Promising Friendship

He scowled, his eyes blazing with annoyance. "Shouldn't you be worrying about the little guest that is arriving home today instead?"

Ai looked at him and despite the annoyance laced in his cold eyes, she spoke out calmly.

"Can't I even look out for my saving grace. This girl, right over here, I owe her my life and whether you, mom or dad. I will not move from here." She frowned. .

He admitted to taking care of her but for the past seven days, her face had been so pale. Her blanket was slightly moved away from her body everytime she came to look and her lips were chapped off beyond belief.

Her brother had never took care of any lady before. Ai vaguely remembers that her brother had never been home for holidays. He was always with the Elder or at his boarding school. His whole childhood had been spent either studying or learning some methods from the Elder.

"Bebo, have you ever taken care of someone?", She asked awkwardly while standing up. Ah Si looked at her and with a voice that wasn't rough nor ferocious, he spoke out.

"My dear sister, who was the one who wiped your butt whenever you messed up the carpet? Who was the one who wiped your sweat when you were sick? Now, don't expect anything from that dumb fellow!" He scowled with annoyance yet his eyes were calm and tranquil when reminiscing their childhood.

Ai sat down and sighed. "I am not going to argue with you. How is she? Mom and dad wanted to visit, but they were so worried for the past some days that dads health came on to the line."

"It is okay, too much people isn't good anyways." He calmly spoke out, absentmindedly looking at the laid girl. His hands were clasped tightly on to her hands and his eyes were filled with warmth and calmness.

Her uncle and her family had been visiting for the past few days and he was more than annoyed by their loud tones and fake sympathy. Ah Si knew that the only person who was normal in that family was the elder, Li Hua. Maybe thats why she was so different around him.

"Did you find out who it was?" Ai asked meekly. He broke out of his daze and looked at her.

Thinking about that, he smirked and looked back at Aizhe without replying back.

His sister wasn't any frail or dumb girl, she was more smart than him in some cases, thus he didn't find it necessary to reply back to her. And just like he thought, Ai didn't care and sighed in relief instead.

She spoke out in a joyful manner.

"Seems to be so, then I wouldn't hang around for a long time." She went toward the huge, hospital bed and kissed the girls forehead. She placed the blanket back on her body and checked the monitors. Just as she was about to stand normally and turn around, she noticed her wide pants being held back.

She looked down and her mouth and eyes were wide opened.

"Aizhe, can you hear me?" She shrieked. "Bebo, look! she is awake." Ai was smiling in joy as she held Ah Si's hand and tried to catch his attention.

Ah Si on the other hand disregarded her excited and shrieky loud tone as he faced the laid girl and when he spotted her fluttering eyeslashes and moving body, his whole existence froze. He saw her trying to speak, but instead coughing helplessly. Standing up, he was about to get her a glass of water, but Ai beat him to it.

"Aizhe, please lay back. Here, drink some water." Ai spoke up, her tone laced with emotions and her eyes brimming with tears.

She held the Aizhe's shoulder as she tried to help her drink the water.

When Aizhe drank the water, she looked around the room and her eyes shrank. Her heart raced, and she held her chest in a panicking manner. Memories came back when she saw the white ceiling, white walls, the moniters and the tubes that were attached to her.

Her breathing was quickening and her body started to tremble. "Aizhe, can you hear me, are you okay?," Ai noticed her panicking state and held her hands as she asked. Ah Si also noticed her looking around the ward anxiously and he immediately moved forward to calm her down. He held her hands and engulfed her in an embrace. He patted her brown, messy hair with his hard, rough hands.

"Aizhe, don't worry. It is just the hospital. We are going to go to your house soon, okay?"

Aizhe heard his raspy and calming tone, and without her knowing, she closed her eyes and her trembling body lessened. She held her chest painfully and tried to appear indifferent. "Ai, Si. You two are here. Where is my uncle?" She spoken up, with her breathing being very quick. She tried to sit up but hissed when she felt the pain in her lower body.

"Don't, your legs are fractured. You need to lay back for now." He told her, as he held her her shoulder to pull her down.

