Chương 12: Steer Clear
Roaming around the halls was quite a routine for me. Viewing diversified sceneries that captivates my eyes and filming diligently them as far as I can; views like the standard rampages of health workers when another COVID 19 positive patient appended through their medical system, constant bickering moments of doctors and nurses with their patients, and joyful celebrations for the recovered.
Although they've been receiving patients with the same condition repeatedly, the stress became tenser over time. Their worn out faces were disconcerting and troubling… and sometimes, my selective sight could notice how rush they were to even wear properly their ppe.
To worsen it all, this month's report declared that twenty-five of the personnel died… and according to Kelsy, this isn't the the largest record yet. Yeh, quite a boomer but I guess she's trying to rely me a message that I might be one of them, just because I'm too arrogant. But whatever shoo shoo lil shwit, I'm carrying this armor with me till the end of the final.
That day, I wandered through the busy halls and stop by the clinic near the sanitation tent to get my first molecular test. I went inside and wiped my soles on the sanitary floor mat as I saw Kelsy taking the test. She sat by the tiffany chair, bringing her head up as her workmate with a pastel blue ppe inserted a six-inch long swab through her nose.
A dizzy sensation crawled inside me, uncomfortable of how they conducted the test… since they had to rotate the swab around the cavity for about fifteen seconds: and also, I was told by the preceding person that the nasal passage might burn a minute causing his eyes to water a bit, which isn't of any help.
After Kelsy was done with her test, she whispered to me that it's okay. Suddenly, I trusted her- No, I'd been every time I met her... which I'm quite wondering why. Prolly she felt like she's a mother to me? I don't know why that's the one that goes to my mind.
I did a quick nod with a massive gulp at her as I gestured the person to do it lightly. Kelsy chuckled under her white disposable mask as she turned around to go back to her everyday work.
Later that day, I decided to endanger myself once again. I sneaked inside Albert's clinic… since his door was carelessly opened while he was out doing his operation, and searched through his things to find a reliable clue about my distant past.
Why would he keep something that is related to my past? I'm aware that I'm on a minefield, searching for that thing when right after, escaping without returning one.
I was so confident that I didn't even think about the possible outcome when doing such; my chest was sticking out and my shoulders arched back all this time, feeling like a stereo guy who got his so called plan under control. What a big omen for me to be getting another slap or a punch in the face.
His clinic was fairly neat and clean, rendering a vibe of that of a normal bedroom. The medical equipment used was tucked inside one of the walk-in wooden cabinets, leaving his snowy bed and desk inward his sleek and ample quarter.
His curtained window blocked the slow golden sunlight that was pulling combatively through the interior. A miniature chandelier dangled on the ceiling as the light reflected by the fine dazzling diamonds of the pendant danced across the dark-panelled walls.
I dragged myself through the seamless white floor while rummaging through his clothes that was shoved below his bed. I threw dispassionately bunch of his t-shirts, pants, and briefs… a really yucky one while creeping through, Mission Impossible theme song intensifies; when to my surprise, a transparent plastic bag caught my eye from the rear end.
Without any hesitance, I kicked roughly the floor forcing myself to reach the shady object as I managed to snatch the bag made of polythene film. After that, I scooted back through the daylight and observed in a flash the plastic bag as a wide array of shock bolted inside me.
My fingers were trembling uncontrollably, horrified by the sight in front of my wide-opened eyes. It took me only one glimpse to shift away my head from it.
A fixed knotted nylon rope shoved inside the bag, soiled with unholy reddish blood as the textile inwards moistened with water droplets.
As I looked unpleasantly again inside, a desire red greeting card was inserted within, attached on the leash with a torn dirty white ribbon. One reddish mark of a fingerprint embedded as faded letters was written on the front. I could make out words like 'my mom' which was shaded white as though someone was scratching on the card to write a note while other written words where too blurry for me to understand.
The mess was so horrendous… and I'd never thought ever in my life that I will uncover this from Albert's lemongrass and cedar wood scented room.
I grasped tightly the handle of the bag as the veins retaliated over my leathery skin. My ears sprouted off hot steams, erupting my head in a minute as iffy assumptions engulfed down my lobes.
I roared under my breath, uneased with the entity that envelops in front of me, "What's this? Is this something to do with my past? What happen? Why did it happen? or maybe it doesn't have anything to do with me?" At that very moment, someone opened vigorously the door as though they had perceived that a thief stole their belongings… which was close to being true.
In a jiffy, I slipped Albert's plastic bag again deeply below his bed when he grabbed my collar suddenly.
He wore a taupe stripe t-shirt and slim trousers while his round eye glasses stilled on his greasy blonde regular haircut. His sapphire blue eyes stared daggers into mine while our faces were an inch apart.
He gritted his teeth while huffing and puffing in frustration, "What did you do again, Aiden?!-"
He spread his arms around, showing his clothes that was piled disorderly on his white absorbent mat, "-I'd ignored you for days already even though you're still sticking around like a pest beside her. Can't you just brush it off? I'm fine with how things are, so stop invading my space for f***'s sake!"
