Chapter Ten

"Are you the nurse that checks up on me?" He repeated.

I froze.

I was lost of words. What happened? Does he not remember who I am? Did he become vision impaired? What in the bloody hell is happening?

"Are you mute? Why are you not answering my questions?" He fired another one. I shook my head and opened my mouth just to stutter couple of words.

"Sage uh don't you umm remember me?"

"I'm sorry have we met before?" I can feel my eyes getting heavier as seconds pass by.

"Sage it's me, Olive." He raised his brow wanting me to continue. "Umm uh..." I couldn't find the right words to describe myself. To describe myself for him. The vocabulary in my head couldn't come up with suitable words maybe phrases or even sentences to join and remind him of our relation.

"Why are you crying?" He softly asks then I realise I was. I quickly hide my face and wiped away the escaped tears and cleared my throat.

"I'm sorry I gotta go." I couldn't stand him, hell I couldn't face him. I couldn't stop blaming myself. It's all my fault. If I wasn't being a chicken at the time he wouldn't have gotten hurt.

As I was about to leave he called making my heart stop.

"Olive?"

I froze.

"Olive?" He repeated.

I turned to face him. He smiled and called me with his index finger. I raised a brow.

"Come over here."

"Why?"

"Arg Olive, come over here and sit. Plus drop that gown anybody can mistake you for a nurse." My eyes widened. Does this means he remembers me?

"How do you know am not a nurse?" Just gotta make sure.

"Because if you were you would've called the doctor, or do what nurses do instead of asking me that I remember you or cry like a baby."

"I am not a cry baby!"

"Yeah you are not. You're worse."

"Excuse you, you don't need to insult people you obviously forgot."

"Who said I forgot someone like you?"

"So what now you remember me?" I was getting angry as I realise he was playing with me the whole time.

"No."

"No?"

"Yeah I don't but I heard your confession. It was deep." He stated like it was nothing. Ouch.

"It was deep?"

"Why do you keep on making me repeat what I already said?" I roll my eyes.

"Stop playing Sage, the doctor told us you're perfectly fine. Quit the act."

"Act? You think I'm acting? I'm here wired on bed and you call it acting?" He pretended to be hurt.

"I'm not saying you're faking your sickness but you're exaggerating it and your being a drama queen."

"King."

"What?"

"I'm a man so I should be a drama king not a queen." Seriously?

"I doubt your a man."

"I can show you if you want, you know I'm only wearing a gown." He smirks.

"Eww no thank you. No one wanna see you're little buddy down there." I crossed my arms.

"He can show you a whole new level of life, you just need to ask." He grins like a pig.

"You know what sage?"

"What?"

"You are perfectly fine!"

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are."

"You're not a doctor."

"I'll call the doctor."

"Good."

"Good!"

"So why are you not-? Oh wait you're not allowed to be in here, are you?"

"No." I mumbled.

"Sorry I can't here what you said." I know you did.

"Well sorry for your hearing problem." I retorted.

"Pumpkin stop whining and give me a hug. I know you missed me." He opens his arms. Oh not so easily.

"So you do remember me?" I smirked.

"What can I say, it's hard to forget a girl like you." He winked.

"And what kind of girl am I?" Still with crossed arms.

"You're not gonna give in easily, are you?"

"Why would I?"

"Because you owe me."

"I owe you?" I scoffed.

"Yes pumpkin you do owe me for the hit." He pointed on his bandaged forehead.

"Ahh." I pretend remembering.

"Yup." He nod.

"Last time I checked you asked for it."

"Let's not dig the past." He shook his head smirking. Yeah let us not. Well it's all my fault at last.

"Fine." I stomped and gave him the hug we both wanted. I missed him. "I was worried sick about you." I mumbled.

"I missed you more." His hug tightens. I don't know what's wrong with my eyes, they kept forming tears. I don't wanna cry infront of him so I let go. "So you love me?" He clears his throat.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I denied and he chuckles.

"Okay, now that you owe me I want a full service."

"Full service?" I frown and he smirk.

Day three in the hospital...

"Yeah right there, a few inches away, yeah ohhhh yess mhmmm." He moans under my touch.

"Right here?" I asked massaging his back.

"Yup you got it."

"I hate you."

"Lair."

