Midnight Kisses

Chapter 5

Do you believe in fate, Malia?

All night Kaius Slater's speech rang in her head. Disturb Malia's sleep until every activity on the sidelines.

One sentence, that impact is so huge to touch Malia's deepest heart.

Malia couldn't shake the gleaming shade of his gunmetal blue eyes that were captivated. The athletic scent of Slater was still clearly sniffed on his stunning body, the unusual sharpness of his jaw, and the alluring smile of the young man deeply imprinted on her inside.

“Malia?”

Kaius Slater filled Malia's head.

“Malia?”

Now Malia was restless thinking about the shadow of the young man.

“Moon to Malia?!” Abigail called Malia to pat her on the shoulder.

Malia gasped dreamily. “I-Yes, mom? Say again?”

“Oh my god, you didn't listen to all my words and explanations?” Abigail asked in disbelief and sighed heavily with suspicious eyes. “So, I'm talking alone here? You've been weird lately. I see enough of your reverie. What are you thinking, anyway? Is something bothering you? Are you bullied in college?”

“No, I'm not, mom. Jeez! Nobody bullied me.”

“Did that Bentley girl do something to you?”

Malia shook her head firmly. “No, mom. It's not about that. Never mind, let's not talk about it. I'm just exhausted, and I already told you, we don't have to go to the hospital to check everything. I'm fine, mom.”

“You are not fine! I got a lot of blood splatters on your pillows and bed sheets. I brought you here. Come on, don't argue with me. You have to sit tight and go through a series of tests is not a problem, right, baby?"

“Malia Sutton?! The test results are out. Come on in.” The nurse opened the doctor's room door of Specialist Internal Medicine - Dr. Camden Westbrook.

“Come on, honey.” Abigail pulled Malia's arm.

Malia underwent a series of previous X-ray tests. Since waking up from a coma after the terrible accident, she often coughed up blood.

Abigail found many splashes of fresh blood seeping into Malia's bed linen, pillows, and bedroom blanket. It made her worried.

“Miss Sutton. Please have a seat. I have something to say about our test.” Dr. Camden greeted them with a friendly smile.

The LED of the X-ray viewer attached to the wall lights up.

His nursing assistant attached Malia's chest rib X-ray film to it.

“How is my daughter, doctor?” Abigail asked in anxiety.

Doctor Camden circled the rib fracture on the film sheet with a red marker. “You can see it here. The rib fracture surgery improves, although the union is less than perfect. There is nothing to worry about – but keep alert and take care of yourself. Continue her recovery at home. You don't want to get hit again in this area. This traumatic Flail Chest that your daughter suffered cuts the surface of her lungs. That's why she often coughs up blood. Thankfully, this was not the worst hemorrhage. Not puncturing the lungs was already a miracle, Mrs. Sutton. I saw your medical history before you went into a coma. You had hypovolemic shock?”

“That's right, doctor Camden. Malia is a miracle. She can survive and go through it all.” Abigail stated - breathed a sigh of relief and gripped Malia's fingers. “Then, is it normal for Malia to cough up blood? Is there a way to treat it?”

“The cure depends on Miss Sutton's immunity. If it is good, it can be faster. Pain medication and supplements are still necessary. Please, consume a lot of calcium. It may take a while though the recovery is still going. Avoid the risk factors, huh? Coughing up blood naturally occurs in patients with Flail Chest.” Doctor Camden smiled. “Throughout not have trouble breathing or bleeding profusely. I assure you there's nothing to worry about, Mrs. Sutton.”

“Thank God. Please, give my daughter the best.”

Camden nodded, smiling broadly. “Get well soon, Miss Sutton, and if you're having trouble breathing or bleeding profusely. Come right away, yeah.”

“Thank you very much, doctor. Then excuse me.”

“Did you hear yourself? I'm fine, mom.”

Abby nodded to Malia. “At least I was happy and satisfied to hear the doctor's explanation. I'm not worried anymore, sweetie. Wait here. I'll go to the cashier first and get the medicine. Do you want something? Are you thirsty?”

“Never mind. I'll wait here.”

Abigail rubbed the top of Malia's head gently. “I'll be right back, hun.”

She intends to sit in the waiting room of the outpatient installation. Then the arrival of the police and emergency department personnel moved quickly to push the patient on a crank slide toward her.

“Excuse me! Urgent patient! Move! Make way!” One of them yelled.

