Our Hearts Beat For Anne

Anne

Andrew had picked me earlier with his bike and we had arrived at the house he shared with his brother. His flight was in the evening.

On the way to his house, he had told me of the deteriorating mood of his brother and how he was dreading the time he would be leaving his brother alone.

Vincent's patient with cancer wasn't getting any better. The man after consulting with his doctors had decided that the best thing was to stop his chemo and all the drugs that made him sick to spend his remaining few weeks with his family.

Vincent had taken two days off from work to recuperate because he had become so attached to his patient that it hurt.

We entered the house and headed for Vincent's room.

I had imagined his room to be razor-sharp neat with everything in place. It was pretty close if not for the few books scattered all over the reading table and the rumpled bed where Vincent lay beneath the covers with his eyes closed.

His room was set in white and black contrast. Some furniture such as the curtains, couch, and the wardrobe were all black while the walls, duvet, bookshelf, reading table, and a few other things were white. You couldn't even see a spec of dirt or discoloration on the white part. Yep, my assumptions were spot on.

Coming close, you could make out the slight dark circles beneath his eyes and the visible stress lines on his forehead. Asides that, he was still his stunning self.

Andrew plopped down on the bed causing Vincent to wince then slowly open his eyes.

His eyes were dull, it has almost lost its normal glow and keenness.

As if propelled by a spiritual force, I took off the house slippers Andrew had given me at the door and jumped, landing on all four on the bed close to where Vincent lay his head. This caused Andrew to crack up while Vincent stared in surprise. They had not expected what I did.

I had raked my brain in search of how to help Vincent and this looked like the best option at the moment.

"Hey," I said mustering up my sweetest smile.

"Hey yourself," he whispered.

"Look, you gotta cheer up," I consoled, sitting on the bed. "Your patient is spending his best moments with his family and you're here sulking, making everyone feel bad for you."

He angled his head to look at me and from the way his eyes were looking expectantly, I knew I was making headway.

"You and other doctors did all you could," I continued. "He's got time left to spend with his loved ones. Many people in the world couldn't even get that chance to say goodbye to family cause we go about our daily lives, not knowing when we're gonna die. But, you guys helped make it possible for him which is both humbling and what anyone, heck, what I would have wanted if I  found myself in such."

Andrew kept on nodding in agreement.

Sometimes, I do wonder where my words came from. I get emotional and then boom, am spewing things out of my mouth.

Vincent stared at me for a few seconds, then reached out and ruffled my hair with a small smile playing on his face.

I was so much tempted to put my hand over his on my head but I had to restrain myself and simply smiled back at him.

"Am hungry Anny!" Andrew protested from where he sat.

"There's pizza in the fridge Drew," Vincent told him.

"I know but I need a home-cooked meal right now, our help is on sick leave, mum hasn't sent a replacement yet so there's only Anny left," he said winking at me.

" Shush, am not your help," I scolded, smacking him arm.

"Ouch!"

Vincent chuckled from where he lay.

"Anny dear, am leaving very soon, you should grant a man his final wishes," he teased.

"On one condition, Vincent's going to help us in the kitchen, or else I ain't cooking nothing." I deadpanned.

"Vinny! do it for your bro," Andrew waled coming over to Vincent's side giving his best puppy eyes. I laughed, sinking down on the bed. I couldn't help it, the dude was hilarious.

"I want rice and chicken stew Anny, I'm going to get the food items out." He huffed, leaving the room.

I stood on the bed with my socks covered feet and extended my left hand to Vincent.

He looked from my hand to my face, pausing to stare at me, then slowly brought up his right hand and took mine.

The contact was shockingly intense I could even taste it.

I pulled on his hand with both of mine to distract myself from my heart rate that took on a rapid new rhythm and my receding breathe but ended up dragging him forcefully which resulted in him standing too quickly causing me to lose balance and trip on the bed.

He shot out his left hand and grabbed my waist to steady me. I, in turn, held on to his shoulders, clenching my fists on his white polo.

Huge waves of electricity shot through my entire body, resting on my core where it throbbed.

I clenched my fists tighter on his shoulders and gritted my teeth due to the almost painful throb.

My body gravitated towards his as if seeking more from the source leaving almost nothing separating us.

I was so engrossed in my body reactions that I completely forgot I was supposed to let go.

My cheeks heated up when it dawned on me that we were still clung together and I slowly peered up.

His eyes were squeezed shut like someone in pain making me remove my hands quickly because I felt I must have held on too tightly causing him discomfort.

His hands were still on my waist when he blinked open his eyes and stared down at me.

"Anny," he choked out.

My mind went blank as I gaped at him. His intense gaze and the way he called my name spoke volume but I couldn't comprehend the message it unknowingly passed.

I couldn't help but wonder if he was feeling the same way as I was.

He blinked once, then twice, realizing our compromising position, released his hold on my waist, and stepped back, the intensity in his eyes replaced with slight confusion as if trying to understand what happened.

I tried to cover up the whole situation by jumping down dramatically from the bed, looking back up at him.

"Well?" I inquired.

He nodded and stepped down from the bed and we walked out of the room with unspoken words hanging in the air.

Downstairs, Andrew had already put the rice on the stove and was cutting the vegetables when he caught sight of our presence in the kitchen and looked up, grinning.

"Finally, you have managed to get that log of wood out of the bed," he teased.

