Collisions
1512 Words
Two days passed slowly after Maureen Green developed the fever.
The doctor’s instructions had been strict.
Rest.
Medicine.
No work.
Unfortunately, Maureen was terrible at listening.
Even while recovering, she continued checking company emails from bed, organizing schedules and replying to urgent messages despite the exhaustion weighing heavily on her body.
By the second evening, her fever had reduced slightly.
But another pain had begun replacing it.
A sharp ache deep in her stomach.
At first, she ignored it.
Pain was familiar to her.
Something to endure quietly.
But as the hours passed, the ache worsened until standing became difficult.
Maureen gripped the kitchen counter tightly, breathing unevenly while pain twisted through her abdomen.
Cold sweat covered her forehead.
Her vision blurred slightly.
Still, she tried convincing herself it would pass.
Then suddenly—
A sharp stabbing pain forced a cry from her lips.
Her knees buckled instantly.
She collapsed onto the floor, clutching her stomach while tears filled her eyes from the intensity.
Her phone rang somewhere in the apartment, but she could barely move.
—
Meanwhile, inside Rodriguez Corporation, Jordan Rodriguez had just finished another exhausting board meeting.
The atmosphere remained tense even after he stood up from his chair.
Nobody relaxed around him.
Nobody dared.
Jordan buttoned his black suit jacket calmly before walking toward the exit.
One executive hurried after him nervously.
“Mr. Rodriguez, tomorrow’s investors requested another presentation—”
“Tomorrow.”
“But they specifically asked—”
“Tomorrow.”
The man immediately fell silent.
Jordan stepped into the elevator alone.
Then his phone buzzed.
Clara Bennett.
Jordan answered without hesitation.
“What?”
Clara sounded frustrated and worried at the same time.
“She’s not answering again.”
Jordan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Who?”
“Maureen obviously.”
Silence followed briefly.
“She told me she was feeling better earlier,” Clara continued, “but now she won’t answer her phone or messages.”
Jordan exited the elevator and headed toward the underground parking lot.
“She’s probably asleep.”
“No,” Clara argued immediately. “Something feels wrong.”
Jordan disliked complications.
Disliked unnecessary emotional involvement.
Yet less than twenty minutes later, his black car was already stopping outside Maureen’s apartment building.
Annoying.
The lobby guard recognized him instantly and looked surprised.
Jordan ignored the reaction entirely.
Moments later, he unlocked Maureen’s apartment using the emergency spare key Clara had reluctantly given him earlier that afternoon “just in case.”
The apartment was dark.
Silent.
Too silent.
Jordan stepped inside calmly.
“Maureen.”
A weak sound came from somewhere near the kitchen.
Jordan moved immediately.
Then stopped.
Maureen sat collapsed on the floor beside the counter, one arm wrapped tightly around her stomach while tears streamed silently down her face.
Her breathing shook painfully.
Jordan’s expression darkened instantly.
“What happened?”
Maureen looked up weakly.
“I’m fine…”
The obvious lie irritated him immediately.
“You can barely breathe.”
“It hurts…”
Jordan crouched beside her.
The second she shifted slightly, she gasped in pain again.
His eyes sharpened instantly.
“Where?”
She weakly pointed toward the right side of her abdomen.
Jordan’s jaw tightened.
Hospital.
Now.
Without another word, he lifted her into his arms.
Maureen looked startled despite the pain.
“M-Mr. Rodriguez…”
“You’re going to the hospital.”
“It’s probably nothing…”
“You’re crying.”
That single statement silenced her immediately.
Jordan carried her toward the elevator while she curled weakly against him, trying not to move because every movement hurt terribly.
The drive to the hospital was fast.
Dangerously fast.
Jordan ignored multiple traffic lights entirely.
By the time they arrived, Maureen’s face had become frighteningly pale.
Doctors rushed her into examination almost immediately.
Jordan stood silently outside the emergency room afterward while nurses hurried past him.
Several minutes later, a doctor approached.
“Are you family?”
“No.”
The doctor nodded briefly.
“She has acute appendicitis. Her appendix is severely inflamed.”
Jordan remained expressionless.
“She needs surgery immediately.”
Cold silence followed.
Then—
“Do it.”
The doctor disappeared quickly afterward.
Jordan remained standing alone beneath the bright hospital lights while rain fell steadily outside the glass windows.
His phone buzzed again.
This time it was his younger stepsister.
Emily Rodriguez.
Jordan answered calmly.
“What?”
Emily sighed dramatically through the phone.
“You answer calls like a villain.”
“What do you want?”
