Fall In Love With A Feline

Chapter 17

**Kevin's POV**

"So, I told you about my friend who migrated from Australia if you can remember. This is my best friend, Abigail Carter." Lisa introduced, sitting beside her on the bed.

Lisa then turn her head and looks at Abigail, "And I don't need to tell you about Kevin Davis..." she chuckled in the end.

Abigail then pinches Lisa on her side as she whispers, "Shut it." And it made the other giggle softly. Lisa is openly teasing her and I can see a hint of redness on her cheeks despite looking pale. Of course, Lisa knew I already know that this girl likes me.

To be honest, I found it hard to believe the first time Lisa told me she's setting me up with a friend that has a little crush on me. To this day, I still couldn't believe it fully. 

Abey was a gorgeous magical creature. And magical creatures were either too ugly or too beautiful. But this Abigail, a real person, a gorgeous girl took a liking on me?

She then turns her gaze back at me and smiled, "I'm sorry, Lisa's just really thrilled that we're able to meet after a long time. I hope this teasing won't bother you. It's nice to finally meet you, Kevin."

The whole two weeks I longed for her felt like an eternity and hearing her finally my name makes my knees tremble and my heart ache in a good way. But I couldn't speak. I just stood there frozen but trembling, standing her bedside just looking at her.

"This guy..." Lisa then sighs as she rolls her eyes before continuing, "... you know how long he's been refusing me to see you, now his eyes are stuck like glue to you," Lisa stated.

There are a thousand things that ran in my mind as I stood beside her bedside just looking at her.

She met the accident 2 years ago exactly that day I found my cat Abey. Abey stayed with me for two years acting like the weirdest yet smartest cat in the world before she turned human who looks exactly like Abigail. Why did I even give my cat Abey that particular name? Then, the time I decided to see Abigail, this freak of a storm came and took Abey away from me. And recently, Abigail awakened from her coma in the exact day lost Abey.

Fate's playing tricks on me, for real.

But with all these in my head... I believed that it's her, I know it's her. They're the same person.

But... she doesn't remember me?

The f**k is Fate planning to do with us?

"I'm sorry." I softly muttered, averting my gaze from her while shaking my head softly at the same time, thinking of the silliness of these events in our lives. But then, I remembered that I should be apologizing for the important things. 

"I'm sorry..." I repeated but louder this time and sternly.

Abigail's forehead creases softly, "Huh?" She hummed in question. However, I couldn't handle those beautiful orbs staring at me in confusion while I'm feeling like this.

"This wouldn't have happened to you if I showed up," I added.

Now, do I realize the regret I'm feeling? All these wouldn't happen if I met her that day. None of it... It's all I was thinking of from the very beginning. 

"Imma leave the two of you alone," Lisa interrupted, standing before walking towards the door I stayed there standing beside Abigail.

"Can you please sit down here?" She asked, tapping the bedside. I shook my head in response but she insisted.

"It's all in the past..." she started and I slowly take my chance to look at her once again only to see her smiling down and looking at her fidgeting fingers while her hand rests upon her lap.

"Lisa told me you backed out because... you're not confident... Honestly, I don't have much confidence either. But I'm really happy I was able to finally meet you now. Let's just forget that, okay? I'd like to be friends with you and I don't want you blaming yourself for happened to me. It's just that maybe fate wanted me to stay there for that long... and I was fated to be struck by that car..." She stated softly while smiling occasionally.

Of course, it's fate.

It brought you to me in a different form only to be human again. For me to recognize that beautiful face. But it took you from me so I can meet the real you.

I refused to see you for two years.

Why do I always hurt you?

"I'd like that too... Thank you." I nodded and smiled softly.

Now I'm being punished for hurting you because you seem not to remember everything...

I know it's you. 

I may have doubted fate before because you're in a different form but now, I'm convinced.

You may have changed but you're still as beautiful and still as kind.

And I wanna embrace you so bad...

We then talked about how she noticed me. I was surprised about the chicken parmigiana she cooked for her uncle who happens to be my boss, because Abey had cooked that for me once and there's no way she could've made it by just watching TV... that was an Australian dish and it was very delicious and this had added to the proof that they're one person.

There was still a wall between after I left her with Lisa, the moment I stepped out of that hospital room, I was decided to break that wall and make her remember just like I promised her.

Once I got back home, I laid on my bed and stared at the ceiling.

Abey once said that she has been dreaming of things she can't remember when she wakes up. Maybe somehow, through her dreams, she felt the need to leave because she needs to return to her original body but don't want to leave because she's happy with me.

Now I understand where she needed to go -- to her real body.

Abey was happy and contented with her life with me that it may have made her real body weak and that caused their decision to almost pull out the life support on her. Her body has been calling her out through dreams.

Abigail is my Abey...

I then went out of the room and picked up the DVD of the movie we last saw -- 50 First Dates.

I still haven't touched things since she left. I kept them the way they are even if it's gotten a little dusty.

It may be a completely different situation from that movie but the thought was there...

And I promised I'll make her remember.

Forgetful Abey...

A smile crept to my lips as I thought of it while staring at the DVD case, the song that got stuck on her head as she kept singing it for days.

What are the odds this would happen to us, Abigail?

----

**Abigail's POV**

I stared out the window as I look at the clear my eyes could peek at from the hospital bed. Mom just left me since she can no longer ask for leave from work after plotting it all starting from the day I woke up. It's the same with my dad and my sister and Lisa is at work.

Now, I'm all alone and I'm gonna endure the painful therapy by myself.

I can move my legs but it's still hard to control. Standing is even painful.

