Chapter 15: It's A Surprise
Riley has been staying in Jay's condo for seven days now. She's thankful that he didn't do anything to her to make her feel uncomfortable. And in those seven days, she admitted that Jay and her are slowly becoming close to each other.
He buys her new clothes, not just normal clothes but expensive ones. She tried to insist not to do that but he's so persistent. Then he feeds her and treats her like a princess especially when he's taking care of her when she just got out of the hospital.
But when they're going out, Jay has been careful not for him but for her. She feels that they're like celebrities who tried to avoid people or paparazzis. He didn't let her go out of his condo when she didn't wear a cap, jacket and face mask.
It's confusing the hell out of her but she didn't complain or ask. She didn't want to ruin the atmosphere. And the slow processing of closeness between them.
Jay on the other hand, had to hold his patience and for being short-tempered if he genuinely wanted her to stay with him. He also wanted to be close with her then make her fall for him. And when that happens successfully, he will confess to her that he was the one who kissed her that night at the Masquerade Ball.
And if she forgot the kiss we shared that night, I will make her remember every second that happened. If possible, I could just repeat the kiss so that she could remember me fast. Jay thought in his mind.
The problem is, she didn't recognize that it was him. But she did look into his eyes. He saw it with his own two eyes that she deeply stared at his intimidating eyes yet tempting to look at.
But what if she gets mad at me when we finally get close and fall for me?
Shut it, Jay. Don't get your hopes too high. She doesn't like a guy like you. And she doesn't deserve you. She deserves more. A part of his mind says that to him.
JAY SIGHED and picked up his keys. He wanted to bring Riley to someone important to her.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
He smiled at her. "It's a surprise."
Riley giggled, making him chuckle. "Oooh! I love surprises!" Then she suddenly pouted. "Though I didn't experience being surprised."
His smile disappeared.
She never experienced a life full of rainbows and unicorns. And her family is much more broken than ours. Should I be thankful that I had everything even if I had a broken family?
"I'm glad that I'm the first that will surprise you." He said.
Riley entered his Aston Martin when they arrived at the garage. She closed the door then opened the window and said…
"Then that makes you special to me."
His breathing became fast. His chest was beating so fast like his heart wanted to come out.
He tapped his chest. "Please don't do that again."
Riley innocently raised his eyebrows. "Do what?"
He bit his lip and shook his head. "Nothing." Then he went to the driver seat.
Jay felt the awkward atmosphere between them. They were silent the whole ride until they reached their destination.
"Hospital?" She gasped and looked at him unknowingly. "But my treatment is already done."
He didn't answer her and instead, he went out of the driver's seat and walked towards the passenger's seat to open the door for her.
Hmm, he's becoming a gentleman. Riley thought. This is an achievement for him.
Jay offered his hand. "Let's go?"
Without hesitation, she accepted his hand and they walked together inside the hospital. It wasn't just an ordinary hospital. As far as she knows, it was the most expensive hospital here in Seattle. The hospital has a very high building. If you're new to this hospital you will mistake it as a five star hotel and it has seventy floors.
Riley was examining the patients and nurses inside. The nurses were so busy at the moment while patients were grunting and shouting in pain about their situation.
She's just following Jay while her mind is focused on the patients, especially the elderly. And then she suddenly remembered her grandmother.
Her grandmother was nothing to compare like one of the patients here. They had no home to stay in after all. So her grandmother has to stay in a hospital like this since she's suffering from a severe illness which is Kidney Cancer.
They have a small apartment when she's still going to school but the money they earned cannot sustain her grandmother's expenses in the hospital. In fact, their savings is still inadequate. That's why she had to stop from going to school and start working for her Masters. She's glad that she passed the interview as a maid. And her age is not a hindrance to pass as a maid since she had knowledge.
When they left their small apartment, Riley decided to quarantine her grandmother in the hospital while she's working. There are nurses who will assist and take care of her there while she's not beside her. But their hospital bill has to increase. And when she has enough savings, she will let her grandmother undergo surgery. Her grandmother is the only person she has, that's why she will do everything she can.
JAY NOTICED that Riley had been spacing out as they entered the hospital. He wanted her to be happy. See her face smiling and eyes sparkling in so much happiness.
But he suddenly felt nervous. What if she didn't like his surprise?
Nah, she will gladly be happy. Just think positive, dude.
