STAHD 4

"Everything is okay now, good thing you brought her here in time."

"Yes doc, thank you."

I was distracted in my sleep because of the conversation.

"What happened?"

Immediately they turned their attention to me. I sat down while holding my head. I was still a little dizzy and my eyes were still closed. Echo attended me and held my hand.

"You're good and awake. How are you feeling?"

I frowned as I looked around. The last thing I remembered was that there were men who wanted to take me. They were forcing me to come with me so I ran. But they still caught up with me and they injected me with something so I lost consciousness.

"Echo, what happened? What the—why am I here?"

I don't know what to feel now because of the nervousness. Maybe Echo will sympathize. Especially when I see the bruise on her face. He held both of my shoulders and calmed me down.

"I'm sorry, if I had taken you to ride the tricycle , this wouldn't have happened to you. I'm really sorry!"

I was confused by what he said, why is he apologizing? He is the one with bruises and a cut on his face.

"Echo, I'm fine. You, look at yourself. Have you been treated?"

I turned to the doctor when he spoke.

"He won't leave your side even for a second. Maybe it's because the men who attacked you last night have returned. But now that you're okay, I advise you tell him to clean up his cut."

The doctor said and was shaking his head as he said goodbye. I looked at Echo who still showed concern on his wounded face.

"Treat your wound now. It might get infected,I'm fine now." I gently said , he sighed before nodding.

"Alright, later I'll tell you what happened. I'm just in the other room, and I'll send a nurse here so someone can watch over you while I'm gone."

I just nodded so that he could leave and the wound on his face could be treated. I leaned on the bed while waiting for him. I had to think. The people who wanted to take me last night were not just any men. They must have been what my aunt was saying. Men in black. It's dangerous and I need to go home, they might be the ones to go to and get hurt. I can't forgive myself, when something bad happens to my family. I stood up when the door suddenly opened and the nurse came in,smiling.

"Is there anything you need to do, ma'am? Your boyfriend entrusted you to me, and it looks like it will be over soon. He is rushing the nurse who is treating him. Your boyfriend is so sweet, he didn't leave your side all night. He's just watching over you! ”

She chuckled while shaking her head, she approached the attached dextrose in my hand and checked me. Then she looked at me with a smile. I just shook my head and leaned back on the bed. They even mistook Echo for my boyfriend. It was really scary what happened last night, and maybe he was just worried. I'll just wait for Echo, it looks like he'll be here later.

Mind Nerissa, you have to think of a way to avoid those people. I'm sure they won't stop until they get me, or someone in the family .

Echo came in, still grimacing in pain. I shook my head as he sat on the bed and tried to smile but didn't succeed and grimaced. The nurse also said goodbye and was still smiling. She looks like a teenager that's excited, she even giggled. I want to be excited too. But in my current situation, I feel far from thrill.

"I need to go home Echo, my brothers need me. Maybe those people will go to them!" I panicked because of worry.

"Hey, calm down. Your brothers are fine, nothing happened to them and nothing will happen to them. I called Fely last night and she was at your house last night. I told her what happened but I haven't told her yet but it's better if she will know what happened to you. The police are investigating what happened last night, but they still have no leads. That part of the road is dark and there is no cctv. They are having a hard time identifying the people who want to take you! ” He caressed my hair.

"How did I end up here at the hospital? I lost consciousness when one of the men injected me something last night." He gasped and his jaw clenched.

"I followed you, because you left your foods for your brothers, so I chased after you. But I didn't see you anymore, so I went straight to the tricycle parking . I asked the drivers who were there, and they said that you had never been there before, so I was nervous I went back to the road. I looked for you in every corner I could pass by. Until I got used to looking at that dark part. I saw some men, and that's when I saw you. You were surrounded by men, so I quickly approached. But you are unconscious and those men are about to take you! I fought, but even though I know something about taekwondo, I couldn't handle them. They are too strong and seem to be skilled in fighting. That's why, I was also beaten. But it's okay, I saved you!"

"Thank you!"

His story made me cry, he was also hurt by the mess. But I'm still thankful because if he didn't come, maybe what could have those men would have done. After knowing what happened that night, I made a decision. We need to get away. My brothers and I. Echo said, I slept all night because of the medicine that was injected into me. They were determined to get me.

