Chapter 29 Ambulance
Lily's POV
Mia ran like a house on fire, very energetic and excited towards Wade. A smile escaped my lips as she hugged him tightly.
I took a few steps towards them, anxious to see Wade's reaction when he heard Mia speak. But then, as I got closer, I noticed something off about him. He looked pale and weak. Then he staggered as Mia hugged him and held his head. Something was definitely wrong. I quickened my pace and broke into a run when I realized it was something serious.
My whole world stopped as he fell, sprawling on the ground lifelessly.
"Wade!!" I screamed and reached where he lay in a split second. Mia was already crying, looking shocked and confused. She shook his lifeless body begging him to stand up.
"Help!! Help!!" I screamed with all my might as tears welled up in my eyes.
Passersby began to gather around us. They began to call emergency services, school authorities and anyone that could be reached.
I knelt beside him and placed my head on his chest. His heartbeat was slow and unsteady, so slow that I thought he had died. I burst into uncontrollable sobs, shaking him and begging him to come back. Mia stood there frightened with tears running down her eyes.
Mr Ken ran towards us panting heavily.
"What happened?" he asked, panicking.
"He fell and passed out!! Nothing more" I cried. "Please do something, he just fell!" I cried, tears choking my throat.
Mr Ken immediately carried Wade on his shoulders and began to rush towards the school sick bay, probably for some first aid. I followed, taking Mia with me.
Just in the nick of time, the ambulance arrived. They quickly brought out a stretcher and took Wade inside. The nurse on duty began to administer first aid.
At the sight of the ambulance, Mia screamed in shock, closing her ears with her hands and shutting her eyes tightly trying to avoid the whirring of the siren.
"Make it stop!" she cried. "Please make it stop!"
This was the sound that had traumatized the little girl four years ago and now here it was, taking her only brother.
"It's alright Mia," I said gently, squatting in front of her. "Nothing is going to happen."
"They're taking Wade. They're not going to bring him back," she cried.
"Wade is going to be okay. They're just going to the hospital to make sure he's alright," I said softly, stroking her hair.
She shook her head and refused to open her eyes. "They took Mum and she never came back," Mia managed to say, her voice cracking as tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
I wiped them off gently with my handkerchief, ignoring the fact that I was shedding uncontrollable tears myself.
Shedding tears wasn't something I could control. I had tried over the years but I couldn't stop.
"Please Mia, you have to be strong," my voice choked with tears.
Then she opened her eyes slowly with fear and vulnerability. "Is he going to be okay?" she asked.
I wiped my tears immediately, not wanting her to see my weakness. "Of course. It's just a minor illness which the doctors will take care of immediately. You don't have to worry. Daddy will soon arrive and take you home," I assured her, trying to look strong.
Her eyes widened and she asked with a breaking voice "Are you not coming with us?"
I looked into those soft tender eyes, too fragile to be broken. I couldn't think of anything else. Not about the dinner invitation, Ryan didn't even cross my mind.
"Please don't say no," she pleaded as tears formed gradually in her eyes.
I held both her hands gently in mine and forced a smile on my lips.
"Of course I'm coming home with you," I said and her face brightened up.
Mr Ken walked up to us and took Mia's hands. "Lily you have to go home now. I will accompany Wade to the hospital," he said to me.
Mia looked at him with fear and began to wriggle her hands free from his hold. "Mia, I'll take you to the hospital with your brother. I phoned your father and he's waiting at the hospital," Mr Ken turned to Mia gently.
But she looked at me frightened, her eyes begging me to save her.
"I don't think so sir. I can't leave because I am his nanny," I said and took Mia's hands from him and we walked towards the ambulance which was already showing signs of impatience.
"I am his nanny and this is his sister," I approached the nurse on duty and she looked at me with disbelief.
"Nanny?" she asked and I nodded.
She looked at me hesitantly then acknowledged my presence.
"Okay, you don't have to worry about the young boy. He passed out due to stress. We have performed the necessary first aid on him but we need to proceed to the hospital for a proper check up," she reported and I heaved a sigh of relief.
