Chapter 20 Chapter 19

Chapter 20 Chapter 19
© S A F I E  
CHAPTER 19  
NEOLA  
"Gabe? How come you are here?”  
I whispered to my brother who is sleeping peacefully next to Elle. He bolted up from his seat, his face dishevelled. 
"Oh, I-uh, I fall asleep? Did I fell asleep? " He frowned down at his shoes, scratching his head and looking more like a ripe tomato with his hair rumpled, his shirt wrinkled. “I didn’t expect that I will fall asleep.” He brushes his hands on his face and tried to tame his hair.  
I could've laughed at him in a different situation but not right now. He looks pitiful; He really is suffering.  
"How is she?" I ask him, my eyes trained on Elle's face. She has dark circles under her eyes and she looks paler than she used to. I sat across Gabriel, giving him some time to manage his thoughts. "There have been no improvements with her condition. They say that it might take her a while for her body to recover because of what happened." I turn my gaze at him, his eyes were red and he sniffed, averting his eyes, "I am so stupid for letting all of this happen to her, Neola. I don't deserve her, but I love her so much to let her go. Did she even miss me when I went away? Why do I feel like she has finally withdrawn, left me as I left her? I do not know, I've done so many hurtful things to her that I doubt she can ever love me again." 
I shake my head at him, giving him a disapproving look, "Oh, Gabriel, did you know how much Elle has suffered when you left her? She missed you terribly she can't even stop herself from crying when she sees your pictures. She eats her cheese balls alone while watching pretty little liars repeatedly because she just wants to stop crying and laugh and afterwards she'll lock herself in her room, snuggled up to Choc for warmth for she feels alone and rejected." I confessed, watching his expression as he sat there, silent. "She loved you so much that it hurt her for you to just leave without so much of an explanation. She used to mention that you have plans - the why you went away, she held unto that, even after you sent that contract." 
Gabriel treaded his hand on his hair as he lets out a breath, lowering his gaze at Elle, "I didn't know. I chose to ignore her thinking that it is probably the best for us to go our separate ways for I thought the baby has died. I am so intent on catching Victoria and investigating Cherry woods because I am suspecting that they are connected somehow. I thought that will keep her safe, I didn't think that my going away will affect her more than anything." He wrings his hands before he moves closer to Elle, taking her hand and kissing each finger, "I just wish that she will give me the chance to explain myself to her. I have asked for so many chances, I doubt I deserve another one." 
"Well, I guess all you can do now is to try your best and don't mess it up again, Gabriel. Elle is easy to court, I know you can manage. You already have her heart." 
Gabriel smiled wistfully and took her hand, kissing it again, "I am happy because you are there to support me but I have yet to know how everything I have done has affected her. I left a wound so deep, I am not even sure if I could heal it. I am so stupid to not even believe her that Jacob was mine because of what they told me.” He scowled, angry at himself and all those doctors.  
"Well, fck that Doctor. Fck all those doctors including that Cherry girl." I gritted my teeth, interrupting him. "You should really find her and Victoria. They look so alike that I can tell that they were related somehow. I've only just met Cherry once and let me tell you how dodgy that lass is. She is really a bitch, a reincarnation of the Victoria you used to date. How did you even manage to be with that Psycho, Gabriel? She still visits my nightmares occasionally, I guess she is somehow related to satan himself." 
"What a foul mouth you have, Neola. If Papa were alive, he will surely wash your mouth with soap." Gabriel rolled his eyes at me, giving me a small smile as he leans on Elle's bed, his hand tracing the inside of her arm. "I'm too old for that punishment, Gabriel but sure, if papa were here, he will do that."  
The both of us sat in silence, paying respect to our Dad who has died.  
"He would have been so happy if he were here - an heir to the Greene- West and you even named the baby after him; you would've made papa so proud," Gabriel shakes his head at me and kissed Elle's hand, a tear escaping his eyes. "Aww, hang on, Gabriel. You can do this! We can't change the past but you can still build a future for your son and wife. You just have started a new chapter with your son, he will be your hope in this."  
