Ethan woke up to Mason sleeping on the couch just by his side, he wrapped himself together like a cocoon. He smiled when he saw him like that. That has always been his favorite sleeping position. Ethan tried to seat up but he felt pain on the right flank of his stomach, making him wince. Though it had been a soft wince, it was enough to wake Mason up from sleep. He was both surprised and relieved to see Ethan awake. After the surgery Ethan had slept all through the night till now.
“Don’t move.” Mason said as he hurried to the bedside but Ethan tried to be stubborn by moving up again. Mason held him down by his shoulders, “You’re going to open the stitches.” He told him.
“I can–”
“Wait let me get the doctor.” Mason interjected him, he tried to turn away but Ethan held him by his sleeve and pulled him back.
“Hey, are you okay?” He asked with concern, his eyes staring deeply at Mason’s. Mason slowly nodded his head and replied, “Yes.” but Ethan didn’t believe him.
Ethan looked at him more intently, he could see the guilt, pain and shame he was trying to hide in his eyes.
“Mason tell me. You and I both know you’re not fine. Tell me what it is?” He urged. He knew him well enough. He had Mason during his darkest days when he had lost everything and everyone in his life, and he had been with him since then so wouldn’t know him.
Mason shook his head and smiled, “I’m fine”
“But you’re not.” Ethan refuted him.
“Ethan–”
“Are you feeling guilty towards me?” Ethan asked him making Mason to lower his eyes as he sighed.
“Ethan I’m sorry. I should have listened to you and let go of my hatred. If I did you wouldn’t be in this situation right now. You almost died because of me.” He said sadly.
“But i didn’t. Am I not here with you now?” Ethan asked him.
“You are, but–”
“There’s no but here. I’m here with you, and we’re fine, so is Amy. You exposed her mother I’m sure?” He asked while Mason nodded.
“So don’t feel bad anymore. You got justice for your family and that’s all that matters. And if it’s about that crazy woman you worked for I forgave you already, so stop sulking okay.” Ethan said comfortingly, but Mason was still troubled.
He placed his hand on Ethan’s hand and held it firmly, “Ethan I don’t deserve you. You deserve someone better than me.”
“What nonsense are you saying now? Do you want to leave me after you shot me? Who’s going to take care of me? And why are you being so cruel to me. Haven’t I waited enough?” Ethan asked in a pained voice.
“You promised you’ll give this a try. You’ll give me a chance, wasn’t that what you said? I waited for years Mason are you going to throw all that away?” He asked in a tone, but Mason lowered his head without saying anything. He also wanted to give this a chance but he didn’t feel good of himself. He had been so drawn into a dark life he didn’t know what to do with light Ethan had brought him.
“Ethan–” He called softly.
“If you don’t feel like you’re good enough, if you want to leave then leave.” He said sternly as he pulled his hand away from him. His heart was hurting but he didn’t want to show it, as he looked away from him.
Mason looked at him with slightly reddened eyes, but Ethan was looking away. He couldn’t leave him like this. He had to admit to himself that he cared about this man more than necessary. He couldn’t leave him. Ethan was his saviour who had brought him out of his darkest place, who showed him love and care when he was at the verge of losing himself and was at the brink of depression. Ethan was that light at the end of his tunnel, so how could he leave him.
He grabbed Ethan’s hand and held it towards him, “I’ll stay” He firmly declared making Ethan to slowly turn to look at him.
“I’ll stay with you and I’ll give this a chance. I want a chance with you too, and a chance to be better” Mason said emotionally.
Ethan looked at him uncertainly as he tried to study his countenance, to see if he was just saying it to make him feel happy or if he truly meant it.
Mason flashed him a smile as he rubbed the back of Ethan’s hand in slow and circular motions.
“I’ll stay with you Ethan”
“Are you sure?” Ethan asked him skeptically while Mason smiled.
“You bent me, so you’re not allowed to ask me questions but simply take care of me.” Mason smiled while Ethan chuckled.
“I didn’t bend you, I only helped you discover who you truly are, and made you accept it”
“By wanting for you?” He asked.
“It’s one of my many charms” Ethan replied smilingly.
“I think I like your charms” Mason said as he lowered his head and pecked Ethan’s lips but the man captured his lips in his mouth and kissed him. The kiss was gentle and soft, they had shared a kiss before and had gone a bit further than that, but this was their first real kiss after Mason accepted his feelings for Ethan.
Both of them were lost in their moment when some one opened the door.
“Eth–” The voice trailed and apologized before closing the door.
What the hell was that?
Mason and Ethan shared a look before Ethan gave him a nod to go open the door. It was time he came clean and told the truth about who he was.
…..
Amy couldn’t stop looking at Mason and Ethan, most especially Mason…no Ethan. As a matter of fact she couldn’t stop looking at the two of them, but for different reasons.
She couldn’t stop looking at Ethan because she couldn’t believe what she had seen. He was ga….. She couldn’t say it out. She wasn’t discriminating she was just too shocked.
And she couldn’t stop looking at Mason, it was as if Micheal was standing right in front of her. But then she knew it wasn’t Micheal. Micheal was dead.
