Chapter 139 - "I Want To Meet Your Best Friend"

When Marceline and Kira left, Ronan was accompanied by Evelyn and Natasha to the emergency room. He also needed a doctor's treatment. His forehead and nose were bleeding after hitting the wall.

Ronan and Natasha were cursing Kira and Marceline. They didn't expect that Kira would not hesitate to hurt them even in a public place. They caught the attention of other health workers and patients.

But they saw how Natasha charged in Marceline's direction, dragging her. She tried to slap her but Kira was there to stop her. So the people who witnessed the scene couldn't blame Kira as Natasha was the first one who made a scene, creating a ruckus. 

She was also shouting. Her loud voice was disturbing the other people. So instead of giving them pity, they felt annoyed towards Natasha and Ronan. They were the ones who started the commotion.

Meanwhile, Marceline and Kira went to see and check on Grandpa Roland's condition. That's the time the doctor and nurses were rushing out, bringing Grandpa Roland to the operating room for surgery. There was a blocked artery in his heart. He needed immediate surgery.

The doctor stopped for a while, talking to Marceline. She explained to her why Grandpa Roland needed surgery. Marceline gave her consent to operate on her grandfather. Marceline asked the doctor to save her grandfather at all costs.

When the doctor left, Enrique approached Marceline and Kira.

"Cousin… please forgive my sister's rudeness. By the way, how's grandpa?"

Marceline looked at Enrique indifferently. Though Enrique had been good to her, she couldn't help but give him a cold shoulder. She knew that Enrique was not at fault here however she couldn't change the fact that his father was the one who schemed against her parents.

"Grandpa has to undergo surgery," Marceline responded coldly.

"Can we talk?" Enrique was humbling himself in front of Marceline. He was not used to this kind of cold treatment from Marceline. He felt hurt as his heart clenched inside his chest.

Kira didn't want to see Marceline together with Enrique. For some unknown reason, he didn't like the way Enrique was looking at Marceline.

'They are cousins, but why do I feel like… he has feelings for her… which is more than just family.' It was Kira's instinct who was telling him this.

He wanted to stop Marceline from talking to Enrique but she already agreed to him even before Kira could say a word.

"Ki, I will just talk to my cousin. Can you follow the doctor and wait for me in the waiting area outside the operating room?"

He was reluctant to leave her alone but Kira respected her decision so in the end, he just followed her request. He immediately proceeded to the waiting area, leaving Marceline and Enrique alone.

The two found a place where they could talk comfortably without worrying about other people hearing their conversation.

"Celeste…" Enrique called her by this nickname. Only Lyca and Enrique were fond of calling her 'Celeste'. 

"Are you mad at me? Do you hate me?" There was a hint of helplessness in his voice when he asked her these questions.

Marceline lifted her head, staring straight into Enrique's eyes. "I don't hate you but… I loathe your father so much."

Enrique was taken aback when he heard her direct and blatant answer. She answered him truthfully. There was no need to hide her feelings.

"But why? What did my father do to make you hate him this much?" He probed, wondering what was the root cause of her hatred.

"Because… I just found out that he had something to do with my parents' death. Your father wanted my parents dead so that he could get the Zhou Empire."

Enrique became more speechless after hearing this. He didn't know what to feel about this. He knew Marceline would never lie about this matter. But deep inside, he didn't want to believe that his father would do such a thing.

"Have you talked to him? Celeste… there might be a misunderstanding here. My Dad will never–" 

"I'm not saying this for you to believe me. It's up to you to believe what you want to believe. You asked me a question so I just gave you my honest answer. I'm not expecting you to side with me. I don't need it."

Marceline didn't let Enrique finish his words as she already knew what he was about to say. He was thinking that his father would never do such a crime.

Marceline was already tired both physically and emotionally. She didn't want to argue with Enrique or explained everything to him. 

'What's the point of telling him everything and convincing him to believe what I said? He will still choose to believe his father in the end.'

