Chapter 31

There was an awkward silence!..

As both of them sat in the large room waiting for the doctor to return with Sophia's report.

Jason couldn't let his gaze off Sophia for reasons he knew not. He wasn't sure if it was because of Sean's previous eerie warnings on how innocent and pretentious women can be, but anytime his curious gaze found Sophia's innocent face, all his doubts disappeared with it.

Sure she was a sight to behold and the way she always wriggled her nose in discomfort made him smile. She was an interesting someone. But on the other hand, Sophia wasn't finding it funny, the way he pinned her with his constant gaze.

With every movement she made, his eyes followed and she had a constant need to scratch her nose but it felt so awkward doing it before him. She prayed deeply that the doctor would reappear soon.

Astounded was the word to describe how Sophia's felt when Jason dressed up in the morning and announced he was taking her for her regular checkups. Though Stan was meant to take her, he had extra work at the hospital as usual for the past few days. Sophia had a hunch he was purposely avoiding her but she wasn't sure yet.

So she let Jason take her. It wasn't like she had a choice. And he had been asking if she was alright and comfortable on their way to the hospital. He suddenly became so caring and observant and she was yet to believe his recent actions were done with his right mind or were it a prank?.

"Sophia" a soft voice called out to her and shook her to reality.

She turned to see Jason watching her anxiously. And there was no one else there.

"Yes?" She licked her parched lips. She must have fallen deep into her thoughts that she didn't catch what he said.

"Are you alright? You seem flushed. Do you need to rest? We can return home and I'll get the report next time."

"Oh, no nothing am alright. We can wait."

He nodded and relaxed, but still watched her carefully. He wanted to take full responsibility for her. Sadly it took him so long to realize what his father Ernest had been singing to him like a hymn.

Being responsible for someone else and yourself wasn't easy. It was one of the most difficult things to do, but Jason found out he loved being responsible especially for his wife Sophia. He didn't mind watching over her or making sure she ate well and out of harm's way. Rather he felt more fulfilled and happy that she let him take charge and he was most happy that Stanley has reasonably stayed away from them. He didn't want anyone dividing Sophia's attention.

Finally, the doctor returned and apologized for the delay.

"God news Sophia. Your health is returning and there's hope for you yet" she gave a wide smile, back to her enthusiastic self.

"Really?."

"Yes your reports came out quite nice and you can start light stretches for your legs. I'll inform doctor Stan of these new arrangements so he can_" Jason interrupted her there.

"I don't think that would be necessary anymore doc. Besides doctor Stanley has a lot on his hands lately. We just need you to step in at the right time and I'll be there for her" Jason finished with assurance. The two women glanced at each other thinking the unspoken in their heads.

The doctor merely shrugged and continued with her speech.

Later while Jason silently drove them home. Sophia wanted so much to ask why he fervently refused the help of Dr. Stanley which the doctor suggested, but she saw how stressed he looked while gripping the wheels. She almost forgot he was always a troubled someone who hardly slept unless dead drunk. She wondered how he faired these past few days he hasn't slept in her room beside her.

She wasn't certain if he did well with enough sleep and to think she stopped him herself from sleeping next to her because they weren't friends nor lovers to lay together like one.

The car stopped at a point and Sophia looked around in surprise.

"Why did we stop here?" Their car was parked beside the road and Jason sat still looking ahead.

For a minute she thought he wasn't going to say something but he beat her to it. "This was where it all started..." He murmured.

"What? What started?" She gave him a confused look which he equally mirrored.

"Have you forgotten or you didn't know?" Facing her squarely. "This was where I hit you down and I left you in your pool of blood" he uttered with shame and regret.

"I saw you... I knew I had hit someone then because I felt the heavy thud on my car bonnet even though we were dead drunk that night. I had to make sure it was not a human being, just to clear my conscience but I had this nagging feeling deep down my gut telling me the obvious truth which I didn't want to hear" he paused for a while to catch his breath.

"You said we, you weren't alone?" Jason nodded to her astonishment.

"Who was it? Sean?."

Jason swallowed hard. Throughout the dilemma, he never once mentioned to anyone that he wasn't alone in the car that night of the incident until now he mistakenly let it slip. Sean wasn't the one on the wheel that night, but he was the one who instigated the idea for both of them to flee. He didn't want to then but had to due to the consequences and his fear of it and he wasn't even in his right mind. But these weren't times for regret anymore what's done is done.

"You didn't say?" She questioned.

"It changes nothing, I was the one on the wheel that night and Sean tried to make me slow down but I was high and didn't listen. he merely helped me make a rash decision which I couldn't make at that moment. I saw you there bleeding and unconscious but I still fled and that was my greatest mistake. Maybe if I had rushed you to the hospital earlier you wouldn't have sustained more injuries and didn't have to lose your legs."

"I don't think so, my disability wasn't because it took long to operate on me, just the accident alone was enough. You didn't have to bring me here and reminisce on this bitter truth. It doesn't change anything"

Jason turned sharply at her "it doesn't?" He asked in desperation.

"No, it can only reopen healing wounds."

"True, but it marks the beginning of a new turn for me... Sophia" he called her name again with such tenderness to it. "I want to make things right. I want us to start afresh and I need you to help me out here. I hardly know you or what you like, you always seem lost in your thoughts whenever I try to start up a conversation with you. I've always been good with people but you?... I_ I don't even know the best approach, I get confused at times. Please" he finished.

Sophia sat still, he wasn't asking for too much but she didn't know how to give him what he wanted. Besides, she was just in her second year in college and everything went downhill. she didn't have time to date because of her sick father, then came Maureen's problems. And she didn't expect to become a wife so suddenly, it was weird acting like a wife to someone when you never even dated.

"I was barely managing as a Nineteen years old college student when I had the accident. with the task of taking care of my father and pressure from my stepmother, I didn't get the chance to go on dates or be in a relationship... but I find myself in the most complicated relationship" she chuckled dryly.

"So I think you might be asking a lot more from me... I don't know how."

"Well, I never thought of it like that and am not asking you to act like my wife or girlfriend but a friend... Isn't that easier then?."

"Sure it is... Stan has since been my only friend that I forgot I could extend my boundaries" She laughed at the thought but it wasn't funny to Jason. Just the mention of Stanley upset him and Sophia wasn't oblivious to that.

"Um... Do you have any grudges against Stan?"

"Why?."

"You don't seem to like that I mentioned his name in this conversation and at the hospital you_" he cuts her off abruptly.

"His help wasn't needed anymore. I want to take responsibility for what's mine. Sure he's done a nice job since I've been aloof but am here now and I can take his place" he spoke in a clipped tone.

Sophia wasn't happy. He had no right to get offended whenever Stan was mentioned. He didn't have to start acting so overprotective now.

"Aloof you say... It doesn't work that way, Jason. Stan has always been my friend even when my stepmother left me, he was there! when she sold me out for money, he was there, and even when I thought the responsibility was going to shift to someone else what did they all do?... They were aloof!!" She whisper yelled in a cold tone piercing through Jason's emotions. "But Stan?... He was always there for me even when I didn't need him and never let me drown in despair. He is a friend and if you don't come to terms with that then am sorry we can't start anywhere!!!" She was breathing hard once she finished. Her emotions were everywhere and she hated how Jason's presence affected her so much. She was always conserved and bottled up her emotions so well but with Jason... It was difficult for her to control. Sometimes he made her happy with tingly feelings like a lovesick high school girl then sometimes very furious at how selfish and dense he could be.

"Please just take me home I need to rest" she murmured. He sat still for a while with his heavy breaths being the only sound in the car.

He started the ignition finally and drove home in deafening silence.

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