A Christmas With My Brother's Best Friend

10

Jaxon

The continuous ringing made me groan loudly. I felt my head hurt even as I groaned. I was in need of silence and craved putting off the ringing sound. However,I was too lazy to do that. All I wanted to do was keep sleeping and basking in the fantasy of a world void of troubles and constant need of trying to put up with everyone,even those who I utterly despised.

"Urghh!" I grumbled, putting my blanket over my head as a shield to block out the noise. But when it kept ringing despite all efforts, I set out my hand, trying to reach out to my phone on the bedside table. The moment I got it, I brought it to my face to check out who had been calling. Then, to my greatest surprise,there were no missed calls or signs of any incoming calls even as I kept staring at it.

If my phone wasn't the one ringing,then whose phone was it? Or,was I suddenly dreaming?

While I was fighting with my thoughts and trying to fetch myself a realistic response,I suddenly heard the phone ring again.

Truly,it wasn't my phone. And I realized it wasn't a dream either as I sat up on my bed.

When I looked around me,it dawned on me that I wasn't the only one in my room.

Lying right beside me was Adrian, and it was his phone that had been ringing. I returned my phone back to its position and picked up his phone to see who was calling.

Unfortunately, before I could get the phone to my face, the call had cut, and I didn't bother checking the notification to see the caller ID of the missed call.

"Just how much did we drink while talking?" I questioned no one in particular but myself as I watched Adrian sleeping peacefully.

Based on the fact that this wasn't our first time sleeping in the same room, I could tell that he was snoring this time because he was stressed up. After all, the day didn't go as planned.

"I understand that most times,my sister, Hailey, can be quite clumsy and overbearing. But, I would love it if you're aware that she is a good woman and mother. Such an accident like this has never occurred in the past." I remembered his words while we were drinking before we fell asleep a few hours ago.

One thing that struck me was why he chose to be telling me all of that when I clearly didn't ask, nor was I interested in knowing? It was completely absurd,and I summed it up that he was just saying due to the effect of the alcohol.

Although I couldn't stop thinking of what he had said. In fact, I couldn't stop thinking of all the things he had said about Hailey.

Why did it seem to just pop up in my head? Why was my head visioning those charming blue eyes?

Sadly, my thoughts were interrupted by Adrian's phone ringing again. Since it was already close enough to me,I quickly checked the caller ID.

It was Hailey. I became alert immediately.

I was not stupid to know that if she had been calling for as long as I could recall, then it was probably because something must have happened at the hospital.

"Adrian. Adrian." I took my time in trying to wake him up from his deep sleep.

"What is it? Why do you have to be so harsh?" He groaned as he tried to stay awake, his eyes fixed on me, red,and still sleepy.

I didn't bother saying much as I held his phone close to his eyes, making the notification of the missed call from his sister visible. Immediately, I observed how his eyes widened.

"This is past 7. Something must have happened." He said and proceeded to get off from the bed.

"Where are you off to right now?" I asked, watching him adjust his clothes.

"To the hospital, of course. Or, didn't you hear what I had just said?" He stared at me in a gripping confusion.

"And you're going like this?" I equally got off my bed, standing right at the edge of the bed with folded hands.

"What do you mean? I don't understand. It could be an emergency.

"Come on, man, go freshen up. You reek of alcohol." I said and found my steps straight to the bathroom to freshen up too. Adrian, on the other hand, didn't need any more convincing to realize that I was right because I heard the door open and shut back.

★ ★ ★

"What happened? Did the doctor make reports of any sort of complications after we left?” Adrian was the first to speak the moment we arrived at the hospital, specifically Aiden's ward.

"No. No. That wasn't the reason I kept calling you. There's nothing to worry about." Hailey responded, and immediately, Adrian let out a deep sigh of relief. Although I was somewhat not happy because my sleep was cut short.

I observed that her face was already dried of tears, although her eyes were still red and swollen. That was a sign that she was already calm and relieved from the event that day.

"Then what exactly was the reason for the constant calling?" Adrian pressed further. I could tell from the anxious look on his face that he wasn't quite satisfied with the response his sister had given.

"Aiden is awake." She smiled,her face glowing despite how much she had cried and had swollen and red eyes.

However,her response to Aiden's question made him look through the transparent glass to find out.

"Where is he then? Why isn't he lying on the bed?" Adrian questioned, looking back at her. At this point, everything was beginning to sound more confusing, aiding the gripping headache that refused to let go of me since I woke up.

"Can you just make me understand whatever it is you're trying to tell us at one go?" I blurted without thinking twice about my words.

Hailey's eyes rested on me afterwards, taking one hard and long look at me, one which lacked any emotions. She also didn't say anything back to me as a response. Instead, she looked away after quite some time.

"Uncle!" We all heard the loud call from a tiny yet familiar voice. We turned behind us immediately only to find Aiden smiling largely at us, a few distance from us, and he was looking exceptionally healthy. I was dead beat confused at what was going on.

He let go of the nurse's hand and ran to us immediately, pulling each one of our legs into a hug.

"Aiden." I smiled and bent towards him immediately.

“I don't understand. You look so happy and healthy. Are you sure you're completely fine?" I asked, rubbing his hair while the smile didn't depart from his face.

He giggled at that moment. His beautiful blue eyes, just like his mother, were glowing.

"You're my hero uncle. Thank you for saving me." He said and fixed himself into my arms for a hug while I stayed still, dumbfounded, but certainly felt relieved and didn't want to let go for some reason.