Ideal | ni-ki

Chapter 66 • Abience

Chapter SIXTY-SIX

"Ni-ki?" I was surprised at the sight of him. I shook my head and was about to walk past him, "You should go."

I suddenly felt his grip on my arm, stopping me from walking further, "Let's talk."

"Now is not the right time. It's raining, you're gonna get sick."

"Then when is the right time when you were ignoring my calls and text messages?!" I can barely hear him from the sound of the rain.

"There's no right time for us! You're already getting married yet you're acting like this! What happened between us that night was a mistake! It wasn't suppose to happen!"

Rain started slowing down but the tension between us remains. Everytime Ni-ki would do this makes it harder for me to convince myself of my decision. It's like fighting with my inner demons.

"I felt it, and I know you felt it too. It wasn't just sex, Serena, we made love. You told me, you love me and I know that was true because I felt it."

"Well that's a placebo effect because you're wrong." I snapped, "I don't love you anymore, Ni-ki. You know why I agreed to do it that night? Because I wanted to confirm with myself if I still have feelings for you but now I realized, I don't. If I do, then I shouldn't have left you the next morning."

It was a stab in the heart. I noticed the changed in his expression, I knew it was that painful when I threw those words but I had to say it.

"3 years and I still love you, so I don't believe that you don't--" He croacked.

"Many things can change in 3 years, Ni-ki. If you still love after 3 years of not seeing me then that's your problem! Our feelings are not mutual okay? That's why I never wanted to see you again and had to make an excuse by pretending to be someone else. But you never left me alone..."

"Is that....how you truly feel?" The pain in his voice sounds like he was surrendering.

I nodded, "I know you're gonna be happy with her, so live your life and move on. Thank you for taking my brother in your company as you promised. That's the last thing I'm gonna ask something from you ever again."

He was too tired to response, all he felt was pain. I looked at him one last time before turning around to leave. And he didn't stop me again.

My chest tightened like an invisible fist was clutching my lungs. I gasped—once, twice—each breath scraping down my throat like sandpaper. The cough came suddenly, violent and relentless, tearing through me like waves in a storm.

I gripped the edge of the bed, knuckles white, body trembling. My inhaler. Where—?

"Come on," I whispered to myself, voice hoarse and broken between coughs. "Not now..."

But my lungs didn't listen. They were already betraying me, shrinking into a panic I couldn't control. The wheeze curled around the silence of my room, sharp and high-pitched, like my body was singing its own alarm. My heart raced, faster with every breath I couldn't take.

Tears welled up, not from sadness, but from the sheer burn in my throat, the fire in my chest. Every inhale was a battle. Every exhale, a war.

Then I saw it. The inhaler, fallen just out of reach on the floor.

I dropped to my knees, crawling like a wounded soldier. Fingers trembling, I grabbed it and pressed it to my lips. The medicine rushed in, cold and metallic.

And just then—

The door burst open.

"Serena!" Mom's voice cracked through the panic like thunder, "Oh my God baby, what's happening?"

Her bare feet slapped against the hardwood as she rushed over, dropping to the floor beside me. I tried to speak, but all that came out was another tight cough, and the squeal of air forcing its way through my lungs.

She cradled the back of my head with one hand and guided the inhaler again to my mouth with the other, even though I already had, "Shhh, I've got you. It's okay. Mommy's here."

My whole body shuddered as I took another breath, just barely and finally, the medicine started to work. Not fully, not yet. But enough.

Tears spilled from her eyes as she pulled me close, rocking us gently. I could feel her heartbeat racing through her chest, matching mine, "You're gonna be okay baby. Breathe. Just breathe."

But that same night, they decided to rush me to the hospital to have me checked. I really didn't want to because I have calmed down already but my parents were really scared and wanted to make sure I was okay. But for me, it was just a usual asthma attack.

My body felt weak and might collapse anytime. It's hard to move and talk when your breathing is limited.

"Right now, she's fine. Just make sure she takes her maintenance everyday like I told her to. But she will still be under monitoring for the next 5 days." Dr. Carter was talking to my worried parents.

"I can't." I immediately objected, "I have a wedding to work at in 3 days, I can't stay here."

"But darling, your health is our main priority--"

I cut mom off, "I'm fine. Dr. Carter said I'm fine, I just have to take my meds."

Mom sighed and looked at Dr. Carter, "Can she just stay here for 2 days? Will that suffice?"

"Well clasically, no. Because there is a certain period of time when taking steriods and all but in your case, you can just take your home medications. Make sure to always watch out for your health. Avoid smokes, tight and small spaces, too much dust and anything that will trigger your asthma. Wear fask mask and use air purifier daily at home."

I nodded, "Will do. Thanks doc."

"With that, I shall go now. I need to take care of your discharge process." He said and then left.

"You are being stubborn, Serena. I am starting to dislike what you are doing to your health." Dad scolded in stern voice.

"I am not even doing anything. It's normal to have asthma attacks."

"It's not gonna be normal if something happened to you." His voice was firm, yet scared. I know my dad.

"I'm gonna be fine..." I re-assured him.

It took 30 minutes before I was discharged. Dad was carrying my bag and both of them were holding me as we walk down the aisle of the corridor.

"Baby, are you hungry? Do you want to eat somewhere?" Mom asked.

"Wait-" I stopped at my tracks when I immediately recognize Ni-ki and Stacey infront of a doctor's room.

I waited for them to get inside before we continued walking. As I walk past the room they got in, my heart sank when I saw a small signage beside the door.

OB-GYN.