SAU 3 : Moving Bush

Chapter 3 : The Moving Bush

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S E A

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I was woken up from my deep slumber when some rays of the sun coming from the window hit me straight to the face. I groaned and tucked myself underneath the comforter again.

But after a few minutes, I couldn't stand it anymore and got up. I glanced at the clock then rolled my eyes after. It's nearly 12 o'clock. Great. I skipped another four hours again in taking my medicine. I'm sure Nurse Christine and my doctor will scold me non-stop because of this.

I reached for the intercom which connects me and my childish nurse. I coughed once before hitting its buttons.

"Nurse Christine, are you there?"

There's a deafening silence after my voice rung through it. No one answered so I tried again.

"Heyy~ there, my childish - err - beautiful nurse?" I tried to sound charming this time because she might still be angry with me so she doesn't want to answer. I thought maybe she was just acting and throwing tantrums like a child so that I could woo her and such.

I waited for seconds, those seconds turned to minutes but then, she didn't really answer. What the fudge?

"Nurse Christine一"

"Hello? Ms. McCain? Sorry for the late response. This is Nurse Jia. Nurse Christine is absent for now. She filed for one week's leave 'cause she said she'll be going to her grandparents to watch them over.

That leaves me, as your nurse in the meantime. Perhaps, do you need anything 'cause you called?"

I blinked exactly six times before my half-asleep brain could digest everything that she said. Oh, my nurse is not around. That explains why no one's answering my call earlier. I thought she was just upset because of what happened yesterday, but it wasn't.

She will visit and take care of her grandparents in Tagaytay, again 'cause that's what she usually does every single month. Why didn't I think of that right away?

"Ms. McCain? Are you still there? Do you need anything? I'll bring it."

"Ah, No. I don't need any. I just dropped by to say that you no longer need to bring food here to my room. Don't bother. I'll just grab a brunch downstairs in the cafeteria."

"Is that so? Ok! I'll just go there later at exactly 3 o'clock to check your vitals again and give you your medicines. Have a nice day!"

I nodded, even though I know that she won't see me, "Yep. Thanks, Nurse Jia."

"You're always welcome, Sea..."

As a result, after we exchange conversation and byes to each other, a fast beeping sound rang again. A smirk formed on my lips once again. I removed the serum attached to me, again. My hand bleeds, yeah. But I just ignored it and went straight to the bathroom to take a bath.

Today and on to the next 6 days, because my private nurse is not yet around, I can do what I wanted to.

That's good. This is good.

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Strolling in malls and parks is normal, but in my case, the hospital corridors serve as my substitute for that places.

I roam around here.

Even if it seems really boring ('cause, yeah. What am I supposed to see here? Nothing.) But, yeah. As I've said, I've been stuck here for several years so I have no choice but to go out of my cave from time to time and make this hospital my mall or parks. Sounds terrible, doesn't it? 

But I'm left with no choice. This is my life. This is what fate brought me. To be a sickly girl that has no hopes for her condition to get well.

Sometimes I thought, does my condition really improved, or it keeps on getting worse every single day?

Can I really live like a normal someday? Or I'll be stuck in here for the rest of my life?

Too many questions but I know, I myself, know the answers...

It's not. It's a big NO.

"Good morning, Sea." I slightly bow my head and plastered a brief smile as the nurses I'm familiar with, greeted me. It continued as I walk my way to the hospital cafeteria. Well, you can't blame me, even though I'm not that friendly, I admit I have many acquaintances in here. I've stayed here for many years so that's not new. It's mostly composed of only doctors and nurses because I don't usually get close to patients. I hate conversing with people who have the same state of life as mine.

"Excuse me, Ms. McCain?"

I stopped in between my tracks when someone called me. "Oh, Nurse Jia? Why?"

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but… Your mom called earlier." It left me in shock for many seconds. Shit. "She did? What did you say?"

"Don't worry, Sea. I said the usual. She just asked where you are and I made use of your preferred alibi and said you are busy at work so you can't answer. And I, as your co-worker, just answered for you."

"And she believed it? Did she ask any further questions? "

"Yes. She believed and, she asked nothing else. She just gave the order that as soon as you finish your work, you should call her immediately."

Oh, is that so? I let out a deep sigh. "Can I borrow the phone for a while? I'll just make a quick call to her." I asked and held out my hand in front of Nurse Jia. She seems hesitant to give it at first but when I assured her that I will be okay, she did nothing but to gave up.

While tightly gripping the phone in my other hand, I resumed my interrupted walk towards the canteen. I will order food first because I'm definitely sure that I'll need the strength to call back my mother.

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"Hello, there my little one!"

As soon as I sat down on one of the benches here at the mini back garden of the hospital, a little ball of fur glide on my legs. It's the hospital's cat named Mayang. A black and white-colored munchkin.

"I miss you, Yang…" I squealed as I bring him to sit on my lap. He purred as I tickle his belly. He really likes to be tickled that way.

Meow.

"Oh, that's so sweet of you. Did you miss me too? Really?"

Meow.

I gasped as I bring down the surgical mask lingering on my face. Godness, I didn't visit him for just a few days but he misses me right away. And by the way, when and how on earth he learned to respond to human's words huh? As far as I can remember, he wasn't like that before. He used to ignore me whenever I tried to make a little chit-chat with him. He's such a spoiled bratty cat back then.

You're answering that now huh? You're such a smart cat. Because of that, here. I'll give you a very special treat." At the chocolate-brown-colored tray, I took the food I kept for him, which is mixed rice and fried fish.

"By the way, Yang… You must consume that all, okay? Cause you know what? I even stole that from the pocket of Aling Martha, because the canteen doesn't sell any kinds of fish dishes." whispering, I admitted those minor sins that I've done earlier. And to Aling Martha? Sorry, not sorry!

Meow.

I gently tapped his furry head, "Good boy."

When I was about to swallow a spoonful of my tasteless food, my eyes suddenly caught sight of a moving plant on the side of the bench where I was sitting. Mayang stopped eating too and stared at the hilariously moving bush.

Darn it. I'm not informed that there's such a plant existing like this. I guess I'm really late in knowing all the outside news and even news about discovering new plant species. In short, I don't know anything about either of the two. My sickness should be the one to blame for that matter, I think.

The green bushes moved again, and I was taken aback slightly. I was scared for a second, but I thought, maybe no monster will come out in there. Or, if there is, and that monster will hurt and eat me, it's okay 'cause I'm just near the hospital. Perks of having a hospital as your home? You have a place to run in case of emergencies.  

While Mayang as a smart but attitude cat he is, just went back to eating and didn't bother to be curious about the weird bush. Tsk. He doesn't change at all.

I just lost my attention to the moving plant when the phone that I've put on the table rang. My mom missed called again. I sighed as I forcefully grab and dialed her registered number. I've heard only half of the ringing tone, then it was cut off because she answered it right away.

"Hello, Ma..."

"Damn it, Sea. Good thing you called! Give me money!"

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To be continued...