"Guys? Have you seen Eion?"
Leroy boomed early in the morning, opening the door of our room with a loud bang. I didn't even bother to wake up, just moaned half-asleep, and dug my head deeper in the covers.
Emma grunted, but I heard steps that I assumed were her getting up. "You're not with him last night?"
"I remember him last night with Snow then after that, I think he didn't return, not sure," I heard Hannah's voice piping in. I grunted sleepily, grabbing a pillow to hug.
"I've been calling him, that's weirdo's not answering," Leroy said.
"Maybe he went to some business or some sort, whatever, just leave Leroy you destroyed my beauty sleep." I heard steps dragging out with Leroy and Hannah arguing about her beauty or such.
"Psh, that crazy guy," I heard Emma commenting beside me.
I just groaned in agreement.
*********
"He got in an accident." After an hour or so, I get to hear voices again in my sleep.
"What?" H-how?"
"I don't know exactly, but let's just go, he was hospitalized at a nearby hospital.
"Then let's go."
"What about Snow?"
I sat upright at the mention of my name, "Yes, what about me?" I asked. Looking at them all prepped up, my forehead creased. "Wait, where are you going?" I looked at the clock, at three o'clock in the afternoon. Afternoon? "Wait, we missed our flight?"
"No, we canceled it. Eion got in an accident. We're just going to go to where he is now, the boys are already there."
Accident? Gosh, are they pranking me or something? What is happening? I remember me being a bit drunk last night….and talking with Eion, but I don’t remember what we talked about….
I was about to stand up but felt my head aching. Shit. I shouldn’t have gotten drunk!
"Then what about me? Wait for me, I'll go also-"
"No, just stay here," Emma stopped me. "Besides, you're hungover right?"
I nodded slightly, "Yes?"
"Then bye." Emma and Hannah ended the conversation and walked out, closing the door behind them. Silence.
Okay...wait..where are they going again? Who's got in an accident? What's happening? Weren't we just having fun last night? Maybe Leroy got in an accident for drunk driving? Or maybe Dax-wait no...
It's Eion! But he got in an accident? How? Last night we were just chit-chatting and...and he just kissed me...Wait, kissed me? I touched my lips, it feels...
No, no-no. That can't happen. Maybe I was too drunk and that was a dream, yes a dream.
Then..after that...he was supposed to go to his father right?
A ringtone boomed loudly, giving me a heart attack. I looked for my phone to see an unknown number calling. Who can be it? Maybe it's the girls calling from an unknown phone and forgetting about something…
Shrugging, I pressed to answer, "Hello?"
"Good morning," A man replied. "It's Snow is it?"
"Uhm, who is it?"
The voice on the other line chuckled. "It's...Eion's father."
"Oh," I replied in shock, my mouth agape. Wow, it's Eion's father calling? Why? "Oh, good morning Mr. Hudson."
"Please, just call me Adam. That sounds like I'm too old."
Uhm, he's old right? I think it's just proper? I just shook my head about that comment. "Okay, Mr.I mean Adam. You called sir?" Oh my, this is awkward. This is the father, remember Snow!
This is the very same face but with an opposite attitude from Eion.
"I just noticed that you're getting along with my son." Mr. Hudson started, clearing his throat. Getting along? I can't help but chuckle nervously at that. "But he got in an accident just last night..."
"Yes sir., "I replied, motioning for him to continue.
"And I need a favor...Ms. Snow." He said in a serious manner, all jokes aside, and got straight to the point.
The way he said it just sent chills down my spine, I gulped, not sure if I would be honored to do a favor for someone like this powerful man who can just snap a finger and kill me if I fail or get nervous.
But on the other hand, a favor means that someone needs me... That I have something he doesn't have and I'm important. Well, I'll just assume it's the latter.
"Of course sir, it would be a pleasure," I responded
"Please visit my son...for me." He said.
I blinked at that, "Visit your son sir? As in now?"
"Yes, dear."
"But the squad, I mean our other friends are already there, they said I'll just stay here," I said.
"But I want you to go there."