Malia docked against the wall to give way. Her eyes caught a terrifying sight. A teenage girl with bloody gore on her body. In the recess of the girl's neck appeared bite marks that were deeply torn.

Malia shrugged off the shock. Her heavenly face was pale. She had never seen so much blood. Malia accidentally overheard the conversation between two police officers who passed before her.

“This attack is the umpteenth time. What kind of beast scrapes blood from the neck of its victim? Luckily the girl was still breathing.”

“Yeah, compared to the corpse of yesterday's girl who bled to death, and this is a quaint emergency case. Seven other girls disappeared without a trace. Calm down. We can only hope that the girl will quickly recover and come to her senses. So, we can request her statement immediately.”

Jeez. She's even my age.

Malia frowned. She covered her twitching mouth. She felt a sickening turmoil and a painful throbbing head when she imagined the girl with the terrible neck wound now.

What did he say? A beast attack? Cut the blood? It's like −

[ Bruuuugghhh! ]

Malia's body was limp. The mobile phone in her hand plunged freely to the floor. It happened so fast - without expecting the arrival of someone who hit her body. The blow shook the flail chest injury she suffered.

“Ugh−?!”

Malia felt a stabbing pain in her chest again. She almost fell to the side as the tight grip on her waist made Malia fly away. She closed her eyes and realized she would fall to the floor.

Uh, but − nothing happened.

She opened her eyes slowly, not understanding the situation. But Malia knows. Now she is in someone's warm embrace –

“Chase Denver?!!” Malia squealed in surprise.

Chase Denver's eyes glowed. It looks like a deep blue sea. His touch was cautious and treated Malia like thin porcelain. Malia felt a solid chest under Chase Denver's white shirt. She could hear Chase's fluttering heartbeat.

Malia just realized that Chase turned out to be appealing. He has unworldly and unusual good looks. The body is tall and slender. The jaws are firm like diamonds with a pointed chin tip. His pompadour hair shone as chelate as wood. He looks like a prince from a fairy tale.

His mint breath swept over Malia's face.

Malia's stomach seemed to convulse as Chase's attractive eyes scrutinized her iris intensely.

Gosh! I just realized that Chase Denver is so charming.

Whereas yesterday Malia remembered Chase's enmity towards her during an argument with her sister – Alexandra Denver – at the campus cafeteria.

“You're blocking my way!” Chase rebuked scornfully. His forehead wrinkled angrily. But he still hugged Malia.

Malia gasped. She broke away from Chase's embrace and cursed herself. She could even be fascinated with the good-looking face of an enemy! “I'm sorry - Hey. You hit me yourself. Why should I apologize?!”

Even now, Chase Denver still stares at Malia like a nemesis. He crossed his hands over his chest. One eyebrow raised to the side and bluntly, “Do you see this hallway? You're standing in the middle of the hall! You're in my way! You must be thanking me. I'm still willing to help you if only I didn't remember your mistake yesterday – I'd have let you fall earlier!”

Malia frowned. In her heart, she grumbled – Denver's brother and sister are just the same!!

“Turn out Sandra was right about you−?” Chase hissed irritably.

Oh, yeah. Of course. Alexandra Denver is acting playing victim, and Malia Sutton is the meanest here.

“What is true? Who says?!” Malia growled in a challenging tone. Her hands clenched firmly. “I've apologized to her genuinely. But your pretty sister cursed at my mother in front of the crowd. I can't take it! Everyone knows it was an accident. I'm not proposing scratching her lavish car! She refused my offer to pay for the damage. Do you think I can't do it? I'm always unlucky when dealing with all of you! But, thank you, you're still willing to help me!”

Malia turned away vexed, without caring about Chase Denver anymore. She cursed in her heart while holding her Flail Chest, which felt stabbing again. How could I think he was fascinated?! Rebekah was right – Denver’s brothers are mindless people! Community-supported sociopath! They're terrifying!

Malia coughed again. Fresh blood splashed from her mouth immediately. She rushed to find the hospital toilet.

***

“Ah, bloody hell! Pure humans!” Chase burned inside. His muscle jaws jumped with rage.

Chase was about to leave but stopped when his foot stepped on something. “What is this? Cell phone?” He muttered and picked up the smart device. He flipped through the cell phone. “Oh, so this belongs to that girl? I don't even know her name yet.”

However, Malia quickly disappeared. Chase smiled mysteriously and carried Malia's cell phone into his coat.

***