Tangled in Notes

Chapter Seven

I changed into my girly mascot and started inviting people to go buy gifts at Toy Empire. I waved at the little kids and their giggles made me smile. Their smiles were a cue to me that I was doing a good job. I was doing very well and since it was Saturday, I might just work in the morning until my time out.

Well, last Wednesday was surely something I don’t want to remember. That midget rejected me. I feel so bad for myself for not trying hard to convince him. I frowned at the thought.

It feels so hot in here despite the fact that it was fifteen degrees today here in Newcrest. I turned to the side to see if there were people passing b— “Sean?” I took a step forward to confirm my assumption and I was right. He was with Joshua and Jared.

I gulped hard and immediately turned when I involuntarily fell down the ground. My big head was removed and the cold breeze lingered through my face. The flyers I was holding flew around and I quickly picked them up and placed my big head back.

What are they doing here?! I mean the shop next to our shop. Ahh. They were laughing a lot but Jared was calm and collected - as usual. He would frown if not, he creases his brows. He was just playing with his phone and not participating with his friends that obviously didn't care.

After my shift in Diamond Dust, I immediately went back to my apartment. I had my second day off from Qualiteas today. That meant, I have finished all my shifts for this day. More time for myself.

I opened the door and ran to my room. I brought myself to the bed and embraced the warm feeling of the sheets. I'm so tired. I closed my eyes for a moment then went to the bathroom for a quick bath.

After cleaning myself, I went to my study table to finish my report task in English to be passed on Monday. I was shocked when the doorbell suddenly rang. I didn't know anyone in here so I was curious of who might have wanted to visit me at this time.

I opened the door and I almost cried in amusement when I saw Aunt Sue, Uncle and Jaimee. "Julia!" I bent down and wrapped my arms around her. She smelled so fragrant. I had no idea I missed her so much. I smiled. "I missed you so much!"

"We missed you too dear."

"Come on in Aunt Sue, Uncle Dave."

I widened the gap of the door and they scanned the place. Jaimee giggled as she ran inside my apartment. "I see you didn't touch most of what the interior design looked like in the first place.”

I nodded with a smile. "I think it was elegant uncle so I didn't mind if it looked that way." I answered and he nodded.

"I brought you food in case you haven't eaten yet, Julia dear." I smiled at her.

"Thank you, aunt Sue."

"Julia! I wanna see your room!" I turned to Jaimee who was pulling my fingers. I pinched her cheeks. She was too cute.

"It's there. You can just go okay? But don't mess my things. Hm? I won’t let you go in there anymore if you do." I smiled after she nodded and ran away like the normal kid she was.

"We could've got here earlier if your uncle here didn't have over time with his work."

"No. It's fine, aunt Sue. Besides, I'm really happy you visited me. I was going to visit you next week. I really missed you all." I smiled lightly.

They stayed in the living room as I brought them orange juice to drink. Aunt smiled and touched Uncle's hand. "So, how's your new school dear? How are things going out for you?"

I started narrating them everything that happened and they told me I was doing well with the adjustments. Though I felt sad when they left too soon, I was happy because Aunt promised me they'd come back sooner from today. I do hope so.

“What were you doing before we came, dear?”

“Ah, I was just finishing my home works, Auntie.”

“Oh dear. I hope we didn’t bother you.”

“Not at all,”

It was six when they decided to leave. Aunt Sue told me it would be hard for uncle to drive if it was dark so they needed to go back before it gets darker. “I’ll see you again sometime, Jaimee. Okay?”

She nodded. “Promise?” She raised her pinky.

I chuckled and brought mine up. I coiled it up with hers as she giggled. “Promise.”

She smiled.

I pulled her to me and hugged her tight. I kissed her forehead and stood. “Take care on your way back, aunt Sue, Uncle.”

“We will, dear.”

Sunday came and I decided to finally visit a doctor today like what Armin told me to do - or should I say ordered me to do? He wanted to come with me in fact, but I didn't want to because he might just mess it up like he always does.

I went to the nearest possible hospital in the city and I was directed to KL Hospital. I entered inside and a nurse stops me from walking. "Ma'am? Are you here for a check-up?" I turned and saw the typical long white table in the corner of the hospital's entrance.

I walked towards the counter and looked at her. Nurses always looked classy and nice. I wanted to be like them before. Maybe until now.

"You're here for. . ?" She added catching my attention.

I blinked and cleared my throat as I fixed the scarf wrapped around my neck. It was a gift from aunt Sue for my fifteenth birthday. "Oh. I'm here for a follow up check-up. Coughing."

The nurse started flipping pages of her chart and turned to me. "Dr. McKinley is the only doctor available today that specializes in that field, Ma'am. Would you like to proceed?" she asks.

I nodded.

"Please proceed to floor 12. You can find his name from his office door."

"Thank you."

I started walking and I started feeling heavy inside. I feel really bad. If this was tiredness, then it would be possible for it to kill me right now. My heart was beating so fast the moment the elevator started to go up. I felt somewhat, dizzy and maybe it's a phobia of closed areas.