I screamed at him in exchange, "You'd told little about me and it's been triggering my curiosity for so many times now! You started it so I shall end it, so that in the meantime you'll get what you wanted. I'm here to only get an answer!"
Not letting me peek into that thing again he had hidden for who knows how long it's been there, Albert pushed me mightily outside as my sole was extremely intact on the ground as the gravity gathered below in response.
He dragooned his feet beneath as we fight for dominance. Medical workers and patients who passed by, eyed in disdain at us as if we're kids who got kicked out of the wrestling ring.
As one sweltering sweat escaped my pore, my legs were stuffy yielding for rest. When Albert budged me with a quick and immense blow on my chest landing me butt-planted on the ivory, shiny floor outside.
Knowing cunningly that he overcamed, he said a goodbye while returning back to his room to reposition his dirty stuff again below his smelly, sweaty bed.
He left me sitting outside like a maniac as I held my buttocks with a big scowl demonstrated on my face. At first, I would likely to give in but then, this scenario I'd involved in totally hyped me like I'm expecting for more. I legit got a smug smile written on my face and I swear it doesn't sit back right at me. I'm an embarassment, no one can deny that.
Thousands of whispers spoked through the background and the midgets of dust hovered around as I manifested with much assertiveness, 'In the end, I fall… but the time will come when I will turn it around under my favour. I'm waiting for this point of my life.'
At that moment of time, a woman with a mint-coloured ppe rushed at me as I regarded at Albert's door with a sneer, "Why are you here at Doc. Albert's door?-" ' Oh God not her... again.' I didn't even notice her steps. I'm so preoccupied with how dogsh*t his door is.
Christina asked me in concern as she cupped my cheeks; her head tilted to the side to check any feasible injuries, "-Did he do something at you?" I thought with a big sneer drawn on my face, 'I really hate it when she's too close. She often does that every time she's anxious about me. Really annoying.'
I insisted in a rude manner as my chin jutted in disgust, "You don't have to worry about anything, really. I'm fine."
Since I'm better off leaving my pitiful self, Christina stood edgily while folding her arms with her usual enraged stature emerging back to the shallows, "Answer me, why you're here?"
I looked up at her, giving my 'boss' the exact answer to satisfy her question, "Actually, I came here to… you know-" My two fingers of each hand draw quotation marks in the air as a gesture of sarcasm while I smiled falsely towards her, "-To get in terms with 'your boyfriend'. That's it." "He's not-"
'Aight forget about it, convo is going 'nowhere'.' I cut her off as I held her gloved hands into mine; her eyes grown in terror, "Christina- how much do you know about Albert?" Not expecting my persistent demand, Christina trembled violently as she eyed at Albert's door to watch if he was eavesdropping on us. "What?"
With a deep swallow, she gazed back at me again with a slight slap on my shoulder. Her head low as her face whitened in fear, "Fine, Let's talk about it privately." 'Whatever Albert had done is as hideous and dreadful as one would attempt genocide. That's how I see it… but I won't let go that easily. I'll avenge and conquer, no matter what. Cringe yes, whatever.'
Not wanting to waste more time further, I urged her to talk with me at this place and at this minute.
Having caught my anger, she fidgeted around; her eyes closed as little shivers subsided from my touch before stumbling softly over words, "I know nothing much about him… but he'd been threatening maliciously every guy I'd met with… and he would unconsciously thought we're dating. I was scared… I don't know what to do about it. All I could I ever do is to stay away from them as nearly as possible to steer clear off him from anyone I cared about. So- I'm not watching longer before there'll be chances he'll actually kill one."
She glanced at me with a look of anxiety; her eyes red as grievous tears turfed out of her eyelids, "-Aiden, you're a good friend and I wanted you to know how much I'm overjoyed being with you and Kelsy… but ever since all those matters I've dealt with became way worse, all I need is for you to be safe. No more than that since this is Albert we are talking about..."
I steered myself away from pity as thousands of compassion devoured inside me, 'Albert… Who does he think he is? Christina's rightful one? If he was to be her husband... which is obviously forced, she'll be panic-stricken like that her whole life.'
Then again that rope I saw earlier recorded back again on my mind, leaving me speechless. One thing I wanted to achieve this year is to prison him. I thought he might have killed someone with that. So that Christina could live all she wants peacefully without someone controlling her every emotions. Even so, I'm not sure with how things go from here. I know nothing about him.
I regarded at Christina with an awful heart as I gripped her shoulder with thorough strength, "Hell I care if I'll come out safe or not! Nothing's gonna be resolved if you do not trust me at all. If something's going wrong with you, me and the others who you cared about will be the one to blame themselves. We failed to protect someone we really felt close with. Please care about how we feel scumbag. Stop being so full of yourself."
Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in shock. Her arms dropped beside her slim body as she gazed at the stars that shined through my eyes.
Suddenly, Christina's phone vibrated disturbing the air. She took out it out and turned it on, when something popped out of her inbox…
A message had caused her to dash, leaving me in bewilderment as she shouted 'Eloise' across the halls.
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