C L A I R E

MY EYES WIDENED AT THE SIGHT.

There stood Sam right in front of me, her eyes glaring right through the wall. I knew for sure that she recognized the voice of the people in the other room.

She was screaming at the person, not caring if there were nurses or other patients roaming around the hallways. I knew for sure we'll get in trouble if she keeps this up.

"Sam, please stop this. Fighting with them won't solve anything."

I tried my best to persuade her to give it up but she just wouldn't back down. I guess she was trying to have her revenge for what happened back then on the mountain.

"Sam, stop this. It's already enough," I commanded her and she gave me a look. "I think they already got the hint."

"Can't you see? He's still being an a**hole."

"Can you just shut up for at least one day? You're being too loud!" she yelled at them as I held my hands up to my face. I could feel the embarrassment as they kept on shouting at each other. I swear, they both hate each other without even knowing who's on the other side.

"How about you stop yelling at us? Maybe then, we'll stop," suggested one of his friends since it was a voice we weren't that really sure of. It was a higher tone than the one teasing Sam after all.

"Tell your buddy to shut up first. Maybe then, I will," Sam answered with a hint of anger in her voice.

"If he won't, then I won't back down that easily. Who are you to tell me what to do."

Then suddenly, it became silent. She then smiled in triumph, thinking that everything stopped because of the deal they made. Sam was about to sit on one of the chairs in the room when we heard someone singing a tune.

"What is it this time?" She gave the door a bored look as her eyes widened when a guy opened it and looked inside.

When their eyes met, the guy suddenly stuck out his tongue and teased her. "I didn't know that the war freak looks much worse than I expected."

"What the hell did you just say?" As soon as she stood up, the guy closed the door and I could hear his footsteps ceasing to exist — running cowardly away from my friend.

Knowing my best friend, I sat up to tell her to stop in her tracks. "Sam—"

"Did you see the audacity that guy has? He really wants a fight, huh?" Her hands had been raising up as if she was tired of all that is happening. She then lowers it down and puts it on her waist.

Trying to reassure her that it wasn't that bad, I tried to smile despite her glare right toward the door. "I'm sure that it's just a harmless prank, Sam. You don't have to get so pent up about it."

"Sam!" I couldn't help but call her as she bolted right out the door — probably chasing after the guy from earlier. After a few minutes of waiting for her, I thought that she would be the one to come in.

But, a guy came in and I swore that I know him.

"You...what are you doing here?" That was the first question that I asked him as soon as he steps a foot inside the room. "You're Ethan's friend, aren't you?"

"Why are you here?" I continued as he coughed for a moment, probably a bit nervous to say something.

"Ethan wanted to apologize for the mishaps that happened this month."

"Which one? There's too many."

I then pretended to think. "The first car accident? The second? Ah, there's too much to count."

He was about to talk but I then stopped him, raising a hand, and decided to open about the jeepney incident. "Oh, I almost forgot. Aren't you the one who gave him my number?"

"That was your number? I thought it was..." he then trailed off before he looked like he realized something. He then scoffed as he shook his head. "I can't believe this."

"Do enlighten me. How did you get my number?"

"I thought it was your friend's number. I asked for it the last time."

"That's weird. Sam gave you my number?" There was a slight hesitation whether he was going to answer or not. My eyes squinted at him as he continued to look away.

"She must've felt like she couldn't trust you."

"But...if that had been Sam's number all along...then why would you give it to Ethan?" I asked him with curiosity lingering in my tone.

"There were a lot of times that he did something bad to you, I thought that it would be bad if both of you talk," he told me before he continued.

"So, I thought that maybe he could talk to your friend to confess everything and apologize. I guess it didn't work out as planned." I gave him a nod before he decided to sit on one of the chairs instead of standing next to the door.

"I think it just made it worse," he mumbled to himself but I caught on to what he said eventually.

"You think?"

He then shakes his head before he spoke softly. "That's why I want Ethan to come to you personally."

"Pardon?" I couldn't believe my ears. What did he just say? He wants me to meet up with that guy?

He noticed my reaction and decided to explain it even further. "After you guys are discharged, maybe you could tell him to meet you? I'll talk to him as well,"

"You want him to meet me? Or meet him?" He nods at my remark and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "You know for sure he'll disagree with that one. We're not on good terms."

After a few minutes of silence, I decided that there would be no way out of this. If his friend wanted me to meet up with Ethan, then for sure, I have no choice but to do it.

"Fine," I replied before taking my phone from the table beside me. "It's a chance that I'll make him suffer just like I did anyway."

"Don't be too harsh on him," he told me as I scoffed. He wanted me to meet this guy and here he goes, ordering me around.

"Why? He's the one at fault here. I'll make no promises."