"Neola?" I turn around and stared at Luke as he peeks through the door. My brother's head snapped at Luke's direction and they both lock eyes. I can almost see electric surges flowing through their gaze as they have a staredown.  
Such insolent baboons. 
"Back off, Mate. Your business was done yesterday." Gabriel stated. He lets go of Elle's hand and straighten u on his seat. Luke raised an eyebrow, not backing down from Gabriel's gaze. Not blinking once, Gabriel started to take a step towards him soon he closed the door in front of Luke's face leaving me gawking at his action. 
"Gabe! " I headed at where he was standing, ready to give him a piece of my mind, "Gabriel, you are so rude!" 
"He deserves it!" I was about to open the door when my brother glared at me. “You don’t have to be so rude, Gabriel.” he sighs as he made his way back to where he sits next to Elle. I followed him, standing next to him as we linger at Elle's bedside. "I know he is an outsider but we owe him for saving your wife." I take his hand and smiled up at him, quite happy that he did not draw his hand back. He sighs once again.   
We linger there, my head now resting on his shoulders as we were both lost in our thoughts. I can see him crying silently as he held her hands. I put a hand on his shoulder, and squeeze it, "I'll go out for a while." He nodded at me, not answering me as I brush his hair and went out. 
I stand there for a while, removing my cap and gown. I spotted Luke as he stands by the window, watching the trees. I wanted to approach him but I do not know what to say - shall I say sorry to him? 
I bit my lip and slowly made my way towards him, my arms outstretched as I wrap him in a hug. I can feel his breath hitching as I stand in front of him, his head above him. "Why are you hugging me?" 
I lean closer to him, and he repeated his question, "Why are you hugging me, Ms. West?" I turn my head at him and raise an eyebrow as I directed a question back to him. "Ms West, really? What happened to 'dear' or 'love' ?" I let go of him and cross my hands over my chest. "I'm trying to say sorry for how my brother has acted towards you and this is how you treat me."  
He rolled his eyes at me and captured me in a one-sided hug, "Aww, I'm just bluffing," He chuckled, his face split with a grin. I hit his arm and he tightens his arms around me, "Hey," He whispered, "Everything is going alright. Elle will soon wake up and be with her little boy. You and your brother should just hang on to that hope." He stated, leaning down on me so that I am looking at his blue powdery eyes, " Know that I will be here with you," His voice soothes me as I hug him back. I cried silently on his chest, soaking his shirt with my tears as I clung to him for hope.   
OH, Luke!  
I'm glad that Luke is here to support us and I am thankful that he came back. I thought he's going to leave and never go back when he said goodbye last night but then, here I am on his arms, crying because of gratefulness that there are people like Luke who will stay and comfort you. 
I turn away from him and headed out to the garden, sitting in one of the benches, Luke followed suit, his hand on his pocket. "What do you got there?" I ask, frowning at his pocket. He scratched his ear and gave me a grin as he pulled his hand out only to reveal a sandwich.   
"Seriously? Of all the things you have to take out from your pocket?" Luke shrug his shoulders and answered, "You are not expecting a ring, are you?" I blush at what he sai, hitting his leg. "Hey, quit it. that hurt," I laugh as he crouches down and brushes his trousers. 
"Why do you keep on annoying me, Luke?" 
"It's fun to annoy you, West, you have such a bad temper that I quite fancy the idea of making fun of you." I can feel my ears getting hotter as he stands in front of me, hands outstretched, “Here, eat this, I already ate half of it, though. It's my favourite combination and I promise it will make you feel better.” I sniff and bite unto it. Hmm, peanut butter and is that "Cheese?" 
"Yeah, I mean, why not? It used to be my sister's favourite..." His voice trailed off, eyes unfocused. I pulled him down and sat him next to me. He is thinking about something and I wanted to prod him about it. I guess I shall let him be the one to open up. 
I bite on the sandwich, letting him dwell in his thoughts. I haven't realized that I've been so hungry that I finish the whole sandwich, "Thank you. I didn't expect that it will be good." 
Luke smiled at me resting his head on my shoulder, “You know what, I understand why your brother acts that way when I start poking around Elle. He loves Elle so much he acts possessively, he forgets his principles and ethics when he's around her. It's a wonder how he manages to not go insane as he watches her lying down there on the bed, unresponsive, even though the doctors say that she is alright." 