He opened the door of room 708 on the fifteenth floor of this luxury hospital and asked her to come inside. But still spacing out. He thought that because her face had no emotion when they entered inside. Even when she's just staring at the person she wanted to see.
Jay held her hand and gently squeezed it. Then Riley instantly looked at him.
"Hmm?"
He smiled and combed her hair that covers the half of her beautiful face to the side of her ear.
Jay extended his hand to the front with a smile on his face. "Surprise."
Riley's head slowly turned in front of them.
A tear fell on her eyes seeing the most precious person in her life. She missed her so much and wanted to visit her but she lacked time working in the mansion.
"M-Momma…"
She crossed the distance between them and hugged her grandmother so tight as she didn't want her to lose.
The old lady slowly smiled and hugged and caressed her back.
"Pumpkin? Is it really… you?"
She smiled and nodded numerally. "Yes, Momma, it's me. Your Pumpkin."
Pumpkin is an endearment of her grandmother to her just like what her mother calls her when she's still alive. While she calls her Momma for being a mother and guardian to her for almost eighteen years.
"I missed you, Momma… so much…" she cried in her arms and couldn't help sob. She doesn't care if someone sees her breaking down on her loved ones.
"Shh… I miss you so much, pumpkin." her grandmother kissed her temple. "Don't leave me again, okay?"
Jay felt a hand caress his heart seeing the two reunited again. This was what he had been waiting for. To see Riley smile seeing the love of her life.
He left the room to give them some privacy to talk. And after an hour, Riley went out of the room and saw him sitting on the floor beside the room where her grandmother is.
"Hey,"
He smiled softly. "Hey. How's your Momma?"
She sat beside him and did an Indian sit. "I asked her to rest and sleep." she faced her. "I have so many questions. Can I ask?"
"Of course. Ask away."
She stared deeply into his eyes. "Why is my grandmother here? How did you know her? How did you know that she's my grandmother? How did you find her even if I didn't tell you not a single thing about her? Did you just stalk me and find the hospital where my grandmother was and you transferred her to the most expensive hospital here in Seattle?"
Jay scratched his nape. He felt shy for the first time. "Uhm, to answer your questions, yes. I stalked you and I'm sorry for that. I didn't ask for your permission. And when I found out where she was, I went to her and transferred her here to the most expensive hospital here in Seattle where she was near to you and where she can get the best surgery. But don't you don't have to worry about a single thing. I already take care of her hospital bills."
Her jaw fell in so much shock. "Oh my God… w-why did you do that? You don't have to do that. This is the reason why I'm working and serving your family. I'm saving money for her surgery but… w-what is this? I don't understand. Why are you doing this?"
Jay sighed and looked closely into her eyes. "Honestly, I don't know how to answer that because I myself, I really don't know why I'm doing this."
He caressed her cheeks down to her lips. "I guess I wanted to be close to you. That's why I'm doing this."
Riley held his hand on her face. "But this is too much…"
He slightly chuckled. "I don't care. I wanted to use my money for important things and I don't want to rot it in my bank account."
She feels she's going to cry again but she holds it. "Thank you." She whispered.
His gaze fell to her sweet lips. He didn't know what possessed him to lean closer to her.
Riley's heart was beating so darn fast as she stared into Jay's tempting eyes.
Their lips were about to meet when someone clears their throat in front of them.
And as fast as lightning, he distanced himself to her awkwardly, avoiding her eyes. They stood up when a nurse approached them.
The nurse had a teasing smile on her lips. "I hope I didn't bother you two."
"You are." Jay whispered but she clearly heard it.
Riley hid her smile and answered the nurse. "No you don't. Uhm, are you here to check up on my grandma?"
The female nurse smiled. "Yes, miss. It's time to take her medicine."
"Oh. Okay. Please come in." She mentioned her inside.
Riley couldn't look into his eyes either. She felt ashamed of herself.
When the nurse finished taking care of her grandmother, she said she would return to give them her grandmother's other medicine to take before her surgery next week.
Riley went to her grandmother's side and caressed her white hair.
Poor Momma… She has lost so much weight.
"Don't worry, Momma, you will be fine very soon. Just hang in there." She whispered and kissed her temple.
Minutes later, they heard a knock coming from outside of the room.
"Open it. It must be the nurse." She said to Jay who's sitting on the couch.
When Jay opens the door, their eyes widened to the people they saw. A pair of three eyes drop to hers.
"Found you."
~amph1trite~