A Graduation Gift

Chapter 225 He Woke Up, But She Was Not There (Part One)

The nurse changed and put up a new IV bottle for Rufus. Michelle, in the meanwhile, accompanied the nurse and sat on the bed where Rufus lay unconscious. Seeing his condition, she was quite perturbed. The doctor had guaranteed that he was going to be fine, but her fear arose from the fact he was still not awake.

Just when she was fretting over Rufus, her phone rang. "I have arrived at the airport. Now please come to fetch me,"

Jasper informed, aloud. It had only been a few seconds since he got off the plane. The cacophony in the airport compelled him to speak loudly. When he learned that Rufus had met with a car accident, he went blank for a few minutes. As soon as he composed himself, he handed over some work and flew back to G City. He remembered his last meeting with Rufus which made him aware how a person's life could change in a blink of an eye. Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Once she realized she had to pick Jasper from the airport, Michelle called the nursing assistance. Calmly, she filled her in with details to which some special attention should be paid. Then unwillingly, she left Rufus and headed to the airport. A moment later, Amanda arrived at the hospital to visit Rufus.

Her eyes were watery and she took slow anxious steps. She sat beside him and entwined her fingers with Rufus's lifeless fingers. Affectionately, she stared into his face.

Rufus, who had been unconscious for two days, slowly opened his eyes.

The white ceiling of the inpatient ward came into his sight. Since his eyes were used to darkness, the sudden contact with the bright light made his eyes sore. So he closed them again. He tried to move his heavy body, but failed miserably. The second time he opened his eyes, he noticed a girl sitting next to him.

"Rufus! Finally you're awake!"

Amanda exclaimed excitedly as she tightened her grasp on his hand.

Rufus blinked his eyes several times since he wasn't able to make out who the lady was. Once he understood it was Amanda, disappointment surged through his body. He was hoping to see Cassandra instead.

"Oh...so it's you,"

he said in a hoarse voice. He was too weak to speak and didn't bother to continue.

"Rufus, you have no idea how worried I was! Watching you lying on the bed lifelessly distressed me. There were times when I thought I would never see you again..."

To show him the extent of her emotion, she wept in front of him. In that moment, she looked so vulnerable that he felt compelled to console her. As a way of showing his support, he gently pressed her hand.

Gradually, he was regaining his strength. His mind once again thought of Cassandra. Rufus looked around the ward expecting to see her. After several inspection, he concluded that the only people present here were Amanda and the nursing assistant. 'Cassandra isn't here, ' his mind accepted with grievance.

In spite of his condition, his faint memory convinced him that it was Cassandra who had sent him to the hospital. As far as he could remember, it was she who had been with him when he was in coma. 'Am I getting confused? Was it Amanda?' he thought dubiously. 'No no! It can't be. I clearly remember it was Cassandra who gave me mouth-to-mouth breathing after the accident. But where is she now? Why isn't she with me? Is she still mad at me?' Rufus wondered. He had a million questions to which he needed an answer.

He was oblivious to Amanda's presence. All he wanted was to see Cassandra. As a matter of fact, the first thing he expected to see when he opened his eyes was Cassandra's delicate face. His heart ached for it.

'Perhaps she has been here for a while. Maybe she went out to fetch something. Or wait, could it be that she has no idea about this accident?' his mind started to throw hunches.

He wasn't in a state to believe his memory. Everything he thought he had seen could be work of his imagination.

Yet there was a part of him that told him it wasn't his invention. He distinctly remembered how her tears glided down and tumbled into his mouth. Even now he could summon up the salty aftertaste.

"Where is Cassandra?"

Rufus finally mustered up the strength and asked.

"Wha...Oh Cassandra..I am sorry but I have no idea. A while ago I saw your aunt leave. But I don't remember seeing Cassandra around,"

Amanda replied rigidly. 'Here I am pouring out my heart and his only concern is Cassandra?' Amanda thought incredulously.

Her response led Rufus's heart to sink even further. A strong sense of loss struck him.

'If that's the case then I am wrong. Maybe she never came to see me. I probably dreamed of it! Why would she come? She is furious at me and wants a break up. How could she come back to see me?' Rufus sighed in his heart.

Noticing the bewildered look on Rufus's face, Amanda let out a vicious smile.

When Amanda heard about Rufus's accident, she rushed to the hospital. But when she arrived, she saw Cassandra by his side. To avoid direct conflict with Cassandra, she left quietly. Until today, it was her first opportunity to sit with him.

'Fortunately, I was lucky enough to be the one beside him when he woke up, ' she had thought with satisfaction.

But now when Rufus asked her about Cassandra, Amanda felt her blood boiling with rage. The lie came out naturally from her mouth. She truly wanted him to believe Cassandra didn't love him enough.

'This is the only way I can make him forget her, ' Amanda thought with jealousy reeking from her body.

"You go back home and have some rest. Don't forget you're a patient yourself,"

Rufus said, bearing an indifferent look on his face. Amanda thought Rufus would be moved by her gesture. She expected to receive some words of affection for taking care of him. However, he was as cold as he had always been.

"I'm not tired, Rufus. I like to stay with you, and I'll always be here for you!"

Amanda responded lovingly. Without waiting for his reply, she held his hand tightly and laid her head softly on his body.

"Hey Amanda, take my advice and go home. You look really tired and I don't see why you should stay here. If I need something then the nursing assistant can take care of it. So don't worry,"

Rufus thoughtfully suggested. With his knitted brows, he noticed Amanda's pale face. He didn't like it when she fussed over him.

"Rufus, please let me stay with you. I can tell you feel dejected because Cassandra abandoned you in this crucial time. I feel obliged to remind you that I will always be here for you!"