- 5.1 - An Explosive Conflict (Part One)

HIBARA

IT HAD BEEN a week after Dr. Celina’s murder, my belladonna incident, and—not to mention—almost passing. I could still recall unmistakably the hallucinations brought by the poison to me as one of its effects, and my Mom’s narration of what happened while I was standing on the edge of death.

I OPENED MY eyes and the blinding light on the ceiling greeted me. I raised my hand over my face as I tried to look around the hospital room. I could hear the stable beeping of my vitals monitor from the side.

Mom approached me with such bliss in her brown orbs, “Oh, thank goodness, you’re awake!” And then she hugged me.

It felt awkward, but I returned the hug and tapped her back. “I feel okay, Mom.”

The door opened which made us look at the forty-five-year-old man who appeared. His hair was swept back, his face with newly grown stubbles from the sideburns to the chin, and his emerald eyes gazed directly into mine. Mom stepped out of the room and as the old man walked nearer to my bed.