When Seth opened his eyes, he saw nothing but white. So he thought to himself: Oh, I died again! Am I really in the afterlife this time? However, the funny thing was, unlike the first one, Seth didn’t feel any regret. He immediately accepted the fact that he died while helping a friend. What a weird feeling.
“Seth…” a gentle voice called his name.
He turned his head to the direction where the voice came from. When Seth saw Gil and the look on his face—that was when Seth knew he was not dead. It looked like he was in the hospital and somehow, Gil was there to wait for him to regain consciousness.
Seth smiled. “Hi, Gil. Why do you look hurt? Are you hurting somewhere?”
Gil shook his head. But the expression on his face didn’t change.
Seth could see the hurtful expression on Gil’s face. He looked like someone who did something regretful. Seth could also see regret, frustration, remorse, and concern written on Gil’s face. Seth wanted to assure Gil that he was okay, but the truth was, he could feel his head throbbing at the moment.
Gil held Seth’s hand ever so gently. In a quiet voice Gil said: “I’m sorry, I couldn’t save you in time. I’m sorry because of me you were hurt. I’m sorry because I involved you into my affairs. I’m sorry, Seth. I am sorry…”
“What are you talking about?” Seth chuckled. “I involved myself into your affair. I wanted to help you. I wanted to help a friend. So, don’t blame yourself too much, Gil. What happened to me is the result of my resolve. I can say it’s my badge of honor for helping someone important to me.”
Seth could feel Gil squeezed his hand. “Thank you for helping me. But, don’t ever do something like that again. I don’t want you to get hurt because of me, Seth. You have so much potential. Do not waste them on associating yourself with someone like me.”
For the first time, Seth could feel the weight of Gil’s words. He felt hurt. “Don’t you consider me as a friend?”
Gil looked taken aback upon hearing what Seth had asked. Maybe he could sense the combination of sadness and hurt from Seth’s voice. “I consider you as my friend, Seth. We’re friends—that’s why I don’t want you getting hurt like this.”
“Don’t worry about me, Gil. I am stronger than I look.”
Gil sighed. “Honestly, when you rushed toward the enemies without a second thought, you looked like a hero, Seth. This is the first time someone has helped me without any questions asked, without expecting something in return. I am ashamed of myself, really. When I saw you being bullied at the start of the school year, I didn’t do anything to help you. I just watched those bullies torment you day by day. For that, I don’t deserve your kindness—”
“You stood up for me eventually. And that was all that matters to me, Gil. That’s enough for me.”
Seth couldn’t say to Gil that in his previous life, no one had helped him fight his bullies. Seth couldn’t say that he used to be alone and no one was there to comfort him just like what Gil was doing for him in that moment. Seth couldn’t tell Gil how he reached the age of 33 years old without any friends he could call as his own. That in his previous life, Seth rotted away without anyone noticing.
Their conversation was cut short when the door of the hospital room suddenly opened. A man who looked the same age as his mom and quite handsome and obviously a doctor (he was wearing a doctor’s uniform like what Seth had seen on TV) stepped inside the room. Behind him, Seth saw his mother.
“Hello, Seth Wiley. You’re awake.” said the doctor. Then, he proceeded to examine Seth.
“How are you feeling, dear?” his mom asked.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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“I was so worried, well, I still am.” His mom said. “I thought you were in the bookstore with me. Imagine my horror when I received a call from a hospital saying you were hurt. I thought I’m going to die.”
“I am sorry again, ma’am…” Gil bowed his head in front of Seth’s mom. “It’s all my fault.”
Seth couldn’t read the expression on his Mom’s face. Then she said to Gil. “I want to talk to you, young man. I’d like to speak to you in private.”
“Mom, don’t be too hard on Gil. He is my friend.” Seth intervened.
“It’s okay, Seth…” Gil said.
His mom and his friend both stepped outside the room to talk.
“We’ve run several tests on your body especially your head while you were sleeping.” The doctor informed Seth. “Good news, everything looks fine. Your headache will go away after a good night sleep. You can be discharged tomorrow. By the way, as much as I don’t tolerate my nephew’s actions that involve violence, I’d like to thank you for coming into Gilbert’s rescue. You don’t deserve what happened to you.”
The only words that registered into Seth’s mind from the doctor’s words were thank you, rescue, and nephew.
” Are you Gil’s uncle?” Seth couldn’t help but ask the doctor.
“Yes. I am Dr. Carl Hugo. Gilbert’s uncle.” Dr. Hugo smiled at Seth. “I was startled when I saw my nephew looked distraught and heartbroken. He begged me to save you, Seth Wiley. It was the first time I saw him in a while, he looked defeated, hurt, and scared. You must be someone very important to him.”
“He is my friend, Dr. Hugo.” Seth said with a smile.
“I know. He’s lucky to have someone like you. I can definitely say that Gilbert is not in a happy place right now. I always worry about my nephew but he keeps on distancing himself from the people around him. Now that you’re here, can you please watch over Gilbert and make sure that he won’t do anything that he will eventually regret? I am sorry, I don’t think it’s your responsibility, but no one can help Gilbert like you can. If you need anything don’t hesitate to call me. This is my card.” Dr. Hugo gave Seth his contact number. “Thank you, Seth.”
