VALERIE

Chapter 29: Say It Again

Copyright © @zylgnagnaba 2013

Harry’s POV

Watching Valerie’s pale and unconscious state while she’s lying on a hospital bed takes me on edge. She has already consumed two IV fluids for the last 24 hours and she still hasn’t woken up. Looking at her closely while I sit on a stool beside her bed, casting my head down to her quilt and rubbing my temple—these motions annoyingly put me in distress. I know the doctor said she will be fine but I’d rather make sure, so I really wish she would wake up any moment now.

I think God has heard my prayers when I feel slight movement in the bed. Trailing Valerie’s slender physique, I notice her eyes slowly flutter open before letting out a slow and meek groan. I quickly stand to my feet, my face hovering her. Longing to touch her but I realize she’s still fragile so I withdraw my hands, keeping it on the surface of the bed.

“Hey, Val. You’re awake.” I greet immediately; relief is laced in my tone when she finally wakes up. She’s facing me but her eyes stares at the blank space beyond my shoulder.

“Yeah. Bummer.” She says sarcastically, her voice is thick from sleep, and she looks to her other side. Her eyes grow larger when she sees Louis curled up in the small couch, snoozing. “How long was I out?” She asks hurriedly after adjusting her gaze at me.

“Uhm… Three days, I guess?”

“What?!”

“No. I was just kidding. More or less 24 hours.” I giggle at my confession and she rolls her eyes in annoyance. I try not to focus on the fact that she’s completely bare under the white hospital gown adorning her.

“You were supposed to be in Auckland now, right? And how long is Louis sleeping in the couch?” I let out a little laugh at the rough transition of her questions and she rolls her eyes again.

I sit back on the frigid stool before answering her questions. “Louis and I decided to stay behind. He helped me bring you here. The three boys are already in Auckland. I have to make sure you’re okay before I leave. And…” I look at the guy’s still state at the couch, examining him. “He’s been asleep for five hours now.” I tell her uncertainly, shrugging my shoulder.

“And how about you?” Her forehead creases along with her furrowed brows. Her eyes dart to the dark bags under my eyes. I press my lips in a tight line and look down to her vein where the transparent pipe is connected, not answering her. “I told you, Harry. I am okay.”

I snap my head at her statement, letting out a half-laugh. “Are you kidding me? The doctor said that you could have had pneumonia if I didn’t bring you here on time. Is that what you call okay?”

She shakes her head a bit simply. “Whatever.” She grumbles and gazes at the cream white ceiling above her.

“You’re coming with me to Auckland, Valerie. So I can take care of you while recovering.” I tell her, my hands gravitate to her arm that she peers at before frowning at me.

“No, I’m not. I can take care of myself.” She protests without putting any aggression to her words and gazes at the ceiling once again. It seems that it’s the only thing in the room that would attract her sight—that she’d stare at anything else but me.

I know that this is no time to argue with her because she just woke up. But I also have no time for her stubbornness. We will leave for Auckland tomorrow immediately after she’s discharged. The doctor ensured me that travelling for few hours by plane would do no harm to her health. I can’t trust her enough to be on her own while I am away. There’s nobody left here to take care of her. So, I’m bringing her with me. At least, even if we’re doing some stuff in Auckland, I can still manage to watch over her.