Amy felt tears stinging her eyes once more. She still couldn’t believe Micheal was gone just like that. He died for no just cause but out of her mother’s cruelty. He was the first man she had loved and when he broke up with her it broke her heart because the hurtful things he had said to her were demoralizing but who knew that her mother was behind it all. It felt like those words had come out of her mother’s mouth. How could she be so cruel to her? Amy couldn’t even imagine how much Micheal had suffered, he must have been heart broken just like her. He had even died alone.
Amy lowered her eyes and looked away from Mason. She felt so guilty towards him, and also towards Ethan. He had been shot because of her.
“Hey why are you crying now?” Ethan asked with concern. He tried to move but he couldn’t because of the pain.
“I… I’m sor…ry.” Amy sobbed.
“Sorry for what?” He asked.
“For everything. For putting you in danger, and for….” She paused as she briefly looked at Mason, “And for bringing pain to you and your family. I’m sorry, I hope you both can forgive me.” She cried.
Ethan looked at Mason and asked him to help him up, and Mason did.
He reached for Amy’s hand and pulled her close, making her sit on the bed beside him.
“Amy don’t feel sorry, none of this was your fault. You’re the nicest person I know and even if this had nothing to do with Mason, I’ll still jump in and save you. And secondly I should be the one apologizing to you because I wasn’t honest to you and I tricked you. So let me apologize to you. Amy Walker, my one and only best friend, I’m sorry for hurting you and for the pains you’ve passed through and Mason here is no longer angry. Your mom has been arrested and Micheal would get justice, so he’s cool, right Mason?” He turned to Mason for confirmation and Amy did the same, while Mason nodded his head.
“Yes.” He replied and hesistated for a while before he continued, “And I’m sorry for hurting you. I…I was just angry, and blinded by hatred and my quest for Vengeance. I’m sorry for putting through such horror.” He apologized as well.
More tears flowed out of Amy’s eyes as she nodded her head, “Thank you” She said appreciatively, feeling the burden on her heart completely disappear.
“Okay, now stop crying or you’ll look ugly and I won’t be able to tell you what I want to tell you.” Ethan said, making Amy to wipe her tears as she sniffled.
“I’m not crying. What do you want to tell me.” Amy said as she continued to wipe her tears.
“My secret.”
______
Jake woke up seeing Grace wiping Jade’s body with a towel and immediately he stepped down from the couch and walked up to her, “Mother let me.” He said stretching his hand to take the towel from her. Grace hesistated a little, she looked at his face which looked dull, he hadn’t had much rest since yesterday, he had stayed up all night at Jade’s side refusing to let go of her hand till Grace coerced him to lie down on the sofa at the early hours of the morning.
“Are you sure? You should rest more.” She told him but Jake smiled and shook his head and collected the towel from her hand. “You should go home and rest, and Kelvin too.”
“But I can’t just leave–”
“I can take care of her.” Jake assured her while Grace sighed. She looked at Jade and her eyes teared up.
“She shouldn’t be in this state at all. She look so peaceful like this and it scares me, my baby might never wake up.” She said as she caressed Jade’s cheek with her hand, a tear dropping out of her eyes. She was yet to come to terms with her daughter’s condition. It felt like a dream, a nightmare and she was hoping that she’d wake up soon to see her baby girl smiling at her again. And what really vexed her more was that she was in this condition because of that Cale. She had warned her daughter about that man, if only she had listened to her and left him at the very beginning. She sighed out loud. Now wasn’t a time to ponder on things that could be, but rather it was time to pray for her to wake up soon.
Grace sniffed and wiped her tears, when she looked at Jake she saw the sad look on his face as he also stared at Jade. Placing a hand on his shoulders she comforted him, “She’ll be fine. She’ll come back to us. Jade is a very strong girl and she loves us and for our sake she’ll be fine.” Jake slowly nodded his head.
Grace removed her hand from his shoulder and grabbed his hand making Jake to look at her inquisitively.
Grace drew in deep breaths before opening her mouth to speak up, “Jake I want to thank you for saving Jade, for being there for her and for loving her. I know I haven’t said this before, but I’m happy she has you in her life and I hope when she wakes up, you and her can have all the happiness you both deserve.”
Jake didn’t know what to say to her, so he just nodded her and replied, “Thank you.”
Grace hugged him and gently patted his back like a mother would. Her actions made Jake remember his mother. She was just as good as Grace. He missed her alot.
Grace beckoned on Kelvin who had been gazing at his sister since he woke and even last night, so they could go home and freshen up, then bring food for Jake.
Kelvin stood up from where he was seating and walked closer to Jade. He bent down to her level, and kissed her cheek but not before saying, “Sister Jade wake up soon okay. I promise not to fight you or quarrel with you anymore.” He said in a very emotional voice. He missed her already.
Grace walked to his side and ruffled his hair, “Don’t worry she’ll be up soon” She told him while Kelvin nodded. They said their goodbye and left leaving Jake to cater for Jade.
“Babe you heard them right. You have to wake up soon, if not for anyone else but for me.”
.
Let everyone reading this novel pray for Jade, she needs our prayers right now…
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 47
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