Blame It All on Me. Alternative Ending

Chapter 19. Home

"Please, don't exaggerate my role, Helen, there is also the medical crew that fought for Arina's life..." The young man ran his hand through his hair at the back of his head sheepishly and squinted his eyes in a smile. This gesture made Arina completely dumbfounded.

"Yes, but if it weren't for you, there would be no one to fight for at all!" Arina's mother turned to the girl. "Risha, what's gotten into you?" she asked reproachfully. "You're looking at the boy like he's a ghost... You could at least say 'thank you'. He risked his own life for you, you know!"

"Th-thank you," the girl muttered hurriedly in a weak voice. "Truly, I... thank you..."

Kirill squinted his eyes again in an embarrassed smile, and it was only at that moment that Arina noticed the bouquet in his hand. Following her gaze, Kirill raised it higher and explained:

"This is for you. I hope you like peonies?"

Arina could only nod. She liked peonies indeed. Moreover, they were her favourite flowers. But where did he get them in April?

"It really wasn't necessary," Arina's mother smiled broadly again. "Oh, right, I wanted to ask the nurses if they had any more vases or containers... I'll be right back, and you two can chat in the meantime."

Arina desperately looked at her mother, silently pleading for her not to leave. But the woman, taking the bouquet from Kirill's hands and putting on her medical mask, fluttered out of the ward, leaving them alone.

They remained silent for a while, and then Arina finally mustered the courage to speak.

"I don't know how to thank you... for what you did for me..."

"It's enough for me that you're fine and that we're talking now," Kirill replied. "Damn, this mask is unbearable... When is this going to end? Would you mind if I take it off?"

Arina shook her head and turned away. Then she cautiously glanced at him again – Kirill was just tucking the mask into his pocket.

'Shit,' she managed to think weakly.

"That's better," Kirill smiled.

Arina swallowed hard. Kakashi had a mole there too... So it wasn't her imagination... What was going on? How was this possible? Who the hell was he?

Kirill looked into her eyes again, and she quickly averted her gaze. Too quickly. Too nervously. She didn't know what to do with herself... On the one hand, she desperately wanted to just stare at him, but on the other, she felt genuinely dizzy when she did look at him.

"Arina, is something wrong?" Kirill asked perceptively.

"I... I just..." She wanted to confess, but then thought about how it would sound. "It's silly..." She almost bit her tongue – her spoken words echoed in her mind. "Shit..." She hid her face in her hands, completely flustered.

"Hmm?" Kirill raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry... I'm not feeling too well..." Arina moaned through her fingers.

Kirill frowned with concern, and Arina turned away, trying to regain control over her emotions.

At that moment, Arina's mother returned to the room, carrying the bouquet in a makeshift jar. She didn't notice the lingering tension.

"Guess what, it seems like we've 'requisitioned' all the vases in the department," she chuckled, placing the bouquet on the nightstand and moving one of those already standing there to the windowsill, where several more bouquets were placed. She then looked at Kirill. "Why are you still standing there? Come on, Risha, it's impolite to keep your saviour standing!"

Arina straightened up and forced a smile.

But before she could reply, Kirill, who mirrored her smile, said:

"I was actually about to leave..."

"What, already?" Arina's mother fluttered her eyelashes.

"Arina doesn't seem well at the moment – probably not the best time for visitors. I think we ought to call a nurse. Shall we go? I'll accompany you, and I also wanted to speak about further rehabilitation. Goodbye, Arina, rest up. If you don't mind, I'll visit you again sometime. Come on, Helen," With these words, Kirill smiled and winked at Arina, who happened to glance at him at that moment, causing her to involuntarily flinch again. He then took the slightly bewildered woman with him, and soon Arina was alone in the room.

No longer holding back, she grabbed her head and let out a loud sigh.

"Well, hello, madness, my old friend," she said, shaken. "Now all that's left is for him to show up through the window next time..."

☙ ❦ ❧

"Why was he here, Mom?"

"Why, what's the matter? Well, he just popped by... And he's got some connections in this hospital, thanks to him you've got such a posh ward – and he promised to arrange the best conditions for your further rehabilitation too."

"That's exactly it..." Arina felt flustered. "So he saved me... What's the meaning of all this?"

"Maybe he liked you," her mother winked.

"Yeah, right. I can just picture how attractive I looked – back then," Arina made a face that was supposed to depict a floater, "and even now. Irresistible, sure..." She scoffed.

"Well, I don't know... Anyway, he practically handed you over to us, he kept in touch all this time, and then he asked for permission to visit you when you're feeling better."

"I still don't get it..."

"Neither do I, to be honest... There was something... peculiar about him..."

"'Peculiar'?" Arina's heart skipped a beat.

"Yes... It was as if he was concerned about someone he knew – and not just casually, but quite close. But you two aren't acquainted, are you?"

Arina shook her head.

"Say... Did you mention the peonies to him?"

"Huh? Well, he did ask..." her mother dragged thoughtfully, and Arina breathed a sigh of relief. "... but I completely forgot about the peonies, to be honest, ha-ha."

At this point Arina groaned out loud, pressing her fists against her face.