So when I got home, Echo even drove me. He also said not to worry because the police are already doing everything to catch whoever those people are. But I doubt if that will happen. catch them, it looks like the police can't find whoever is behind those people. If my suspicions are correct, it looks like dad has been behind on them. And now that they can't see it, we are the ones who will be the victims here . When I entered the house, I caught up with Fely who was playing with my brothers.

When she saw me, she immediately stood up and came to me. She looked worried and hugged me.

"Are you all right? What happened, Echo won't elaborate anymore. He just said that someone wants to take you so he sent me here to watch over your siblings. I even made excuses to mom just to agree I came here even at night. I was too worried, best friend!”

"Thank you Fely! I'm fine, for now!"

"What do you mean?"

She frowned.

"Fely, we need to get away. I need to get my brothers away from here. I'm sure those men will come back!"

"Bess"

"I'm fine, I have to be strong for my brothers."

She rubbed my back and looked at me worriedly. I wiped the tears I couldn't stop from coming out. I approached my brothers who were playing, when they saw me they happily greeted me with a hug. I also hugged them tightly. I will not let anything bad happen to them, my siblings.

When my aunt came home, she was surprised by how I looked. I had a little bruise on my arm and she just saw me in my shirt because I was planning to get dressed. I was in my room now and she came in. She approached me with a worried face.

"Nerissa, what's going on? Why do you have a bruise, and what is Fely telling me that you need to talk to me. Is there a problem?"

"Aunt, sit down first." I guided her to sit on the edge of my bed.

I took a deep breath before starting to tell him. She is my father's sister and there is a possibility that they will sympathize. She needs to know, also for their sake. I told him everything and I didn't hide anything.

Now I need her help, even if it's difficultI will do it. Just to make sure my brothers are far from harm. When I finished telling the story, she still couldn't believe it, her face was full of shock. Pity and disappointment for her brother who just disappeared like a bubble. She shook her head as she stood up while holding her head. Tiyang closed his eyes and when she opened her eyes she faced me.

"If what you say is true, you are the target of whoever those people are. What did my brother do to make this happen? You and your brothers sympathized with you! What do those people have in mind and they want to take you?"

Frustrated, she pulled out his hair. I approached her and held her hand. I hugged her and she started crying.

"Forgive me Nerissa, you shouldn't feel sorry for what a mess big brother made."

I broke away from the hug and faced him.

"Aunt, we are family." I smiled sadly and wiped her tears. She just shook her head still crying.

"You are very kind child!" She said, caressing my cheek, which also had tears in it. "We need to talk to your uncle. Maybe he knows something that can help us." I just nodded because we didn't have anyone else to approach right now.

Since uncle wasn't there yet, we waited for him to come home from work. I'm like a float doing housework. Tiyang went home to them first and said she had to do something. She also took my brothers who wanted to watch TV with them. I'm alone at home and I'm dizzy with thoughts. Hoping, those people they won't just rush to our house to get me again .

After cooking dinner, I called my two brothers and found them still watching TV with their cousin . Uncle arrived just in time. I greeted and waved, my brothers did the same. They came too, the daughter who immediately make way to her father. He went straight to the room where my aunt was, who still hasn't come out according to the three children.

The three of us said our goodbyes and went straight to the house. We ate and played some more. What a waste to watch their smiles on their faces. No problems and no worries. And I want them to stay like that. They are too young for these things .And they should not sympathize with whatever the sins of the elderly are. So as far as possible, I want to keep them away. And protect the smiles that are not tainted by fear and apprehension.

After putting away what we ate and arranging the beds for my siblings, we slept side by side. I don't want to be apart from them even for a moment. I feel like they can be away from me at any time. And I'm not ready for whatever the consequences are. We're not related by blood, but in my heart they're part of me. And if I lose one of them, I can't handle it.

Once I lost one of the people important to me. And until this day her loss still hurts. If mom was here, I'm sure she would have a solution to the problem right away. And I'm sure we wouldn't be in this situation. Because my father used to always listen when told. He never once did anything to hurt his wife's heart. But when mom was gone, it changed. Everything changed, the light in our home went out. I know it hurt him too. We weren't ready. And maybe, no one is ready to lose someone they love.

_GLADYJANE