Was it true? Oh, is that even a favor? It feels weird to see Eion in a weak state, that would be a sight, and it's rare. Just imagining him in tubes and in bed, I can't wait. "Is that all sir? Why of course, that's so easy!"
He laughed, "Thank you so much, Snow. I owe you, I'll be giving you whatever you want."
"Oh that's so flattering sir but it's okay." I evilly grinned, just seeing Eion in that state would be like I'm on cloud nine. "But if I may ask, why sir?"
"Good question my dear. Well, besides the fact I physically can't stand up, for now, I don't have the guts to see him you know...he'll just...push me away I'm afraid."
Silence. I can't comment on that. There was pure sadness in his voice.
"I'll go first to you sir...I think between you and him, you are the one who is more in need of someone to visit."
Silence at the other line. Then I heard silent sobs. Wait, he's...crying? I didn't speak for a moment. I thought he hung up but I heard his deep breathing so I guess he's still there.
Then he cleared his throat. "How'd you...how'd you know that dear?" He chuckled, but I could sense some bitterness in it and at the same time, relieved.
"Just a guess sir." I answered.
"So it's really true that a woman's guess always turns out true." He said and I laughed at that, finally not feeling uneasy. "Then I'll better get going, sir."
Now that I felt a bit better as my hangover disappeared, I went straight to Eion’s father’s hospital alone.
“Good morning, sir.” I greeted, and he greeted me back, smiling at the sight of me. I sat at the chair just beside his bed and listened to what he has to say.
"My life's in a lifeline now, as you can see. And you made me cry earlier. No one even noticed that. Not even my son..." He sighed.
"I feel like I'm gonna be away...I hope Eion can manage the business. I just wanted to see his face for the last time and I asked him to manage the resort so that when I'm gone..." he said, and my eyes widened at that.
"Sir, don't say that!"
He just chuckled. "Life's really short. At least this way, I can be reunited with his mom now." He smiled.
"And why did you ask for me, sir?" I asked.
"Because I want you to take care of Eion. Understand him. I know he's a brat but just has some patience..." He replied.
I shook my head, "No sir, you really got it wrong. Eion is not my boyfriend. Luke is."
"But do you love him?" He asked, and that hit my heart. Do I really? I gulped.
Eion’s dad sighed. "He hates me, you know?"
"Who?"
"Eion. It's because we didn't have enough money a long time ago. And his mom has cancer. And I was just starting out my first business, that ice cream shop. Then when her condition got worse, I sold the shop to Mr. Tim.”
“But my wife, Lena didn't make it. So that's that. He hates why we are now rich when everything's gone. His mom, and the only memory of her, that ice cream shop.” He explained.
It took a minute for me to process it.
He chuckled, seeing my confused expression. "You're a fine lady. I'm not questioning why my son likes you."
I blinked at that, "Like me? Sir, are you talking about the sun being blue?"
"Well, I really think my son does, why are you saying it's impossible??" He inquired, and I responded.
"Because it's really impossible,” I said politely, not believing this.
He nodded at that, "But I see him improving. He obeyed to go here because of you, he obeyed to manage the resort, he obeyed my orders these past few days."
Then I remembered something, "Oh...I remember him saying when someone called him about you collapsing that he'll go here...."
That took him by surprise, "He did? So the reason is me?"
I nodded. "Yes sir."
He sighed, a small smile was on his face now. "He really loves me after all.” He paused. "It's his birthday today...Poor kid not receiving any gifts...he'll die alone for sure." With that, now I feel really guilty.
"And I'm telling you, Snow. If he didn't even glance at me, I'll hunt you down when I'm a ghost. And even if I'm not, I'll hire my men."
Now there's pressure. I just shrugged in reply. "I'll try."
And with that, he thanked me, "By the way, I know everything that's going on between you and my son." He winked. "Good luck. You have my blessing."
What a blessing? This man's more complicated than I thought. “But my boyfriend is Luke, sir.”
He just shrugged and spoke up again, "Also, my son has...a heart disease."
What?