I woke up to the sound of conversations. I slowly opened my eyes and I saw a weird-looking face in front of me.
"Don't stare at me like that. You're weird and creepy." I said.
"You're mean." I laughed at her but immediately stopped when I felt my body ache.
I looked around and saw Jeanny, Jace, and his mom in the room. They're busy fixing my clothes and placing food at the table.
"Can you please incline my bed?" I asked Jeanny who was by my bedside. She slowly inclined my bed and I was able to sit down without moving too much. My left foot is still in a cast and I'm still wearing a neck brace.
"Bathroom." I blurted and Jeanny looked at me.
"What?"
"I want to go to the toilet."
"Oh okay." She took my dextrose and hung it on the walker. She helped me stand up but this is far more difficult than I had expected. First, I couldn't feel my legs. Second, I feel light headed and third, my whole body aches. I am fully leaning on Jeanny for support.
"I can't do this. You're heavy! Jace, help!" Jeanny shouted at Jace and he came with a worried look on his face. He immediately held me so I could put my weight on him. He placed my arm on his shoulder as my left hand held onto the walker and Jeanny holding onto my back to support me. We slowly walked towards the bathroom. This is so embarrassing. I feel so weak and helpless. I hate feeling this way.
When we entered the bathroom, I prepared to sit on the toilet but what startled me was Jace still holding onto me.
"Jace, you have to get out. I'm going to pee." Then as if snapping back from his thoughts he looked at me.
"Oh right. I'm sorry. I'll be outside the door when you're done." He said as he stepped out of the bathroom. Jeanny closed the door and helped me with my pants. This is hard work. I feel like a grandma.
After I finished, I decided to wash my face. I haven't washed for two days and I'm not smelling so good, I admit. I stood in front of the sink and looked at the mirror. I was horrified with what I saw.
"Who is this? What is this?" I said as I touched my face. Dark circles are sitting under my eyes. There's no color on my face except for the bandage on the right side of my forehead with a little bit of blood stain in it. I didn't know that I looked like this. The seriousness of the accident slowly sank into me. I am in deep trouble. Jeanny patted my back and handed me a wet tissue.
"You're still pretty. Don't worry too much. Jace will still like you." She said and looked at me with teasing eyes. I looked at her in disbelief.
"What are you talking about? I don't like Jace. You can keep your boyfriend all to yourself."
"Okay!" She answered happily. I laughed at her.
"You can't wash your face yet but you can wipe your face. It's scented. Wipe your underarms too. You smell." She said while laughing at me. I immediately smelled myself. I don't smell that bad. I mean, I smell like a hospital bed and a little bit of sun and sweat. Okay fine. I do smell bad.
Jeanny helped me clean myself up and we opened the door and there Jace was just like what he said earlier, waiting at the door. He placed my arms on his shoulder and escorted me back to my bed. Anna was preparing breakfast.
"Wow! Miss Davis, my mouth is watering right now. I haven't eaten properly for the last two days!!" She brought the food to my table and they gathered around in my bed. I prayed for the food and we started to dig in. I stuffed everything in my mouth. I felt like I haven't eaten for a week. I ate of course for the past 2 days but as we all know, hospital food sucks big time. Then I felt my hand sting. Miss Davis spanked me.
"Eat slowly, will you? You'll get indigestion that way. You wouldn't want to stay longer here right?" I nodded and grinned at her. I started to eat slowly.
"How long am I gonna have to stay here?"
"Well, I talked to your doctor yesterday. He said you're gonna have to stay here for a month." Miss Davis answered as she drank some soup. I almost spit out my food.
"What? A month? But why?" I asked. A month is too long.
"What do you mean why? Of course you have to recover fully!" Jeanny pushed me lightly. I looked at Jace and he just shrugged.
"But that's too long! School is starting in two weeks and I can't afford to miss the opening."
"We know that Eunice, but this is also in agreement with Jonathan's agency. They decided to keep you here to make sure you fully recover and nothing bad happens to you." Miss Davis said as she tried to calm me down.
