C3 CHAPTER 03: His Protector

EREVELL’s P.O.V.

It’s been exactly eighteen days since I got hospitalized. Yes, I’m sick, literally. And I’m doing this for my medication. I have a lung cancer, but thankfully, it wasn’t that severe yet. That’s why I badly wanted to take medication as early as possible so that we can avoid any more complications.

Also, I don’t want to undergo chemotherapy someday. I just... I can’t. I know to myself that if ever that happens, I wouldn’t survive. I’m not as strong as those other cancer patients out there. I’m just a weak, normal teenager that wanted to live a normal life together with my family. But I couldn’t, just because of this curse.

“Are you sure you’re alright? Why do you even want to go to school as soon as possible? Always remember that you’re still sick, Erevell,” my Mom told me.

“Mom, believe me, I know that. It just that... You know, I don’t want to missed so many things in school.”

“For Pete’s sake, Erevell. You are excuse. I thought you gave an excuse letter to one of your friends?”

“Uhm, yeah.” I smiled as I remember how Gabriel’s cheeks flushed a reddish color as I planted a small kiss on it.

“Is that the only reason why? Or maybe something else?” Mom asked mischievously.

“Mom!”

“Do you like that home schooled guy?”

“Please don’t call him that. Gab is... He’s nice.”

“Fine. Let me help you then. We are going to pack our things up so that you can see that Gab whoever he is.”

I laughed at her response. We helped each other pack our remaining things here in the hospital before asking help to one of my nurses to remove the dextrose on my wrist. Finally, I got a chance to savour the fresh air coming from the outside world again. Not the air coming from an oxygen tank.

“Someone looks happy,” Mom stated.

“Of course. Who wouldn’t be happy to leave that hellhole? And I was wondering, Mom... How many more years would it take me to become better? I mean... I’m tired being hospitalized all the time.”

“Let us just pray and wait for your full recovery, honey. Sometimes, great things comes for those people who wait with patience.”

“Sure,” was my short reply.

I was bothered mainly by my illness. How come that I’ve been living for the past three years of my life enduring this pain? I got this when I was ten, and for a cancer patient, I was lucky to have another three years extension to my life.

“Do you want to grab a bite somewhere?” Mom asked before she started the engine of our car.

“Nope. I’m fine, Mom... I just... I wanted to go home and rest.”

“Are you alright? Do you want us to get back in the hospital?” she asked, a worried expression plastered upon her face.

“No. Please don’t. I just wanted to sleep.”

“If you say so. Then sleep, Erevell. We still have a long way to home.”

“Sure.”

I closed my eyes shut, feeling the unexplainable ache on my forehead. I decided to ignore it, while my Mom is still busy driving the car. I rested my head on the window, before I slowly slumber into a deep sleep.

I was awakened by a continuous tap on my shoulder. I instantly knew that it was Mom. I opened my eyes and her blurry face bombarded my senses, making me fully aware of what’s happening.

“We’re home, honey. Come on. Let me help you...” she whispered.

“Mom...”

“It’s more comfortable sleeping on your bed rather than here in our car. Come on.”

I just nodded, letting her assist me while hopping down the car. Until finally, my foot landed on the ground. I could smell the fresh air coming from the trees. How I miss this village. Seems like ever since I got this illness, I spent more time inside the hospital premises. It’s definitely called lucky if I can go to school from Monday until Friday.

“Can I go to Gab’s house, Mom?” I asked her.

“Sure. But you need to take a rest first, Erevell.”

“But it’s Saturday, Mom... Gabriel is surely at home.”

“I know. But you shouldn’t push yourself to your limit that much. Please spare this day and take a rest, honey.”

“Fine...” I sighed.

“What’s with the sigh? Okay, fine. Tomorrow, you can invite that Gabriel person to join us in the church.”

“Really?” I beamed.

“Yes. Just take a rest for now and save your energy for tomorrow.”

“Okay! Thank you so much, Mom.”

She smiled at me before we continued walking towards our front door. As soon as we came inside of our house, I climbed upstairs so that I can take a rest. I can’t wait for tomorrow. I can’t wait I see Gabriel, and I can’t wait to go to school again.

