The Last Letter

23

Chapter XXIII

Suzanne’s POV

After Benjamin and I visited August tonight, Benjamin drove me off here to the dormitory. It was a long and tiring day but it was worth it because of the news that August woke up today.

I went straight to take shower and I plan to sleep immediately since I already studied in advance for tomorrow’s lesson at the restaurant during my break time.

After showering and changing in my comfortable clothes, I sat by the edge of my bed to dry my hair thoroughly.

And then I suddenly thought of August.

I still remember how my heart almost came out of my chest the day he was hospitalized. When a thing you just thought about, wishing it wasn’t real suddenly became true.

I’m really grateful when Benjamin told the good news to everyone that he has already woken up after three days. It honestly made me at ease and it is as if a huge load on my chest felt lighter.

Occasionally, whenever I was at the restaurant, I would think of him out of nowhere. Also praying for him to recover as soon as possible.

I laid down on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I placed both of my hands above my chest and I felt my heart beating faster again at the thought of him.

Happy crush?

Happy crush but he makes me so worried and anxious when I hear the news about him.

I felt this just 2 weeks ago because whenever he sees me at the cafeteria or in the building, he would always start a conversation about anything. He’s approachable and has a good-hearted nature. Who wouldn’t like him?

It wasn’t wrong to admire someone right? It’s just a happy crush, I just admire him but don't have any real feelings. I think I just look up and admire him for being a good friend and senior in our department.

I realized by then, he is close to my ideal person. He’s a kind of person who is super nice, friendly to everyone, smart, decent, quite good looking and just days ago, his mom told me so many amazing and some embarrassing things about him. That just proves how close he is with his family. I really like people who are close to his/her family, especially to his/her parents because I never experienced that with my biological family. His parents and brothers are good and nice people and I witnessed how scared they were when August didn't wake up for days. I knew how being in this kind of situation felt like, so as much as I could, I stood by them and Ben for our friend’s sake.

Yesterday, after my shift at noon, I went straight to the hospital and was there until 10pm to keep her mother company. I really loved talking to her mother because she just seems like the exact copy and a woman version of August. They are both talkative and have the same smiley face. Even when I still didn’t know her personally, she has that kind of aura that is very delicate and caring, very motherly, like my grandma.

I also saw Benjamin’s mom and dad. Well, I saw his dad multiple times at our restaurant before and when he saw me at the hospital yesterday, he brought up my grandma and told me he was sorry for a late condolence. Although he could look like a frightening person at first glance, I could tell he is a nice person. Benjamin’s mom, on the other hand, is quite intimidating. She seems like a person who is flamboyant in a fashion sense but she’s also nice and quite the elegant type. I couldn’t stand next to her since she’s just oozing with that charisma and presence.

Nevertheless, I just wish that my feelings won’t go any deeper than this. Partly because it could be seen that I disrespect August’s friendship with Benjamin who had feelings for me before. And partly because I know how great of a person August is. He and Benjamin are suited with someone with the same status and background as them. I couldn’t even understand how Benjamin developed such feelings for me.

Even my classmates were startled when I told them that I was close with August and Benjamin. They both established a great reputation and a good role model for everyone in the university. That’s why, most of the students in their batch, especially them, are being looked upon.

With that said, I’m grateful for the two for even befriending someone like me. I can’t break their trust so I’ll just remain a good friend for August despite admiring him secretly and also a good friend to Benjamin, despite our past misunderstandings.

***

The next day, after class, I went to the nearby photo printing shops.

I just wanted to print the photos we 3 took that night when we were in the river. Since August said he wanted a copy, I’ll print 3 copies of each photo for each one of us. It wasn’t much of an effort, but knowing Benjamin and August, they’ll appreciate whatever is given to them.

Not much happened at my workplace. Since it wasn't the weekend, there weren't many customers at the restaurant. It has also been rainy these past few days, especially at night, so that also contributes to our lack of customers. When my boss feels that it would rain hard at night, she would tell us to close the restaurant by 8pm so we won’t be stranded on our way home.

Benjamin always picks me up at work to visit August at the hospital and then he drops me off at the dormitory after. I told him he doesn’t need to do that and he would always agree. But the next night, I would always see him waiting outside when we were closing the restaurant. His excuse would be he’ll pass by here on the way to the hospital and it will rain hard any minute.

My workmates are always teasing me about having a great boyfriend and sometimes, they’ll purposely speak loud for Benjamin to hear. It’s embarrassing so I always make sure to apologize to him and clear the suspicion of my workmates but the problem is that they won’t listen.

And as usual tonight, he picked me up again at the restaurant. It wasn’t raining that much these past few days but we closed the restaurant early.

“For you.” I said and handed him the photos I printed earlier. We have now arrived at the hospital but we are still here in the car.

He looked at them and smiled.

“Thank you.”

He placed on of the pictures on an empty stand by the windshield of his car and then we got out.

When we reached August’s room, only what looked like August's elder brother was there and August was sleeping. I didn’t know he had an elder brother but they seemed not far in age and they look so much alike.

Benjamin walked to his brother and gave each other a hug.

“Wow it’s so nice to see you again brother.” Benjamin exclaimed.

“I know. I see you’ve grown taller too. Look at us now, we’re the same height!”

“And now I’m even more handsome. By the way, this is August and my friend, Suzanne.” Benjamin walked to me and introduced me to August’s brother.

“Nice to meet you Suzanne. I’m August’s eldest brother, Aries.” He said and offered his hand to shake.

“Nice to meet you too.” I smiled and shook his hand.

“So how is August?” Benjamin asked.

“He seemed to recall some things that day, but just fragments of it.” Aries answered. “His head hurts so much today so we gave him his prescribed painkillers. The doctor said it was normal but looked so much in pain, we got scared.”

“Where is Aunt and Uncle? You’re the only one here?” Benjamin asked again.

“I told them to get proper rest at home, later they’re gonna come back here since I need to travel back to my place in Sierra tonight.”

“Should I drop you off at the train?”

“No, I brought my car. Thanks for the offer though.”

I walked across the room to give Benjamin and Aries some privacy. They looked like they miss each other and I don’t want to bother both of them.

I went by the chair by the right side of August’s bed and sat there, just looking at his injuries. They look like they hurt so bad so I can’t help myself to feel bad for August.

I scanned his whole body but my eyes stopped at his fractured left hand covered with a cast. I poke it a couple of times with my pointing finger.

I looked at his face and I almost jumped out of my seat when his eyes ere open and was looking at me.

“What are you doing?” He asked and chucked.

“Sorry, it just looked painful.”

He glanced at where Benjamin and his brother Aries were chatting.

“Did you feel out of place? That’s my brother Aries. Him and Ben’s eldest brother had been close friends ever since. Just like Ben and I, our brothers grew up together but separated eventually since Ben’s brother took medicine while my brother took business.”

I nodded.

“I always though you were the eldest child.” I said.

“That’s what I always felt. He studied away from us, in a much bigger and famous university, so I act as the eldest brother.” He replied.

“Suzanne, we’ll buy something to eat in front of the hospital. What would you like? And you too August.” Aries asked.

“I’m okay. I’m still full. You’re rich, buy full meals for Ben and Suzanne.” August said.

“Yes, that’s what I’ll do dummy! How about you Suzanne?”

“I’m okay with anything.” I answered.

“Okay mom and dad will be here anytime. Check on August while waiting for us okay? Thank you!” Aries said, and along with Ben, they walked out of the room.

Now that they’re gone and August and I are alone in this room, I suddenly felt awkwardness but at the same time, my heart is beating so fast.

To be continued…