Luka
I was in my hotel room walking back and forth, calling Chase and Liya back-to-back but there was no response. My calls always reached voicemail, which frustrated me. I called my worker and that's when I found out Liya was rushed to the hospital. She had collapsed on the floor of her bathroom.
I grab my suitcase and checkout of the hotel even though I had another shoot tomorrow. One phone call and it was cancelled. Gladly there was a flight tonight that could get me there by tomorrow morning. I knew this was going to happen.
She won't take care of herself and probably kept distance from Chase. All the way I prayed for her health; God knows what had happened. I ran to the reception and asked for Liya when the doctor standing beside me decided to start a conversation. "Are you with Liya Dalton?" he asked.
"Yes I am, I am her friend," I spoke impatiently, just wanting to see her.
"The guy that was with her last night," he spoke with worry.
Chase, he must be talking about Chase.
"Look Mr. Kelp, our hospital has rules and regulations. He was drunk and risked the lives of three people by driving her here. Then he decided to put up a fight with our doctor's team," he informed.
He drove her here? My fist clenched hard beside me. The doctor led me down the hall to Liya's ward where I saw Chase sitting on the bench. He instantly got up when he saw me. I ignored him and walked into the ward with the doctor.
"She was brought just in time. Liya had caught hypothermia and it could have been critical if you had waited longer," he informed.
"Thank you," I nodded looking at Liya covered in many layers that were keeping her warm.
Chase walks into the ward afterwards.
"I don't know what happened to her," he murmured, half sober.
"Chase just get out of here right now! I trusted you to take care of her for three days and I'm here a day early from my trip," I scolded looking at her pale face. "Luka I-" he tries to justify.
"And you drove her here even though you were drunk. You risked her life! Chase every single fucking time, you do something stupid related to Liya which makes me want to stand you less," I said with aggression.
He could barely keep his eyes open and he probably couldn't understand half the words I was saying. Without a response, he turned away and left her ward. I looked back to Liya and sat down next to her. I held her slightly cold hand from under her blanket.
"Liya, just wake up please," I begged painfully.
I touched her forehead softly, watching her lay there peacefully. I wondered if she ate anything. She probably hasn't. She's not the one to take care of her diet. Actually, I have never seen someone so careless when it comes to their health. A few hours go by and Liya starts to move.
"Chase," she murmurs.
"Luka, Liya. It's me Luka," I spoke placing my palm over her head.
She slowly gained conscience and stared at me, thinking this wasn't real.
"You weren't supposed to come back until tomorrow," she said weakly.
"I couldn't stand another minute away from you, when Mira told me you were in the hospital," I told.
She relaxed back onto the pillow and sighed bit by bit. She didn't want to talk and that was fine. The doctor had also come in on his round and was happy to see Liya awake.
"There was a woman that helped you here," he informed her once she asked about getting here.
"A woman?" she surprisingly questioned.
"There was a drunk man with her, but he just stood around. I think she was a worker," the doctor told.
"I apologise on behalf of the guy that was drunk," I said again feeling ashamed.
I should have never left Chase with Liya. His addiction is becoming a threat for her. Sometimes he's degrading her and other times he's driving her around whilst being drunk. Liya looks over to me confused as to why I was apologising. Once the doctor left she was quick to question me.
"Why did you apologise?"
"He put up a fight with the doctors here," I said in a low voice.
Liya turned her head away from me and stayed silent. That's when my phone rang. It was Ellah. I picked it up and left the ward.
"Luka, do you realise how important that shoot was?" she scolded.
"I'm sorry an emergency came up. I'm sure we can reschedule," I said but all she did was argue over the phone.
"Ellah I said there was a personal emergency! I had to leave and I need my situations to be respected," my wall of patience broke and I lashed out on her.
Without giving her a chance to speak I ended the call and took a few deep breaths. "God, this is so annoying". I walk back into the ward and Liya's wide awake.
"I need to use the bathroom," she said, removing the layers of blanket from her body but she was really weak.
"When was the last time you ate, Liya?" I angrily asked, taking her hand in mine to give her support.
"Can't remember," she looked away from me knowing she was in trouble for starving herself.
I don't bother scolding her but instead, help her walk to the bathroom and in. I turn my back to her as she sits down on the toilet and urinates. The first time I had found her in the dumpster, she was molested and traumatized.
So traumatized that she couldn't eat by herself or even walk due to the pain. It took time but I soon realised that when I'd be drunk, she wouldn't be around me. She'd hate for me to touch her and it wasn't a big deal until she held my hand.
That's when I ealized how much I loved it when she touched me. Even today, after many years she fears the touch of a man, even mine at times. Rarely, but when she does allow me to have physical contact with her it makes me feel closer to her. Like I am better than all the men that have ever came into her life.
Once she washes her hands, I help her back to her bed. The doctor does keep her under observation for a few days before she is discharged. Meanwhile the whole agency is screaming and by the sounds of how dramatic everyone is, it looks like the agency will end if I don't attend my shoots soon.
It's not much of a problem for Liya because she's still a junior. She'll be excelling soon after the international runway happens, well hopefully.
"Luka, you should go back to work now," she said as I fed her soup, with concern in her voice.
"I will once you're better," I argued.
"I AM better, I can walk, I can move myself and I can eat myself too. My temperature is also good I don't know why you're wasting time when you have so many shoots to attend," she lectured.
"Shh," I shushed her, taking another spoon of the soup.
She scoffed and drank it. Once the soup was finished, I gave her the medications and headed out to put the dishes in the kitchen. Mira has also been extra careful about what she cooks. We've been on a strict healthy food menu since Liya's been discharged from the hospital.
"Have you talked to Chase?" Liya asks as soon as I come back into the room.
I have been dodging the question ever since and she keeps asking me about it even though she's gotten the hint. Every time she mentions him my blood boils.
"I haven't. He's probably out there drunk," I scoffed which surprised Liya.
"Are you mad at him?" she asks leaning off the headboard of her bed.
"Of course I am mad at him. He took you to the hospital while being drunk. You guys could have had an accident. I just don't understand why is he so irresponsible and careless sometimes," I said completely stressed, looking at her.
"I don't think I would have made it to the hospital if it wasn't for him," she softly spoke in his defence.
"The scandal of his dad and his mistress. He walked into my room and saw it on the TV. He didn't say anything and I just threw up because..." she stopped midway of her explanation and I understood.
"You threw up because of the smell of soju and cigarettes that came from him," I completed the sentence for her.
Liya has always been sensitive to strong smells. Her immune system can not take it.
"The scandal. Luka he needed you a few days ago and you're telling me you ignored him?" she taunts like my mother.
"It's not the first scandal!" I bickered not realising what I had said.
Her eyes widened at my answer and all that came out of her mouth was "What?".
"Nothing. We both are back at work tomorrow so get rest," I excused after bringing the blanket over her body.
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