Then, I remembered how Kevin looked the first time we officially met. I feel kinda embarrassed since we had to meet in that situation and he needed to carry me.

But the way he stared at me was something else.

It wasn't creepy though. 

It's as if he wanted to cry and it's making me feel really sad. Lisa said he had been blaming himself which is also the reason why he couldn't even visit me here at the hospital.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated with Lisa's text flashing on my screen.

Lisa: 

Guess who went to the office today and filed a month off?

Abey:

I don't know anyone from your office except you and uncle, duh...

Lisa: 

Are you sure about that? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Abey:

Kevin? Why?

Lisa: 

Guilt ‍♀️

Lisa:

Love ❤

Lisa:

I'm excited

Rosie:

Did uncle even allow him?

Rosie:

He was absent for weeks, right?

Lisa:

There are just people who walk in the light, you know. It makes me think that I need to get my work attitude straight. But, I have a life too, you know. 

Lisa: 

And he's one of those indispensable employees your uncle can't live without. He's that good.

Lisa:

It's better to give him time off than to lose him from the company. 

Rosie:

So... why'd he requested a month off?

My heart beats irregularly, waiting for her reply. If I could text him, I will and ask why. But he didn't even ask for my number yesterday.

Lisa:

Beats me ‍♀️

Lisa: 

Ask him when gets there.

Lisa: 

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

"What?!" I exclaimed out loud.

I was already typing nonsensical words to Lisa as a response but seconds later, there were a few knocks on the door.

My heart thumps fast as I swallowed my saliva out of anxiousness and surprise and also of anticipation of him entering the room. My back straightened and my breath hitches when I saw the knob moving.

But when the door opened, a nurse wearing all white came in holding a tray of my medicines.

My lower lip curls into a pout and my shoulders slouch immediately, feeling disappointed.

"You know what time it is, Miss Carter." The nurse smiles and I could only sigh. Some of the meds will be administered through the IV and it stings I hated it even if it's necessary.

"Yes...." I kept the pout while replying before sighing once again.

"Hi..." a familiar, deep voice greeted and his form followed the behind nurse, kind of slouching while he walks before waving his hands gently

"Kevin!" I kind of exclaimed as I called out his name. I was caught off guard the moment I got disappointed by expecting him. My back instantly straightens, alerted and surprised despite receiving the tip from Lisa.

"Uhm... I hope I did not come in a bad time." He timidly said as he stood by the door, holding a paper bag.

"No, of course not. Come in, please." I said, feeling instantly excited which had my hands trembling.

He brought me some sweet bread and some snacks I liked and had been missing as I went through the contents of the paper bag he brought while the nurse prepares the syringes. 

I asked him if he had asked Lisa about what to bring like what he did with the flowers because everything in this bag was my favorites. I was expecting an answer with my head but what he said was the total opposite of what I was thinking.

"Wild guess..." he answered with a smile.

He just guessed all these treats? And I love each one of them.

Looking up at him, I felt like I've been seeing him smile a lot today... even if we just knew each other for a day. It feels like I'm used to his smile that brags the deep dimple on his left cheek. 

Funny... I only saw him smile today but I knew he had a lone dimple. I never have seen him smile in the past whenever I visited the office but it feels so familiar.

He watches as the nurse administers the medication through the IV that's still attached to my right hand.

I tried not wincing because he's watching but, it stings a lot and I couldn't help it.

He then sits on the beside opposite to where the nurse is.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Stings a little..." I answered, forcing out a smile.

Unexpectedly, his fingertips slowly touch my fingertips that are upon the bed, resting beside my leg.

I felt a gush of electric current flowing from his fingertips to mine until he completes held my hand softly which made me forgot that stinging pain on my other hand... 

My breath hitches knowing the feeling of this warmth. It's calming me despite how this feeling makes my heart flutter... the feeling is too familiar.

I knew this feeling but it's just my first time touching his hand.

"All done." The nurse said which snaps my gaze back at her.

"Done?" I asked in disbelief.

It usually takes 5 minutes because she's taking it slow to somehow ease the stinging pain. But it just took her a minute... or so I think.

"Yeah, all done. I'll come back later for your therapy later." She smiles then gave me a gentle nod before leaving

"Uhm the therapy..." I started, looking at him and he listens, looking straight in my eyes.

"... I'll have the session this morning so I'd have to leave you here for a while." I continued.

"Can I come?" He asked.

I don't want him to come with me, to be honest. Taking the session is too painful and I'll be too embarrassed to let him see me in that state. I don't want to endure therapies alone but I can't let him see him in that kind of situation.

"Uhm, it's... uh..." I started stammering.

How in the world can I tell him no without making him feel bad about it?

"I want to be with you every step of the way until you're free to leave the hospital. I refused to see you for two years and I'm at fault here. You will not be here if not for me. So, at least... let me help you every step of the way?" He asked.

I realized he's been holding hand and I'm already holding it back, that if I let go, I will lose something.

"I told you, let's forget about it. I don't want to trouble you-"

"It's no trouble. I took two years of your life. It's wasted because of me when I could've just gone to see you. No matter how many times you say it wasn't my fault, it still is for me. I regret not going. I regret not being able to meet you. We... we could've---" he then trails off with his words.

I could see how his expression suddenly changes from obvious regret and sadness.

"We could've?" I asked.

"W-we could have been friends..." he mutters, taking his gaze off my eyes and onto my hand that's holding his.

Silence engulfed the whole room before he looks into my eyes again.

"Let me make it right?" He asks.

Right this moment, I felt an urge to embrace him. But I can't do that.

I can only nod gently in response before muttering,

"Alright...."

He then smiled widely and in an instant, the loneliness I've been feeling all fades away.