"You were asleep for almost three days. Hayden had a lot of time to recover," the boss informed me reassuringly.
"I was out for almost three days?! Really?" I exclaimed in shock.
I thought I just took a nap because I felt so tired. It never occurred to me that I was out for a few days. What happened during those days when I was just sleeping?
"Yes. Hayden was very worried about you too..." the boss affirmed calmly.
Hayden was worried about me too?
Although it made me extremely happy that he cared for me, I was soon engulfed by a sense of guilt. This all happened because I was careless and because of that Hayden got hurt, our wedding failed and so many people had to get involved to rescue me.
"I’m such a burden..." I whispered to myself.
"Maybe you are...but a man is only truly a man when he can take care and be responsible for his woman. That’s a fact," the boss said sternly.
I never thought that one day I would be comforted by the boss himself. Although I wasn’t sure if his words were aimed at providing me with comfort but that was exactly what it did. His words made me feel a little better about myself and gave me some more courage to go on.
By that time, we had arrived in front of a door that was undoubtedly Hayden’s hospital room. The boss looked down at me as if to ask if I was ready for this. I nodded my head at him without hesitation. Ready or not, I wanted to meet Hayden. I wanted to see him so much that I couldn’t bear to wait any longer.
"Hayden, you have a special visitor..." the boss announced without excitement as he wheeled me into Hayden’s room.
The room was too large to be a hospital room and that was all that I noted before my eyes immediately went to the figure laying on the hospital bed.
"I told you to get out! Why didn’t you listen to me? You heard me, right? Why didn’t you do as I told you?!" Hayden yelled at me so loudly that I was stunned into silence.
I...didn’t expect that...at all...
Hayden was so mad. His blue eyes narrowed at me, and his face morphed into a tight scowl. His eyes were so scary, it was like his glare would pierce through me. My lips quivered in fear, and I didn’t know what to say. He’s right. I did hear him, but I just couldn’t get out of there and leave him behind.
I knew that I should have listened, but I just couldn’t. In the end, because of my foolishness, I put Hayden in danger because he had to come for me.
In the end, Hayden...he got shot because of me...
"I...I...this is all my fault. I am so sorry, Hayden!" I cried out before I covered my face with my hands and started to cry for real.
I wailed and cried loudly into my hands as tears streamed down my face like it would never stop. My body shook from the impact of my intense sobs as my chest felt so tight that I could hardly breathe.
This is all my fault...
It made sense that Hayden would be mad at me. I was such a fool to expect a heart warming and loving reunion with him. He got hurt because of me and I didn’t listen to what he wanted me to do at all, so of course, he’s so mad at me.
"Malissa..." Hayden called my name.
"I’m so sorry, Hayden. It’s all my fault...you can punish me if you want to..." I managed to say in between my sobs.
I cried so much that my face must look like a mess. Hiding behind my hands was the best option for me at that moment. I didn’t want Hayden to see my face or how swollen my eyes, nose and lips must be. My tears continued to flow as the sense of guilt and shame grew inside of me.
--To be continued...