The Love From Vengeance

145 JOYFUL NOTES

ANDRE’S POV

I stood still, eyes fixed on my mother as she walked up to me. I was supposed to go pay Ariel a visit at the hospital, cause I had a feeling she would be there. Now I was being delayed by my parents. Just great, I was the one who brought this upon myself. I woke up, got ready for work, forgetting that about Ariel.

“You’re going to work?” My mother asked, she had gotten a little bit closer to me.

“Yes. But I’ll be going to the hospital first to see how Ariel and Luke are doing.”

“Oh right. We should go and see them, don’t you think?”

“You want to come along?”

“Yes, of course. Ariel is like a daughter to me, so I really need to check up on her.”

“Okay then, we can start leaving now.”

“Woah woah woah, young man. Not so fast” my mother spoke, and I gave her a curious look.

“Anything?”

“Yes, I thought you were wounded last night.” She crossed her arms.

“Yes. Yes I was,” I responded.

“And you’re feeling better now?”

“Yes,” I answered and let out a sigh. “I am feeling better now,” I added. Honestly, when I woke up this morning, took my bath, and put on my clothes, I totally forgot I got some scars on my body. Like, it wasn’t even painful. It was like nothing happened last night.

“Are you sure about that?” My mother gave me a skeptical look.

“Of course Elizabeth,” my father chimed in. “Can’t you see how he’s standing and talking boldly?”

“Well I can see that.”

“Exactly! My son is a strong man, and he took it from his father.”

My mom burst into laughter immediately.

“Why are you laughing?” My dad asked, giving her a puzzled face. “I’m strong, right? Bold like the Batman.‘

My mom refused to answer, as her laugh got harder. And seeing her cracking up like that, caused me to laugh silently.

“Oh Manuel. Aren’t you just so funny?” She fixed her hand on his shoulder.

“What?” My dad gaped at her.

“Remember this one time when we went camping and you got chased by bees,” my mother reminded him.

“Okay, those weren’t no ordinary bees.” He tried to defend.

My mom continued with her elfish tone, taunting him. “Oh tell me more about it.”

“You know what? I’m out of here.” My dad marched upstairs.

My mom continued laughing, but I rolled my eyes, not giving her the playful mode. “Mom, you got to stop laughing. Time’s not on my side.

“Oh sorry,” she said, putting an end to her laughter. “We should get going then. But have do you perhaps know where Mason is? I haven’t seen him since morning.”

“I don’t know, but he stormed out of the house last night.”

“He did that?” she raised an eyebrow.

“Yes,” I sighed, and walked out of the house.

“Hey, wait for me!” I could hear her screaming from behind.

****

ARIEL’S POV

In the sterile hospital room, I sat perched on the edge of my uncomfortable plastic chair, gazing out the window at the dreary cityscape beyond. The beeping of machines and the faint murmurs of nurses outside the door created a dull backdrop to my thoughts, which were heavy with worry and exhaustion. I had been in that room for what felt like an eternity, waiting for news about Luke’s

condition.

The moment we entered the hospital, he just fell on the floor, and began to shudder. The scene was really frightening, but thank God we had already arrived at the hospital when it happened. He was rushed to a room by the nurses, and doctors. Now I just hoped nothing bad would happen to him. The silence was suffocating, and I longed for a moment of respite from the anxiety that gnawed

at me.

music, growing louder with each passing moment. I furrowed my brow in confusion, wondering where the festive sounds could be coming from in such a somber place. Then, as if materializing out of thin air, a group of Mexican musicians burst into the room, their vibrant energy filling the sterile space with life.

Dressed in colorful traditional attire reminiscent of old Western movies, the musicians sported wide– brimmed hats, embroidered shirts, and polished leather boots. They carried guitars, trumpets, and maracas, their fingers flying expertly over the strings and keys, producing a cacophony of joyful melodies that seemed to dance through the air.

My eyes widened in surprise as the musicians began to play, their infectious

melancholy reverie. The room was transformed

rhythms coaxing me out of my around me like a whirlwind of sound and color.

into a fiesta, the music swirling

The musicians‘ voices rose in harmonious chorus, singing songs of love, loss, and everything in between.

As the music reached a crescendo, the musicians broke into a lively dance, their movements exaggerated and comical. They twirled and stomped around the room with exaggerated flair, their laughter ringing out like a peal of bells. I couldn’t help but be swept up in their infectious joy, my lips curving into a wide smile as I watched their antics unfold.

The lead guitarist, a charismatic man with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, caught my gaze and winked playfully. Encouraged by his gesture, I rose from my seat and joined the impromptu dance, my

movements clumsy but full of heart. I twirled and clapped along with the musicians, my worries momentarily forgotten in the whirl of music and laughter.

As the last notes of the song faded away, I sank back into my chair, my chest heaving with exertion and mirth. The musicians beamed at me, their eyes twinkling with satisfaction at having brought a moment of light into the darkness of the hospital room.

Then all of a sudden, Luke entered the room, and their song continued, he was dancing to their music. My eyes widened that very moment as I was shocked, and surprised to see him. Like seriously, what the hell was going on? This was the same Luke that fell down minutes ago, and it was as if he was dying. But here he was, smiling and dancing, like nothing had ever happened. I needed some answers in this mirth, cause I was confused as hell.

I didn’t take my eyes off Luke as he continued to dance, and he winked at me multiple times. I was smiling broadly, and the fear that was in me, had disappeared.

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The song eventually came to an end, and Luke moved closer to me, a smile etched on his face. He held my hands gently as I stood up from my chair.

“Luke, you’re alright. What’s going on?” I asked, but he didn’t say anything, his smile still lingering on his face. Instead, he pulled me closer to him, and we could just gaze into each other’s eyes.

“It was all a prank,” one of the musicians told me.

“A prank?” I made a bewildered face, looking into Luke’s eyes. “What is he talking about? I thought you were..”

“There’s no need to worry, Ariel. I’m alright,” he spoke softly. And I just stared at him, happy, joyful, and infuriated at the same time.