THE GHOST OF MY PAST(GP)

Chapter Fourteen

The trip to the hospital is uncomfortable.

After twenty minutes of talking in private, we went back to her office room and found out the girlfriend was no longer there. Lisa cussed under her breath, but she didn't do anything about her departure. Instead, she grabbed her phone from her upper drawer -that explains why she didn't responded to my call- and slipped it into her pocket before leaving a short message for Andy.

Now here we are, sitting inside her Mercedes-Benz, heading to the hospital. She doesn't want her driver to drive us for some reason, but I'm too scatterbrained to ask at the moment. After giving her the hospital address, I sank myself into the passenger seat and haven't moved a muscle ever since. Luckily, Lisa doesn't seem to be in the mood of talking either.

It's when I realize that my phone is still on silent. I haven't changed it back to ring mode since I left the observation room. Thinking that Hoyeon might have called me for some important update about Ella, I retract my phone from my blazer pocket. There is one text from her, saying that Mom and Dad have arrived, and a few missed calls from Kai.

Kai. Shit! I totally forgot that I'm supposed to meet him for lunch at the coffee shop. I instantly hit the call button and he picks up on the second ring.

"Jen?" Kai greets, his voice is as calculated as always.

"Kai, I'm so, so sorry I stood you up. I completely forgot about our lunch."

I can hear him sigh, but it's hard to decide if it's a disappointed sigh. "I was getting worried because you didn't answer my calls. Is everything okay?"

"No." I take a deep breath. Do not cry. Do not cry. Do not cry. "It's Ella..."

"What about her? Is she alright?"

"No. She's in the hospital now. She got into an accident." Tears are pooling in the corners of my eyes once more. Damn it. "She's lucky that there are no serious injuries."

"I'm sorry, jen. But I know Ella is a strong kid," Kai says. "Is there anything I can do? Should I come to you?"

I shake my head even though I know he can't see me. "No, no need. She's getting the help she needs," I reply, glancing at Lisa who is driving with her gaze fixed on the road. "I'll let you know when she's able to have visitors."

"Okay. Hey, you got this, you hear me? And let me know if you need anything. I mean it, Jen. Call me. Anytime."

"Okay. Thank you, Kai. I'll keep you updated. Bye."

After ending the phone call and replying to Hoyeon's text, I slip my phone back into my pocket and revert my eyes to the road. Another thick silence blankets the air inside the car, but it doesn't bother me a bit. I'm just too exhausted, and thirsty. I haven't had anything since my breakfast with Ella this morning.

"What kind of accident was that?" Lalisa's voice pulls me back to the current moment.

"A drunk driver almost hit Ella's school bus. The bus was trying to avoid it but then it lost control."

"What happened to the drunk driver? Did he escape?"

"No. She hit the tree and died on the spot."

"Good," she mutters under her breath.

"One kid didn't make it, though." I whimper as I rub my forehead. "It was so heartbreaking and terrifying. What if it was Ella? I just can't lose her."

Tears escape my eyes again. I turn my head to the passenger's window, not wanting her to see me being an emotional wreck right now. Lisa says nothing but she reaches out to give my shoulder a soft squeeze, and it's enough for me. Having emotional support from Ella's father, regardless of how weird our situation is, makes me feel somehow braver.