This chapter is dedicated to all C.R.U.S.H readers out there, love you all ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Enjoy,
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      Genesis' POV (Point of View)

I watched nervously, as the doctor and his nurses, wheeled Itoro into the hospital. They placed an oxygen mask big enough to cover her nose and mouth, so as to enable her to breathe. I watched as they walked into a double door, labeled 'Theater'.

I saw a nurse about to run pass me and I quickly held her upper arm, to stop her. "Please, answer me." I panted, "Will she be alright?"

The nurse looked at me as she tried to think of what she'll say, so as to not scare the shit outta me. I sensed as Gerald, Chidinma and Bolaji, move closer so as to listen to the nurse's reply.

"They are taking her to the theater, to take out the bullet stuck in her stomach. I actually don't know if the bullets went deep into her stomach to cause any damage. But right now, I'm needed at the theater, to assist the doctor." She quickly said, and I let go of her hand.

"This is all my fault, all my fault." I began to say to myself. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I whipped my body to see that it belonged to Bolaji.

"It's not your fault," Bolaji tried to calm me down. I looked ahead, to see Chidinma crying in Gerald's arms.

"They hate me," I said to Bolaji, as I gestured to Chidinma and Gerald. "None of them will ever forgive me if something happens to Itoro. Heck, I'll never forgive myself, if something ever happens to her. God, I feel so stupid." I sighed, same time the doctor rushed out of the theater, and walked over to a lady typing away in her computer. After giving orders to the lady, he decided to rush back into the room.

The four of us, all rushed to the doctor before he could make it back into the room.

"Doctor," I breathed out. "How's she?"

The doctor looked at all four of us, before sighing. "Who amongst you is related to her?"

"I-I...." I tried to think of the right thing to say, "I'm her boyfriend."

"We're both her best friends," Chidinma said as she pointed at Gerald and herself.

"I need a signature from a family member," The doctor said slowly, "And a deposit of a hundred thousand naira."

"What the hell?!" Chidinma exclaimed, as she looked at Gerald. "Do you have a hundred thousand naira?" She asked him.

"No," Gerald said as he checked his phone, to look at his account balance. "I've got forty,"

"And I've got only Fifty-five!" Chidinma exclaimed.

I shook my head, as I tried to focus on the doctor. "Her only brother is in Akwaibom. We're her only hope. Please let me sign the papers, and I'll immediately pay the money into the hospital's account through e - payment.

"Alright," The doctor sighed as he walked over to the lady with a computer, and retrieved a paper. He walked over to me and gave me to sign.

"We succeeded in removing a bullet, but the second bullet damaged her intestine, and now she needs urgent surgery. That's why you are depositing that much." The doctor explained as I did the transfer.

"Please doctor," I pleaded. "Save her life." The doctor patted me on the shoulder twice, before rushing into the theater.

I sat on a plastic chair, as I buried my face in my palm. "This is all my fault,"  I couldn't help but scold myself. I felt a presence sit beside me, I lifted my head and turned to the side, to see Chidinma looking at me. I sighed as I leaned back, "I know you want to scold me right now, but can you do it later?"

"I'm not here to scold you," Chidinma said in a surprisingly calm voice. "I'm here to tell you not to blame yourself. Your brother and fat___" She stopped herself, as she noticed the angry look on my face. "I mean, those bad bad people," She smiled at me and at the same time, patted her lap when she said the word 'bad'. "Have been sent to jail. So stop blaming yourself."

"I would have been the one in Itoro's position right now," I sighed, as I looked at Chidinma. "Not Itoro."

"Maybe, God knew that you might die. So, he let Itoro take the bullet." Chidinma said, trying to calm me down, but it wasn't working.

"Then he made a mistake," I informed her as I balled my fist. "What if Itoro dies? I haven't told her that I loved her yet. She's always the one saying those words to me. I don't want her to die, knowing that the last memory we had together, was an argument in a station."

"She won't die," Chidinma said to me. "She didn't die, when your dad sent those men to kidnap her. Instead, they took me. She didn't die, when Andrew tried to rape her. Instead, Bolaji saved her. So trust me when I say that Itoro, isn't going to die anytime soon."

I looked at Chidinma for a split second, as I tried to make things right. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for yelling and almost hitting you at the station." I said to Chidinma, then looked up at Gerald, who was listening to Chidinma and I conversation. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright man," Gerald said, as Chidinma nodded her head at me.

"It's alright. Let's all just pray for Itoro." Chidinma said and almost immediately, the doctor came out of the theater room.

We all rushed to the doctor, as we try to get answers from him. "How's she?" I asked the doctor, He looked at our faces before sighing.

"The surgery...." The doctor began, but then pursed. I tried to look at his facial expression, but there was none. He had a poker face. Chidinma beside me, started chewing her fingers and her eyes began to water.

Slowly, the doctor's lips began to move upwards, and within seconds, it turned into a full smile. "....Was successful."

We all breathed out a sigh of relief, as we began to jump in joy. Chidinma hugged the doctor in one of those her big hugs, same time Bolaji hugged me and Gerald patted me on the shoulder.

"Can we...." I trailed.

"Yes you can," The doctor smiled at me, before walking to check out another emergency. We all rushed into the new hospital room they placed her in. But once we rushed into the room, we saw Itoro sleeping peacefully and decided not to make a sound.

We walked closer to her bed, and I sat on the stool placed close to the bed. I grasped her right hand gently, as I trailed my fingers on her delicate soft skin.

"I'm sorry for everything I said, Itoro." I whispered, as I swallow the lump in my throat. I knew she wasn't listening, cause she was still unconscious.  But I needed to speak out. "I'm sorry for yelling and breaking up with you." I used my thumb to caress her cheek. "I'm sorry for ignoring you after the break up. Please, forgive me."

I gasped as I watched her eyelid move a little, but she still hadn't gained consciousness. "I haven't said this before but," I continued, as I looked at her beautiful and flawless face. "I'm going to say this in front of Chidinma, Gerald and Bolaji." I looked up, to see Chidinma encouraging me with a smile.

I took in few deep breath as I looked at Itoro, and whispered the one thing I would have said to her a long time ago.

"I love you,"

Itoro moved a little, as her eyes began to open slowly. Within seconds, Itoro was looking at me with tear filled eyes. That was when I realised that she was listening to everything I was saying the whole time.

"I love you too," She whispered back with a smile. Chidinma, Gerald and Bolaji, rushed to my side in excitement, as they tried not to hug Itoro to death.

"Itoro," Chidinma squealed, "You scared the living day light out of me!"

"I'm sorry," Itoro chuckled as she winced in pain. "Didn't mean to."

"Well you're alive! That's all that matters. Come here for a hug!" Gerald quickly held Chidinma, so she won't crush Itoro to death.

I looked at Itoro, as she smiled up at me. I didn't regret saying the "L" word to her, cause looking at her right now I realised one thing. I knew she was the lady I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and nothing is gonna stop me. Not my so called dad or brother, cause they were now in jail and must go to court. I don't feel like Bolanle's a threat anymore, cause he's a good guy. I'm gonna hand him in to the police, and also send a good lawyer to bail him out and make him a free man. I smiled at that thought. I've got my girlfriend back and also, true friends that would never betray me.

I watched as Itoro laughed whole heartedly at our friends, she looked more than beautiful. I was lucky to have her. And also lucky we ended up being something more than a C.R.U.S.H.

                     THE END

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A/N    Hey guys, thanks for reading the last chapter of C.R.U.S.H

Really appreciate it.

Love you guys ❤❤❤❤❤