Chapter 6 - I Will Pay
1676 Words
{Rina}
"What is happening? I stopped the nurse who just stepped out of the theatre. She was sweating profusely but she didn't respond to my question. She took her hand away from me and she scurried off.
Why isn't anyone speaking to me? I wondered as I went back to sit. I couldn't stay still, I was pacing restlessly around the corridor awaiting news from the doctors.
The operation was taking too long. I tried to take a peek into the theatre but there was no way I could. The door suddenly flew open and I bumped my head against the doctor's chest as he stepped out along with the others.
"I'm sorry." I immediately stepped back as I apologized.
"Miss Hayes," The doctor called my name and I noticed that he had a strange look on his face. They were all sweating profusely and that explained how difficult the operation must have been.
"Doctor, how was it?"
"Miss Hayes."
"Yes?"
I waited to hear the doctor's good news. However, instead of good news, the doctor shook his head and let out a sigh.
"How is my father?"
"Miss Hayes," The other doctor placed his hand on my shoulder as he walked past me. I watched his retreating figure.
"What does that mean? I asked aloud because I was wondering why he would do that. I looked again at papa's doctor and he sighed again.
"Miss Hayes, you have to be strong."
"Strong?" I raised my head to meet his gaze. "What does being strong have to do with papa's operation?"
"The operation was tough. We did all we could but...."
"But what?" I was alarmed to hear his words. Isn't that what doctors say when something bad has happened? I shook my head as it crossed my mind that something might have gone wrong in the theatre.
"Your father passed away."
"Passed to where?" I grabbed the doctor's hand.
"Miss Hayes, we lost him." The doctor took both my shoulders as he announced.
"No!" I shook my head in denial. "Tell me you're joking, doctor."
"I'm sorry," The doctor squeezed my shoulder.
"You said, he could be saved. You said you could save him." I opened my purse to bring some more money.
"I have money, doctor please just do all you can to help him."
"I'm sorry Miss Hayes."
"Please don't apologize, doctor. Just go back in there and do something!"
"You have to stay strong for your siblings."
"I can't do that!" I dashed towards the theatre. "I need my Papa! He is all we have left, doctor please do something!"
"Miss Hayes, there is nothing we can do."
"You were supposed to save his life!"
The doctor patted my shoulder and he walked away. "Take Heart, Miss Hayes."
I took a seat on the floor, right there at the theatre entrance. "Papa!!"
I sat with my legs to my bosom. I hugged my knees and buried my head in between. I could hear the Loud gnashing sound of my teeth.
How could this have happened?
"Miss Hayes, please don't don't do this here." The doctor helped me get up and he led me to his office.
"My Papa." I pointed at the theatre as the doctor led me away from there.
"He's gone."
"How could he go just like that?!" I yanked myself off the doctor's hold. "I got the money you demanded, so why did you still let him die!"
"It isn't in my power to decide who lives and who dies, Miss Hayes."
The doctor made me sit on a chair in his office. "I know you're distraught by your father's death Miss Hayes but you just have to take things easy and try to be strong for your siblings. They will only look up to you now."
"Oh, My God!" At the mention of siblings, I was reminded that I have two people who still rely on me. I jumped out of the doctor's office and boarded a cab back home.
"Rina!" Bright ran into my arms as soon as I arrived home. I looked down at him and I could feel my eyes sting.
How do I tell them that we're now orphans?
"Why are your eyes swollen?" Bright queried as he noticed my puffed eyes.
"Where is Ben? I squatted to his level and looked into his eyes. I could already imagine how broken his little heart will be when he finds out that we lost our remaining parent.
"Ben is in Papa's room."
I shut my eyes and hissed silently. He'd be devastated, I know that. And as much as I would give anything to avoid putting them through such agony, there is nothing I can do now.
I opened the door slowly and I noticed Ben putting some clothes in a bag.
"What are you doing?"
"Rina? You are back home?" Ben's gaze turned to me but was quickly returned to what he was doing. "Why did you leave Papa?