"But shouldn't they consult with me first?" I asked. Jeanny hit my head with her spoon.
"Are you stupid? Did you lose your brain when you got hit? You are not the doctor Eunice. If the doctor says you stay here, then you will have to stay here. You're supposed to be here for two months if they really want you to recover fully."
Now I really spit out my food.
"Two months?!"
"You're gross!!" Jeanny shouted and glared at me.
"Your leg had the worst damage. You have to wear a cast for two whole months. It's a good thing they're only asking you to stay for a month. You won't miss too much of your classes. But you can choose, two months or one month?" Jace said as he raised his eyebrows. Ugh! One month is better.
"One month." I mumbled.
....
The three of them left at 11 am. They still need to open the restaurant and I found out that Jeanny changed her class schedule for today so that she can visit me in the morning. I'm thankful to have them around me. I watched television until 12 pm and I got bored. I have no one to talk to. Nothing to read. This is so boring. This is worse than reviewing for a test. I hate this silence. It's going to kill me before my injuries could kill me.
I got an idea! I pressed the button near my headboard to ask for the nurse's assistance. Immediately, a nurse entered my room. Wow, they're fast.
"Hello Miss Suarez. How can I help you? Are you not feeling well?" She immediately checked my vital signs, heart rate, and temperature. I can't help but giggle.
"I'm fine. I just want to know if I am allowed to go out and stay at the rooftop garden?" The nurse contemplated on what to do next.
"I'm going to check your condition first and ask your doctor." She answered.
"Okay." I sat patiently on my bed as the nurse checked my body condition and then the doctor came in.
"Well according to Nurse Kim, your condition is getting better. We can allow you to roam around the hospital for only two hours. We can't allow you to strain your body." The doctor said.
"Thank you so much!" I squealed in excitement as I bowed my head in thanks.
"You're welcome. I'll ask the nurse to bring you a wheelchair." He said and headed out.
Minutes later, a nurse arrives pushing a wheelchair.
"Wow. So I'm going to use this?" I asked the nurse as I eyed the wheelchair. It's not a manual wheelchair, it's an automatic! I'm so excited! I'm going to drive a wheelchair.
"Yes. So I'll teach you first. You press this button if you want to go." She pointed at the button on the left arm of the wheelchair.
"Then use this to control the direction." She then pointed to what looks like a gear shifter on the right arm of the chair. I nodded my head as I smiled like a nursery kid.
The nurse then sat on the chair to show me how to ride it. I clapped in excitement and we both laughed. She then stood up and helped me sit down on the chair. She was taking my dextrose and hanging it on the pole connected to the wheelchair, when the door burst open and a man carrying a bag of food and groceries came to our sight. The nurse immediately bowed and smiled.
"Hello Mr. Rodrigo. I'm about to take Ms. Suarez to the rooftop." Jonathan nodded, looking quite bewildered.
"Miss, you don't have to take me, I can go by myself. Thank you for your help." I told her as I looked up at her.
"Are you sure?" She asked.
"Yes I'm sure." I gave her a reassuring smile and I waved to her as she did the same and went out of the room.
Jonathan is still standing at the end of the bed. He’s wearing a black sweatshirt and denim pants. He’s also wearing a bucket hat. He must have come from work.
"Are you sure you're okay with going alone?" He asked as I positioned myself in the chair.
"Yes." I answered and pressed the button and the wheelchair began to move. I took my finger off the button and the wheelchair stopped moving.
"Wow. Can you believe this? This is so amazing." I said in excitement as I smiled from ear to ear.. I can feel a pair of eyes staring at me as I stopped by his side. "Do you want to go with me?" I asked as I turned to my side and looked up at him. He stared at me with his big doe eyes, obviously taken aback by my question, and then turned into puppy eyes as he blinked them twice.
"Don't stare at me with those puppy eyes. Are you coming or not?" He immediately moved and put his belongings and the things he brought to the table.
"I'm coming." He said
"Okay. Bring the food. I haven't had lunch yet."