Escape

The nurse smiled warmly as she adjusted the IV attached to my hand.

"You know," she said casually, checking the monitor beside my bed, "your boyfriend almost gave everyone in this hospital a heart attack."

I frowned.

"My what?"

She looked surprised, "The young man who brought you in."

There was a brief pause….

"He's not my boyfriend."

The nurse laughed softly.

"Really? Because he certainly acted like one."

My stomach tightened, I didn't answer

She continued anyway.

"He carried you into the emergency room himself. 

Didn't even wait for a wheelchair."

Something uncomfortable twisted inside my chest.

"He wouldn't leave your side all night."

I stared at her.

The nurse seemed oblivious to the effect her words were having.

"He paid every bill before we even finished processing your admission."

"What?"

The word escaped before I could stop it.

The nurse nodded.

"Surgery. Medication. Hospital expenses."

Her smile softened.

"Everything… he's so sweet"

For a moment, I thought I had heard her wrong.

Kaizen?

The same Kaizen who had dragged me into secrets, danger and confusion?

The same Kaizen I had practically handed over to the police?

The nurse finished adjusting the IV and started walking toward the door.

Then she stopped.

"Oh."

I looked up.

"He kept checking if you were breathing."

My chest tightened painfully.

"When your oxygen levels dropped, he nearly lost his mind."

“I wish he was mine”

The door closed behind her, Leaving me alone with my thoughts.

And for the first time since waking up...I hated myself.

****

The memory replayed instantly.

Take him away!

Just get him out of my sight!

At the time, I had meant every word..I was terrified, furious, hurt. 

But now...Now everything felt different because no matter how angry I was, Kaizen hadn't attacked me.

He didn't force me into that basement…

He didn't leave me there, and he definitely didn't deserve to be blamed for something he didn't do.

I sat up carefully.

Pain immediately shot through my abdomen, My breath hitched….

The surgery!

I had almost forgotten but the stitches reminded me quickly.

But that didn't matter.

Kaizen was in trouble because of me.

I needed to fix it I mmediately.

***

Thirty minutes later, I was sneaking through the hospital corridors Or at least attempting to.

The oversized hoodie I had stolen from the hospital wardrobe hung awkwardly around my body while I limped toward the emergency staircase.

Every step felt like torture, my vision blurred occasionally from the pain.

Still, I kept going.

I needed to find the Vice Chancellor.

Needed to explain.

Needed to tell everyone the truth before things got worse.

The staircase was only a few meters away.

Almost there, I smiled in relief.

Then I instantly regretted it, a sharp pain exploded across my stitched abdomen.

A groan escaped my mouth…oud enough to echo.

"No …oh shit"

"Miss?"

I froze.

Slowly and Painfully, I turned around. 

A security officer stood at the end of the hallway staring directly at me.

The man's expression immediately shifted from confusion to suspicion.

"What exactly are you doing?"

Panic swallowed me whole, I have to think of a lie.

"I was..."

The words got stuck.

The officer folded his arms.

"Yes?"

"I was taking a walk."

His eyes narrowed.

"After major surgery?"

I smiled weakly, He wasn't buying it.

Not even a little…

My brain scrambled for a better excuse.

Then suddenly, "I was looking for flowers."

The officer blinked.

"What?"

"Flowers."

I nodded vigorously.

"My boyfriend is sick."

A very terrible lie. Lol….

But it was too late to take it back.

The officer looked even more confused

"I wanted to surprise him."

Silence……

I could practically see him questioning every decision that had led him to this conversation.

Finally, he sighed, a long suffering sigh….

The kind adults use on stubborn children.

"Miss."

His voice softened.

"You're supposed to be resting."

I lowered my gaze.

Mission failed completely.

The officer gently offered his arm.

"Come on."

Embarrassed, I accepted.

The walk back to my room felt longer than before, mostly because guilt followed every step.

****

As we approached the ward, the officer spoke quietly.

"You know."

I glanced up.

"The boy they arrested."

My chest tightened instantly, everyone seemed to be talking about this sweet jerk….

"What about him?"

The officer shook his head.

"I've worked security for twelve years."

His expression softened.

"I've never seen someone so scared of losing another person."

The words hit harder than they should have.

"He sat outside surgery for hours."

I looked away immediately, unable to respond. 

"He never once asked about himself."

The officer opened my room door.

"Only about you."

***

That night sleep refused to come.

The hospital room remained silent except for the rhythmic beeping of machines, I stared at the ceiling.

Thinking, sleep has totally left my eyes completely….I was overthinking everything.

The basement, the missing students, the photograph, the Chairman, Kaizen, the bruises, the lies, the truth…..

Most importantly, the fact that neither of us could talk.

If I exposed what really happened, I might expose the underground activities hidden beneath Blackthorne Heights which I don't really know more of. 

Kaizen claims to be protective by keeping the secrets from me. 

I might expose the students and I might expose Kaizen.

No.

If his secrets were ever revealed...That choice belonged to him.

Not me.

*****

Meanwhile...

Several kilometers away, Kaizen sat quietly inside a holding cell.

The cold concrete wall pressed against his back, the bandages around his knuckles had turned red again after dressing his wounds at the hospital. 

Blood slowly seeped through the fabric which He barely noticed, 

A police officer paused outside the cell.

"You know," he said, "most rich kids would've called their lawyer by now."

Kaizen gave a humorless laugh….

 “Most rich kids”

If only they knew.

The officer frowned.

"So why haven't you?"

Kaizen lowered his head.

Images of Nyra flashed through his mind, Her struggles to breathe, Her trembling hand reaching toward him, her tears, her fear….

The disappointment in her eyes…

Every memory felt like punishment and somehow… He welcomed it.

Because part of him knew he deserved this, Maybe not for what everyone accused him of.

But for losing control, for frightening her, For allowing her to get dragged into his mess.

His fingers tightened.

The metal bench creaked softly.

Strangely enough...This place felt peaceful.

No underground fights…..

no blood-covered rings….

No Chairman….

No expectations….

No one waiting to beat him senseless for money.

Just Quiet, his ward was quite comfortable due to the high position of his father in the University and popularity. 

For the first time in months...he wasn't preparing for another bruise or lie.

A bitter smile touched his lips.

"At least..."

His voice barely rose above a whisper.

"...someone won't come home bleeding tonight."

The officer didn't understand, But Kaizen did.

And somehow...

that made everything hurt even more.