So this was what happened...when he said full service it included feeding him, giving him a back and leg massage, performing his orders and such. At first I thought it was easy but it got me tired and he is so demanding. One minute he want this the other he want that.

"Sage you're doing great why are we still in the hospital?" I asked.

"The doc wanted me here." I scoffed.

"He told you that you can leave if are feeling well."

"He said I can stay here for a week."

"You've recovered you don't need a week."

"We don't know that yet."

"Don't tell me you're worried you might get sick again?" I scoffed.

"I didn't tell you to stop." He patted his shoulder and I started massaging him. "Hey relax! I never wanted you to break them." He whined.

"Oh but that's what I heard." I started giving him hard massages and he flipped me over so he can take control. I fought him but too weak to win. He caught my hands and pin them up with his hand so I couldn't move.

"Sage let me go." I wriggled in his grip.

"And why would I do that?"

"Because..because.."

"Tell me pumpkin, what's your reason?" He palpates my cheek and I can feel chickenbumps rising all over my skin.

"I don't have to tell you."

"Okay, well then let me tell you." He slowly approached me not breaking eye contact. My heart jumps wanting to be set free. I can feel my blood running in my veins. My eyes lost in his same peaceful forest I mean eyes. Our noses touched closing the gap, but then the door swung open making us jump.

"Ugh gross" Ella covered her eyes.

"We weren't doing anything." I protest getting off from the bed.

"You better not if you're not ready to carry a human in your womb." She click clacks her phone.

"Please feel as if you're home." Sage interrupts.

"Speaking of home where's your kitchen?" She switches her phone and hold her waist. I roll my eyes. "Girl don't you roll those eyes on me. Do you remember the last time you spent the night in your room?" She was right.

"Well I couldn't leave him by his own." I defend.

"He can call his friends. I bet he got bunch of those." She retorted.

"Hey hey stop fighting and let's eat what you brought." Sage pushed the topic aside. Stella shoves it to my face and left the room. Sorry Ell.

Loo, Pat and Ella also some of his friends often visited us. We watched movies and talked while performing my full service. Full service my ass!

"Hey guys," the door revealed Greck. My eyes widened in surprise and grinned ear to ear.

"Greck!" I chirped while Sage snaps his head to the direction. "Come on in." I invited him although he was already in.

"Hey man sorry for the late visit. You good?" they did this weird short nod greeting thing and Greck faced me sitting on the empty chair.

"How have you been ma'lady?" He bowed dramatically and I chuckled.

"Really Greck it's been a long time since we hangout, I mean beside classroom pep talks." I admitted.

"Well you ditched me for my roommate." He joked. I waved Sage off and laughed.

"Man you know ladies can't resist this face." Sage boasted arching a brow.

"I can ruin it for you." Pointing a fork I picked from the table. Greck died from laughter while Sage rose his hands in surrender.

We talked on and on about...truly speaking nothing important, but my stomach hurt by the excessive laughter I had.

Greck left when it started getting dark. After eating dinner, technically? Feeding Sage his dinner, we drift off.

The following week....

"Are you sure?" I asked again

"God yes Olive!" He sighed.

"I'm just worried that you might need a back up." I shrugged.

"Pumpkin I'm a grown man I can handle anything." He boasted squaring his shoulders.

"Oh hush." I waved him off. "Let's not bring up the way you've been acting back in the hospital." I smirked.

"At least I did help myself to the bathroom." He tried to protest while I burst into laughter.

"You were being spoon fed, Sage." I shook my head in disbelieve.

"That doesn't mean I can't handle a talk that's going to happen any time now behind that door." Pointing to our director's office.

"It's-" the door swung open and a student appeared a sad expression showing on his face.

"Dude his asking for you." He walking passed us.

"I'll call you later pumpkin, you'll be late for class go, shoo shoo" he pushed me initiating my movement to the other direction.

"Fine, but give me a call when you're done." I waved a goodbye and left for class.

My next class was English lit, I'm sure the girls are already there. When I reached my class the teacher hasn't arrived yet. I sighed dropping my bag on the empty chair I found behind Ella and to the left of Loo.

"What took you so long?" Loo asks while I place my butt on the chair.

"He just got in." I replied short.

"Where?" Ella joined.

"The director's office."

"So why were you with him again?" Ella quirked a brow.

