She instinctively pulled away from him, falling back to her senses. " Sorry~ I shouldn't have done that," Phoenix mumbled under her breath and he nodded, concealing the awkwardness with a soft smile.
" I should be the one apologizing... I guess I made you uncomfortable. " He disbands her claims. 
"Oh...no," Phoneix said, her eyes shooting her appreciation towards him. She was beginning to grow fond of him for unknown reasons. Maybe because he was empathetic towards her, she thought. " I don't know how we became this close but... I feel quite warm around you." She added but then the door barged open, welcoming her family with the two right behind.
Denzel had informed Kalisa about her recovery and her request to see Del. " He was the first person she asked for... I think she lost memories of the incidents before her wedding and afterward. He made it known.
" I think it's best we keep the past a secret~ it might trigger her again. We need to monitor her for a while to know if she's fully recovered from her heart condition." He made Kalisa comprehend.
Even though Kalisa wasn't so happy bringing Del along yet she had no other choice. To her, saving her daughter was a priority.
" God...Phone my daughter..." Kalisa huddled in first, fretting over to Phoneix who was by now gazing at the entrance.
" Talking of the devil..." She mumbled, tolling his gaze to the door. Irish's gaze dropped into an unpleasant glare and Del together with Berla understood.
" Mum..." She instinctively wrapped her arms around her mother in an instant~ Levi joined in as well. " thought I'll never see you again "Kalisa said in sobs.
" Don't say that Mum ~" Levi cried and Phoenix teared up sniffing amidst giggles. " I know right...?" She added and they all chuckled. Her eyes met with Irish and he smiled along with her.
" Phone..." Del's soft voice intruded on their giggles. A smile lingered through his worried gaze as their eyes met and for the first time, she noted it to be forced. She feigned a smile.
" Babe..."He scooped her into his embrace and Phoenix buried her head over his shoulders. " Sorry for getting you worried." She mumbled, trying hard to hide her own uneasiness.
" No need to, my love...I'm just glad to have you back like this. I really missed you " He kissed her, her face lit with a smile, covering away her pain. Phoenix felt she detected insincerity in his tone.
" Here...I brought you this" He handed over the flowers.
Although Berla was upset just looking at the two get together, yet she braced it up with a soft smile. She had to do her best if she really wanted their plan to work.
" Thank you," Phoenix said, searching through Berla's gaze. She felt satisfied knowing how pained she felt at the moment. She knew she couldn't stand the sight of them together. "They're lovely..."
  "Such a nerve" Irish growled but she instinctively blinked with an assuring gaze." I got this" She muttered. Although she felt her anxiety mounting up inside her by just the bare sight of Berla yet she held it together pretty well.
Just then, Berla jumped in as Del settled near her bed. " You don't know how worried I was, Phone," She said, taking a seat next to her.
" I'm so sorry, dear... anything to make up for it?" She jokes. Hearing that from her made her marvel. She felt like a familiar stranger, Phone scoffed.
 The ward was soon filled with chatter and giggles. Kalisa privately called out Irish whose gaze was still fixed on Phoneix who was there laughing her heart out at her brother's daddy jokes. 
The doctor had wanted to meet and update them on Phoneix's condition and because Mr. Stanly was out of town, Kalisa decided to go with Irish.
At the door, a voice from within asked them to enter. She turned the handle and they met with Danzel's gaze as he welcomed his visitor. " Oh, mum..." He called directing them to the chairs across his desk.
As they settled in, he went straight up to update them. " Well...the surgery went well and thankfully she'd gained consciousness." He explained and with eager ears, they listened. " I'm glad to finally say that, Phone is now out of risk~ got a long life ahead of her now."
Kalisa practically jumped with pure joy–Silent tears trickled down her eyes. The heavens had finally heard their prayers. Irish had a soft satisfactory smile lingering along the corners of his lips. A sigh of relief settled his nervousness.
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                                U&K COMPANY 
It was past his reporting hours but no sign of Irish at all and this kept her restless. For every passing second, she checked from her desk. Zaylee had called but it always ended with a Beep note.
" Hey, Rosette..." She stopped his secretary midway as she approached his office. "~ have you heard from Irish today?"
" No, not yet ~ he telephoned yesterday to find out about his schedule for the day." She explained, looking quizzically at her. " I bet he'll be a little late"  She added and announced her intention to roll on with what she was doing.
" Oh, sure...sorry for bothering" She apologized. Her face knitted in confusion and anxiety. " Where could he be?" She thought.
Just then, the car of the lift cranked to where they stood and Rosette stepped in. Zaylee watched as the doors pulled shut after Dave had stepped down.
" Why are you here?" She asked, her gaze laced with displeasure. "...any update on what I asked you to do?"
" She woke up," came the soft voice. She remained silent for a brief moment as she digested that piece of information. She finally knew where he could be. Her face crowded with wrath as she thought of it.
" Was he there ?" She asked and he nodded with a yes. Her fingers clenched into a fist, she trod off but Dave held her back– her eyes redirected to him.
" Can we have a talk?" He spoke in an even tone, grabbing onto her wrist. Zaylee intuitively shot it off his grip.
" What are you doing?~ someone might see us" She whispered, her eyes immediately scanned around to ensure it was safe.
Since the last time they had a quarrel at Irish's end, Zaylee had kept to herself. It was mostly an awkward moment between them with only a master and boss attitude.