one person was allowed to stay.

So we did not choose but to leave Zoey with her Dad. Uncle Zaldy promised to contact us once Zoey woke up.