Chapter 6: Timid
I did not ask any more questions; the distinct tone in which she replied was a good enough hint that she had just been biting her tongue and I would get an earful later on.
I pursed my dear lips together and continued strolling down the corridor. Maria halted her steps and glanced back at me before nodding thoughtfully to herself like she had remembered something, she removed a face mask from her handbag and handing it to me.
"There are a lot of people in the reception at this time. I'm afraid someone might recognize you. The last thing we need is a public scandal." Maria informed as I promptly put on the mask without opposing her openly.
As a child, I was very high profile due to the nature of the status I was born into. The press and general public kept up with the royal families regularly, however, by the time I was in college my parents had decided to completely oppose my being in the public eye and opted for privacy for me.
Using their connections, they managed to keep my name and face out of the press, it didn't take long for everyone not to bother about it as they chased other heirs of the royal families and noble class. Every so often a new scandal involving either of the aforementioned would be the talk of society, sometimes the minor scandals were even used to cover up major flaws and oversight in government.
However, since I handled the charities for my family, once in a while my face would appear in the news.
It was highly unlikely in the face of this that anyone would recognize me unless they were a diehard fan of mine. Still, I wore the mask obediently as we entered the reception area.
There were quite a few people, none emergency cases but all looked to have some minor ailment or reason to be here. I leaned by a wall standing casually while Maria when to the front desk to fill out paperwork.
I felt genuinely remorseful for stressing her this night. I had also probably caused that artist a lot of trouble because of my reckless behavior.
My incapacity to handle alcohol was something I was keenly aware of, yet at the moment I made a temporary lapse in judgment. I would have to make it up to both of them.
These thoughts were being analyzed by me before stopping as my eyes landed on a kid who sat by herself at the corner seat of the reception.
The child was skinny and appeared timid, probably the kind that got bullied on the playground just because. She lifted her eyes to meet mine staring at her, in less than a millisecond dropped wearily her gaze. Her fingers intertwined together as she played with them never bringing her head up again.
My eyes roamed the room, no one was around the kid. Where was her guardian?
My curiosity had already peaked, I went to the vending machine and got out a juice pack before approaching the girl cautiously.
"Hello," I said in the gentlest tone I could muster. I held the juice pack in my arms and squatted down to meet the child face to face. It was as I had a better look at the kid's face that I noted he was not a girl as I formerly supposed but a frail boy instead.
Wiping the minor surprise off my face immediately, I offer the boy a quick smile. He said nothing till this point.
"Why are you here? Where are your parents?" I asked. The boy did everything in his might to avoid my gaze, he said nothing to reply but shook his head.
My mind was puzzled. "Here." I brought forth my hand to offer him the juice. At my gesture, he moved farther back into his seat.
What was a scrawny kid who looked no more than 9 years doing all alone in a hospital?
Perhaps I should bring him to the notice of the hospital staff; I considered.
"Umm..." I began before a man came up by my side and yanked the kid away from his sit to shield him from me. I blinked and turned towards the man and kid.
The former muttered something to the kid who shook his head violently.
The sensitive man looked to be in his thirties and was tall and broad. His gaze that was previously on the side of offense stared me down.
"What were you telling my kid?" He interrogated me as though I was some criminal.
"I was asking him where his parents were out of concern, I didn't mean to offend," I said but noted there was no resemblance between the man and the little boy.
Turning my attention to the kid, I asked, "Is he your guardian?"
The kid stared at the floor and nodded his head.
I had no idea what the true relationship between the both of them was... my suspicions were naturally raised.
The man took my question as an attack and replied, "Can't you mind your business, what is your intention here? I told you I am his father, Do you think I'm a liar." He spat out words to me.
Still, in a squatting position, I placed my hands on my knees and stood upright.
"No... I... If you need to see a doctor I can help you for a quicker process..." I started with my hand reaching out to the boy, but, the man would not let me finish, instead, he rolled his eyes and impatiently moved the boy further away from me.
"Stay Away." He said firmly, even I was frightened. If he truly were the boy's father, then it would make sense that he was so shy.
"Is something the matter?" A third party joined the conversation. The person that joined was a younger man who stood towering above the 'boy's father and me.
I took a long look at the boy before turning to the new infusion in the conversation and shook my head.
The younger man was not only tall but attractive. He had a reliable look to him and a nice build.
"It's nothing," I replied and the man who had been on air with me nodded and pulled the kid away with him. As he dragged the boy's hand, the slightly large long-sleeved shirt the child had on lifted a bit to show his waist, and I noticed bruises.
It was just for a second before the clothing covered up. I felt on edge letting the both of them go like that but they had left the reception before I could stop them.
The third-party gentleman was still by my side, "Are you sure everything is fine?" he inquired, fixing his gaze on me.
I nodded hesitantly. Was everything fine? I didn't know.
The man said nothing else I walked away, as he left, Maria came up.
"Who was that?" she asked.
"No one," I replied honestly.
"Don't tell me he came to hit on you in a hospital?" she theorized. My eyes shifted to her amused. I chuckled underneath my mask.
"Nothing like that. Where is your head?" I said.
With that we left the hospital, my car had been parked there and the keys were handed over to the reception along with my purse.
Maria called for the driver earlier and he showed up in time to drive us home.
From the moment the car ride started Maria initiated her 20 questions, "You are very much aware that you are a lightweight, why then did you drink?"
"And who was the guy who called him?"
"Did you go drinking with him?"
"Why did he just leave you at the hospital? Does he have something to hide?"
"This is unlike you, did he force you to drink?"
"I was so worried when you didn't come back and when I got the phone call?"
She blurted out questions left, right, and center without leaving me room to answer any.
"It's complicated, I just had a lapse in judgment. Sorry I made you worried." I replied finally. Keeping my answers short.
There was still something missing in my memory that I had yet to figure out.
The throbbing in my head had subsided but the slight ache was present nonetheless. Our car pulled up to a junction that lead up to my cohabited abode, stopping at the traffic light turning red.
My mind and body had sobered up and went solemn, raising my gaze to Maria who sat beside me, I said, "I want to spend the night at Kiera's."
Maria looked at me uncertainly. She lowered her eyes in thought. "It's late why not just head home and rest."
I pouted at her response, the place I was heading to didn't feel like home it felt like a cage. Although my birth house was chaotic due to the endless strife between my parents, I would also choose that noise over the erring silence I felt at my so-called 'home'.
I shook my head at Maria and informed the driver of my decided detour. With that instead of taking a left after the light went green, the cat drove straight ahead.
In a matter of minutes, I reached my destination.
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