He traces the rainwater on the table and continues, “I saw him there before you arrived. He fell asleep next to Elle and he looks like he won't harm a fly when he is sleeping. How wrong was I to think that?" He shakes his head and looks at me, his eyes dancing with mirth. 
“So, you saw him?” 
"He was beat and desperate for a kip. All that has happened has taken a toll on him, I mean who wouldn't? And now that his wife and child are recovering it probably made him relax and he fell asleep.” Luke confessed making my heart swell of appreciation. I would give him an A for being so empathetic. I sat there watching him with my chin resting on my hands. Luke stared back at me and wrinkled his nose. "Quit looking at me like that, you know I hate blushing," he covered his cheek and I hit his head with the back of my hand, "Ow! You are so brutal." 
"Come on. Let's go back and see how Elle is doing before the visiting hours' end." I did not wait for his reply as I push the door and went inside the hall. Luke followed close behind and I stared up at him, as I open the door slightly. Gabe was seated, his back on us as he caresses Elle’s face. As I draw near him, I was surprised to see his shoulders shaking.  
I thought I'm imagining this but it's true; my brother hastily wiped his cheeks as a tear escaped his eyes. He leans down to kiss her cheeks and her fingers, straightening up. Gabriel turns to face us as he lets go of her hand, his face sombre, "Neola, do you really think she will be alright? She's not responding to me." 
"Gabe, do you not trust what the doctor's say? She is recovering, she just needs time."  
"Indeed mate, she will be fine. We just have to hope for the better," Gabriel snapped his head back at Luke who held his gaze, nodding at him. Slowly, Gabriel nodded his head and I smiled at the both of them, surprise when Gabriel held my hand, "Neo, You need to help me to win her back once she wakes because I doubt that she would ever want to see me," 
I shake my head at him, leaning in closer so that I can caress Gabriel's, rough with stubble and quite wet with tears. "You can do this if you really stayed next to her, no matter how much she wanted to kick your jewels or call you names. Gabriel, you shall stop running away now. You don't need to listen to your mind, Gabe, listen to your heart for once. There's still a chance, it's not the end, and I sear she will let you in her life again.” I pulled him closer to me so I can give him a hug, remembering the old times on which our situations were reversed. It is nice to have a sibling in your life.  
"Uhm, excuse me-I don't want to be rude or something because of interrupting you two but, is that...normal?"  
I gritted my teeth quite annoyed when Luke chose to interrupt me and my brother in our little moment but when I turn, I was partly thankful for what he has done or else, I wouldn't see Elle opening her eyes. 
Yep! She did open her eyes...  
"Elle!” I squeaked before turning around so I can ran out and call for the doctor. I walk down the halls, frowning because there isn't a nurse to call for. I went back inside the room and watch as Gabe frantically pushes the button beside her bed. A couple of nurses went in to check Elle but as fast as she open her eyes, she closes it.  
"Don't make us worry like that again, Elle. I thought something bad has happened, geez." I whispered at the peaceful girl who is now back to her slumber, as still as though she was only relaxing. The nurses checked her vitals while Eric hovers, checking the wound in her waist and touching her bruises before turning at us, a smile in his lips. He is wringing his hands, eyes twinkling of excitement.  
"Neo, stop getting your knickers in a twist. I bet this is a good thing," I raised an eyebrow at Luke and turn my eyes back to Eric who is smiling to himself while I and Gabriel nervously stood next to him.  
"He's right. No need to worry because what just happen is completely normal." I gawked back at Eric, not understanding his point, "Some patients may even move their hands or mouth or may even speak, or in this instance, Elle has opened her eyes. It's part of our body reflex." Eric concluded as he closed his chart, his smile widening as he continues, "That's a good thing though..."  
"What do you mean?" My brother asked the same question I had in mind.  
Eric looks at him and inserted his pen on his pocket, taking his stethoscope and tucking it on his side, "She opened her eyes, next is she'll move her hands or speak out loud and then," he looks at us with his shining eyes, his smile widening. 
"...she'll completely wake up"  
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