THIRTY SEVEN

DAMON

A small groan escaped my lips as my eyes fluttered open with difficulty. As I tried to adjust my sight to the unusual brightness around me, I felt certain constrictions in my back and around my legs.

Then, I remembered the sharp pains I felt when I got an unexpected hit on my body. Seeing how I failed to recall definitive things about that night, I fought to open my reluctant eyes and when my sight finally landed on the tube-like bulb attached to the ceiling, a peculiar smell hit my nose.

Without needing anyone to tell me, I could decipher that I was in a hospital, seemingly glued to a bed, unable to move properly.

My ears ticked as I strained them to catch a word or two that would help me figure more things out. The faint breathing sound that reached me suggested that someone was seated beside me.

As my mind reminded me of the events of that dreadful night, I recalled having a phone conversation with Selena, so I had the crazy thought she was the one seated by my hospital bed.

Who am I kidding? I will be damned if she’s seated beside me. I will be further damned if she even shows up.

“Mom…” I whispered as I turned my head to the side.

My mother’s eyes swiftly shifted away from the television and they bulged slightly as she got off her seat and rushed toward me, the cloth wrapped around her falling off her plump body. Grabbing my hand, the utmost look of worry in her eyes, she said, “My baby… You are awake.”

“Mom…” Whatever happened in front of her house that day might have landed me in a hospital bed, but I am grateful that I didn’t lose my life. My mother would have been utterly devastated. The pain she would have to bear would become unbearable, and I know she would become a mess. That very thing happened when my brother and his wife died. “I am fine, mom.”

“Fine?” I could see her hand swing but she quickly pulled that hand to her side. My mother is certainly used to hitting me at every chance given. Instead of hitting me, her hand traveled to my forehead and she began to caress my skin with light strokes. “You are not fine, Damon. You could have lost your life.”

“I don’t even remember what happened.” My attempt to accompany my words with laughter failed as my chuckle quickly turned into a short fit of coughs.

As she patted me to relieve my body of the coughs, she said gently, “You were beaten up, Damon. You weren’t coming in after dropping off Becca, so I went outside to check and you were sprawled on the floor, lifeless. I was so scared, Damon.” My mother held my hand again, this time tightly as though she was assuring herself that I was indeed alive.

“How is Becca?” I asked, wishing the girl didn’t get to see me in such a terrible state.

“She’s fine. Let’s worry about you, Damon. What happened?” She had her seat on the small space left on my bed. “Who would want to make you suffer this way?”

I could still feel a slight ache all over my body, and as I shifted my gaze to the end of my legs which were heavily bandaged, I asked, “How long have I been here?”

“About four days. You didn’t wake up till now because you suffered a slight hit to your head. We are lucky you woke up this… Oh my God!” she suddenly exclaimed.

“What is it?”

“I am supposed to let the nurses know that you have woken up.” Her legs became hasty. “Stay here, I will tell them now.”

“It’s not like I can move,” I mumbled to myself as I watched her rush out of the fairly large ward which I seemed to be sharing with another patient who was shielded from my sight thanks to a large curtain.

A sigh escaped me as my mind returned to the events of that night.

Then, I asked myself who would have a reason to hurt me in such a way.

The only person I could think of was the leader of The Pretties.

As a small frown landed on my forehead, I wondered if Selena’s claims about protecting my family and me were just mere words of the mouth. If I was still with Becca that night, things could have gotten way worse.

This makes me doubt Selena strongly.

And, it makes my anger toward her grow.

That feeling abounded as I failed to feel her presence in that very room. She was the last person I spoke with, surely, her interest would have pricked when I failed to respond to her statements. Surely, she would have already found out what happened to me.

Unless she wishes to just use me fulfilling her sexual tension, she should react to my predicament. No matter how hard it is for her to show concern, it is necessary for her to show the slightest worry.

Ugh… why am I even thinking about her?

At this rate, anger will grow within me beyond my liking.

As I decided to change my position, I heard footsteps approach me.

“Mom, have you…?” It was Selena.

“Hello, Damon Jones,” she said. And, as I heard the gentility her voice always carries before wearing danger in its tone, I felt all my anger melt. It didn’t stop there.

No, it did not.

Suddenly, my heart began that thing again… the pounding. It was insane. As my eyes roamed her bare face which wore a small smile thanks to the small lines that formed around her face, I found it hard to look away. And, my chest felt more thumping.

