C5 Listening to the Whispers of the Heart

Hazel snapped out of her reverie and looked at Theo. "Nothing," she replied nervously.

Theo paused, then sighed softly. "You think I didn’t overhear your conversation?"

Hazel remained silent, then exhaled harshly. "I’m sorry. I–"

"You still have the card from yesterday, right? Just use the money on it."

Hazel fell silent again. She kept looking at Theo without speaking.

"Hazel? Are you listening to me?"

Hazel snapped out of her thoughts. She fidgeted with her fingers under the table, biting her lip to hold back her nervousness. "How do I talk to Theo? I... really don’t feel right about this," Hazel thought.

"Hazel? What are you hiding? Is that money not enough for you?"

"No, but Theo..."

"Yes?"

"Can I..." Hazel’s words trailed off, making Theo even more curious.

"What?"

"Can I borrow some more of your money? I’ll pay you back later."

Theo’s brows furrowed. How could she not use such a large amount of money?

"How much do you need?" Theo asked without pressing further.

Hazel’s eyes sparkled, unable to believe that Theo was willing to lend her money. "Seriously, Theo?"

Theo cleared his throat and nodded. "I’m serious. Do you want me to take you to the hospital as well?"

"No need. You should rest. I’ll get ready first."

Hazel quickly walked away from Theo to change clothes.

Theo just shook his head, glancing at the beautiful painting created by Hazel’s hand.

"I’m sure you’re hiding something from me, Hazel."

After a few minutes, Hazel emerged wearing a knee-length skirt and a T-shirt layered with a cardigan. "Theo, I’m off now, okay?"

Theo turned towards the source of the voice, looking at Hazel in admiration.

"Wait a minute, I need to go to my room for a bit. Just five minutes."

Theo rolled his wheelchair into his room.

"Where are you going?"

"Just wait there!" Theo called out.

Hazel raised an eyebrow and followed Theo from behind. "Let me help."

Without being asked, Hazel helped Theo by pushing his wheelchair towards the room.

Hazel kept watching Theo as he picked out clothes from the closet.

"Where exactly are you planning to go?" Hazel asked.

Theo glanced at Hazel. "Of course, I’m going with you," he said before closing the closet door.

"Going with me? I already said you should stay home. You’re still sick."

Theo glanced sideways at Hazel. "Are you embarrassed to be seen with someone paralyzed like me?" he asked, his tone flat.

The ridiculous question from Theo left Hazel speechless. How could Theo even think that?

"Theo, are you joking? I’m not embarrassed. But–"

"Alright then, wait outside. I’m going to change," Theo said, cutting off Hazel’s words.

Hazel stood there, then exhaled sharply. "Fine, Theo. I won’t stop you. I’ll wait outside," she said before leaving the room.

While waiting outside, Hazel texted her grandmother.

"Thankfully, Grandma’s okay. It’s true that Ellena didn’t give the money to Grandma," Hazel murmured.

A few minutes later, Theo emerged from the room, dressed neatly. Hazel immediately approached him.

"Ready?"

"Ready," Theo replied curtly.

"Let me help push." Hazel gently pushed Theo’s wheelchair outside.

Outside, Thomas was already warming up the car and opened the rear door for both Theo and Hazel.

"Thank you, Thomas," Theo said, then turned to Hazel. "Hazel, you go in first. Thomas can help me."

"No need, let me do it. Thomas, can you take Theo’s wheelchair to the back? I’ll help Theo into the car," Hazel said.

Theo couldn’t believe what Hazel was saying, but he finally accepted her help.

Hazel assisted Theo into the car. Before getting in herself, she folded the wheelchair and placed it in the trunk.

During the ride, they didn’t talk much. Hazel was busy updating her grandmother.

"Did you tell her that we’re going to visit?"

Hazel turned to the side and nodded slightly. "Yes, she’s waiting. I’ll go in to pick her up."

Theo cleared his throat and nodded in understanding. "Should I go with you?"

"No need. I’ll do it. You wait in the car, okay?"

"Alright then. I’ll wait for you here."

Hazel smiled softly, gazing out the window at the vehicles passing by.

"Oh, and I’ll also get some medicine for your leg to ease the pain."

Hazel turned to Theo again. "Is that necessary? Theo, my leg’s not that bad. Maybe just one more session, and it’ll be healed."

"Still, I don’t want you to be in pain. You think I haven’t been through that?"

Hazel fell silent, then sighed softly. "Alright, Theo. I’ll buy it myself later. Don’t worry about it."

"Always like that," Theo murmured, his expression still flat. Hazel just cleared her throat softly.

Hazel continued looking out the window, not realizing that Theo was watching her the whole time.

Soon, they arrived at her grandmother’s house. The house was simple, with a small restaurant next to it owned by her aunt.

"This is your grandmother’s house?"

Hazel nodded slightly and smiled at Theo.

"I’ll go in. Wait here, alright?"

Theo cleared his throat softly.

Hazel opened the door and got out, then walked into the house.

"Grandma? Are you inside?"

Hazel stepped towards the room her grandmother used to stay in. She opened the door and saw her grandmother already prepared.

Her grandmother’s smile grew wide as she saw Hazel arrive.

"You’re here? I hope I’m not being a burden to you?" her grandmother asked.

"No, Grandma. Let’s go outside. Theo is waiting."

"Theo? Your husband’s with you?"

Hazel nodded and smiled, gently stroking her grandmother’s arm. "Yes, I planned to come here alone, but Theo didn’t want me going out by myself."

Vivian nodded in understanding. "I see. You should have just sent some money instead of going through all this trouble."

"Don’t worry about it, Grandma. Let’s go together." Hazel held her grandmother’s hand and headed outside.

"Oh, by the way, there’s something I wanted to tell you."

"Just tell me now, Grandma," Hazel said as they walked.

Before getting into the car, Hazel made sure to close the house door tightly.

"The house is quiet, huh? They went out?"

Vivian looked at Hazel with a sympathetic expression. "Yes, they went out using your husband’s card."

Hazel was shocked by her grandmother’s words. She looked at Vivian with a questioning expression. How did her grandmother know everything?

"I bet you’re wondering how I know all this, right?"