"We have sorted it out nurse. I have contacted his father who is already waiting at the hospital. Let's get going," Mr Ken spoke before I could, then entered the ambulance and motioned for us to hop in.
Mia drew me back and refused to move. She looked very scared. "I can't," she whispered in a frightened voice.
"I don't think we'll join the ambulance. Mia can't stomach it due to specific reasons. We'll board a cab," I told Mr Ken and he furrowed his brows.
After some hesitation he nodded. "Fine," he said.
Mia shut her eyes and covered her ears as they zoomed off. I enclosed her in my embrace and patted her gently until they were out of sight.
We were about to get going when Clara and her entourage ran towards us.
She walked majestically toward me, no pity in her eyes. "What did you do to my boyfriend?" she asked, caring more about her pride.
"Are you talking about Wade?" I asked expressionlessly.
"Who else?" she snapped.
"It's nothing for you to worry about," I replied calmly.
"Who do you think you are? Acting like you occupy an important space in his life. I am his girlfriend and I deserve to know what happened," she retorted rather rudely.
"I do occupy an important space in his life," I chuckled. "Your boyfriend as you claim is currently on his way to the hospital."
She looked me from head to toe and hissed. "Pick me slut," she said and moved away with her group.
I watched her in disgust.
"Lily!! Lily!" Chris called, running towards me. "I'm sorry I'm late, I had to attend to something. What happened?" he asked, his voice deep with concern.
"Wade passed out. Stress," I replied blankly.
His jaw dropped.
"Oh my God! Where are you guys headed now?"
"To the hospital. Mia couldn't join the ambulance, remember the accident."
"Of course, it's been really hard for her," he said and looked at Mia. "Her eyes look so lively today," he observed.
"She can speak," I managed a smile.
"Wow! This is a miracle, when did it happen?" he exclaimed happily.
"Today," I replied.
He patted her head gently and smiled at her.
"So let's go to the hospital together," he said.
"You don't have to worry yourself Chris."
"Wade's my best friend," he insisted.
"Fine," I compromised without pushing further.
We boarded a cab together to the hospital and he kept glancing at me.
I felt uncomfortable and confronted him.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he said slowly. "I just wanted to apologize on behalf of Wade. Look, he never meant those harsh words he used on you. He was just trying to play safe," he said, turning to me fully.
"Play safe?" I looked at him and shook my head. "Those words broke me Chris."
"Trust me Lily, Wade has loved you from the very first day you stepped into our class. He's not even dating Clara. That's just a cover."
Then it clicked. Chris was the one who sent that recording. I knew Wade wasn't the type to reveal such secrets to anyone.
"You sent the recording right?" I interrupted him and he went silent.
"See, Lily.."
"You sent it," I looked at him dead seriously and he swallowed the lump in his throat.
"There was no better way I could prove to you that Wade loved you. I wanted to clear the misconceptions you have about him. Clara is blackmailing him to do things he wouldn't have done ordinarily," Chris said.
"Blackmail?" I asked confusingly.
"I need to explain certain things to you but not here," he said and exchanged glances with the cab driver.
"We are here," the driver announced as he pulled up in front of the hospital.
I opened my purse to bring out some notes but Chris stopped me.
"I'll pay for the fares," he said.
"You don't have to," I protested.
"I insist," he insisted and paid the driver.
We stepped out of the car and my phone rang. Ryan.
I ignored the call but he persisted, then I signalled for Chris to take Mia inside while I stayed back to take the call.
"We're worried at home. Are you on your way?" His voice was filled with worry.
I looked at the disappearing figure of Mia holding Chris tightly then I resolved.
"I'm sorry Ryan, an emergency came up and I had to attend to it."
"An emergency? Do I need to come?"
"No, you don't have to. I can handle it myself."
"So when will you be back?"
After some hesitation I replied.
"I don't think I'll return today. Please extend my apologies to your parents."
"Ryan, are you there? Ryan?"
"I'm here."
"Ryan please, I just have to stay. I promise to return when everything is over."
"It's fine. I love you Lily."
"I....lo..ve"
"Bye." He hung up.
I rubbed my forehead stressfully and walked inside the hospital.