"To keep him company and also I thought he might need a person while facing the old man. He might get grumpy at times." I shrugged.

"One, the director ain't that old and two, why are you keeping him company? Why not his friends or what so called his buddies?" Ella scoffed.

"Oww girl you're trapped." Loo giggled.

"What?" I frown.

"You're falling for the dude." She grinned.

"No!" I shook my head but the truth was I was already drowned deep.

"Yes!" They both said in unison.

"Yes what?" The red haired dude joined.

Oh I forgot to tell you! There is this red haired dude in our English lit class he's been obsessed with Ella. He kept talking to her which she hated the most and also he's been asking her out these days which also again she kept turning him down, but got the obvious 'I'm not gonna give up on you' answers. Huh well anything related to him was our entertainer. I think he said he's name was...............Alexander or something like that, I really don't remember. Also he got a chubby look.

"No one was talking to you Graham Bell!" Ella retorted while me and Loo leaned back and start to enjoy the moment.

"Cute nickname you got me huh?" He winked. I can see Stella's face burn in fury.

"Go away!" She spat and we heard the door shut. We glanced up to see our late comer teacher in his usual white gown.

"Good afternoon class?"

"Good afternoon Mr." The class greeted. And began the usual learning process.

I sighed spreading down on my bed face first. I wondered what would I be doing right now if I was back home. A paper slipped under the door frame inside the room grabbing my attention. The girls were at Pat's so I was alone. I sit up straight waiting a knock and excusing themselves for the accident and taking their paper back but nada. No one appeared. I walked towards it a picked it up. I flipped it over and it reads 'you are being watched' and small eyes are drawn all over the paper. I frown. I have been receiving these type of notes recently. Who's doing this? I opened the door to catch the culprit but too late for that he is already gone.

I remembered the time when Joseph used to receive these types of notes. "Watch your six. Watch your six, Olive." He used to repeat those words everytime he got suspicious about something or somebody. I missed how he was all protective around me, I missed the time he used to get into fights for me, I missed how he used to roast me, I missed the way he used to dress, I missed the way he talks and laughs, I missed the way he says my name. I missed everything about him.

I can feel my eyes getting heavier as my thoughts got deeper every second. Until something hard hit me on the face making my eyes widen. What am I supposed to do? I'm all alone now, I don't have a clue on any of this. My heart started pounding heavy whilst my breath hitched. I can hear voices approaching my way. Voices I usually hear. The girls! I quickly opened my cupboard and hid the piece. I wasn't ready to spill everything yet. As soon as I closed my cupboard the door swung open revealing three hormonal teenaged girls whom I call friends.

"Girl what's wrong?" Loo asked. Shoot forgot to wipe my tears and fix my face.

"Uh uhmm no-" my stuttering got interrupted when my phone buzzed. I pluck my attention from them to my phone and glance at the caller ID. Sage. I let out a soft sigh and answered the phone.

"Hey" I muttered not wanting the girls to snoop.

"Hey pumpkin!" I don't know how but my phone was on speaker. And yeah their heads snapped at me. I quickly tap the screen somewhere I thought it was the speaker but hit the mute sign. Huh. "I wanna take you guys to dinner if you're not busy?" He's voice echoed in the room. My eyes widened, guys?

"He mean us?" Pat spoke.

"Hello? Olive you there?" He asks. I quickly adjusted my phone and spoke.

"Yeah sorry uhmm what do you mean by 'you guys'?" I asked.

"Make it on speaker, I wanna hear!" Loo mouthed me. I shook my head no.

"Yeah you and the girls." He answered.

"Why?" Too blunt.

"What do you mean why? Because I want to. Now get ready we'll leave at seven. No can't be an answer." He chuckles.

"O'kay." And hanged the phone.

Loo and Pat squealed while me and Stella pressed our ears shut. Their voice was horrible.

It took us almost an hour to get ready we were running here and there trying out different outfits. As always we were late. I was done five minutes early from seven but the girls(shaking head) oh my, oh my. It's half past two now and Sage had literally grown a horn or two.

Minutes later we arrived at the parking lot and he arched a brow on us.

"Sorry." Loo and Pat muttered slightly pouting and hugged him before entering the vehicle. While Loo was on her phone so she waved him hi and followed them in. The two of us left.

"Sorry for making you wait." I apologised on the behalf of our group.

"So now you're making yourself accountable?" He smirks.

"They're my friends, aren't they?" He chuckled.

"Well you will be punished." He retorts.

"Punished?" I repeated.

He nod.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Not now. Get in." He opened the passenger sit and I hoped in.

"Wooo how gentlemen?"

"Classy." The girls purred behind me and I shushed them while he get in the driver's seat.

"You ready?" He asks.

"Yep." We agreed.

The car roared as he starts the engine and we took off.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Some place beautiful." He replied, his eyes fixed on the road. I smiled and gave him a nod.

The radio was playing different music and the girls were chatting. I sighed and changed the station and boom my favourite song was playing.

Tyga,_Ozuna_-_Ayy macarena!! Wohooooooooooooooo

We all started to sing along with it doing the obvious arm cris crossing thing.

"Ayy macarena macarena macarena

Drop the chappa on ......

One minute ayy macarena

Ahay!"

When the music comes to an end we were pulling over on a parking lot.

"Ladies this is will be our destination for today, thank you!" He tried to act professional. I said tried.

"TOTOT!" I clapped jumping with excitement.

"Have you been here before?" Sage pouts.

"No, but I heard a lot about it." I started walking towards the entrance which was designed to look like a hut giving it a cultural touch. "Come on." I waved them and they did.

Once we stepped in, our eyes widened while our jaws dropped. The place was fabulous. I will sign with my ten fingers to prove the interior designer was a piece of genius. Damn he did some work.

The furniture is made up of wood, at the far end there is a huge stage where cultural performances are held and the food is served in a cultural way with a 'mesob' which is beautiful. I was in awe all the time. We talked about different things like how the food was amazingly delicious, and the performances were great and beautiful, the cultural cloth and everything were spectacular. We even got the chance to dance 'esksta' which is one of the Ethiopian cultural dances.

We started playing spin the bottle after the continuous complaining of Pat's excitement about ordering someone to dance another cultural dances.

"Nooo!" Sage groaned when the bottle points towards its direction. We giggled.

"Now Sage take the honour and show us how you rock 'guragegna'." Loo gives the order since she was the previous dancer. Yeah she wasn't good. At all!

"Sage! Sage! Sage!..." we cheered and he rolled his eyes standing up and fixing his shirt.

He tried to maintain his balance while dancing but failed miserably. We laughed our ass off while he muttered between the line 'I just stepped on my feet' which I found it so cute. Weird? Anywho after our amazing night we started heading back to dorm. On the way we teased Sage and laughed on how our dancing sucks and I was better than them. Well I'm half Ethiopian. A car keeps on honking from behind so Sage let him pass, but we were wrong. As soon as he passed he spun the wheel and blocked our way. Sage stopped the car in an instant. If it weren't for our belt we would be flying out through the front window. Sage jumped out of the car with fury to yell at the driver. The man got out of his when he saw Sage coming his way. The man was in full black and his face was hidden with a cap only showing his sharp jaw and full lips. The man was taller and fitter compared to Sage and I'm sure his also older.

I can see Sage's lips moving but out of nowhere Sage threw a punch on the man and the man stumbled a bit. I was fidgeting with the seat belt to get out and ease the situation but out of nowhere the man was pointing a gun on Sage. On his damn forehead.

We gasped.

I don't know where the hell they came from, five other men were coming towards us. I was frozen as ice. What's happening? I can't even blink until Stella's ear piercing voice got me to inhale a long breath.

"GET OUT AND RUNNNN!" she yelled and we jumped out of the car.

I don't wanna leave Sage behind, but it will be dumb for all of us to be caught. Atleast we will report to the police. My feet was burning and my knees were shaking. I was running out of strength, my mouth was dry. I don't know how but Stella was the fastest. Pat was infront of me while Loo was beside.

Loo started slowing down.

"Loo hurry up they're behind us!" I yell reaching for her hand to drag. I know we were tired and full, but this is a life and death situation. And damn the men? They must be an athlete.

"I can't! You guys go!" She yells back trying to snatch out of my grip.

"No! We are not leaving you! Now pace your speed up!" I tried to motivate her but her eyes were telling me it was over. Which reminded me of EXERCISE LOUSY GIRLS!

"I'm pregnant!"