CHAPTER 7. KISS ME AGAIN!

We arrived at the hospital as I rushed in, leaving Nathan behind. My mom was waiting patiently for me, she pulled me into a long hug, crying on my shoulder.

“Your brother has leukemia!” My mom said after we pulled away from the hug.

I gasped. I was dumbfounded. I couldn't believe my ears. I found a nearby bench as I sat down, processing my mother's words.

“Wasn't this the same thing that killed dad?” I asked my mom slowly. My mom nodded in agreement.

I was terrified. What if he doesn't make it alive, just like my dad? I just couldn't handle that.

“Liliana, you didn't even introduce me to your friend” My mom's voice drifted my thoughts back to reality.

I didn't even realize Nathan has been standing there, I was completely lost.

“I'm sorry, mom” I began.

“This is Nathan, one of the twins where I work at, and he was the one who offered to drive me down here” I said, gesturing at Nathan. My mom's face beamed with a faint smile.

“Nathan, meet my mom” I also gestured at my mom.

“So you're the Nathan I've been hearing about, huh?” My mom said.

“She's been telling me so much about you, I promise” My mom revealed as I rolled my eyes playfully. That was embarrassing as hell. I watched Nathan's eye averted to me, who was wearing a proud smile.

“Aww…have you?” Nathan asked me sarcastically.

“Momm” I pouted, stabbing my feet on the ground.

“Isn't it true?” My mom said, shrugging.

“It's my honor to meet you, eventually, ma'am” Nathan said to my mom with a little bow.

My mom informed us how they conducted multiple tests and I felt bad for my mom because that meant spending of extra money.

I went over to my brother's bed, he was laying there peacefully. I ran my palm over his body, he was frigid.

“He is cold” I whispered to my mom.

She nodded. My gaze caught his nostril, there were visible blood stains. This was accurately how it was with my dad.

“Did he bleed?” I asked my mom again, frowning.

“Yeah, he did. It was so bad” My mom responded. I stared blankly at the wall for a minute.

“He will be fine. It's nothing to panic over” Nathan consoled.

“No, don't tell me not to panic!” I blurted out. My sadness suddenly replaced with anger.

“Do you know how it feels, losing your dad to leukemia?” I questioned Nathan.

“And now…” I trailed off.

“My little brother is lying here helplessly over the same illness. Over the same thing that killed my dad years ago?” I said, gesturing at my brother.

Nathan didn't say a word to me.

My mom came over to me and hugged me as I freely cried over her shoulder.

“That's it. It's okay, honey” My mom spoke softly patting my back.

Just then, Nathan's phone rang and it was Mrs. Smith. “You should stay with your mom and watch over your brother, I will explain things to my mom” Nathan suggested, shoving his phone back into his pocket.

My mom insisted that I go with him and promised she will look over Jeremy herself.

The drive way back home was quiet. I wanted to apologize to Nathan for treating him the way I did back at the hospital, but I told myself I'll apologize before leaving home.

We arrived a few minutes later. I noticed his mood changed.

“I am so sorry for reacting the way I did earlier at the hospital,” I muttered as the security guard unlocked the gate.

“It's okay, I understand” He replied without even looking at me. I was worried. I guess he must have been terribly hurt by my words.

“Honestly, I am sorry. Can you at least stop carrying that face? It makes me feel like a terrible person” I spoke again and for the first time since we got out of the hospital, his gaze met mine.

“It's not about you. It's my dad” He sighed. I was confused. Isn't he supposed to be happy the dad came home?

“Don't worry, you'll understand when we get in” Nathan spoke again, like though he was reading through my thoughts.

He opened the door as I walked in first, then he followed.

The cold breeze from the air-conditioners welcomed me back. In the living room, there was a very tall, skinny man with a stern look and I immediately assumed it was Mr. Smith.

He looked way older than the picture of him I saw in Nathan's room.

“Good day, sir” I greeted when I walked up to him.

“Good afternoon, dad. Welcome home” Nathan greeted quietly.

Mr. Smith lifted his face and with a thick voice, he asked” And you are?”

“Liliana. Liliana Thompson…" I stuttered.

“And let me guess, you're his girlfriend?” Mr. Smith said, chuckling.

“Dad… can you just stop right there? Please” Nathan interrupted.

Mr. Smith's gaze left me and crossed over to Nathan and then back to me.

“I'm quite surprised. As long as I can recall, Nathan has never had stable relationship, and you know what's funny?” Mr. Smith asked rhetorically.

“He's the problem. He's always the issue why none of his relationships has ever worked out” He said, shaking his head.

“I don't think so, sir” I blurted out almost immediately. I glimpsed at Nathan. He was looking down, the emotion in his face disappeared completely. He was hurt by his dad's words, and I felt bad for him.

“Personally, he's one of the best people I've met and he's so sweet. They're the reason the relationship never worked out and not him” I tried to defend Nathan.

“You know what, dad? “ Nathan finally lifted his face.

“Nothing ever pleases you at all because you're always focusing on my bad sides and ignoring the good side. I thought you'd change by the time you're back home this time around, but I guess I was wrong” Nathan insinuated, then he walked out of the house, slamming the door behind us.

“I work as a nanny here, sir. I'm not Nathan's girlfriend” I said quietly when Nathan was out of sight.

“Ohh” Mr. Smith muttered silently.

I wanted to go after him, but I just let it slide anyway. I went over and knocked at Noah's door and I explained everything to him.

“Mom was here though” Noah had told me.

“Wait, what? Oh my gosh! What did you tell her?” I said almost in a whisper.

“Don't worry, I got you covered. She's in her room resting, I guess” Noah responded as I breathed out a sign of relief.

The rest of the day continued in silence. Nathan didn't return home, and I was worried about him. I didn't see Mrs. Smith ever since I returned from the hospital, as she never came out of her room.

After preparing dinner for the family and setting the table, I had to inform Mrs. Smith and her husband I was leaving.

'The door isn't locked. Come on in!” Mrs. smith yelled from inside. I took a gulp of saliva as I stepped my feet in.

Mrs. smith was laying on the side of the bed busy with her laptop, while Mr. Smith was leaning his back on the pillow concentrating on his phone.

“It's a pleasure to meet you again, Lily” Mrs. Smith said with a broad smile.

“Liliana…” I corrected her again.

“Anyway, how's it going?” She asked, shoving what I said aside.

“So far, good, ma'am” I replied, nodding.

“Great” Then she tapped her husband.

“Honey, did I inform you that I got a nanny for the boys?” She said to him as he stopped typing, then continued.

“Nope” he responded without lifting a face.

“But I already met her in the living room” He added.

Thereafter, I walked out of the compound. I intended to go to the spot where Nathan took me last time, hoping I'd find him there.

I touched my lips, reminiscing over the kiss we shared there.

Safe to say that I like him already. I know it's a stupid idea, or probably it's just infatuation, but at the same time, I can't believe that the one person I despised so badly is someone that would cross my mind every time.