Aizhe couldn't hear his words and instead looked around in the medicine cupboard to see if they had the same medicine, but to her vain, it wasn't there. She took a deep breath in and out and looked at the two worried figures. She calmed her nerves down and with an expressionless tone spoke out to them.

"Hey guys, what happened? Why are you two standing like a ghost? Do I look that bad," She cheekily laughed with her same joyful expression. Her slitty eyes were disappearing in a cute manner and her deep dimples were displaying on her round and fatigued face. Ah Si looked at her trying hard to hide her condition and he felt helpless. He went next to her and held her hands instead.

"Aizhe, does it hurt anywhere on your chest?" He looked at her calmly, trying to convey to her that he wouldn't care whatever problem she had. He was always there, to listen to her and care for her.

Aizhe's bubbly and smiling face froze when she noticed his messy and crinkled shirt and haggard expression.

"No," Her hands absentmindedly touched his shirt and he froze. He looked at her dumbfounded expression upon seeing his white shirt and his face was yet again tinted with redness all over. He looked around and held tightly on to her long and slender hand to stop her.

Ai came forward and smiled." Aizhe, thank goodness you are awake. Or else, what would happen to my brother?" Ai talked without realizing her words and when she caught on to it, she froze and looked at the two who were looking at her with different expression. She noticed her brothers dark, terrifying and chilly gaze and her throat suddenly ran dry. She looked at everywhere but at him.

To disperse the cold atmosphere, she laughed awkwardly.

"What? You are brothers first friend. That's why he was so afraid, no Bebo?" She calmly explained, trying to ease the situation but somehow it worsened and Ai felt goosebumps all over her body upon feeling his intimidating vibe.

Aizhe looked between the two and sighed realizing the situation. "You two always keeps on fighting everytime we meet. Can you think about the well being of this patient. I might get headache listening to your bickering all day." She laughed, shaking her head. She laid down and her gaze shifted to Ai's bump.

When she noticed the flattened belly, her heart dropped to her stomach and she immediately sat up again. The two looked at her terrified face. They moved forward and held her hands. When they realized her shaking hand and the sweat laced around it, they panicked. "Aizhe, what happened?" Ah Si asked.

"Belly, Ai sisters belly. Ai sister, what happened to your child?" She inquired with a shaking tone. She suddenly felt an emotional feeling in her heart and throughout her body. It was guilt, a tremendous amount of guilt. She looked at Ai, and when she noticed her worried look, her eyes brimmed with salty tears.

"Aizhe, don't cry. Shhh, nothing happened to my baby. She is in the emergency ward with the other premature babies. Since her delivery was earlier than her due date, she was premature and unhealthy." She anxiously replied, trying to comfort her at the same time.

"But after days of taking care, mom and dad decided to take her home and set all the emergence protocol at home instead. She is coming home today, isn't that good!" She continued.

She wiped her tears as she hugged her sideways. Seeing her worried face being replaced with her normal, shocked yet relieved look, Ai sighed contentedly. She looked at her brother and caught sight of a smile resting on his face.

"That is wonderful! I am sorry Ai sister, you had to go through so much pain." She frowned.

"No, instead, I am glad my baby was brought earlier. She smiled and continued. "I should be the one to apologise." Her eyes dropped and she held Aizhe's hands tightly. Aizhe smiled sadly and hugged her tightly.

"Ai sister, you have done so much for me and don't be in delusion, I did all that for the little angel, okay?" She innocently laughed as she tried to comfort her.

"Bratty, you changed sides so early. You haven't even met her yet." She deliberately pouted. Aizhe smiled brightly.

"Doesn't matter, I know for a fact that she is as beautiful as my Ai sister." Ai shook her head and looked at her brother and called out to him. He noticed her gaze and hesitantly came next to Aizhe.

"You two are like sugar coated bullets. I am not yet ready to have cavities." Aizhe and Ai laughed upon hearing his words.

The empty cold room was now replaced with happiness and laughter. Like the blooming flower in the side of the room, the trio was advancing in their relationship. From awkward strangers, they were now a promising friends. And that too, for a lifetime.