Marceline was no longer in the mood to drag this conversation. "Do you have something more to ask aside from our grandfather's condition? If none… please excuse me. I have to go there and wait for Grandpa to leave the operating room, safe and sound."

Without waiting for Enrique's response, Marceline turned around and walked away, leaving Enrique in his spot. He wanted to stop her but he became a coward. He felt like he didn't deserve and he had no right to chase after her.

"How true is that? Is my father involved in that tragic incident eighteen years ago?" Enrique clenched his fists, his eyes were fixed in the direction where Marceline disappeared to.

He didn't want to admit but the distance between Marceline and him was keep growing apart. And this fact broke his heart. He only wished that they could still maintain what they had before.

But after seeing the hatred in Marceline's eyes, Enrique was disheartened. Her expression was telling him that she would never forget nor forgive those people responsible for the death of her parents.

"I have to do something. I need to find the truth. I can't lose her…" Enrique mumbled to himself.

*****

Thirty minutes later…

The surgery was still ongoing. Marceline kept pacing back and forth in the front of the operating room. Kira was standing next to her, just watching her every move.

"My Lady, calm down. Everything will be fine." Kira continued comforting her. He could feel her fear and nervousness. He became more connected to her as time went by. He could now easily tell her mood and feelings.

On the other hand, Marceline finally stopped walking back and forth when her phone rang. She answered it right away upon seeing the caller ID. It was Lyca, her doctor friend… her only best friend.

"Celeste?!! What happened? Why are you in the hospital?" Lyca's worried voice reverberated on the other line.

Marceline frowned as she was surprised that her doctor friend knew where she was right now. "How did you know that I'm currently in the hospital?"

"My classmate in Med School before saw you. I bumped into her just now. Our apartments are in the same building. Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Marceline took a deep sigh before answering Lyca. "Something bad happened to Grandpa. He is currently having a surgery…" She paused for a moment contemplating whether she would tell her what she truly felt or just hide it from her best friend for Lyca not to worry about her.

"Honestly… I'm not okay, Ly… I'm afraid… of losing my grandpa. He is the only family I have…" Her emotions were affecting her. She gave in, exposing her vulnerable side to Kira and Lyca.

"I'm going there. Just wait for me," Lyca said with her resolute voice. 

Marceline was seldom showing her weak side to others including her. But this time, she opened up to her, telling her she was not okay. As her only best friend, Lyca wanted to comfort her.

When Lyca hung up, someone immediately asked her what happened because Lyca looked troubled after the call. The person was none other than Dylan.

"Is there something wrong?"

Lyca nodded her head, grabbing her pouch and jacket. Dylan and Lyca just arrived at her place after spending their time together on a dinner date. They bumped into Lyca's classmate in the parking lot of the apartment building. 

Her classmate was also a doctor in the hospital where Grandpa Roland was brought. Lyca immediately called Marceline when she heard from her classmate that Marceline was rushed into the hospital. It turned out it was Grandpa Roland who fell ill.

"Dylan, go home now. I can no longer entertain you. I have to go somewhere. My best friend needs me," Lyca explained to Dylan. They were supposed to have a movie marathon tonight as Dylan insisted on sleeping over to her place.

"Alright. I understand. But I'm not going home. Let me drive you to the hospital." Dylan would not allow his mate to go out alone at this hour. He wanted to accompany her to make her safe.

Lyca didn't refuse his offer. She just nodded her head, grabbing Dylan's hand as she pulled him. She was in a hurry. The two didn't waste more time as they stepped into the car quickly.

Dylan was the one driving the car. Lyca requested him to drive faster and so he did! 

'I can be more faster than this car if only I am allowed to shift into my wolf form, letting Lyca ride my back.' Dylan thought to himself as he continued to drive as fast as he could without bumping any cars in front.

After fifteen minutes, they reached the hospital. Lyca pushed the car door immediately, not waiting for Dylan to open it for her.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Lyca asked Dylan when he also stepped out of his car, following her.

"I'm accompanying you inside. Besides, I would like to meet your best friend."

Lyca could only sigh helplessly. "Ok.. Come with me."