Selena didn’t seem to suspect that I was in that very trance her presence usually puts me in. It is just a pity that this time, the trance is more insane. Honestly, I don’t understand myself anymore.

Her simple dressing which consisted of a pair of blue jeans and a plain coloured t-shirt caught my attention as she walked closer.

“Hmm…” she hummed as our eyes met in that proximity. “Thank God they didn’t touch your handsome face,” she said and the trance broke instantly.

As I cleared my throat and focused my attention on the television that was barely audible, I said, “So, you know who did this to me.”

“Lucius is investigating the issue. We will know who is behind it very soon.”

“Good. If I fail to get answers, I will call off the deal.” A short laugh came from Selena and I darted my eyes toward her sharply. “Did you just laugh?”

A smile on her glossy lips, her hair constantly caressing her shoulders, she placed a hand on my shoulder and asked, “Do you feel better now? You must be in pain.”

“Are… Are you concerned about me?”

Her forehead wore a crease. “Why won’t I be? I was already driven with worry when you failed to show up for two days. You didn’t even let Lucius drive you to the mansion after your work at TIANOR. Did something happen? We needed you the day I called and-?”

“You don’t know why I walked out angrily of the prison that day?” I’m not surprised.

“Is there something I should be aware of? All I wanted was to have freaky sex behind bars. Can’t a woman fulfill her fantasy anymore?”

“Selena…” The blank look on her face made me give up. I was too tired at that moment to deal with her. “You don’t have to worry about that anymore. Just leave.”

“Seriously?” Her brows cocked.

“I am not of help to you in this state, so you can leave.”

“I have not told you my reason for being here yet,” she said and my frown deepened.

She had a particular reason for being here? She wasn’t in my hospital room to check if I am fine?

“What is it?” My voice sounded lazy.

“We are-”

“Excuse me?” My mother’s voice interrupted Selena. “Can I help you?”

“Uh…” It was amusing. As my mother spoke, Selena looked flustered for a second. “I was just telling him something. Damon…” Selena faced me with haste before my mother could say anything. “… I will see you soon. Stay healthy.”

“Wait…” My mother’s hands were left hanging in the air as Selena quickly rushed out of the room. “What was that? Who is she, Damon?”

“She’s someone I know,” I simply replied, my heart feeling weird because of the racing it experienced earlier.

“Your girlfriend?” My head whipped toward my mom. Did she mishear or did she choose to give her meaning to what I said?

“No. She is not.”

“She’s pretty.”

I sighed. I wished to tell my mother that I won’t be seeing Selena anymore but, my entire being knew that was a lie. “Have you called the nurses? I need someone to help me sit up.”

My mother rushed toward me. As her fingers pressed a button or two, I felt the bed change its elevation. Then, with a small gloat on her face, my mother said,” The nurses taught me a lot of things when you were unconscious.”

“That’s good, mother.” Like always, I pushed aside thoughts about Selena and as I watched a group of doctors walk in, I became more relaxed.

~

Two weeks had already passed and I was finally in a good shape.

I pried my eyes off the night sky which was visible from where I was seated. Then, my attention went back to the stack of washed bowls that my mother asked me to arrange into her shopping bag. As I did that, my ears picked up the sounds of the professionals' busy feet rushing to and fro as they did their job.

During my stay, I became a little famous as nurses always seemed extra happy to attend to me. Sometimes, they arrived in groups, chattering silently and smiling widely, only to disperse whenever a stern doctor appeared to reprimand them.

It was weirder when patients passed and peered into my room through the glass square in the door.

I have always noted the attention I get as a fine man, but the past few days have been greatly weird. I think my mother knows that as well. She often came into my room, telling me that people keep asking her if I am single.

Oh well…

Thank goodness I will be moving out of this place soon. My discharge date is being discussed and I reckon that within three to four days, I will get to go home.

As I placed the filled bag aside, I heard heavy footsteps enter the room after the door swung open.

I was certain that it wasn’t my mother because she left for home not quite long, so I became alert.

Before I could get up, the person walked in, followed by another individual. “Lucius?” It was indeed surprising to see him.

“Hello, Damon,” Selena replied from behind, waving as she stepped away from where she stood. As my eyes darted through her all-black dressing, she said dangerously, “We are breaking you out of here.”