Survival Of The Game

Getting Into The Game

Jack couldn't wait for dawn to break as he walk up and down in the living room, thinking of Ella lying unconscious in the hospital and contemplating if he should dial the number on the card.

It was 7 am according to Mali's time setting, he rushed out of the house, heading to the hospital.

One his way due to the tension he was feeling, as he was in haste he hit an old man who was walking sluggishly towards his direction.

"Oh I'm so sorry", he pleaded as he got on his knee to pick up the bag of tomatoes he accidentally hit.

" Thank you…" the old man replied.

Jack ran without wasting any time he picked them up.

In a few minutes, he arrived at the hospital, running straight to Ella's ward.

When he got in, he met the doctor giving her some drugs, but she was still unconscious.

" Doctor…. How is my sister doing?" He stammered.

" hmmmmmmm…." he sigh, as he nodded towards her.

" She has not been responsive to treatment" he stated, as he took off the white glove in his hands.

" Doctor. W….h..y…? he couldn't form words properly on hearing that from the doctor.

" I don't know, she should wake up soon, I postulated"

" Hmm…. Tears dropped on his cheek" as he suspected uncertainty in his voice.

" I hope you are working on the payment, so we can get her treated on her time like I told you the consequences of delaying the payments"

" Doctor… I wouldn't delay the payment, if I truly have it, when this is my only family we are talking here" he spoke in distress with his rough voice.

" Hmm…. I have nothing to say now, I have to go, I have other patients to attend to" he sighed as he made his way through the exit door.

Then,

Jack went close to Ella's bed and held her hands, a drip was fixed into her hands.

Looking into her face, it looks typically pale. Her pink lips were odd and stiff.

Jack could only cry as he hold her hands, then suddenly he felt a move. Ella's fingers moved, as her eyelids moved a bit trying to open her eyes.

In shock, he widened his eyes, as she was waking up.

" Ella!" He leapt in joy

" Ja…CK?…" She called the name slowly as she held her forehead, she was feeling severe pain. I guess that was normal when you newly wakes up from a coma.

" Yes… I'm here Ella" he answered quickly.

" Why am I here?" She looked around, as she sees other patients on her both sides, and she was wrapped around her waist with clothes, and the gown on her was the patient uniform.

" Ella….." his lips got dried, unsure of what to say, all he does was caress her hands.

Ella tried sitting up as she squeezed her face in pain.

" Hey, hold, hold, don't stress it I will assist with that" he stood up from the chair beside the bed, to sit her uprightly.

" Jack tell me, seeing that expression on your face shows you are hiding something from me" she connoted on time, Ella was used to her brother, she knows when he is happy or not or when he is keeping something away from her.

" Okay…. You were rushed from your school, that you collapsed" he lowered his head.

" What?" She raised her brow.

" Why didn't complain to me how you feel! Ella why did you keep all these from me??" he got infuriated but has to keep it down, she is patient and shouldn't be stressed.

" I'm sorry…. I just didn't want you to get worried" tears escaped from her eyes.

" Worried!? " his hands form into a ball, ready to send a push across.

" Ella how could you say that! When it's your health!" he threw a push, diverting it to the wall.

His face grew in anger, what made him enraged more was the fact he had up to 10 million dollars, but he played it on a betting game. How foolish of him!

Had it been he knew she was sick, he sure wouldn't have made bet with the last player. The true regret, this was making in more furious, coupled with the one Ella did.

" Ahh…" The sound escaped Ella's lips as she was shocked seeing him this angry for the first time, made fear creep up her skin and perplexity appeared on her face.

" Jack, w,why..., are you this angry? Is there anything you are not telling me?" She squinted her eyes, and her eyebrow curved.

He guiltily bit his lips, as he tried to calm himself down.

" Yes!" He spat out.

" I had 10 million dollars in from my bet, but I played it off on the last bet I made" he grit his teeth as he spat out.

Ella's expression was expected, her eyes widened as she covered up her mouth in shock.

" This is hell too bad, how could you?…." she asked slowly losing her strength.

" I know I'm sorry, that's why I want to fix this, I will" he moved back to her as he placed his hands on her cheek, reassuring her.

" Hmm…. Ella, I have to leave you to rest now, your temperature is becoming high" he noticed as he touched her nape.

"Hmm..yeah, I need to rest because I'm starting to feel dizzy at all you've just told me" she touched her forehead as she slide down on the bed to lay flat.

" Yeah I understand, you need to rest I will be back again tomorrow" he arranged the clothes around her as he speak.

After he was done with that, Ella swung to the other side, avoiding seeing his face again before he leaves, she might not spill it out but she is really angry at his foolish guy

.

He waved bye at her, but she didn't respond before he left through the exit way.

Immediately he was gone she swung back to the position as tears ran down to her lips.

She couldn't speak or think of anything at the moment.

But Ella has a soft heart, in no time she would let go of what he did and forgive him.

Jack boarded a cab home after he arrived it was already late at night about 8 pm. He spent all day at the hospital with Ella.

While walking home through the road after he was droved up by the taxi driver at the beginning of the street, he strolled down.

Strolling home again, he meant the old man earlier. He was walking on the same path as him. Suddenly, he recognised the face as he threw his hands in the air to wave at him.

The old man waved back and responded with a smile.

" Oh boy, are you okay?" He spoke with his old voice, on seeing the expression on Jack's face.

" hm… " he let out a fake smile.

" I don't think so, would you like to have a drink?" He suggested.

Even though he was a stranger Jack couldn't ignore, since he mentioned "drink" it is what he truly needs now, to quench out the fire burning in his head and to clear him of his confusion.

"Sure…" he responded promptly without thinking twice of it.

" Great, let's get some then" he nodded as they went down to the bar, Jack usually attends.

They got there in a few, it was just a thirty minute walk down there.

After paying for the drink they took a seat to relax as they sip in gradually.

The old man helps him with his drink by pouring it into his glass.

" Thank you," Jack said as he took up the glass in his hands.

" You are welcome boy" he grins.

" So tell me what his wrong?" He asked as he placed his glass on the table after taking a mouthful of it.

" hmm…" Frown settled on his face as he sigh.

" It's just some issues I'm having sir….." he said briefly.

" What is it, let me see if I can help?" He asks curiously, sipping his drink insidiously.

" My..m.y. Sister is sick in the hospital, and needs about 5 million dollars to get her treated" he lowered his head, as he sob.

"Oh…. I'm sorry about that, I don't think I can help with that, that is way big for me" the old man said feeling sad.

" Hmm… I understand that's fine" Jack said as he poured some drinks into his mouth, to calm him down.

" But I do know something that can help you boy…" he said making Jack to sharpened his gaze.

"What is that please?" Jack urged.

" A game" he dipped his hand into his dark jacket, as he brought out the same pink card given to him by Lilian, the lady who introduced it to him.

" This…" the old man placed on the table.

" What is it about?" jack asked, pretending not to have seen a card similar to that.

" This is the card inviting you to the game, it is anchored by WIC company," he said.

" Hmm. … " a sigh escaped from Jack.

This made jack think this time, what is this game all about?

I have to join, I don't have a choice though, I need this money to get Ella treated" He concluded, without being told what the game would be, or the rules of the game…..