Past or Future?

Chapter XXV -Aftershock-

I steered the bicycle absentmindedly thinking about Jane's confession. She likes Dan, Dan likes Reese, Reese likes me? I think, it's hard to tell and I like who? Joville? Possibly. And Joville likes me. What kind of whirlwind is that? We're like dominoes falling on the wrong tile. It' amusing to see it that way but also confusing, Jane is threatening me in which in my own defense she sees it the wrong way. Maybe because of the way we bond at the shop, there are flirtatious movements and words but for us, those are just playful banter.

"Art! Hit the brake!"

All at once, everything became a blur. I was on the ground my head pounding, my legs tangled on the bike and pain shooting out on my left hand. I tried lifting it and groaned loudly, I felt something wet on my head and the last thing I see is Joville calling me out but as soon as she got closer I hear nothing, then my vision went blank.

***

I see a girl standing in front of me, her face was blank, no nose, eyes, lips, nothing. She reached out to me and I tried reaching for her hand but as I almost touched her finger she slowly faded.

"WAIT!"

I bolted up and instantly fell back on the bed. I groaned, my vision was blurry but I could tell there was someone looking at me. I looked at another direction and blinked rapidly, it was so bright. My throat felt like sandpaper, I swallowed but still needed something to drink. My left arm feels so painful, like it's full of needles and I can't lift it, I can't even move it, when I try excruciating pain immediately spread all over my body.

"Hey, relax. Please. Don't move too much especially your arm" A cool voice said.

My view slowly became clearer, I am in the hospital. My right hand had a lot of scratches and I could feel the needle inside connecting the water thingy that's dangling on the metal stand whereas my left hand is supported by some kind of brace and is heavily casted. There were wires on my chest and on the side of my head. A doctor, I presume is standing by the side holding a pen and clipboard staring straight at me looking patient as ever.

"What happened?" my voice hoarse my head was pounding again.

"You don't remember?" the doctor asked

I closed my eyes trying to recall the most recent events. My mind flashed pictures and fragments. I was in a bicycle and then there was Joville and then Atlas. "I was riding a bike. . . and. . . I was with my friend"

"Do you remember the name of that friend?"

"J-J-Joville, Can I. . have some. .water?"

The doctor went to the table and carefully placed the straw on my mouth. I drank the liquid and I never felt so relieved. I never knew drinking water would be so satisfying. He returned the cup and wrote something down on his clipboard. "Is that all?"

"Where's Atlas?"

"Is he another friend of yours?"

"He's my very best friend and I want to see him"

He nodded, "Anything else?"

"I want ice cream"

The doctor shot up his eyebrows looking amused "That's gonna have to wait. You had an accident miss Artemis, according to your friend miss Joville you were going on the wrong direction of the road you hadn't noticed a car was passing up. The driver warned by honking his horn but you were pedaling straight at his direction and eventually the two of you crashed. The driver had minor cuts, and for you, it could have been worse but thankfully you're finally awake"