The Winter Clock

CHAPTER 27 – RUN

Ryther observed Reina and he can see the weight in her walk. Her eyes were swollen, and dark circles were present under them. Her cheekbones were also sunken as if she hadn’t eaten for a week. It was already a week since Jenny slept, but Reina still felt weightless.

Reina closed her locker and sighed deeply. There was no sound of the ticking clock since Jenny left, but Reina still felt uneasy.

“Cheer up, will you?”

Reina’s soul jumped out of her body and came back when a deep voice spoke beside her. He was leaning on the lockers with his arms crossed above his chest.

“T-Thorn?!” Reina squeaked and patted her chest. “Stop scaring me like that!” Ryther’s lips quivered as he shrugged his shoulders. Reina sighed again.

“How can I cheer up when everything around me keeps on falling apart?” She whispered. Ryther can feel the wave of her emotion with every word she speaks. Ryther’s eyes then transferred from Reina to something that moved at the corner of the locker.

“Look at the positive side, will you?” Ryther spat and took something from his pocket. “Our abilities increased, and we were able to save many people this week.” He added and pulled out what he fished from his pocket. Reina realizes his words and remembers their hectic week. She was about to speak, but her eyes widened when a sharp object flew past her right eye.

“What- Thorn!”

Ryther quickly followed the man wearing dark blue hoodies who dashed out of the locker room and ran away after Ryther threw his knife at him. The man quickly pushed the door close and Ryther almost bumped his face to it. Ryther hissed and pulled open the door forcedly and quickly scanned the corridor. He looked left and saw someone running away so he quickly ran to follow it.

“Hey, Thorn!” Reina exclaimed and swiftly ran to follow him. Ryther did not bother to bat Reina an eye as he quickened his pace to follow the man. Reina tried to look ahead of Ryther and saw the man running away. She hissed and turned right. “Excuse me, make way please!” The staff and visitors pushed themselves out of the way as Reina made her way.

Ryther stopped and hissed when the man disappeared from the crowd. He ran faster and turned right. He saw the man with a dark blue hoodie walking calmly with his hands inside his pockets. “Bastard!” Ryther wasted no time and quickly tackled the man and hit the floor. The man groaned in pain when Ryther pinned him on the ground and removed his hoodies.

“What the hell?!” The man shouted angrily. Ryther’s eyes widened and he quickly got off the man. “What the hell is your problem?!” The man fumes and stood up from the floor. He fixed his hoodie and checked if his nose that bumped on the floor was bleeding.

“S-Sorry, sir. I thought you were someone that I know. Please excuse me.” Ryther bowed his head and turned back then quickly left. The man shouted but he did not mind him and ran faster.

“Where on earth did he go?!” Ryther shouted and turned left but stopped when something really hard bumped with him, making him hit the wall.

“Aarghh!” The woman groaned painfully as she held her head that bumped on the other side of the wall. “What the- Thorn?!” Reina exclaimed as soon as she regained her composure. She then checked the whole corridor and saw the nurses and staff slowly gathering. Reina sighed deeply. “Stop gossiping and get back to work, everyone.” With her cue, the staff left with embarrassment. Reina’s eyes fell back to Ryther who groaned painfully as well.

“What are you doing? Where is the man?” Reina asked and held Ryther’s arms, pulling him up.

“I should be the one asking you that.” Ryther spat and checked his head. Luckily, his head did not bleed. “I lost him.” Ryther seethed and punched the wall.

“Hey, the wall’s innocent. It’s your fault for being too slow.” Reina said with a frown and rubbed her head that started to throb again. “My head’s only starting to recover, for Pete’s sake.” She spat angrily.

The man’s eyes dimmed as he silently watched them. He was no longer wearing his dark blue hoodie. He grinned his teeth and slowly walked out of the hospital.

***

“Ow!”

“Ah!”

Reina and Ryther shouted in unison when Mr. A pushed the ice bag on their heads that bumped on the wall. “You reckless brats!” Mr. A shouted, making the two flinched. “What in the ocean of foolishness came in your mind to run around like little kids?! You should have asked the security to close all the exits and catch the man!” He added with a completely pissed tone.

Ryther and Reina exchanged glances and frowned. “I did not think of that,” Ryther whispered, making Mr. A burst even more.

“That’s the point! Why is it that your body moves first before your freaking brain?! What if that person has a gun and creates commotion inside the hospital?! What if he’ll recklessly shoot and kill countless people?!” Despite his not-too-old age, Mr. A’s veins popped out as he shouted angrily. Reina, who was good at reasoning out, zipped her mouth as she listened to Mr. A nag. She completely knew it was not the time to joke around. “Stone-head brats.” Mr. A mumbled and sighed in distress.

Reina and Ryther’s eyes fell on Ral who flinched every time Mr. A shouted. She never saw him this mad for Mr. A was a man of composure. “By the way, what are you doing here, Dr. Ral?” Reina asked and only then did Ral open her eyes. She flushed upon seeing the three look at her in confusion. Suddenly, she felt her heart pounded.

“I-uh… D-Doc- I mean, I am here to…” She held her trembling fingers, trying to calm herself. She cleared her throat. “I found the records you were asking, Doctor.” Ral managed to say without stuttering and gave Mr. A a file-filled envelope. She flinched again when she felt Mr. A’s fingers brush her hand when he took the envelope from her.

“Thank you. I’m sorry to frighten you, but you may take your leave now.” He said and smiled at her without showing his teeth. Ral felt her heart pounded loudly but she managed to hide it and quickly bowed.

“Y-Yes, Doctor.” She said and swiftly walked out of Mr. A’s office. Ryther and Reina exchanged glances and grinned.

“Hey, hey, Uncle. Am I finally having an Aunt?” Reina teased and wiggled her eyebrows, making Mr. A frown. “Don’t make that face, Uncle! You’re not that old and you’re still handsome and… fresh?”

Ryther was choked by his own saliva and coughed with Reina’s last words, making Reina burst into laughter. Mr. A threw them a dagger look. “Hey, I’m not joking, Uncle. You’re only in your late forties and you're single! Didn’t you see how Dr. Ral flushed?!” Reina exclaimed between her laughter.

Reina laughed and laughed and even slapped Ryther’s back. Seeing her face brightened, Mr. A sighed in relief. “So, you’re finally laughing, huh? That’s a good trait.” Ryther stopped laughing and fixed his eyes on Reina who cannot stop her laughs. She only nodded as she wiped her tears.

“Yeah, thanks a lot. So don’t punish us anymore.” Reina said wittily and stick out her tongue.

“Brat.”

~ If everything felt hard, look around you and reminisce the good things that happened in your life, then you will be able to give thanks. ~