I would protect you again...

"I simply endure it."

These words just did not settle well with Aiden.

He wanted to ask more when he suddenly heard her say, "I am sorry for today." It was her who had called Aiden and asked him to be there. After coming here, it was also to protect her that he hurt himself badly.

She really hoped that Aiden had not gotten hurt at some major blood vessels or something. If he really did, it would create a very serious issue.

Looking at her train of thoughts going astray, Aiden shook his head and asked her, "What are you talking about?" 

"Um-" Maya paused, "Sorry I should explain myself, I'm sorry because-" 

"No Maya, I wanted you to stop thinking this. Of course I would protect you again, even after knowing that I would be hurt."

Then suddenly he chuckled, "Well if I had known this would happen, in the second chance I would not let this happen… Yeah, but still. I think you have forgotten, 'You'-" Aiden pointed at her with his index finger, "-Maya you are the girl I like. How can I not protect you… hmm?" 

Maya refrained herself from looking at him, she acted as if she had not heard him say anything and continued driving.

If Aiden had not known her well, he might have felt weird getting this response after confessing to the girl he liked, but one could say that he knew her pretty well now, how could he not notice her cheeks turning red at the moment… "She definitely felt something!" Aiden cheered up in his mind. 

"Wait, why is her nose turning red? Is she-" Before Aiden could have a better look at her face, Maya stopped the car and looked down. Her long hair which was tied in a ponytail covered her entire face.

He saw her bring her hand to her face and it seemed she wiped her face. "Wait Maya are you-" Aiden immediately tried bending forward but sucked a deep breath in pain. 

*ka-chak!*

Maya unfastened her seatbelt and opened the car door, as she got out she said, "We have reached the hospital."

She quickly came to the other side and opened Aiden's door. Wide eyed Aiden looked at her bending towards him, his heart skipped a beat!

*ka-chak!*

Maya unfastened his seatbelt as well, and murmured, "You should not move much, look, just now how you hurt yourself." 

Then she held Aiden as she helped him get out of the car. 

Aiden: "!!!" He was very well capable and strong enough for doing these tasks himself but who would not like it!? 

He simply let Maya 'carry' him inside the hospital. This was the first time he was practically sticking to her and half hugging Maya. He felt excited and was smiling,

Maya who could not see his face was frowning. If anyone were to see them right now, they would have thought that Maya was the one in pain and not the patient himself!

She took Aiden inside and he was taken to the emergency room. Since no one stopped her, Maya also followed them inside. Now that they were in a brighter light, his wound seemed more gruesome one.

There were a few shards of glass in his hand, out of them few were a bit large while several were very small, it looked a difficult sight to see.

After some procedures, the doctor looked at Maya, "We have removed those glass shards, and thankfully it wasn't a very major accident. Just a few more things and he can head home."

After that he took Aiden inside a room. Maya sat on the bench there looking listless.

Suddenly she jolted awake, should she inform his family? She should, right?

She remembered Aiden's father, Mr. Smith but she did not have his phone number… Then, she could only think of Liam next.

Maya immediately called Liam, "Hello, Liam?"  Maya had heard a lot of things about him but from her sister, Sofia.

Both of them had not talked much so she felt a bit awkward at the moment. "Yes. This is Maya, right?" Liam also had similar awkwardness. 

Maya then told him about the incident, "He fought while protecting me, and got hurt with a broken glass bottle…"

"What!?" 

"Yeah, I have brought him to the hospital and the doctor has done a check up on him. Since he has not hurt his major nerves, after some stitches, he can head home. I didn't know whom to contact from his family so I called you."

"Which hospital are you in? I will come there now." 

Maya gave him the name of the hospital. After keeping the phone she sadly smiled, ever since she had met Aiden, it seemed that both of them just revolved around cars and hospitals… She didn't know whether to smile or feel sad about it.

...

After filling the details and completing all the procedures required by the hospital, Maya came back to the place where Aiden was being treated.

She frowned, until now everything should have been done, right? What was taking them so long? Did something serious happen? Maya tensed up at the thought of this.

She suddenly remembered the sight of the nurse taking out the glass shards off Aiden's arm and trembled. His arm was swollen and had several cuts, remembering the bloody sight, Maya felt as if she was suffocating.

She started having irregular breaths and was breathing heavily. She walked quickly looking around for some vent, like an open window or a door which led outside.

Her eyesight was getting fuzzy. After some efforts she finally came out of the emergency room, but alas it was even more crowded, people were rushing in and  out of it… It was simply a mess. 

Wh-what is happening? Maya's head was spinning as she finally stumbled upon a  window.

She opened it and gasped for air. She took deep breaths from her mouth trying to calm herself down. This hadn't happened in a long time. When was the last time she had a panic attack?

She clutched the windowsill tightly and when she felt it was enough, she slowly slid down the wall.

Maya slid figures backwards through her hair and held the hair tie. As she pulled it, all of her hair was set free, covering her entire face again.

After some time, she was about to stand up when she heard a voice calling her out, "Oh! I wasn't wrong… It really is you Miss Maya." 

Maya looked up, it was Ella.