Chapter 59: Can deal with this
1513words
I got dressed to go to the hospital with Gabriel. He insisted I come out of the bathroom, or he would bust the door. I had no choice. Maybe God was giving me a chance to live and be happy. Besides, Gabriel was back now, and that should be a sign.
'I have called the doctor. He promised to invite an oncologist over as soon as possible, but before then, you need to be admitted," Gabriel explained as he zipped my dress. His fingers brushed against my back, and I gasped. 'It's the stubborn zip that's causing it," he said, and I chuckled.
'It doesn't matter."
'By the way, how have you been managing Desirella without me?" he asked, and I turned to look at him.
'Truth or lie?"
'The one that hurts less?" he suggested.
'I managed it fine," I said, sitting down in front of the vanity to do my makeup.
'That doesn't explain anything." He stood behind me, staring at me in the mirror.
'You wanted the one that hurts less," I shrugged.
'Tell me the truth; I want to know."
I sighed. What would go wrong if I told him the truth anyway? It wasn't my fault his outrageous mother flew him to Mexico.
'Macho and Nathan," I finally admitted, looking down at my hands. 'I had no choice, and you know it," I quickly added.
He nodded. 'After your surgery, I will take you somewhere," he said, smiling. I bet he was hiding his emotions behind that perfect smile.
'Where is that?"
'I can't tell you; you will see," he declared, turning to the couch to pick up his phone.
'I hate surprises, Gabriel."
'That sounds like a you problem," he said, and I smiled.
I picked up my handbag and stood up, ready to go. 'How do I look?" I spun around for Gabriel.
'Just pray you don't murder the doctors before the surgery."
'That's not a compliment, Gabriel," I groaned, heading out.
'For me, it is. You weren't even supposed to ask. You are always drop-dead gorgeous," he complimented, and I smiled.
We reached the living room only to see Nathan talking with my mother. He looked at us, his eyes narrowing.
'Gabriel?" my mother called out in surprise.
'He is alive, Mother," I said. 'He didn't die."
'How is that possible? I'm so glad you are okay, Gabriel."
'Thank you, Aunt," Gabriel smiled, but his eyes were fixed on Nathan, who stared back with an indifferent expression.
'Are you two having an eye contact competition?" I asked, standing between them before a fight could break out.
'Where are you two going?" Nathan asked, looking at me.
'Our business," I said coldly.
'We are running late, Scarlett. Let's go," Gabriel said, holding my hand.
'Hey, wait," Nathan blocked our path. 'The last time I checked, you are just her bodyguard; you can't just walk away when I'm still talking to her."
'Mind your words, Nathan. Gabriel is my friend!" I groaned. I wished I could stick that word in his memory.
'You are taking sides with him?"
'Aren't you being dramatic?"
'You two should stop this," my mother intervened. 'Let them go, Nathan."
Nathan clenched his fists, his heart racing as he glared at us before spinning and storming out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
'Shall we?" I said to Gabriel, and he nodded. 'I will see you when I get back, Mother."
'Be careful."
'What was that all about?" Gabriel asked as he opened the door to one of my cars for me.
'What?" I asked as I fastened my seatbelt in the front passenger seat.
'Your ex, Scarlett. Did you see the way he looked at me? He seemed like he was going to murder me," he said, starting the car.
'Nathan is always grumpy; don't mind him."
'He seems possessive of you; that's what I noticed. Are you giving him a second chance?" he glanced at me before focusing on the road.
'Now you are being dramatic. Can we not fight today? We just reunited after a few months," I said, and he fell silent.
Nathan kept calling me throughout my admission to the hospital, but I ignored his calls. Gabriel grabbed my phone and turned it off.
'What is that all about?"
'You don't need it for now," he said calmly.
'Fine," I didn't argue. 'But you should know that I'm going for surgery in a few hours. I don't need all this drama. Anyway, in case the surgery goes south, take care of my mother and Kristine."
'The surgery will go north, and you will be fine," he said, and I couldn't help but laugh.
'I'm suddenly scared," I rubbed my palms together. 'Do you think I would see everything they do in there, or would I be unconscious?"
Gabriel held my hand. 'You will be given general anesthesia. You will be unconscious," he assured me. 'You don't have to worry; I'm here for you," he said, kissing my knuckles, and I nodded, trying to relax.
***
The surgery was successful; thank God. I stayed in the hospital for three days without Gabriel telling anyone where I was. He told my mother I was fine and that I just needed time to myself. Hopefully, I would be discharged today and go home. As for Nathan, Gabriel kept shutting him out whenever he called.
'Why are you upset with him? You seemed to like him before," I told Gabriel as I sat up on the hospital bed.
'His presence is making me nauseous. I fear he will take you away from me," he admitted.
'You're jealous?" I tilted my head.
'I'm not going to pretend. I'm very jealous. I'm still trying to get the image of you in his arms out of my head."
I sighed. 'You haven't told me how you managed to escape from your mother. How were you able to grab your documents?" I asked, changing the topic.
'Alexandra helped me. She stole the documents from where my mother hid them," he said.
'She did? She must really love you to do that," I said. He furrowed his brows. 'What? Just accept the truth, Gabriel. You are making that poor lady suffer. If I were still with Nathan, and he told me to give him his travel documents to see another woman, hell would break loose. I could never do that."
'You still love him?" he asked, his voice low.
My stomach fluttered. I wasn't ready to answer that question. Despite everything Nathan had done, I still liked his company, just like before when we were dating. But now I was conflicted. Gabriel loved me, but my heart didn't beat for him. Nathan loved me too, but I was still cautious about going back to my past. What if he cheated on me again? What if he chose another woman over me again? I couldn't fully trust Nathan anymore. I needed to be guarded.
'Scarlett!" we heard Nathan's voice as he appeared at the door.
'How did you find me?" I asked.
'Does it matter? Why have you been ignoring my calls?" he moved closer to the bed. 'Do you know how worried I was? Even your mother said she doesn't know where you went. Who disappears like that?"
'What's eating you up, Nathan?" I asked nonchalantly, sipping some water from the bottle.
'That doesn't answer my question. Why have you been ignoring my calls?"
'Because you were bugging me."
'Really now? Because your bodyguard is back, I now bug you?"
'Stop saying that! His name is Gabriel!" I groaned. I wondered why Gabriel wasn't reacting. He was just watching us.
'Do I look like I care? The doctor has been waiting for you. The oncologist arrived, and you were nowhere to be found. Why did you change hospitals?"
'Can you just leave, Nathan? You are disturbing the patients," I waved him off.
'What is wrong with you, Scarlett? We were just fine a few days ago until he showed up from the grave," he pointed at Gabriel, who looked indifferent.
'Why do you enjoy causing trouble? Just leave, please."
'I want you out of this hospital," he declared.
'And why is that? I already underwent the surgery, so what?"
'Oh, you listened to him, but you couldn't listen to me. I begged you, remember?" he hissed. 'Never mind. Suit yourself." With that, he stormed out. I sighed.
'Are you sure you two were ever in a relationship?" Gabriel spoke up for the first time.
'Why do you ask?"
'You're grumpy, and he's grumpy; how do you tolerate each other?" he asked, and I chuckled.
'First of all, I'm not grumpy. That's just Nathan's jealous mode. He was just worried about me," I said, smiling to myself.
'Oh," Gabriel's expression fell, and I immediately regretted my words.
'It's not what you think, okay?"
"I need some fresh air," he said, standing up.
"I'm sorry," I apologized, but he didn't look back as he left. Dear God, why do I have to deal with this?
