CHAPTER 26

RICHARD'S POV

"She would have to remain here for at least a month, she hit her head and it would take at least a week before she can even regain consciousness, we are just lucky that it didn't affect her brain, if not she would probably have just died or lost her memory so"

"No doctor, that can't be she has her last paper to write in the next two weeks and it's her final year examination. If she doesn't write it, she's gonna have to carry over the course and it's an extra year".

"Mister, there's nothing we can do about that I really do believe that when there is life there is hope"

"Okay then, can I see her?"

"Of course you can but don't forget that right now she's in a coma so she can't speak to you yet but we hope that by the end of the week she should regain consciousness because the hit wasn't that fatal".

As soon as I see Rhoda, tears immediately start rushing onto my cheeks. For Christ's sake she was even on oxygen and the doctor said it as if her head is just bruised and plastered.

"I'm really sorry Rhodie, I'm terribly sorry. I don't have anything else to say but to say that I'm sorry. I love you more than you think. I really do love you Rhodie and I'm so sorry. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me after this whole as ordeal. I can't bear the thought of loosing you if you die then I'll just die next to you. Please be alive for my sake Rhodie. I love you so much" I say a little bit aloud even though I know she can't hear me any way but one side of me wants her to hear me even if it's little or faintly. I'll be glad, I really do love her so much. " Too late, idiot" my sub consciousness says to me and I know it's true but I really hope it's not too late. I stand up and head home to get some things for the night because so help me God I'll be here with her even if she's here for a year. No matter what I'll make sure that I'm right next to her when she finally opens her eyes.

Entering my room, I find Kira lying on my bed and I almost throw up at the sight for God's sake what did I ever see in her body?. And she even has the audacity to remain here after what happened this morning. I quickly shake her roughly and she opens her eyes. "Get up, pack your things and get out of this room and never come back okay she just looks at me wide-eyed as if I'm speaking Spanish. It is obvious she didn't expect that she obviously expected something else but for heaven's sake what did she expect? That I would come back and say don't mind Rhoda? In her wildest dreams"

"Are you deaf? In case you are deaf then, then just get out your things would be sent to you later on okay?"

"But Richard" she starts standing up at least it looks like she heard the first phrase of what I earlier said. " I thought this whole secrecy thing was over at least she found out already so she's gone already never going to come back anyway so just forget about her and let's continue you guys were probably never meant to be together anyway" she concludes shrugging her shoulders and immediately feel goose pimples all over me. Is she that callous? I thought they used to be friends. "I love Rhodie, I love her so much and I'm very sure that it isn't over okay? So keep quiet and get out of my room".

"So you are choosing that bitch over me?" normally I would have withheld my anger but this time around. I transfer the anger of all these years that my love has been called a bitch to my face without me being able to do anything and annoyance of her 18th birthday that she attempted to have her raped and videotaped all in one heavy slap. Judging by the fact that she's a white, my five fingers show on her cheek and there are even bruises already. I'm pretty sure that had it been it was the time she just got back from New York, she would have fainted by now. I don't even give her room to talk as I just pack all her stuffs into a bag and push her out. Thank God she has a car so it will be earlier to get to her apartment.

Even if she doesn't have a car, she has legs so, it's her business anyway, it's not like I care. By the time Kira is out of my room, I'm almost forgetting what I initially come to do as I just sit on my bed and cry my heart out. I feel very bad for hurting Rhoda. I don't feel a shared of pity or emotion towards Kira. All I feel towards her is anger even though I know quite alright that I'm not meant to hit a girl, I believe that she deserves that slap, so I'm justified. In fact if I had let her go without giving her that slap, my conscience would haunt me. I quickly head to the hospital again.

"Rhodie, I'm here, open your eyes" I say as I can't contain my excitement as Rhoda opens her eye lazily. The doctor predicted a week but its two weeks already and the examination is tomorrow. It's very obvious that she can't even stand up from here. She just looks at me and different emotions flashes from her eyes. I should have called her mum earlier but I don't want heart attack for the poor woman because I know how much she dots on her daughter so for the past two weeks I've been picking her calls and giving her one excuse or the other. If not that she trusts me a bit, she would have been worried about her daughter already. She really does love her, I love her as well.

"How long have I been here?" she asks me and I'm sure that if she could have avoided not talking to me at all, she would have done just that with the look on her face.

"Two weeks" I answer her with guilt boldly written on my face.

"What the fuck" she says and makes to stand up but withdraw to her shell as she realizes she's tied down with drops, both the one transfusing blood and the one transfusing water and all its like she feel pain also and I suddenly wish that we could swap places, I really don't mind trading places with her as far as I know full well that I caused this. One thing I'm sure of that I'm getting her care back for her as soon as she leaves her because the care is a total wreck like it's fucking irreparable. It's a miracle that she isn't on wheel chair now. But the thing is how will she write her exams?.

"Your last paper is tomorrow Rhodie" I say and she stays silent for a while and I realize that she's crying.

"Call my mom, I need to see her now, I don't want you here, get the hell out of here, get out of my life, I hate you so much get out" I felt tears prick my eyes as the guilt now wore down fully on me. I really wish I had never done what I did.

"I'm really sorry Rhoda, I'm terribly sorry, I swear I'm really sorry" "How am I gonna write my exam tomorrow, Ehn Richie, tell me how" she screams utilizing the remaining strength left in her it's like she just realized tomorrow is her final examination schedule and wait, she actually called me Richie, I think there is hope anyway she still calls me Richie.

"Richard, I said call my mum, how will I write my paper tomorrow?" she asks trying not to let her fears show and she called me Richard, it's like we are back to square one now.

"You know what Rhodie, we can't call your mum now, you would have to be little better to call your mum so as not to scare her okay? And as for your exam, I'll write it for you"

"Where's my car" she asks even though she seems not comfortable with the idea of me writing her exam for her but she's obviously left with no option anyway, except she wants an extra year which even if she chooses, that, I surely won't allow it.

"I'll get you another one, it's beyond repair" I answer after some minutes of silence. I hope she doesn't fair up at that and thank goodness she does not she just looks at the ceiling as if she's thinking of something. I wish I could read her thoughts especially now.

"You know what Richie, ain't too surprised about what you did remember you told me years back that I shouldn't trust anyone, not even you, so it shouldn't have taken me by surprise, should it?" she asks and looks at my face searching for answers. I was immediately taken aback, I surely didn't expect her to throw that back in my face, I just told her that back then to ease her emotions so as not to  expect  too much from anybody, including me like I said back then, I guess I'm not justified anyway Er...Em. I'm sorry, deeply sorry" I blurt out obviously short of words.

"My I.D card is inside my hand bag in the car that was why asked of my car earlier"

"Oh, Oh, Okay, I'll just go get it" I say as I remember removing her bag from the wrecked car almost immediately I found it. I quickly turn around and make to have her room"

"Richie, she calls me back and my heart skips beats"

"My matriculation number is LAW/2009/041"

"Oh, I forgot to ask but actually I know that before"

"Oh okay"

"Yeah" I say and leave the room thanking God that at least I have an idea about the subject I'm about to write, and that she allowed me. I hope I'm not caught any way. And even if I am and punished for it. I deserve it.