144 RECOGNIZED
ARIEL’S POV
“I’ve been searching everywhere for you Luke. Where have you been?” I asked Luke, my arms crossed. He was standing next to this familiar face. Couldn’t care about her.
“I just decided to take a stroll, you know, getting some fresh air and taking a good view at people as they move around,” Luke replied, smirking.
“You’re not supposed to do that. The nurse said…”
“That I’m not that strong yet, deep wound, and I should stay in the hospital for a few days. Yes, yes, I get it. But come on, Ariel. I’m not a little kid. I have everything under control. I mean look at me now, standing strong.”
“You got admitted into the hospital? What happened to you?” The woman asked Luke, making a worried face.
Luke glanced at her promptly. “Oh, you’re concerned now? We were talking and you couldn’t even recognize my wounded face.”
“Who is she?” I asked him.
“Oh, she’s just a friend.”
“Yeah whatever. You too can have your lovely moment. I’ll be leaving, and do not forget about what I told you, Luke. I’ll see you later.” She walked away forthwith.
Luke turned back to me. “So, why were you looking for me?”
“Don’t ask me that. You better follow me back to the hospital.”
“And what if I don’t?”
a hard punch on your stomach.” I clenched my
going to do that?”
“Oh
think I’m joking?” I chuckled. “Like seriously, you think I can’t do that? Are
don’t think underestimate is the right word
Now come on, let’s go.” I held
him along. But things went the opposite
pulled me closer, and I could feel
was like he could see straight into my
two! Can’t you see you’re standing close
not standing at the road. And by the way, we’re at the right spot for people to walk. So
manners?” The
one more shit. I’ll come straight to you and beat you up, forgetting the fact that you’re older than me.” The man growled and drove his car away. Luke set
“He must have had a fight with his wife before hitting the road. Now, let’s go
nodded, and we both began to tread, making our way back to the hospital.
*****
MASON’S POV
As I walked down the street,
gnawed at my conscience like a relentless beast,
The bustling city traffic mirrored the chaotic whirlwind of emotions inside
my mind. Her warm smile, her gentle touch, her infectious laughter – they all danced before my eyes, a cruel
could hear me, that somehow she could forgive me. But deep down, I knew
I took felt heavier than the last, the weight of my mistakes dragging me down into an abyss of self–loathing. The bustling city seemed to blur around me, the noise fading into a dull
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