My plan was to stay awake throughout the ride to the hospital. Prince had insisted that I should sleep. He had asked if I had eaten but I told him I won't eat he shouldn't even bother forcing me. It's annoying how he is so caring. He knew I needed to sleep since the ride was going to be long. He switched on the air conditioner, played a soothing music and adjusted my seat a little. I was determined not to sleep so I kept my eyes wide open. Two minutes later, I was dozing.

"Anita, we are at the hospital. Wake up!" a soft voice invaded my sound sleep. I mumbled and fell back into my dream world. Someone tapped my arm and then, moved my shoulder.

My eyes snapped open and I screamed, "What?"

Prince flinched and leaned away. I glared at him and he rose his hands up in mock surrender. I glanced around me and that's when I noticed the big hospital building. I quickly unlocked my seatbelt, hopped out of the car and ran towards the entrance door.

"Wait for me!" Prince voiced but I was too far away to stop. I got in and ran to the receptionist. I provided her with the information she needed and she told me the room number. Prince dashed in as I was already racing down the hallway. Soon, he was trailing behind me. We flew stairs before we finally arrived at the room. I tried to steady my breathe as I opened the door. My mom hopped from her chair at once. "Doctor?" her weak voice exclaimed.

"No mom! It's Anita," I whispered.

She rubbed her eyes and then did a double take of me. Tears welled up in her eyes as she walked to me. I quickly closed the gap between us and embraced her. She said between sniffs, "Thank....Thank...Thank God....you...you are here!"

I rubbed her back and looked at her face. She was definitely stressed. Her eyes were red and swollen, her lips were chapped and she looked leaner. I haven't seen her in weeks now so this wasn't an encouraging sight. My parents are meant to be healthy.

Oh Lord, have mercy on me and spare my parents' lives. Bless them with good health.

"What has happened so far?" I asked.

She turned and pointed at this heart monitor. "That thing has stopped beeping! Your dad is breathing well but not too well. The doctor said he is not out of danger yet".

My eyebrows went up. "That heart monitor was beeping?" I gasped. "Like dad almost passed away?"

"Shh! Don't ever say that. Your dad will live long!" Mom cautioned at once. "I had fainted when I saw it beeping. That's why I delayed to inform you about that situation at hand. Your dad had an heart attack this morning".

I bit my bottom lips and nodded. I glanced at my dad who had an oxygen mask on his face. His dark skin that always looked bright now looked dull and just seeing his eyed closed as he lay weak there made my heart squeeze. I didn't even know when a lone tear trickled down my cheek.

"Um...." A disembodied voice cleared his throat. I turned and spotted Prince in front of the closed door. He dug his hands into his pockets and walked to us. "Good evening ma!"

My mom cocked a brow and searched my face for an answer. "Mum, meet Prince. A good friend of mine," I voiced.

I won't dare introduce Prince as my boyfriend to my mom. She will start preparing for marriage and I don't want to disappoint her. I know she wants grandchildren but she will have to wait. Prince and I just signed a contract that will end after two months. This month is even about to end so it's one month remaining.

My mom nodded. "Good evening! Thank you for coming with my daughter. I appreciate"

"Your welcome, ma. Pls don't worry much. I'm sure your husband will get better. I will even do everything I can to help out," Prince said. "However, I think you should rest now. You look exhausted".

"I am exhausted but I will not leave my husband's side"

Prince smiled weakly. "I and Anita are here. We will stay by his side. Your health also matters. We don't want you to fall ill"

The way Prince is reading my mind is beyond my imagination. I want to tell my mom to rest but right now, I haven't recovered from the shock that I almost lost my dad for good today.

"How about you sleep for six hours and return to this hospital?" Prince inquired.

"No! Don't force me"

"Ma, have you eaten?"

My mum was silent.

I gasped. "Mum, have you eaten?"

"No!"

"We need to do something about this!" Prince spoke.

"Mum, let's go!" I took hold of my mother's hand and I pulled her towards the door. "We need to find something for you to eat".

"Let's look for a decent hotel. She'll sleep there for the night"

"No!" my mother whisper-yelled.

"Mum, there is no time to argue. Let's go!" I narrowed my eyes at her.

She succumbed and sighed. We left the hospital and we found a good hotel nearby. Mum ate and we lodged a room for her.  As soon as she slept off we went back to the hospital.

We stayed at the hallway on a bench beside my dad's ward. Prince stood beside an open window. His left hand was dug into his pocket of his trousers and the other held his phone to his ear. He was trying to cancel every business meetings and plans he had for tomorrow.

I rose and made my way to him. "Prince, you can go home now! You don't have to stay and you definitely don't have to cancel all your meetings. Please!"

"No way! I want to stay here!" he insisted as he dialed a number on his phone. He placed his phone to his ear. "Hello!....Yeah...Good evening! I'm sorry that I'm calling this late but..."

I snatched the phone from his hand and ended the call. "But...you will not cancel any meeting! I've said my own".

"I want to be here. Stop being stubborn!"

"No! You should stop being stubborn. I don't need you here!" I snapped and sent an icy glare at him.