When it beeped, I looked up and saw the red light flash. The door opened like I was in a horror movie. I looked up and saw a hall of doors. Patients in white were walking around and civilians were seated over the edge of the walls. I walked slowly to see the door the nurse have told me about. I passed by a door labeled 'Ward' and other names of doctors in the hospital. There it was. Dr. Keith Maynel McKinley.

I sighed before I knocked.

"Come in."

I turned the knob and I slowly envisioned what was inside the room. Shelves were around, a plant next to the window, a clock, a very timid sound of the clock. I entered the room with careful steps. A smart-looking doctor with spectacles on his nose was seated across a table. I bowed and he stood folding his newspaper. "May I help you?"

I remained quiet and continued taking steps closer to his desk.

"What seems to be the problem?”

"Uh. . ."

"Take a seat." He pointed at the chair across his table and I immediately walked there and sat.

"I've been coughing and sneezing, doctor. It's been three weeks?” I wasn’t so sure.

“Tell me symptoms you’ve been feeling. Were you getting dizzy? Can you still breathe properly? Are you vomiting?”

“Well sometimes, I get headaches. The other night, I wasn’t able to sleep because I couldn’t breathe properly because of my cold.” I answered.

His brows furrowed. "Hm.” He stared at me. “Are you perhaps smoking?”

I shook my head. “Absolutely not.”

“Recently, have you been exposed to substances such as dust? Air pollution?” he asked.

“I might have been exposed to dust, doctor. I work near the street so I guess, that counts.”

He sighed. “It could be asthma but I cannot tell anything right now. It might not be something serious since you don't have much symptoms. It is possible that you've been attacked by a cold or a cough. We will need to check first."

I nodded.

“I will have to ask you to do a blood test right now and do a chest x-ray just to make sure.”

I gulped hard. Blood test? At that, my heart started jumping in fast pace. I don't know if I wanted to run or if I wanted to pretend that I suddenly felt bad that I wanted to go home instantly. I hate it. I hate the fact that they always tell patients to do a blood test even if they see nothing wrong. Injection was one thing I was afraid of. “O-Of course.”

"You can go the blood testing lab. Results will be out tomorrow, same goes for the x-ray, so I will have to ask you to come back here as well.”

I followed Dr. McKinley's order. I nervously went out of his office and asked for a nurse to accompany to where I should go. It was my first time in this hospital and I've never been to any for the past ten years.

We entered a room that smelled bad. Smelled like medicine, blood, and it was making me feel dizzier. Something, that wasn’t really good for my nose. It smelled awful. A doctor was in there so I told him Dr. McKinley sent me here. After that, she made me wear this white hospital cloth and told me to remove every metal attached to me. I removed my earrings and the phone from my pocket since they were the only metals I had with me.

I stood in front of what I think that captures an x-ray vision of my lungs.

After that, I went to a blood sampling laboratory. There were people waiting in the line so I stood there waiting as well. The nurse already left me there and if there was one thing I wished right now, is for the patients to take long inside the lab.

Minutes passed by and I was already next. I could feel my heart beating against my chest. It was so loud that I can even feel it without touching my chest part. I gulped when the person inside the lab stood after the nurse rubbed a cotton over his finger. I need to overcome this. I thought and walked inside bravely. I sat in a chair provided and they started doing their thing. It stings and it hurt— but what can I do? I needed a check-up.

I stepped out of the hospital still feeling the pain from the injected part of my arm. I looked at the cotton and sighed waiting for a cab I can ride on. Every time I try to move my arms, I feel pain through my veins. It hurts.

When I got back to my apartment, which was after my part time in Qualiteas, I lied down my bed staring at the ceiling. Jared. I need to think of a way for him to help me. Like really something to convince him.

Sean said he was the only one who could produce a good song, also the lyrics, so how? How on earth am I going to convince the grumpy midget?

My phone rang. I slid the answer button and clicked something to speaker mode. "What?" I asked slightly not in the mood.

"How was the check up?"

I sighed. Right. The check-up. Honestly, I feel nervous about it but I don't have to because it's not something serious to worry about. I think. "Dr. McKinley asked me to go back tomorrow."

"Did you tell him about your gross red bumps?"

"Gee! Thanks, Min! Like you never had big pimples in your face before getting them removed by a skin surgeon!" I rolled my eyes.

"I do not have black big pimples in my face before. You were looking a mirror, piglet.” He laughed.

"Did not!"

He chuckled. “Anyway, what about Jarri? How’d it go?"

I rolled my eyes remembering the time he rejected my proposal. "Not even the slightest bit."

He laughed out loud again. “I knew it. He doesn't like girls like you."

"Not my problem! He's too bitter!"

"I know." He paused. "I guess he's just too focused on his music and he lost all his feelings when he got rejected."

"He got rejected?” I exclaimed. “Unbelievable.”

"Yes, he was. Keep it down. He feels more devilish when he hears that phrase."

"Awesome."

"Go to sleep! Classes resume tomorrow."

"Whatever. Good night." I ended the call without hearing him out and closed my eyes.

Speaking of Jared. How will I really convince him? He was rejected. Like me. Good for him, though. He was too grumpy that the girl couldn’t stand his attitude.

I frowned and turned to the side of my bed staring at the snow ball dad gave me. I touched the glass and sighed. "Please help me daddy. Please make Jared agree with me so that I can keep my promise to you."