“I need permission to stay late at school tomorrow for the music festival.”
“No.”
“What?!”
Jordan rubbed his forehead once.
“You’re seventeen.”
“And turning eighteen soon,” Emily argued immediately. “You act like I’m still a child.”
“No.”
Emily groaned loudly.
“You’re impossible.”
“And you’re dramatic.”
Before she could continue complaining, another excited voice suddenly echoed through the phone.
“Emily! Hurry up!”
Then another one joined immediately.
“We’re leaving!”
Jordan recognized neither voice.
Emily sighed heavily.
“My friends are waiting.”
“Then go.”
“Please think about it.”
Jordan ended the call without answering.
—
The following afternoon, while Maureen remained unconscious after surgery, Westbridge High School overflowed with excitement because of the annual music festival.
Students crowded the hallways noisily while music blasted from speakers outside.
Emily Rodriguez walked through campus beside her two closest friends.
Lily Carter looked seconds away from screaming.
“I heard he’s actually coming today.”
Beside her, Emma Hayes grabbed Emily’s arm dramatically.
“If I see him in person, I might faint.”
Emily rolled her eyes.
“You both are ridiculous.”
Lily gasped.
“Excuse me? He’s literally the most handsome guy in school.”
“And the richest,” Emma added instantly.
“And famous.”
“And talented.”
“And impossible to approach.”
Emily sighed heavily.
“You sound insane.”
Before either girl could answer, loud screams suddenly erupted nearby.
Students began rushing toward the school courtyard excitedly.
Emma nearly dragged Emily forward.
“He’s here!”
Emily frowned in confusion.
“Who?”
But she got her answer immediately.
A black luxury SUV had just stopped near the school entrance.
The second the door opened, chaos exploded.
Girls screamed loudly.
Phones appeared everywhere.
Even teachers looked overwhelmed.
Then he stepped out.
Tall.
Effortlessly handsome.
Black headphones resting around his neck.
Dark hair slightly messy.
Sharp jawline.
Cold silver rings decorating his fingers.
Despite wearing only a black hoodie and jeans, his presence alone dominated the entire courtyard.
Adrian Knight.
Top student.
Heir to one of the wealthiest families in the country.
And a famous singer whose songs constantly topped charts.
Emily blinked slowly.
“…Oh.”
Emma nearly collapsed.
“Oh? THAT’S your reaction?”
Lily grabbed Emily’s arm violently.
“HE LOOKED THIS WAY!”
“You screamed like somebody was dying,” Emily replied dryly.
Meanwhile, Adrian ignored the screaming crowd completely while walking toward the main building with security guards nearby.
His expression remained calm.
Detached.
Like none of this interested him.
Students immediately moved aside wherever he walked.
Then suddenly—
Someone collided directly into him.
Books scattered across the ground.
Emily froze instantly.
“Oh no—”
The entire courtyard went silent.
Emma covered her mouth dramatically.
Lily looked seconds away from passing out.
Because Emily Rodriguez had just accidentally slammed into Adrian Knight.
The famous singer slowly removed one headphone.
His sharp eyes lowered toward the girl kneeling awkwardly while gathering books from the floor.
Emily’s face burned with embarrassment.
“I’m sorry.”
Nobody nearby even breathed.
Adrian remained silent briefly.
Then he crouched calmly and picked up one of her books.
Emily froze slightly.
Up close, he looked even more unfairly handsome.
His expression stayed unreadable as he handed the book back to her.
“You should watch where you’re going.”
His voice was low and calm.
Emily accepted the book quickly.
“S-Sorry.”
Adrian studied her for a second before his eyes narrowed slightly.
“Rodriguez?”
Emily blinked.
“How do you know my name?”
One corner of his mouth lifted faintly.
“Your brother owns half the city.”
The surrounding students looked even more shocked now.
Adrian Knight knew Emily Rodriguez?
Emily stood awkwardly while clutching her books.
“Well… sorry again.”
Adrian placed his headphones back on casually.
“Try not to attack anyone else today.”
Then he walked away calmly like nothing happened.
The second he disappeared into the building, chaos exploded again.
Emma grabbed Emily dramatically.
“YOU TOUCHED ADRIAN KNIGHT!”
Lily looked ready to scream.
“HE TALKED TO YOU!”
Emily stared after him quietly.
Strange.
For someone so famous…
He seemed completely uninterested in attention.
Far across the city, inside the hospital room—
Maureen slowly began waking after surgery while Jordan Rodriguez sat silently near the window, watching rain fall endlessly outside.
- Writer
