billion book
64
When Chris stepped foot inside the hospital, a chilling breeze cut through the air, sending shivers down his spine. The hospital ward, usually sterile and lifeless, was transformed into something unsettlingly cozy. Balloons floated ominously and flowers adorned every corner, their scent masking the underlying unease.
His gaze fell upon Celia, who stood at the center, her grin stretching from ear to ear. She looked like a naive princess, blissfully unaware of the lurking danger.
“Celia!” Chris called out with a wavering voice.
Celia turned and locked eyes with him, joy flooding her face. “Chris!”
“What in the world is going on here?” Chris asked, his eyes darting around the room.
“I have no idea,” Celia replied, her voice trembling. “After my check-up, everything just… changed.”
“The nurses claim it was your friends who did this,” Chris said, a glimmer of realization flickering in his mind.
“My friends?” Chris’s thoughts immediately gravitated towards Tommy, Ross, and Nelly, their peculiar behavior from earlier haunting his memories.
Unable to contain his laughter, Chris looked at Celia and nodded. “Ah, it must’ve been them.”
“But what about the lady who saved my life?” Celia inquired, a hint of worry seeping into her voice.
Chris reached for his phone, intending to call his friends, but the call abruptly ended before it even began. He hesitated, unsure of what to do next. Just as confusion consumed him, the entrance burst open, revealing Ross.
“Stop calling us. We’re at the entrance,” Ross announced, his voice carrying an eerie undertone.
Following closely behind him was Tommy, but Nelly was nowhere to be seen. Chris’s brow furrowed. “Where’s Nelly?”
Ross widened the door, revealing a human-sized doll being pushed in.
“Are you kidding me? You two just left like that? Didn’t you realize I needed help?” Despite Nelly’s absence, her voice echoed through the room.
Chris and Celia stared in disbelief at the massive doll before them.
“Our intentions were never to abandon you, Ms. Jackson. But it seemed quite… inappropriate for two gentlemen like us to be toting around a doll,” Ross explained, struggling to push Nelly’s alter ego to the side.
Nelly’s anger momentarily subsided as she caught sight of Celia. She regained her composure and warned, “This is the last time I’m helping you all. Don’t count on me for anything anymore.”
“My apologies,” Ross admitted, his voice filled with remorse.
“I’ll take any punishment you deem necessary.”
Nelly simply replied, “Get lost.”
“Understood.”
The sight of their interaction brought forth laughter from Celia. She approached Nelly and asked, “You’re the lady who saved me, right?”
Caught off guard, Nelly awkwardly passed the doll to Celia. “Happy birthday!”
“Thank you!” Celia beamed at Nelly, her eyes glistening with gratitude.
Witnessing Celia’s radiant smile, Nelly couldn’t help but recall the frail girl she had seen in the hospital. The transformation before her eyes was remarkable; Celia looked healthier and her cheeks glowed with life.
A satisfied smile etched its way onto Nelly’s face.
“Now it’s my turn!” Ross stepped forward. “Celia, I might not have much to offer, but please accept this token of sincerity. You once mentioned how much you wanted this book, so I got it for you.” With that, he handed Celia a book.
Celia’s eyes lit up with delight. “Thank you, Ross.”
“Me too, me too!” Tommy chimed in. “I couldn’t afford anything extravagant, but I heard girls love this. It’s supposed to bring good luck.” He presented Celia with a beautifully wrapped box.
As she opened it, her eyes widened at the sight of a crystal bracelet. “I adore it! Thank you, Tommy.” Celia’s smile sparkled like moonlight.
Chris, overcome with emotion, stood there in awe.
Those people may not be his blood relatives, but they had gone to great lengths for him and his sister. Gratitude overwhelmed him, tears welling up in his eyes.
In comparison to fighting this battle alone, this moment held an indescribable warmth.
Yet, his inability to express his emotions left Chris standing apart from the others, lost in his own thoughts.
All eyes turned to him.
“We’ve all given our gifts. What about you, Chris?” Ross urged.
Chris snapped back to reality, a small smile forming on his lips. “I have something too.”
“Give it to her then!” Tommy chimed in eagerly.
Chris gazed at Celia and said, “Happy birthday, Celia. This is my gift to you.”
As Celia opened the box and discovered an exquisite watch nestled inside, a mixture of awe and gratitude painted her face.
“I hope that in the future, instead of counting down, you’ll look at the time with anticipation, welcoming each new day,” Chris expressed gently.
Celia, her emotions welling up, threw herself into Chris’s arms. “Chris!”
Chris hugged her tightly, his hand caressing her back soothingly.
“I love it. I’ll wear it every day, cherishing the precious moments with you,” Celia pledged.
As they witnessed the siblings’ heartfelt display, tears welled up in the eyes of the others.
But Nelly, unlike the rest, didn’t shed a tear. In this joyous moment, her happiness stemmed from the fact that Celia could continue living.
Observing this, Ross couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you moved, Ms. Jackson?”
“I’m fine,” she replied, her eyes firm.
“Why aren’t you crying?”
Nelly glanced at him before simply stating, “I don’t know how to.”
Ross was left speechless once again, a lingering doubt about her true identity occupying his mind.
“All right! Let’s cut the cake,” Tommy interrupted the silence. “Celia, your brother ordered an ice cream cake. We better eat it before it melts.”
The siblings dissociated, wiping away their tears.
“Sorry for that, guys,” Celia apologized.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not every day we get to see dense Chris show his emotions,” Ross teased, earning a playful punch from Chris.
“Alright, it’s cake-cutting time. Afterward, we can all dig in,” Ross announced.
They lit the candles, and Chris placed a birthday hat on Celia’s head. She closed her eyes, making a wish.
“I hope Chris’s career flourishes, and all our friends’ dreams come true,” Celia whispered before blowing out the candles.
Ross questioned, “Why didn’t you make a wish for yourself?”
Celia smiled, her innocence shining through. “Being alive is already my biggest dream. I don’t need anything else.”
She was a girl full of kindness and simplicity.
“Enough talk, let’s cut the cake!” Chris declared.
After Ross sliced the cake, he handed Celia the first piece. “Here you go, birthday girl.”
But instead of taking it for herself, Celia walked over to Nelly. “Nelly, you go first!”
Nelly glanced at her, accepting the slice without hesitation. “Thank you.”
Celia beamed at her, her happiness infectious. “Thank you for saving me! Even though Chris doesn’t want me to say it, I still will. I aspire to be like you someday, helping others selflessly.”
Nelly grinned back. “You will, without a doubt.”
“Can I have your contact information? I promise not to bother you, but I want to have you as a role model, to become someone like you,” Celia requested.
Ross chimed in, “Celia, you’ve set yourself quite the challenge.”
Nelly shot him a glance, and he promptly fell silent.
With a swipe on her phone, Nelly offered her contact information. “WhatsApp.”
Celia eagerly added Nelly’s contact, her excitement resembling that of a child. “Chris, look! I have Nelly’s number!”
In that moment, Nelly couldn’t fathom why a simple addition on WhatsApp would bring such elation to this girl.
There was no comparison between Celia and Lara, none at all.