Red Strings of Destiny

Chapter 5

He knew Ysabel's mom wouldn't be home yet, which meant she probably hadn't eaten anything.

So he did what he always used to do when they were kids-he cooked for her.

The kitchen was silent except for the sound of sizzling eggs and buttered toast. He moved quickly, effortlessly, as if he had done this a thousand times before.

Because he had.

When he was done, he left the plate on the table with a small note.

"Eat well. You'll need the energy. - Kai"

A smirk tugged at his lips before he grabbed his bag and stepped out the door.

As he walked to school, he pulled out his phone and typed a quick message.

"See you at school, sleepyhead."

Ysabel never saw it coming.

One moment, she was smiling, warmth filling her chest as she thought about last night-

About Kaizer.

About the way he touched her like she was something precious.

Her legs still ached, her body sore, but she didn't mind.

Because Kaizer had made her breakfast.

Because when she woke up, the scent of eggs and toast still lingered in the air.

She had never felt happier.

And then-

A blaring horn.

Tires screeching.

A rush of wind.

She barely had time to react before-

Ysabel's body felt weightless-or maybe it was just the numbness taking over.

Her vision blurred, the bright sky above her warping and twisting into vague shapes.

There were voices-some panicked, some firm-but she couldn't focus on them.

Her ears rang, drowning out the words, the sounds, everything.

She tasted iron.

Her body refused to move.

Through the fading haze, flashing red lights came into view, and the last thing she saw before the darkness swallowed her completely was a paramedic kneeling beside her.

The distant sound of the ambulance siren echoed in her ears.

Kaizer was barely listening when the teacher called his name.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and at first, he ignored it-until the vibrations came again. Urgent. Repeated.

Annoyed, he pulled it out and glanced at the screen.

Unknown Number.

Frowning, he stepped outside the classroom to answer.

"Hello?"

"Is this Kaizer? You were listed as an emergency contact for Ysabel-"

His heart stopped.

His fingers tightened around the phone.

"What...?"

"She was in an accident. She's in critical condition. We need you to come to the hospital immediately."

The world around him blurred.

His head rang.

His body moved before he could think.

He ran.

Through the hallways, down the stairs, past people calling his name-

But he didn't stop.

He ran until his legs screamed, until his lungs burned, until the hospital doors came into view.

The moment he burst through the entrance, a nurse spotted him.

"Ysabel-where is she?!" His voice was frantic, desperate.

The nurse gave him a sympathetic look. "She's in the emergency room right now. Please wait here-"

Kaizer didn't hear the rest.

His legs nearly gave out as he collapsed into a chair outside the emergency room.

His entire body shook.

His hands curled into fists, nails digging into his palms as he stared at the closed doors.

Each second felt like an hour.

The smell of antiseptic, the distant beeping of machines, the murmured voices of doctors-it all felt too much, yet not enough.

He should've been there.

He should've walked with her.

He should've-

His breath hitched.

His chest tightened.

And for the first time in a long time-

Kaizer was truly, utterly terrified.

The moment the doctor stepped out, Kaizer jumped to his feet.

His heart pounded against his ribs, his hands clammy as he searched the doctor's face for any sign of relief.

But there was none.

Instead, the doctor's expression was grim, and Kaizer knew.

Something was wrong.

"She's...she's okay, right?" His voice wavered.

The doctor sighed. "She's out of immediate danger, but..." He hesitated, and that small pause felt like a knife twisting in Kaizer's gut.

"But what?" Kaizer snapped, his patience running thin.

The doctor finally met his gaze, his voice steady yet heavy.