I take a nap before we ate dinner. Mom prepared a special dish for me because of one main reason... And that was because I was discharge by the hospital even though that only happened because I threatened some of the nurses in there.

“Are you okay?” Mom asked.

“Uhm... Yeah,” I answered like an idiot.

“Really? Then why are you smiling to yourself?”

I bit my lower lip, trying to suppress my laughter as I don’t want to tell her the main reason why. If she found out about that, she’ll probably take me back to the hospital right now, at this moment.

“Nothing, Mom. Let’s just eat.”

I enjoy the food, for I haven’t eaten anything like this one in the hospital. Also, all the medicines and stuffs out there makes my sense of taste really bland and unappreciative. I helped Mom washed the dishes, before we both went to our respective rooms to take a good rest for tomorrow.

Sunday morning. We prepare ourselves before going into our nearby church. I decided to fetch Gabriel before we go, but Mom wouldn’t allow me to.

“Let’s fetch him together, Erevell,” she firmly stated.

“But Mom, I want to talk to him alone!” I complained.

“No.” Her voice was full of authority.

I didn’t mind her, nor answered her. I already made up my decision... I’m going to fetch him up myself. When my Mom vanished into my sight just to take a quick shower, I instantly made my first move. I took my bicycle in our garage to fetch up my new friend.

As soon as I reached their front door, I excitedly knock on it but I received no answer. I tried again, but I think nobody is home today. I sighed, having a heavy heart. I thought I would see him again today, but I didn’t. I sat down on the ground and hug my knees. There, I cry for apparently no reason.

I don’t know how much time I have spent in here. But I kept on wiping my tears away until I heard a loud, beeping sound coming from a car. I looked up, and I saw Mom.

“I told you we will fetch him together, right? You never listen to me, Erevell,” she scolded.

“S-sorry...” My voice cracked while stating that word.

“Are you crying?” she asked worriedly before opening the door beside the passenger seat.

I came closer and got inside of the car before answering her.

“Nope. I’m fine. Just... Disappointed, I guess.”

“He’s not here, isn’t he?”

“I guess I really bring bad luck to people.”

“Oh, honey. Please don’t think like that. Having you around wasn’t a bad luck or anything to me.”

I just smiled at her before she continue driving towards the church. That day passed by so fast. In a blink of an eye, I just found myself walking in the school hallways again, having the same exact feeling when I was biking towards Gabriel’s house yesterday.

Since I didn’t saw him, I decided to go to the Cafeteria first so that I could get something to eat. But as I stepped inside, I heard a commotion... Including his voice.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked, his uniform was now full with different flavors of drinks coming from those laughing students.

“Because you’re friends with that weird bitch!” one of them scream on his face.

I clenched my fist. How dare they. No one knows about my illness... No one knows, that’s why they can never understand what or how I feel.

“No! She’s not my friend! I barely even know her!” Gabriel fired back, and a pang of pain invaded my system.

Maybe that was the case... But... I know he just said that so people wouldn’t hurt him anymore. I know he’s only doing that to protect himself. That’s why from this day forward, I vowed to be his protector, and his unselfish shelter... I’ll protect him whatever happens and whatever it takes.

“You’re a liar!” one of the students shouted before throwing a cup over his face.

“Stop it!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.

The commotion stops, and the crowd gone into silence. Gabriel looked at me with a surprised expression plastered upon his face. I just smiled at him before I glare towards those awful people.

I slowly walked forward, and when I finally reached his destination, I took another step back to face the guy who threw a cup over his face earlier. I punched him, hitting him hard. The crowd gasped, same as the person beside me.

“E-Erevell...”

The guy whom I punched is now having a broken nose. I wanted to laughed at his looks but I couldn’t. Because right after that moment, I couldn’t breathe properly anymore. It feels like I’m suffocating. My knees trembles, until I finally lost my balance.

“Erevell!” Gabriel shouted my name with a surprised tone in his voice.

I fall down, before closing my heavy feeling eyes. I heard another commotion inside of my head before I completely lost my consciousness.