*Ding*
As if on cue, she heard the notification pop in her phone and looking at it, it was confirmation of a large sum of money cashed into her account.
After that also followed a notification making it clear that she had cleared all the debt that she once had. Completely speechless, she glanced at her phone in disbelief as she wondered how he was able to do so.
"You wouldn't mind if I asked a small favor from you?" He posed to which he proceeded to explain his request. After that, Andrew left the clinic and make his way towards where Diana was hospitalized.
After a check in with the nurse at the counter, he was granted access and made his way to where Diana's room was. Right outside of it, he could see Miss Clara waiting on the waiting chairs.
Her hair seemed disheveled, her demeanor was worn out with her spirit completely spent given that she was in a half asleep state. He proceeded to sit next to her without waking her up, knowing that he'll make her all the more restless.
Five minutes later, a nurse came to the two. "Miss Clara?" She started off however she seemed deep in her sleep. "What is it, nurse?" Andrew posed on her behalf. "You can visit the patient now." She added softly before taking her leave.
Andrew gently shook Miss Clara who was at first startled with Andrew's presence before adjusting herself. "Andrew, I didn't think that I'd see you here so soon." She mused, her speech slurred with her sleep.
"We can now see Diana." He gestured as he opened the door to which the two went inside. The sterile smell of the place was a little nauseating for Andrew as it would make him recall what had happened all those years ago but he adjusted after a while.
Diana was in white sheets, her state wasn't that dire given that she had passed out as tubes protruded from her figure. She seemed revitalized as she glanced at the two. "Mom..." Her voice frail as tears swelled in her eyes.
"Diana..." Clara responded as she wrapped her arms around her. She was in an upright position thus the hug wasn't that bothersome to her. "Andrew." Diana mused as she realized his presence.
"Hello Diana." His voice monotone but she could tell with his presence that he cared about her. She too had grown accustomed to how vast he had changed over the years. "What happened, sweetie?"
Clara asked who failed to resonate with Diana as she fell silent before speaking out. "You were right about Anthony, mom. But I was being stubborn as always. I should have just listened to you from the start." Verge on another breakdown, Clara hugged her daughter once more.
"It doesn't matter anymore. You're safe and that's all that matters." Clara reassured her before the sound of the door creaked and a doctor walked in. "You must be Miss Clara." He started off warmly as he made his way to the bed and brandishing a clipboard.
"What is her state, doctor?" Andrew posed as he already guessed what it was. It was an act of his to come off as oblivious then ask a question to the answer he already knew to avoid raising too much suspicion.
"Well it would seem that she was drugged with a light dose of triazoplam but it's effects have already worn off and she should be fine. However that wasn't the only drug that we found in her body."
"It would seem that your daughter has faint traces of heroin in her bloodstream but with a few weeks of abstinence, she should be fine." Clara was puzzled with the first line but the later completely took her by surprise.
"She should be ready for release by tomorrow." He finally added as he put his clipboard down. "Thank you doctor." She sighed to which the doctor brushed it off as a compliment before taking his leave. "Heroin?" Clara asked Diana who was in her arms.
"It was all a bit of a blur when it happened." She mused cluelessly however looking at Andrew, she could feel that he knew more than he was letting on. "Well in that case, I'll pick you up tomorrow and you can stay back home."
This response didn't resonate with her fully given the hesitation plastered on her face. "Mom, I'm twenty four. I'm not a kid anymore." However Clara wasn't having any of it. "But you're still my daughter." Andrew interjected in between the two.
His presence felt added and out of place given how passive he was in the room and the conversation. "I know where you can rest for a while before you get back on your feet." The pair looked at him with skeptism in their eyes.
"A friend of mine is happy to let you stay. I'm sure the two of you would get together very nicely." He further added as he could feel the judgement in their eyes and he didn't blame them. "Yeah, I can crash out there before I get it all sorted." Diana added however Clara felt betrayed.
"I think that you should pause for a while and reevaluate your choices and options for now." She tried to convince Diana however she seemed adamant in her choice. "Fine, but promise me that you'll ask for help if you need it. And if it's too much for you, you can always come home."
"Thanks mom and thank you Andrew." Her voice calm and docile. "Can you leave the room to Andrew and I, please? For a little while." Clara nodded her head as she took her leave and waited outside.
Completely alone with Andrew, she felt less restrained with her choice of words. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions and it'll take too much time to answer them all."
"How did you know where I was and how to fight like that? Also did you drug me?" Andrew gave a light sigh. "I simply stalked you on your way back. As for fighting, in college, you have to learn how to fight and fend off for yourself."
"And finally yes I did drug you. I knew that you wouldn't be fine with the idea of going to a hospital thus I chose the option that ensured that you did." Diana was both disgusted and pleased with his actions.
Sure he did all that for her benefit but the method of execution didn't sit well with her. Even though I appreciate your help, don't stalk me next time, you creep." A joke that failed to land on Andrew as the room fell into an awkward silence.
"I'll take my leave." He mused as his figure walked out the room and Clara walked in as the two exchanged their time together. 'As for you Anthony, what am I going to do with you?'
He had now gotten rid of any backing that he would have as an advantage over him but his parents were still in the fray. Walking towards his room, he barged in given that there wasn't anyone inside.
"What a devastating sight. You really are a failure." The first set of words that resonated through Anthony's ears and looking at the source, he was shocked to see Andrew next to him. There was no form of malice in his eyes.
'My parents didn't make it.' Anthony was both devastated and down realizing this. Andrew who was still in his seat glanced at Anthony. The idea of ending his life kept on teetering on his mind but with a bit of chastity, he refrained from doing so.
"I don't know who you are but I don't mean any harm." His tone was laced with a hint of fear, trying to get away from Andrew however his situation wouldn't let him. "I'm not here to keep on harassing you but I do want you to know."
"If you bother approaching Diana one more time, I won't be as merciful. As for an apology, she won't need it from a waste of space like you. As for your little posey that you have, they won't help you." And with that, he took his leave out of the hospital.
The day was half spent and wondered what he would spend it on. 'I might as well engage in an activity that'll be a quick pump and dump. Maybe a competition like martial arts? Or a gaming competition?' Torn with what he wanted to do, he checked his phone as he took a seat down at a restaurant.
After making his order, he scrolled through his phone to find what he had initially planned to be open. 'It would seem that I'll be applying for a martial arts brawl.' He mused in the end as he applied for the competition online. As for the audition for it, it was to be held later in the week.
Just as he was about to take his leave, his phone rang. "Oh, hi Andrew. You won't believe I have planned with the rest of the boys. Maybe you want to join in? I'll send you the location." Following that a message prompted in his phone indicating a specific location.
'Youth, a time wasted like no other or well spent. But it all boils down to the one in control.' He could tell what skirmish of an encounter was waiting for him. Given that he had nothing else to do, he made his way towards the specified location.
...
Looking around, the sight of classy bungalows and rich landscapes came into view. A clear contrast from where he had come from but it was all superficial to him as he ignored all of this an made his way towards a mansion that was visible from afar.
Stylish and lavish was the gimmick present and it reeked in large amounts all over the place. After pressing the door bell, the sound of a refined man rang through behind the door. "Who is this and what business do you have here?"
"I was invited by Hector." He mused flatly as he brought up the message highlighting Hector's debrief. Glancing at the phone, a light scoff was heard before the door opened ajar.
The sight of a well dressed man, seemingly in his forties could be seen in a sharp suit as he glanced down on Andrew. His demeanor proper and professional as his eyes locked on with Andrew's before retracting. "Follow me."