Tinkle

Chapter Sixteen

I kicked the blankets and stretched up my body, as my eyes flutter open.

"Look at Ben!", I heard Kurt's laughing voice, only to realize I'm not alone at my room.

I sat up only to see Ben's head covered by my blankets. I didn't know he's sitting at the end of the bed since earlier.

"Sorry,Ben.", I apologized and stood up, before stretching my body and doing jumping jacks.

"Oh, you're awake? Are you feeling better?", David asked as he entered my room holding a cup noodles and a pair of chopsticks. I just nodded and smiled. My head still hurts but I think my cold was gone.

"What time is it already?", I murmured and looked at the wall clock to notice it was already 4 p.m.

I noticed that only few of them were left on my room.

"Where's the others?", I asked as I tried to snatch their attention from the television.

"Ah, Ruben, Steve, Albert and Evan went home few hours ago. They said they'll be back later.", Ben explained as I took the blanket from him and folded it.

I nodded.

"Have you eaten?", I asked them. They just nodded and gestured at the empty boxes of pizza and other wraps of food that they obviously eaten.

"Is Mom already home?", I asked them.

"She hasn't arrived yet since she left.", David answered and added, "Did she go to a far place?".

I shook my head and contacted the person who just contacted Mom earlier.

She immediately picked up and said, "Hello?"

"Uh, hello Mrs. Kim? Is Mom still there?", I worriedly asked.

"Ah, Mrs. Lee? She just left after she dropped the tailored dress. Is she not home yet?", she asked.

I sighed and said, "Yes, Mrs. Kim. Please do contact me if ever Mom went there again.", I pleaded, which she just replied after, "Of course. I'll contact you if ever she went back here.", she said and ended the call.

I sighed in frustration and worry, "Where has she gone to?", I asked myself.

"David, I'll be going out for a while to look for Mom. Can you look after the house?", I asked.

"Where are you going? You're still not fully recovered.", he asked worriedly.

"I'll be quick.", I said and pleaded him, "Please?", I asked him.

He sighed, "Okay, but at least let me come with you.", he offered. I shook my head.

"No, there's no need. Just look after the house with the guys. I'll be quick.", I repeated.

He didn't have a choice because I already slipped into a pullover. I didn't bother to change my pyjama pants.

I took my purse and phone, before I slipped my feet into a pair of slippers.

Just after I went outside the house, my phone started to ring.

"Hello, is this Ms. Seoji Lee?", a man asked just after I swiped my screen to answer the phone call.

"Ah, yes.", I said and looked at the familiar car parking in front of our house. The window car rolled down as Albert waved his hand. I just nodded, paying my attention to the call.

"Ah, I'm sorry Ms. Seoji Lee but can you please go to this hospital? I'll be sending the address.", he asked. I nodded and answered, "Yes, yes. What happened?", I asked as my hand started to shake, and my eyes were teary.

"I'm sorry to say but your mother was sent to the hospital because of an accident. We'll discuss further after you got here.", he said in a calming voice.

Tears started to fall as I end the call and shoved it onto the pocket of my pullover.

I approached the voice as I try to suppress a loud sob.

"Seoji? Seoji, why are you crying? What happened?", Ruben asked me worriedly as he embraced me with his warm hug. This time, I failed to suppress my loud, messy sobs.

"Seoji, what happened?", Steve asked as they approach me. Words won't come out of my mouth, as my loud sobs can only be heard.

I suddenly heard a notification from my phone, it was a message of the person who called me earlier. It was the address of the nearest hospital.

I didn't speak any further and showed them the message.

"Let's go there first, please.", I pleaded as my voice cracked and they just nodded.

"You guys can go send her there, I'll be going to tell the kids.", Ruben ordered as they nodded, running with me towards the van.

I went inside the van beside Steve, who will be driving.

It was quiet the whole ride, and I was silently crying, praying that my Mom will be alright.

I was thankful Steve was a fast driver, so we got to the hospital after less than 15 minutes.

I went off the car first, as they just followed me behind.

I ran towards the information desk and asked the nurse there, "Excuse me, where's the patient Lee Saejin?", I asked as he just nodded and looked on his log book.

"Ah, she's currently on the emergency room, just turn left at you'll see the emergency room.", he said and I just nodded as I ran with the boys following behind me.

"Nurse,", I called the nurse who just got from the emergency room.

"Are you the guardian?", she asked. I nodded and she nodded too.

"The patient's still under surgery. Please wait for a while.", she said before going inside again.

I looked at the glass window of the door, saw how busy the people inside was.

"Don't worry, your mom will be okay.", Albert said and I just nodded.

After almost an hour which felt like forever, the doctor went outside.

After hearing his words, I was shocked, blank, and I felt like my soul was just sucked out of my body.

It's the time I wished I was just dreaming, that this was just a nightmare.

But it wasn't. It was part of the hurtful reality.

"I'm sorry, but we did what we can do. But the patient didn't make it.", the doctor said.

I was expecting that I would punch or hit the doctor, but I didn't. Instead, I slowly sat at the aligned seats, as I was staring blankly at the doctor.

"I'm really sorry. If you'll excuse me.", he said and left us.

Evan squatted in front of me and held both of my hands, as Albert and Steve was caressing my back for comfort.

I realized I was crying in silence, unlike earlier.

It's the time I wished, 

"I wish I could turn back time."

to be continued...