Vincent picked up a frying pan and held it up a threatening manner towards Andrew daring him to say more. Andrew, on seeing this

got the message and raised his hands in surrender, then went back to his chopping with a mischievous glint on his face.

We made lunch together and ate it in the living room amidst our chatting and banter.

I'd grown so attached to the two brothers in the past few months to the extent one would think we've all know each other since childhood.

*****

We left for the airport in Vincent's car and arrived 30minutes to departure.

A crowd of Andrew's friends were already at the airport waiting and all started cheering when they spotted us, some of them ran and lifted him off the ground admist cheers, causing a lot of people to stare, some even stopped to witness the enfolding event and some cheered along. It was as if a celebrity had entered the airport.

There were about thirty people, both male and female, each hugging and patting him. It was such a big send-off celebration.

Andrew hugged and shook the guys but took his time with the girls. He'd flirtily hugged them and pecked their cheeks awarding himself smiles and giggles from the girls.

"Yuck."

During the final call for departure, Andrew came over to where I stood with Vincent, gave his brother a tight hug who in turn patted his back. Turning to me, he slowly encompassed me in his arms.

"Anny," he mumbled into my ears with so much emotion that unhinged me.

"I'll miss you terribly, Anny."

I was really taken aback by the way he spoke that it brought back the things my roommates and I argued on before the party. It made me uneasy.

"Me too big guy." I tried to sound as casual as possible, wanting to hide the unnerving feeling that crept inside me.

He hugged his brother again and together they walked towards the terminal where Andrew entered and disappeared from sight.

Vincent had a few conversations with Andrew's friends that he was familiar with, then came over to where I was standing, stopping right in front of me.

"Hmm, am shocked you didn't cry your eyes out," he teased, searching my face for tears.

" Ha..ha," I scoffed gaining myself a beautiful smile from him.

"Are they all Drew's friends," I asked pointing to the crowd that came to see off Andrew as the left in smaller groups.

"Oh..they are just half of his closest friends."

I wasn't even surprised. Andrew was extroverted to the letter. He was good at talking and flirting with girls just like he was with his female friends here. No wonder my roommates thought he was interested in me. Hump! We will all have a good laugh when I tell them the events that unfolded here. But as I left with Vincent, I couldn't help but feel a cold wrenching feeling gradually creeping into my heart. I felt goosebumps all over my body. It was a scary feeling.

On our drive to my hostel, I kept on thinking of that weird feeling of foreboding. I couldn't overlook it and tried to think of things that might have triggered such feelings but came out empty.

"A penny for your thoughts."

I jerked my head towards Vincent, realizing I had completely zoned out.

I forced out a chuckle which earned me a look from him that said: "I know something's up with you".

"Are you okay?" He asked concerned.

You couldn't put it past him to be observant. I still couldn't believe he let me see this side of him that was soft and caring. I liked that he considered me a friend who he could let down his guards for.

"Yea, am good."

"Sure?" He pressed on.

"Yea, definitely..uhmm..sooo, you'll be going back to work huh?" I said sitting up.

I know he knew I was deliberately changing the topic but he didn't show it. He just went along with it.

"Aww!"

"I should, cause I feel a whole better now thanks to you," he admitted.

The rest of the ride was in a comfortable silence.

He stepped out with me when we reached my hostel and leaned on the car.

I went around the car to where he was leaning and inclined myself in the same position.

He turned to me with raised eyebrows.

"I know you enjoy your own company and all that but right now, I strongly believe you don't want to go back and stay in your house alone now that Drew's not around," I asserted.

Well of course without a doubt, I knew from how he lingered that he wasn't looking forward to an empty house at the moment. Previously, he would just have the briefest conversation without leaving the car then drive off afterward.

"This is just six o'clock," he said glancing at his wristwatch concurring to what I said.

"What do you wanna do?" I asked leaning off the car to stand in front of him.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Mmmm...well we could take a stroll. It's good scenery," I said waving my arm around in affirmation.

He followed my movement, taking in the surrounding, then brought his eyes back to me.

"Nothing special," he shrugged nonchalantly.

"Wha....?" I asked astonished.

He started laughing at my expression and just like that, I froze with my mouth still open, but only momentarily. I still couldn't get used to his unexpected outbursts which always finds a way to hook my breath.

"It was a joke, Anny." His laugh has reduced to a smile when he noticed I wasn't laughing along.

"It'd better. I'd.. have.. you.. know... that.. this..area...is one of the best places in the entire school." I said poking severally at his c.h.e.s.t.

He suddenly grabbed my hand, caging it against his c.h.e.s.t.

"You want to drill holes into my c.h.e.s.t now, don't you?" He asked with a smile on his handsome face.

I couldn't speak, the ripples of electricity were back, not with the same intensity as they were then in his room, the effects were similar though.

I gulped and tried to speak but words were not forming. I even forgot to breathe.

"I'm done for!"

COMMENT 0 comment VOTE Load failed, please RETRY

— New chapter is coming soon —Write a review Privileged

More Privileged Chapters

Download the app and become a privileged reader today! Come take a sneak peek at our author's stockpiled chapters! Download Weekly Power Status See Who Voted -- Power Ranking -- Power Stone Vote Table of Contents Display Options

Background default yellow dark

Font Nunito Sans Merriweather

Size

Paragraph comments Chapter comments Write thought login liked newest Author:

© 0){ %>Chapter :

Author: Machine Translation

Translator: Editor: