Blue

Adele sat up tiredly a few minutes after she opened her eyes.

'At this rate, I might be before granny.' Her countenance fell. She managed to place her legs on the floor. She regretted ever leaving her report so carelessly that her friends had to see it. Gina must have seen it first and then called Lance.

How did she get to this point? She had cancer and was almost at the last stage. Yet, nothing could be done because she didn't have enough money to get surgery. The last thing she wanted was for her grandmother to bury her first.

She had to lie down back because of the head-wreaking headache she felt. Soon after, her friends walked in. She pretended not to have seen them. She knew they had lots of questions for her but she didn't want to answer. She didn't have the strength to put up with them, especially Gina.

"Seriously? You're giving us the silent treatment." Gina scoffed and folded her arms.

"We're the ones who are supposed to be mad, not you."

"Calm down, Gina. Can't you see she's not in the mood for your ranting? You didn't even ask how she is feeling." Lance cautioned and sat beside Adele. She wasn't facing any of them and that made Gina boil the more.

"How are you feeling?" Lance asked, patting her hair gently.

"How I feel is none of your business. And going through my stuff is rude. You had no right."

"Seriously? This is what you say? None of our business? What is wrong with you, Adele? You are slowly dying and you're saying it's none of our business?" Gina was already in tears. She sobbed as she spoke. "How could you be so mean?"

That was why Adele didn't want to tell them. She had grown so close to them that she felt they would hurt badly if she left the world suddenly.

"Well, there's nothing anyone can do about it. It was bound to happen." Adele replied coldly.

"Don't say that. The doctor said there's still a chance we can get everything back to normal."

"Do you have the money?" Adele waited for an answer but she got none. "That's what I thought." She slowly sat up and looked at them. "And how sure are you that the cancerous cells won't just grow back later in the future?"

The room was dead silent that even the tiniest pin drop could be heard.

"Let's face reality, guys. Nothing can be done. It's more like a hopeless situation. Let's just forget this and move on. And don't think of praying for me to live. You don't know the pains I'm going through. I want to leave as soon as possible and go far away from the pain." She wanted to cry and let it all out but she didn't want to appear weak in front of her friends.

Gina ran out of the room. Her heart couldn't take Adele's cold words. Lance followed after her so she wouldn't get into any accidents. Lance, too, was greatly hurting but he needed to comfort his friends. He needed to be strong and think of a solution. He knew he couldn't live without Adele. She had become the best part of his life. Getting to see her every day was one thing he couldn't get tired of.

Sighing in dejection, Adele placed her legs on the floor again in an attempt to stand up when she heard the door opening.

"I hope Gina is safe, Lance. I know how she can be in situations like this."

"Lance? Who's that?"

Adele froze on the spot. Her eyes widened and her heart rate increased. Her body was cold and beads of sweat began to form on her forehead.

She couldn't look up to him. She was scared he'll start appearing in her dreams again. She clenched her fists and stood up, despite the intravenous tubes placed on the back of her palm.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, standing face to face with Mr. Hale.

"Get out immediately before I call security!" She fumed with red eyes. She hated seeing his face and hearing his voice. They brought back bad memories.

Mr. Hale only laughed, causing Adele to be confused.

"You don't even know why I'm here, little blue." He mused and took three steps forward.

As he raised his hand, Adele flinched thinking he wanted to hit her. He smirked as he fiddled with the blue scarf around her neck. He had seen a man putting the scarf around her neck while she was sleeping. He didn't find it appealing but there was nothing he could do.

"I'm going to give you what you've always wanted. You think there is no cure to your ailment but trust me, little blue, there is a cure." He whispered in her ear.

"All you have to do is be my girlfriend for three days and I will grant any wish of yours."

Dumbfounded, Adele stepped away from him.

"Be your girlfriend?! What do you think I am? Stupid?!" She yelled.

"Get out this instant! And never show your face to me again!"

She hadn't realized that her nosebleed had started again. She was locked up in her anger that her body no longer concerned her.

"You're bleeding..." He handed her a scarf which she collected hastily and covered her nose immediately.

"Out!" She mumbled through the cloth while pointing at the door.

Gina and Lance walked in right at that moment. They were confused because the atmosphere between Adele and the stranger was tense.

Who was he? They wondered.

"Think about it, little blue." He winked at her before turning to leave. He shared a light tensed stare with Lance before disappearing through the door. Adele plonked to the hospital bed. It was as though a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

"Who was that?" Lance inquired.

"No one." She answered quickly. "Just get me the doctor." Before Lance could walk out, a doctor rushed in. He quickly attended to Adele while she sat there, buried in her thoughts.

Mr. Hale's request sounded absurd to her. He was willing to help her if she gave him something in return. And that was to be his girlfriend for three days. She scoffed and laughed unbelievably while tapping her right foot endlessly. Only the thought of him made her furious.

"Who does that bastard think he is?" She was thinking out loud. "He's got some nerves walking in here. He is in fact a devil. Or else, why would he be tormenting me like this by showing his ugly face to me?"

When she realized everyone was looking at her, she rolled her eyes and kept shut. Never in her life was she going to accept his request.

*********

Lance was the one who came to pick up Adele the next day. He was happy Gina had work to do. It would give him enough time to stay with Adele alone.

"Hey, pretty lady." He greeted her and embraced her warmly. She smelt nice despite being soaked in the smell of antiseptics.

"Hey," She replied with a low voice. "Thanks for picking me up." She smiled.

"It's nothing." He picked up her bag and took her hand as they walked outside.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better, thanks."

"That's good to know. I stayed up all night searching for solutions and surgery is the only solution. Don't worry about the money. We will find a way to raise it and make sure it doesn't advance to the last stage." He said optimistically. He was so happy that Adele felt sad for him. He would miss her a lot when she was gone.

She was about to speak when she saw a figure standing beside a car. She frowned upon seeing his handsome face.

"Hello, little blue." His baritone voice filled her ears. She couldn't deny that she did like the sound of his voice.

"Who's this?" Lance asked with furrowed brows.