He paused. "I want to be here. Your opinion is not needed".

"Do you know what a weed is? An unwanted plant! Prince, I don't need you here. I can take care of my family myself. Stop being a weed right now," I hurled and pressed his phone to his chest. "Please, leave! Thank you!"

"Why are you being mean?" his voice came out soft.

Stupid voice! I don't want you to sacrifice anything for me. I will feel indebted to you. The hotel bill you spent on my mom is enough.

"Abeg! Just go!" I hissed and rolled my eyes.

"Why can't I be here? I'm your boyfriend remember?"

"Fake! I repeat fake boyfriend. Our contract is fake. It's all scam," I snarled and let go of his phone. He was quick to catch it and dug it into his pocket.

"You don't need me here?" he said, clearly hurt by my words. "The plain fact is that I see you as a good friend and....a friend in need is a friend indeed".

"Shush! I'm not interested in your talk. Bye! I don't want to see you here".

He nodded and sucked in deep breathes. I glared at him one more time and turned to go to my seat. "Wait!" he called out.

"What?" I growled while still matching to the bench.

"Why are you chasing me away?"

I clamped my lips together.

I don't want to feel dependent on anyone. I have never depended anyone. Every guy I dated was for fun. They never cared about my family. So why is my fake boyfriend caring? This is so strange to me that my best solution is to chase him away. I need space to breathe and think. Prince has done so much for me that I'm worried I might love being cared for and then, get heartbroken when he leaves. Just  like what happened with....

I shook my head. I don't want to remember my past.

I'm beautiful. I am thick and curvy but my bad luck is that I attract the wrong guys. So I just kinda caged my heart to prevent it from being toyed with.

I got to my bench and settled comfortably on it. Prince stared at me silently and he didn't bother to hide his expression. He was hurt by my action and I don't want to care about that.

He let out a bereaved sigh. "I'll leave!" he said and stood upright with an emotionless look. "Good bye!"

I rolled my eyes and stared at my fingers. I heard his footsteps as he left.

Who cares!

I bit my bottom lip and peered at his departing figure. My heart squeezed strangely which made my eyes widened.

Since when did my heart start reacting to a guy leaving?

"Mtcheewww!" I hissed. "Too much romance movies and novels is confusing me. I don't believe my heart can beat for a guy. Full stop! That's my own. My heart is just for pumping blood. As a medical doctor, I should understand that. I shouldn't let fictional stories confuse my understanding of scientific facts".

That night, I slept on the bench. Was I alone? Yes! Do I like it? Absolutely. Does my heart like it? Who cares! Heart is for pumping blood.

The next morning, I got my mom from the hotel and we spent our time with my unconscious dad. He was to have a surgery at 12pm for his leg. As soon as it was time, I and my mom walked out of the room to let the professionals do their work. My mom walked out first as I proceeded to leave, I bumped into someone.

When I spotted the white lab coat, I was about to apologize until my eyes met the individual and all the blood in my face drained out. The young man stared at me with wide eyes.

I frowned and scrambled out of the room. The Operation began and I spent my time pacing the hallway.

"What's wrong, dear? Don't overthink. Your dad will be alright. I know it," my mother voiced as she sat feebly on a plastic chair.

"I know!" I replied. "It's just that....I feel destiny is playing pranks on me".

"Eehhn?" My mom cocked a brow.

"Destiny is playing big pranks on me!"

"How?"

"Don't worry! You will not understand," I said and rubbed my hands together. My blood level was high. Everything about me was not calm at all. I just bumped into someone I never wanted to meet again.

"Explain! I might understand"

"You won't, mom! Don't worry!" I sighed and sent a faint smile.

Don't worry, mom! I will be the one doing the worry. My life wan turn upside down but I will never let it.

"Excuse me! Are you Anita Tosin?" A nurse said, yanking me from my thoughts.

"Yes!"

"Your receipt, ma!" she spoke audibly and handed a sheet of paper to me. I glanced at it. Indeed, it was a receipt.

"Huh? What's this?"

"It's for your hospital bill"

"A sum of two hundred and fifty-five thousand naira?" I yelled. "I didn't pay you that".

"Your boyfriend did!"

"Ehen?" My mom literally flew to my side. "How much did you just say? Your....Her....Two...Ehen?"

"Your boyfriend, Prince Obinna Arinze paid it all. He even paid extra incase of emergency!"

"Prince?" My mom voiced, her mouth dangling open.

"When did he pay?" I scowled, my fists balled and I squeezed the life out of the receipt.

"Last night!"

"How dare he?" I gnarled. "Sincerely, how dare he?"
     

              ----------------------

Did you enjoy this chapter? What's your opinion on it?

Who do you think is the new character? What kind of commotion will take place?

What's your opinion on the way Anita treated Prince?

What do you understand about Anita's love life? Why is she scared of it?

Omo! What will Anita do to Prince oo! 😂 She dey vex becos someone paid her bills. I need someone to pay my bills for me too oo. 🤣

Thanks for reading. VOTE and comment.

That's right,
Itz Mabel.❤