I pursed my lips to keep my tears in. Ben Finished packing and he stood straight. "Oh, you must have come to get him a change of cloth." Ben nodded as he raised the bag he was holding.
"You don't need to fret, I already did that."
I shook my head and turned away, trying to hide my dejected and melancholic expression from him. However, I had underestimated Ben's eagle eyes. Nothing escapes it. He dropped the bag with a thud. He came close to me and stopped right behind me.
His hand landed on my shoulder and he slowly turned me around. "Have you been crying?"
I shook my head but face no response. what will I say?
"Talk to me, Rina!" He grabbed my shoulders. "How is Papa? The operation, how was it?"
I stood inert and listened to Ben bombard me with questions.
"Papa is okay, right Rina?"
I shook my head as hot tears ran down my face. "No Ben, he's gone."
"What the hell are you talking about Rina? He was fine this morning. He even spoke to me." Ben yelled.
"Ben, he left us," I also cried. Seeing my siblings being so shattered made me feel despondent.
Why did father have to leave us?
Bright was sitting motionlessly on the chair. He was staring into space as he shed silent tears. I squatted before him and I hugged him.
"It's okay to cry, Bright, don't keep it in."
Bright's dam of tears broke as soon as I said that. He wailed loudly and I could feel my heart shatter.
"Come here Ben," I motioned him closer and I hugged them both. It's the only consolation I could offer.
"Papa!" Bright cried out and he squeezed himself into my arms.
We only have each other now. I have to make wise use of that money to make a better living and also support my siblings.
We were still crying and wallowing in the pain of losing our father. Suddenly we heard a loud banging on the door.
I got up slowly to go see who was there and I was shoved aside by a bulky man as he barged in.
"Where is your father?!"
"Who are you?" I asked as I studied the stranger.
"I want my money!"
"Money?" I look from Ben to Bright. "Is our Papa owing you?"
"Yes, he did! he owe me fifty Million!"
"What?! Fifty Million?
"Yes, he used it during your mother's ailment."
"Mother was never sick," I argued.
For as long as I knew my mother, I have never known a time when she was sick.
"What do you know little girl!" The man barged into the house and he searched every room.
"Papa is dead, Okay?!" Ben yelled angrily.
Even I was angered by the Man's rude behavior but he was too strong and I could do nothing to stop him.
"You want me to believe that?! The man chuckled. "That is a good plan but too bad it ain't gonna work on me."
"You think we're lying? I hissed. I felt like slapping this brainlessly bulky man. "Who lies about such things?
"Children of a huge debtor." The man barked as he scattered the house further.
"What do you want from us?
"I want to see his dead body!"
"Then you'll have to go to the hospital!" Ben replied brashly. I held him and shook my head to stop him from acting ferociously.
"Take me there!"
We got into Man's car and he drove to the hospital, he was shown papa's dead body.
"So Thomas, you died without paying my money?" The man snorted.
"Well then you leave me no choice," He brought out a document and handed it to the doctor. I noticed the doctor's eyes widen.
"What is it?"
The doctor shook his head and his sympathetic gaze fell on Bright. I immediately knew something huge was written in that document. I collected the document from the doctor and I went through it. My jawed dropped as I read through the content.
"What is it, Rina?"
"Papa......"
I tried to explain the content of the document to Ben but I was astounded, I couldn't utter a word.
"Every organ in your father's body belongs to me," The man stated with Apathy.
"And what will you do to Papa?" Bright spoke up for the first time since we arrived at the hospital. His eyes weren't leaving Papa as he spoke.
"I will tear out every useful organ in him and I'll sell it to repay his debt."
"What?"
"I'll return to you whatever is left of him, after paying off his debts."
"What if I can pay you? Will you let him be?
The Man's gazed at me with scrutiny. He chuckled and patted my shoulder.
"I like your spirit girl, but I'm not here to joke."
He immediately turned to his boys, "Pick him up!"
"Wait!" I jumped forward to stop them before they could take my father away.
"What is it, girl?!
"I have the money, I'll pay."
- Writer
