06• Keith.

"When tomorrow comes, you should go and visit him," my dad said, giving me instructions. "Don't make that kind of mistake again," he added. "You should be grateful that none of the students blamed you for what happened." He dismissed me after that.

As I left my father's office, I exhaled and leaned against the door. With my eyes closed, I let out a breath of relief.

The memory of Matthew fainting replayed itself in my head and I felt how scared I had become then trying my best to revive him and how he had laid motionless on the ground.

It's been over four hours since the incident happened but it felt as if it happened minutes ago.

The school had to close for the day because of how students were talking about the accident especially when it was concerning me and the students had seemed unfocused in class which had made my dad call off school for that day.

Even though I had been responsible for the large crowd that had been staring at him, I knew I needed to apologize in person as my dad had said and I planned to visit him in the hospital the next day.

"I see you finally learned to cause trouble." I knew who it was. I thought opening my eyes.

I saw Jude standing at my front and I sighed as I continued my walk out of the hallway but I stopped when Jude said. "I hope you gotta start showing your true self more."

"True self?" I emphasize unable to ignore his words.

"You heard me correctly..." He snarled. "Continue being yourself, so Dad can see how better I am than you," Jude said and I laughed.

"Bro," I called after pausing my laugh. "I hope you continue to be better than I am," I said scornfully before continuing to walk to the other hallway.

.

I alighted from the taxi gazing at the hospital in front of me.

I was putting on a Jean and shirt with the arms rolled over to my wrists. I was carrying a flower which I didn't want to bring along with me but my dad had forced me to, and I was sure it definitely would look weird when I gave them to Matthew who must have started disliking me.

I cleared my throat as I began walking inside the hospital, aware of the ward Matt was in.

"Hi," a nurse called out, interrupting me as I was climbing the stairs. I turned to see her, smiling at me girlishly.

"Hi." I greeted calmly but it affected her as she continued to grin.

"I'm Nurse Faith. And you?" She introduced and I knew where she was getting at.

Returning her smile, I flashed her one of my most charming grins. "I'm Keith," I replied.

"Nice to meet you, Keith." Nurse Faith said still smiling. "You're handsome." She muttered shyly while I was getting fed up with her girlishness.

She would be older than me but seems like she's yet to mature. And what can I do? I enjoy it when ladies flirt with me. "You too. You're pretty." I complimented her in return, and her cheeks flushed crimson as she fumbled in her steps.

"Thank you. Can I have your number?" She asked and I took a step closer to her noticing her becoming more shy.

"My number is---"

"Oh! Keith!" I heard a not-too-familiar voice call me stopping the rest of my words and I glanced at the upper staircase seeing Brianna, who turned out to be Leah. Matthew's sister.

I found out when she and her elder sister rushed to my class after Matthew collapsed.

"What are you doing here?" She questioned ignoring nurse Faith who already started glaring at her.

"Well..." I shrugged raising the bouquet and she smiled collecting it from me.

I took a glimpse at Faith who must have started thinking Leah is the one I came to visit and I could see the jealousness on her face. "Huh, please excuse me," I say to Faith when Leah suddenly holds my hands, grinningly, and drags me to the next staircase while I willingly follow climbing stairs untilstairwaysrivein thee this hallway.

"Huh... I'm sorry about---"

"There's nothing to be sorry about." Leah grinned still holding my wrist. "I should be the one apologizing for lying about my name." She returned apologetically.

"Forgiveness granted," I replied and she beamed in smiles. "What about, uhm... Matthew." I ask aware that I still had to face the shy guy and apologize...

Jesus!

"Thankfully, he's recovering. But the doctor said he will remain in the hospital until after a week." Leah responded lowly.

"Oh." I sighed still walking with her to, probably Matt's ward. "Was it fright?" I decided to ask and Leah raised her eyes at me. "I mean, it's strange he collapsed because of me asking him to talk and..." I struggled with describing what I meant.

Leah looked down and I noticed it. "Are you okay?" I asked.

"I shouldn't be saying this... But, Matthew is suffering from an illness." She blurted out dryly raising her eyes to meet mine.

And when our eyes came in contact she began smiling as if there's something on my face that always coax every lady who looked sad. "But everything will be fine." Before I could assure her that, she said it before me. She led me to Matthew's ward, her hand still holding the flowers she had collected from me at the bottom of the stairs.

We finally got to the front of Matthew's ward and I glanced at her, seeing her still putting on her never-ending smile. "He's inside?" I asked wanting to get the apology done quickly and she nodded.

"Would you like me to notify him about your presence?" Leah asked as if thinking I was feeling awkward to meet with her brother whereas I only wanted to meet him and clear the misunderstanding so I could catch up with my friends.

In short, if my Dad hadn't asked me to come, I still feel no guilt. I might just as well prevent me and me from being together in class or anywhere so he wouldn't be losing consciousness whenever I'm in sight.

"Okay, that will be best for him," I responded and Leah gave me back the flowers while I looked weirdly at her.

"You should give it to him, yourself." She smiled entering the ward while I breathed out looking down on the flowers and feeling as though trashing it.

Why the hell would my Deacon of a father even suggest I bring flowers for a guy?