ANOTHER CRASH WITH THE GENERAL

With a renewed sense of purpose, Gia stood up, her resolve firm. She began organizing her thoughts and formulating a plan of action while ensuring every step was measured and cautious. The quest for truth was a treacherous path, but she was determined to navigate it with unwavering determination and prudence.

"I'll uncover the truth for all of us," she affirmed, the quiet resolve in her voice echoing against the backdrop of the crashing waves. With each passing moment, Gia's determination grew stronger, fueled by her unwavering desire for justice and the safety of those she cared deeply for.

As Gia briskly walked down the corridor of the hospital, her heart raced with urgency. She turned the corner and froze in her tracks as she saw the general standing near Deep's room. His presence sent a surge of alarm through her.

"What are you doing here?" Gia shot, walking to Deep’s side as if concealing him from the general.

The general turned, a steely resolve in his eyes as he met Gia's gaze. "I'm just checking on the situation. I have my concerns about this incident. I am the general, and like you said, according to your assumptions, he was attacked by Ejay, and Ejay is my case. I need to know everything that revolves around this case."

Gia's eyes narrowed, suspicion coloring her tone."I get that, but not why you had to sneak in. How did you manage to bypass security and get in here?"

The general's response was calm, almost dismissive, after a broad grin."I am the general; no one stands in my way unless they want to be jobless in the next second of their disrespect."

Gia stepped closer, her voice laced with accusation."I see. You have been elusive and secretive. I don't trust you, especially not around Deep. I am sorry if I offended you, but I think that you have seen enough of what you wanted to see. Leave now. I don’t appreciate your presence."

The general's expression remained composed, but a hint of tension lingered in the air. "I have no intention to cause harm. My concern is as genuine as yours."

Gia's skepticism persisted, her gaze piercing through his facade. "I don't believe you. Your involvement in this raises too many questions."

The general's demeanor remained unwavering as he met Gia's gaze, a silent tension crackling between them. "Believe what you want. I have no intention of staying here a second longer anyway."

Gia spoke again, stopping the general on his heels as he was reaching for the door. "I am just a little bothered, though, in general. What are you still doing here in Mombasa, General? I thought you had not so many important things to do. Your schedule is always tight; that is why you took too long to see me, right?"

The general's expression remained impassive as he responded. "I have my reasons for being here, Ms. Gia. They don't concern you, and I have the right to be wherever I want to be."

Gia's eyes narrowed, suspicion dripping from her words."I can't help but wonder if you're spying on me for Ejay. Are you reporting back to him?"

The general's response was firm, though his facade remained inscrutable. "I have no allegiance to Ejay. My presence here is unrelated to your hallucinations."

Gia crossed her arms, her tone incredulous."Then why the secretive actions, the lingering presence? It all seems too coincidental."

The general's tone turned slightly cold, with a hint of irritation surfacing in his voice. "For a thousandth time, your suspicions are baseless, Ms. Gia. I have other matters to attend to. Excuse me!"

With those words, the general turned and walked away, leaving Gia standing by Deep's room, her mind swirling with doubts and suspicions about his true intentions. She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered after their brief yet tense encounter.

As Gia crouched down on the bed beside Deep, a sense of urgency propelled her forward. Thoughts raced through her mind like a whirlwind, each step quickening her heartbeat. She rounded the corner, her focus fixed on reaching Deep's room, only to come to an abrupt halt as she spotted the general standing near the door.

Her pulse quickened, a surge of alarm coursing through her veins. Questions flooded her mind, an unspoken inquiry echoing in her thoughts as she studied the general's presence near Deep's room. How had he walked in there? Why was he here?

She observed him discreetly, her mind a flurry of conflicting emotions. The general's stern demeanor and his guarded expression only fueled her curiosity further. He seemed preoccupied, as if lost in contemplation, yet there was an air of purpose about him that raised an unsettling sense of foreboding in Gia's gut.

"Was he here to check on Deep?" Gia wondered, a tinge of skepticism coloring her thoughts. It seemed improbable, given the general's earlier warnings and the evasiveness surrounding Ejay's case.

Gia's gaze darted around, searching for clues and any indication of why the general had ventured into Deep's room unannounced. Her mind raced with possibilities, each scenario flashing through her mind, none of which provided a satisfactory explanation for his unexpected presence.

"Is he involved in this? Could he be trying to conceal something? Of course, he is. He came here to check on Deep so that he could report to Ejay. If not, he would have at least mentioned to me that he wanted to visit Deep.” Gia's thoughts spiraled, the threads of suspicion weaving themselves into an intricate tapestry of doubts.

The urgency to uncover the truth clashed with her wariness—a tug-of-war between seeking answers and the need to tread cautiously. She weighed her options, debating whether to confront the general or observe quietly, wary of the repercussions of either choice.

As Gia lingered in the corridor, a sense of unease gnawed at her, intensifying the already complex web of uncertainties surrounding Ejay's mysterious reappearance and the General's enigmatic involvement. She stood poised on the edge of a precipice, her determination to unravel the truth now entangled with a growing sense of apprehension and suspicion.