THE BATTLE OF LOVE AND DESTINY

CHAPTER SIX - RESCUED BY THE HEART THAT ONCE REFUSED

Kate, having been denied romantic closeness by Davies, resulted in emotional trauma for her. His emotional despair prevented her from being focused.

Davies had sensed the intrusion of her romantic longing and had decided to keep a distance. Their scheduled tutorials had become irregular, and the delay in replying to Kate's text messages had added to her frustration. Sometimes, her messages were not even replied.

She lacked the strength to read, avoided classes, and became depressed as the days went by. She eventually fell ill due to her heartbreak and confusion. A neighbor, Tina, who noticed this attitude, checked on her at her apartment on a Monday morning to see how she's faring.

In the middle of their conversation, Kate broke down and collapsed. Tina quickly raised an alarm, attracting more neighbors who came to the scene and revived her. From her phone contact, Alexander was contacted and within a few hours, he arrived in the company of his driver.

Kate was rushed to the family hospital, where several doctors were waiting to receive her. Upon arrival, she was rushed to the medical emergency unit and was attended to immediately.

Kate couldn't talk or take anything given to her. Although she had regained her consciousness, she refused to talk to anyone. Doctors were worried why Kate wouldn't respond to any medication, including the drip given to her.

There was no visible improvement seen as she couldn't walk, talk nor eat. She just kept mute, looking and blinking her eyes. This made Alexander to be heartbroken and helpless.

He had suffered the loss of Kate's mother and would not want to lose her only child again. Kate, "Are you alright? Can you recognize who is talking to you?" Alexander asked Kate, but she kept mute and was just looking. "What's the problem, princess? Will you talk to me, baby? I'm your dad, please talk to me, Kate, I beg you," Alex implored her.

When it was clear that Kate wouldn't talk to anyone, Alex requested to see the Doctor in person. At the Doctor's office, Alex implored the Doctor to do his best to save the life of Kate. "Don't look at me helplessly losing my only daughter. This is my only request. Whatever may be needed, just tell me. I can't watch her dying, please,” Alex appealed to the Doctor.

"Alex," said the Doctor, "We have given her all the necessary medication and treatment to resuscitate her. However, it seems her problem is more psychological than medical. Kindly be patient, and let's watch her more closely. She'll be fine." Alex reluctantly agreed with the Doctor and left his office.

Back to campus, the rumors of Kate's collapse had circulated, and Davies also heard it. This prompted him to visit her apartment outside the campus. Upon inquiry of Kate's whereabouts, her neighbors told him that her dad had picked him away.

He immediately left the campus and travelled to Shanghai's elite Xintiandi district in search of Alexander's home. When he finally saw the mansion, he introduced himself and requested to see Kate. One of the security men whom he met went inside to deliver his message. He returned back with an address to the hospital in which Kate was admitted.

Davies continued his journey and, upon arrival, he requested to see Kate Alexander. A nurse directed her to the ward where Kate was admitted. He met Alexander sitting on a chair beside Kate's hospital bed. Kate was fast asleep, still taking a drip, and a nurse was discussing with Alex. "Good afternoon sir," Davies cuts in. "Good afternoon," Alex replied. Afterwards, there was a long silence.

Davies saw Kate in the hospital bed and noticed how unrecognizable she was. She had turned pale, fragile and broken. This made his heart beat faster, and he started to get afraid.

Then Alex continued, "May I know you, please?" "I am Davies, Kate's course-mate at the University. I learnt about what happened and have come to greet her and show concern," Davies responded. "Thank you," Alex replied. He looked at Davies more keenly and was impressed by his humility and cheerful disposition, but also noticed that he was from a poor home via his outward look.

"Thanks again," Alex said. ''Hope she had not missed so much in school now? Alex asked. "She had missed a lot of tests and assignments. The semester is getting to an end soon," Davies responded humbly.

''We've been here for two weeks now, and her situation is not getting better,'' Alex responded.

''What did you call your name again?'' Alex queried. "Davies," He replied loudly. As Kate heard the name Davies, she turned towards the direction of the discussion and suddenly opened her eyes. Both eyes met spontaneously, and Davies called her name. "Kate! Look at me! How're you doing? It's me, Davies."

Immediately Kate saw him, she raised her body and sat on the bed. Alex and the nurse gazed at each other in uttermost surprise, and were speechless.

For the first time in two weeks, Kate spoke. "Davies, you left me." She spoke hoarsely. "You don't care." She paused and tearfully asked, "What have I done to deserve......." "I'm sorry, Kate." Davies cuts in and stepped closer, kneeling beside her, "I don't mean to hurt you."

She burst into tears and turned her face away. The nurse tried to intervene, but Alexander, who had understood the game, insisted that they should be left alone.

Alex and the nurse watched as Davies sat on the edge of Kate's bed and reached out slowly to her. "Kate, you are more important to me than you can ever imagine. A lot of things matter more than grades, and you're one of them. Kate, I'll never be a part of those who will take advantage of you. That is why I distance myself."

"But I want you to find a place in your heart for me," she whispered with a cracked voice.

Davies told her stories of her childhood experience on how he learnt to avoid headache by moving forward and never turning back. He then solicited her cooperation with the Doctors to ensure speedy recovery.

At that moment, Kate's countenance changed, and it was as if a big burden was taken off her body. He stretched forth his hand towards her and lifted her up. For the first time in several days, Kate accepted water and hot tea from Davies, and also agreed to both her meal and medications.

The sudden turnaround of Kate's ailment was shocking to the Doctors and nurses, but not strange to her father, as he then knew that the only remedy for her ailment was Davies.

Kate was still in the hospital and had left for school, promising to check back later. However, feeling unease, he made a u-turn and went back home instead of school.

Upon getting to his village, he met his father, who is a retired herbalist and a spiritualist. His father noticed that he was worried and troubled in mind, and then decided to ask him, "You are just coming from someone. Isn't it?" The old man confronted him with an assuring smile. "Yes, Dad," David responded. "She's ill, the hospital couldn't find a solution," He added.

''So what do you want?'' His father queried. "Although she's recovering, I want more help," he replied.

His father prepared a Chinese traditional herbal medicine for soul healing. He told Davies that the herbal tea is not just an herb but a powerful spiritual product that heals beyond the physical.

He returned to the hospital where Kate was hospitalized and discovered that she had been discharged. He then travelled to her father's house. Alexander welcomed him like a prince. He told Alex how he had travelled to his village and consulted his father, who was a spiritual healer, and obtained a healing herb for Kate. Alex was highly impressed and full of gratitude for Davies.

Kate had been able to get on her feet and walk around. She took the herbal drink from Davies and drank it despite its bitter taste. ''This is a healing remedy from our home,'' Davies whispered to Kate. Within a short time, her exhaustion vanished.

Davies left for campus even though Kate wanted him to sleep over. He has several assignments to cover and would want to meet the submission deadline.

Davies got to her apartment that night and started wondering how he got into that mess. He smiled faintly, feeling the weight of peace after Kate’s recovery. Yet, somewhere deep within, an uneasy thought gnawed at him, it was the memory of his father’s words when he handed him the herbal tea: “This tea binds hearts as it heals them. Use it wisely, my son because love, too, can be a curse.”

Davies exhaled slowly, unaware that with every heartbeat, fate was weaving a thread that neither science nor spirituality could undo.