Day Fourteen…
~~*****~~
Aiden was panting so hard after returning to Stephen's spot. "She left… I was not able to catch up with her."
"Just let her be. I think she wants to be alone for now," Stephen plainly said as he pressed the button of the elevator. Nathan's ward was on the seventh floor along with Phantomflake's ward.
"You can go ahead to Nathan's ward. I will just drop by somewhere." Stephen stopped on his track, turning in the opposite direction.
"Eh? Don't tell me you are going to visit Phantomflake?!" Aiden's eyes widened in realization.
Stephen just smiled at him meaningfully, not confirming nor denying it.
Aiden just shook his head while eyeing him helplessly. "Are you bewitched by her? Why are you so interested in her? I am warning you, bro. She is an enemy… Nathan's mortal enemy. Nathan will not listen to you. Once she wakes up, he will not spare her life. So stop convincing him not to kill Phantomflake." Aiden spoke spontaneously with his blabbering mouth.
"Why do I feel like you are trying to protect her from Nate?" Aiden added, confronting Stephen.
Stephen had an unreadable expression on his face. Aiden couldn't fathom what was on Stephen's mind. Among the three of them, Stephen was the one who was good at hiding his real emotions and feelings.
"No deeper meaning behind my action. I just want our best friend to move on. I don't think killing and torturing Phantomflake will give him peace of mind." Stephen paused for a moment, shifting his gaze to Aiden's face to meet his eyes.
"I'm Not Protecting Phantomflake," he said with emphasis.
Aiden just heaved a sigh of defeat. "Fine! Go. Do as you like. I'm heading to Nathan's ward." Aiden waved his hand and turned around to leave.
Stephen went in the opposite direction where Phantomflake's ward was located. Just like Nathan, there were guards standing outside the door. The area was heavily guarded.
The guards recognized Stephen so they let him pass instantly without asking for a special access card. Aside from Nathan and his best friends, only Dr. Veronica and Dr. Doreen were allowed to enter Phantomflakes' ward.
Axel and some members of the Syphiruz were still investigating whether this attack was somehow related to Phantomflake or not. So as per Nathan's order, they heightened the security around that floor.
Stephen finally entered Phantomflake's room, tracing his steps towards her sickbed. His expression softened as soon as he saw her face.
He stood there unmoving, his eyes fixated on her. He had the urge to touch her face but he restrained himself from doing so. Stephen was aware that there were several cameras installed in that room.
'Even in that state… you are still being monitored twenty-four seven… Nathan has become your cage.' Stephen thought to himself.
As he looked at her, something stirred his heart from the inside. 'You should wake up… no matter what. There are things I wanna know… things I wanna ask from you…'
Stephen shut his eyes while clenching his fists. He had a reason why he wanted to stop Nathan from getting his revenge against Phantomflake.
He had this story he hadn't told anyone else… even to his best friends, Nathan and Aiden. A past that connects him to Phantomflake.
'Will you still remember me?' Stephen had a sullen look on his face the moment he opened his eyes. Then a bittersweet smile tugged upward from the corners of his lips.
Stephen only stayed there for ten minutes before he came out. As soon as he stepped out of the ward, his expression returned to normal as if he didn't get sentimental at all. He put on a smile and proceeded to Nathan's ward to join the others.
*****
Meanwhile, Kathleen who ran away from Stephen and her cousin, Aiden, already arrived at a nightclub. The generous driver stopped the car at the entrance.
"How much is my fare?" Kathleen asked him, opening her wallet.
The guy frowned deeply as he felt insulted. He had told her many times that his car was not a Taxi cab! But the woman was so heartbroken and distracted to absorb his words.
"Just buy me a drink," the guy blurted out.
Kathleen was emotionally exhausted so she didn't argue further. If the guy wanted a treat from her then she was fine with it.
"Okay. Just follow me inside once you park the car," Kathleen nonchalantly said before stepping out of the car. Her tears were already dry. She just needed some alcohol to wash away her sadness.
She proceeded to the bar counter right away and ordered hard drinks. She was so determined to let it all out tonight. She had to admit that she was defeated by Veronica this time. She was truly affected by her words.
Kathleen started to drink, finishing her glass with just several gulps. She didn't care if she would get drunk tonight. She was done drinking her third glass when the guy joined her.
"Hey, slow down, Lady!" He snatched the glass away from her. He noticed that she was drinking hard liquor, finishing her glasses in one go as if she was only drinking water.
"Hey, give it back! It's mine!" Kathleen was a little bit tipsy, her cheeks so red.
"Who are you? Just mind your own business?!" Kathleen tried to take her glass back but the man raised it up so that she couldn't reach it.
"I'm Jack. Remember that name!" The man responded with a cheeky grin on his face. Now that he was looking at her up close, he realized that his strange passenger was such a cutie… A pretty one!
Kathleen just shot him a cold sharp glare. She gave up and just turned to the bartender, ordering another drink.
Jack could only watch her helplessly. 'Hmm. This woman disrupted me from doing my task. I will make her pay for it,' Jack thought to himself, observing Kathleen who was trying to drown herself in the alcohol.
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