LIKE EDEN. Princes of Anon (3)

I DON'T STUTTER

“An ID, credit cards, a phone, and the rest.” She continued.

She was informed of Eldridge’s arrival with her boss a little too late and tasked to get those for him. Assimilating with their world was going to be difficult especially if he had no ID and cash.

“I think this should be enough for now,” Lucien murmured, trying to think of anything else that his uncle would need that has not yet been provided.

“You have already done a lot for me. So don’t think too much of it. Just as you said, I’ll call her if I need anything else.” Eldridge mind linked his nephew. He didn’t want Lucien to think too much of things. He himself was already too nervous and anxious. And barely knew what to do so there was no need for anyone else to fuss over things too. It would just make him feel too pathetic.

Lucien glanced at him, sighed, and nodded his head before turning to Vida.

“A driver. Get a driver too. He doesn’t need to be present 24/7 but should be available anytime he’s needed”

They spoke for a little while longer before Vida had to leave. She called the driver to come and pick Eldridge up per his request before leaving.

Eldridge barely touched his food despite it smelling so good. His nerves made it difficult to even think of swallowing anything. All he could do was count the seconds before the driver got there. Neither Lucien nor his mates made a comment about him being lost in thought. Lucien of all could understand his uncle. And sometimes when he looked at his mates he was reminded of how he felt back then.

Eldridge left for the hospital as soon as the drier came. Luckily for him, the driver who gave his name as Dean arrived fast enough before he started pacing. Lucien and his mates left on their own to see Athena’s family.

Looking through the window as the car he was in rushed by, Eldridge’s heart beat faster and faster the closer they got to the hospital. He had given the name of the hospital to the dean who coincidentally knew there. His son had been admitted there once before so he was familiar with the place.

And it was the longest hour and 40 minutes drive of Eldridge’s life. He couldn’t even find it in him to be polite enough to say a few words to Dean. His palm was sweaty, his throat felt dry and he felt like his heart was going to jump out of his chest. He was so nervous that his stomach hurt.

“Sir?”

Dean’s voice drew his attention.

“We’ll arrive in about 10 minutes.” He informed, glancing at Eldridge through the review mirror. Throughout their journey and the few glimpses he caught of him through the review mirror, he felt that his new boss looked as if he was on his way to prison. He looked tensed and perhaps… constipated?

Eldridge nodded his head slightly at him then said, “There is someone I’m going to see at the hospital, but we are not that close…”

Before he could continue, Dean exclaimed with wide enthusiastic eyes, “Oh then why don’t you get them some flowers and fruits. It made my son happy when I did that when he was admitted.”

“Ah.. sorry.” Dean nervously apologized feeling as if he had stepped out of line.

“No. Thank you. I think I should do that. Do you know anywhere I can buy some?”

Following his request, Dean gladly brought him to a small flower shop and a mart to make the purchase.

...

Eldridge took in a long deep breath before walking into the hospital. The scent of disinfectant and medicines assaulted his nose once more but he paid it no mind and walked towards the reception after spotting the rather short nurse he had met the last time he came there with Rose.

“Hello.”

The nurse raised her head at his voice, her eyes nearly popping at the sight of him.

“It’s you.” She almost shrieked out with flushed cheeks before clearing her throat to calm down. Even with that her cheeks remained flushed.

“I’m glad you remember me.” Eldridge smiled, making her face redden more than it already was and she let out a nervous chuckle.

“How may I help you... sir?” She dragged out the last word not knowing what to call him.

“Eldridge. You can call me Eldridge.” He grinned, seeing how effective it was on her.

“Then, how may I help you, Eldridge?”

“I’m here to pay a visit to Ms. Nikita. I’m a … family friend. I hope it won’t be a problem.” He flashed her a smile once more, ignoring the eyes he was feeling on him.

“No problem. I just need to keep a record.” She replied and then asked for his ID card. After which she gave him Kita's room number to which he gratefully thanked her.

Eldridge stood behind the door to Kita’s room, lilies held tight in his hands that they just might crumble and his shaky hands felt like they were going to drop the fruit basket any minute.

He was scared, excited, nervous, and filled with anticipation that he failed to contain. And when he finally strode into the hospital room, he didn’t know whether to cry or smile. He was stuck in the same spot for a while, looking at the woman who is supposed to be his. Mixed with the smell of disinfectant and medicine, was a soft barely there scent of lilies that made his heart throb.

Once calm enough, he replaced the old almost withered flowers in the vase by her bedside with the lilies he brought, then set the fruit basket beside them.

There wasn’t much to the hospital room. It was relatively normal in size, with a bed and two chairs then a desk by the bedside with a flower vase and a small locker under it. He stood by her bedside for a while before bringing one of the chairs a bit closer to sit. Eldridge gaped at her, his eyes taking in everything that he could see about her, and only the beeping sound of the machines that supported her rung in his ears along with her labored breaths.

In her hospital robes, he could see how bony she looked. Her arms looked feeble as if the slightest pressure could break them. Her heart was pounding loud and hard in her chest as she took in long breaths from the oxygen tank connected to her, letting it out through the slight part between her thin chapped lips.

“She looks…” He whispered to himself, holding back a whimper as his wolf continued to whine inside him at the sight of their mate.

Eldridge could almost hear his teeth creak as he clenched his jaws and the chair creaked from him holding on too tight to it. He shut his eyes and ran his trembling hands through his brown hair. His whole body was quivering as he bit on his lips so hard that they bled.

He felt helpless.

“You..”

He snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of her voice. It was a groggy, and weary voice that seemed apathetic in anything. Still, it made him shudder. And when he lifted his eyes, He couldn’t help sucking in a cold breath, feeling as if he lost his breath and couldn’t breathe.

Her eyes looked like green gems. And they made him feel as if he was drowning but he couldn’t care if he died. They were dull, listless, and downright nonchalant. But Goddess, they looked so stunning to him. They reminded him of a lush green forest.

Completely bewitching.

She took in a deep breath and then stated, “You are the one that run away the last time.”

Her words caused his cheeks to redden for a moment in embarrassment.

He really did run away that time.

And it seemed that didn’t leave a good impression of himself.

“Ah, something came up so I had to head back. Did it offend you in any way?” He softly said, his lips lifted up in a smile with his heart thrashing wildly in his chest.

Nikita watched him wordlessly for a minute, alternating between closing and opening her eyes, which worried him. Still, he clenched his hands to stop from touching her then asked, “You look tired. Maybe you should sleep some more.”

“I’m always tired. And always sleeping… But nothing changes.”She whispered, looking as if everything was routine, which only hurt him more. A moment of silence passed by with her trying to catch her breath.

Even talking seems so difficult for her, he painfully thought to himself, fiddling with the ring on his right index finger.

“Name… I don’t remember your name.” She voiced after a while, gazing at the ceiling which oddly enough had so many glowing stars stuck on them. Her eyelids seemed heavy as she barely kept them open. Even when she had them closed he knew that she was not sleeping, but was listening to his answer.

“Eldridge… If it’s too much for you to say, then just call me El.”

It didn’t take long for her to turn to look at him, then retort, “I can say your name just fine. I don’t stutter.”