EMBRACE YOU: Presence & Poison
Episode 76's

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“Have you been alone all this time?!”

My eyes heated up hearing Aunt Yuan's question, the woman sat down beside me as her hands rubbed my hands very gently.

“How are you feeling now? Are you okay?” Ask again after not getting an answer from me.

I shook my head slowly staring back at the blackish lens of aunt Yuan's. My heart was beating fast and there was a speck of pain slowly spreading across my chest cavity as I watched her clear eyes slowly shrouded in tears. She looked at me in silence but her cheeks were wet.

“What traumatized you so much that even in your fainting you could feel the pain?” Aunt Yuan's nose was flushed, her voice was shaking and her eyes were already polished with eyeliner and mascara were looking at me so warmly.

I swallowed my saliva with great difficulty, my throat ached and my tears were already dripping at the end of my eyes, wetting the pillow. I blinked trying to hold back my cry but failed.

The tears were more and more and my heart was hurting more.

“Your album?” The thump of aunt Yuan managed to make my cry instantly break.

I sobbed softly, turning my gaze away from these two women. After a bit of calm I got up to sit leaning on the head of the bed. Aunt Nuri was still silently looking at me and aunt Yuan who was busy wiping her tears was also silent, both of them were waiting for me to answer. “Ya, one of them.”

The expression on Aunt Yuan's face turned frantic and she quickly handed me the tissue she had been holding. “You're nosebleed again.” Said.

Aunt Nuri yells at Doctor Stefan. The man walked quickly up to me, checking my pulse again. “Suster Rini will be here soon. You can survive?”

Although it felt like my head was very dizzy but I nodded slowly to answer it. Now that I don't care if this blood is going to stain my shirt, I let my head not look up because it feels useless to do that.

Aunt Yuan and Aunt Nuri, who were busy cleaning my nose, had sheets of tissue that had a color that was scattered on the floor. I didn't realize when my head would limp down until Aunt Yuan held it back.

My eyes that had been so dear and almost closed could still feel the panic of these two women. Like the exact timing, the voice of the call from sister Rini who was familiar to me sounded from the front door of the house.

I don't remember what happened anymore but I know Doctor Stefan and Sister Rini are trying to help me. Even though my eyes were closed but I could hear what they were doing. Just a few minutes later, the situation around me became quiet.

***

For the second time I realized that I was screaming and woke up from a nightmare. Sweat drenched my face as I who was awake sat staring at the orange wall of the room. The sound of my breathing and heart beating sounded very loud in this room.

There was no one until the door opened and the figure of Doctor Stefan with Sister Rini walked up to me.

“What's up? Does anyone hurt?” Sister Rini was already beside me first, she touched my sweaty hands as well.

My eyes glanced at him, my whole body still felt limp with no energy. Just with a soft slit of his head, his originally worried-looking facial expression turned even calmer.

Doctor Stefan's hand touched my wrist, for the umpteenth time this man checked my pulse. “Suster, give vitamin injections and sleeping pills.”

Reflexes I glanced at Doctor Stefan, though not asking but from my gaze only this man knew what I meant. “This is only thirty minutes away. You need to rest, sleep! Your body is already very weak.” His tone of worry is not hidden.

Though it was still early in the morning but when people actually started their activities, I had to rest.

That nightmare, this real pain in my chest cavity is getting stronger. I don't know why I got like this, is it possible because of the debate with mom? The mother who betrothed me, the mother who wanted to keep me away from Bayu and the mother who always thought negatively of me.

“Doctor Cilia has entered this complex. He'll be there soon.”

Hearing that Doctor Stefan was waiting for the presence of doctor Cilia made me feel worse. All of this signifies that I am physically and mentally ill.

Just an hour ago, the doctor waved his goodbye and promised to come back later in the afternoon. But he had to come back here in no time and leave all the patients waiting for him just for my sake.

Then our gazes were all distracted by the sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand. There was a call coming in from an unknown number.

Doctor Stefan grabbed my phone and handed it to me.

“Maybe this is something important.” When I received it, the call was interrupted. Just a few seconds later, a message came in from the number. Doctor Stefan and sister Rini stood up and walked to the doorway as if giving me some privacy.

From 08967xxxxx

Good morning beautiful!

What time will we meet? You must remember me ‘, right? Your mother is very much looking forward to the progress of our relationship.

Call me if you've decided where we'll meet.

Ahh he's Henry Zeng. I've known him since Junior High. He was a friend of my distant friend. His reputation was very bad. Reading the message alone I can guess easily its nature must have not changed even worse.

My memories go back to when my playmates used to love him, he asked me to make them close. I disagree because Henry is not a good man to subtly refuse. But my friend thought I actually secretly liked Henry because at that time the man seemed to approach me deliberately. Come to the house and meet mom, they get along quickly and mom really likes it.

Ever since Henry High School was never seen in front of me again and out of nowhere my mother actually betrothed me to him! I had imagined what I would have to face in front of him if I was with him.

And now I suddenly miss Bayu again. I don't know what's up and want to find out but don't know where to start.

Because I've been thinking too much lately, I miss my job. Looks like I have to persuade Doctor Stefan so I can get back to work tomorrow. If you keep quiet like this, I can go crazy fast.

Then the man wearing his neat shirt and tie came back in. “Dok, I have to get back to work soon. I've long since left my job and college.”

Doctor Stefan did not immediately refute, he was thinking with his gaze looking at me like he was considering it. “You sure you can? Seeing your condition now when just out of the hospital one hour just like this.”

“At least I can concern myself and not think about all this pain. We don't even know if I can really heal?” This man went back to silence while watching the two bags of liquid that entered my body. Infusion fluid and a bag of blood.

Then from the doorway appeared the figure of the woman who had been waiting for his presence.

“Oh Cilia doctor has arrived?” Doctor Stefan greeted her happily as if he had managed to avoid our conversation.

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