Dr. Hugo left after that. While alone, Seth realized that Gil became a doctor in his previous life maybe because of his uncle’s influence. Dr. Hugo had a look of genuine concern toward Gil. Seth heaved a deep sigh. Then he remembered that his mother and Gil were still talking.
When the door of the hospital room opened again, Seth saw his mother walked inside with a huge smile on her face. She immediately walked up to Seth and kissed him on the forehead.
“The doctor said you’re fine. Don’t do something like that again, dear. You scared me to death.”
Seth saw Gil standing in the corner. His head was lowered down. Gil looked like a puppy—he looked docile.
“What did you say to Gil, mom?” Seth asked.
“What did I say to you, Gilbert? My son wants to know.”
As if on cue, Gil looked at Seth’s direction. Their eyes met. “Your mom was angry because you got hurt. She told me to stay away from you.”
“Mom!” Seth protested.
However, Gil was not yet finished. “She also told me that if I want to stay friends with you, I can go to your house, we can study together or share a meal—because those things would make you happy.”
Seth looked at his mom. “Thank you, mom. You’re the best.”
“Take a rest, dear. Dr. Hugo said you can be discharged tomorrow, but for now, just rest.”
“Okay.” Seth closed his eyes. Not a moment later, he fell asleep.
Next morning, as expected, Seth was discharged from the hospital. Dr. Hugo was there to personally bid goodbye to Seth. The doctor even talked to Seth’s mom a little longer than expected. The two were standing a bit farther than where Seth was standing, so he couldn’t hear what the two adults were talking about. Obviously, the talk was in connection with what happened to Seth. But, who knows if there was something else, right?
Gil was still there with them. Seth thought they were going to ride a taxi going home, but a car was already waiting for them outside the hospital.
Seth learned from his mom, that the car belonged to Dr. Hugo. The doctor instructed his driver to send them home. Seth was also informed by his mom that they didn’t pay even a single cent for his hospitalization. Dr. Hugo was the hospital’s director and Gil was his nephew.
“Why didn’t you tell me about your uncle, Gil?” Seth asked him when they were finally home. The two were standing in front of the house.
“He’s just a nosy old man.” Gil said nonchalantly.
“I know deep inside you respect your uncle.” Seth tapped his friend’s shoulder. “If you want to tell me that you want to be a doctor like him, I’ll believe you, Gil.”
Gil patted his head. “Get inside. Your mom is waiting.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow in school.” Oh, yes, there were things he wanted to ask from Gil. Aka the porn magazines! Ha-ha. Seth almost forgot about them.
“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Gil replied.
“Be careful on your way home.”
Gil rode his uncle’s car. He waved goodbye to Seth.
Seth thought that everything was all right. But, nothing had prepared him for the news he was about to hear when he come to school the next day.
*****
Monday morning.
Seth could see that something big happened based on how the students were talking excitedly with each other. When he reached his classroom, Seth saw his classmates gossiping with each other.
“My brother is from Marble High. He knows about the gang. Based on the news he heard from his schoolmates, all the members of the gang were badly beaten. Some of them were even rushed to the hospital.” said one of his classmates.
“Oh, I heard from one of the witnesses/victims that it was a very gruesome scene. There was blood everywhere and the face of the gang’s boss is unrecognizable.”
Seth went to his seat. He saw Paul, his seatmate, listening to the conversation. Seth wanted to know what the fuss was all about, so, he asked his seatmate.
“What are they talking about?” Seth asked in curiosity.
Paul looked at him and replied: “The gang from Marble High was beaten up last night. As per rumors, some of them are in the hospital in critical condition. I don’t know what really happened or which of the rumors are true…”
Seth was amazed to hear his seatmate talked excitedly. It was the first time he heard Paul spout words to him like a goddamn rifle. Gossiping surely had the ability to wreck the wall his seatmate put up between them.
“So, who beat up those tugs?” Seth asked nonchalantly.
Paul’s eyes lit up like it was Christmas. “Oh, you know the culprit, Seth. We all do. He single-handedly beat up the Marble High Gang. It’s none other than the school menace—Gilbert Hugo!”
It was an understatement to say that Seth’s jaw dropped when he heard what Paul had said. No, he might have heard it wrong. He parted with Gil yesterday without any indication that there was something bad would happen. Before Seth could recover from his thoughts, the classroom that was abuzz with gossip suddenly became quiet.
Gilbert Hugo stepped inside the classroom. Seth immediately saw the bruise on Gil’s left cheek.
Their eyes met.
*****
I hope Seth does not into trouble for beating up the gang. They deserved to be beaten however. Thanks again for the chapter.
Thank you for reading ❤️
Uhm this is not a hate comment this is simply my sole opinion NO HATE INTENDED TO ANYONE ESPECIALLY THE AUTHOR
This gives me a bit cringeyy wattpad vibes for some reason like I dunno maybe it’s cause of my mood swings or I dunno 🤔 🙃 😅
Still love it though
LMAOOOO the fact that you even had to preface your opinion is already weird bestie but go off I guess
Hi. It’s okay. We all have our own preferences, anyway 😊
It’s either that or everyone in Gil’s family is super smart and “perfect”. Who can deal with the pressure?
…Seth’s Mum x Gil’s Uncle??? XD