(037 - ... and More Attractions.)

Just so you know, issnur me that made Simi's mum collapse o 🤧. These people haff hijacked the book from me and are writing it on their own. I don't know who came up with that crazy idea for Kendra collapsing. I just hope she's okay 😩.

I'm still trying to decide the ship name to give Simi and Hilary. Popular opinion loves #Silary more, but I feel #Sidara sounds better. Maybe I'd have decided by the end of this chapter and I'll let you know in the author's note down below 😌.

Be ready for some awning o😌. Lots of it🌚.

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𝐒𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐀
(Simisola André Jordan)

Legs banging against the floor in a frenzy.

Tires screeching against the titles.

Dad screaming for help.

Doctors and Nurses calling on each other for assistance as they ran towards us.

These were all the things that were happening as the paramedics wheeled my unconscious mum on the gurney through the glass doors and into the hospital. Dad and I didn't move from the sides of the gurney, helping the paramedics wheel her faster into the hospital. Doctors and nurses began to join us at all corners, holding to rails.

With clouded vision, I looked down at my mum, lying there on the gurney, looking lifeless. I couldn't help the small sob that escaped my lips.

Mum, please...

"What's the status?" One of the doctors that just joined asked the paramedic.

"Patient was unresponsive when we got to her," The paramedic answered. "She has a pulse but it's weak, so we gave her oxygen." He added, and the doctor nodded, turning to his team.

"Okay, I need everyone on my mark." He gave an order I didn't understand. "Wheel the patient to the ER. Let's go." He clapped his hands and the wheeling got faster. Way faster that I couldn't keep up.

That same moment, a nurse came held mine and my Dad's hand pulling us away from the gurney.

"I'm so sorry, but I'll need you both to stay back." She said. Of course, Dad wasn't having it.

"What do you mean you want us to stay back!" He snapped at her, so hard that the petite woman flinched. "That's my wife. You can't tell me to stay back!" He yelled again, pointing to where the doctors and nurses disappeared to.

Staring at the closed door of the theatre, tears began dropping from my eyes in beads. I quickly wiped it off before Dad would see it. But when I looked up and saw that he was staring at me - glaring at me, I knew he had seen me.

He hated seeing me cry.

"Dad..." I whispered, shaking my head as I vigorously tried to wipe the tears off.

"And why are you crying!" He snapped at me. I flinched, veering at how harsh he sounded. He turned away from the nurse and looked at me, eyes flaming with so much anger. "Tell me why you are crying!" He screamed again, making me flinch again.

And to make matters worse, the tears didn't stop flowing. If anything it got worse, cascading down my face like a torrent no matter how much I tried to wipe it off.

Stop, Simi. Stop! I tried to cajole myself to stop crying but nothing was happening.

"Dad..." I choke out between tears, using the back of my palm to clean the never-ending tears. And just like a Total idiot, Dad was the only thing I could muster. That was all I could say.

And of course, it annoyed him even more because he charged towards me in rage, caging me to the wall.

"Stop crying, goddamn it!"

He bellowed, yelling in my face with so much furiosity, it scared the living daylight out of me. My eyes flew shut as I threw my head to the side, covering my mouth with my palm to stop the sobs from getting louder and louder. But it was no use.

I just won't stop crying.

"If you don't stop shouting, I'll be forced to send you out!" Someone snapped an entirely new voice. A man. I could feel my Dad's presence slowly departing from me, causing me to open my eyes though I didn't back away from the wall.

I didn't recognize him, but he and my Dad were locked in an intense stare. He was glaring furiously at Dad, who seemed to have suddenly calmed down at the sight of him. Either that, or he realized he was causing a scene, a very embarrassing scene because everyone on that hallway had stopped to stare at him disdainfully.

Still, I wouldn't stop crying. Couldn't stop the sobs as they escaped my lips, my shoulders shaking furiously. The nurse from earlier rushed to me, taking my hand in hers as she pulled me away from the wall, leading me to go and sit down.

"It's okay," She said softly to me, wrapping her hands around my shoulder in a bid to calm me down. I buried my face in my palm, sobbing softly.

"Demilade, we just wheeled Kendra into the ER. Simi is scared out of his mind, so the last thing he needs right now is for you to be yelling at him." The man chided my Dad hushed tones, but I heard him loud and clear.

Somehow, it felt kinda nice to see someone other than mum having my back with Dad. But that wasn't what surprised me.

I was majorly surprised by the fact that he had called my parents by their first names. and even more surprised that he knew my name. Yet, I can bet that I've never met this man before and I don't think I've ever heard of him.

How does he know my parents? How does he know me? I couldn't help but ask myself.

I watched my Dad's shoulder sag, turning his head over his shoulder to look at me but I quickly looked away from him, not wanting to meet his eyes. The nurse beside me sighed, rubbing soothing circles to my back as I tried to catch my breath, still trying to stop the tears from falling.

"I'm sorry," I heard Dad mutter, but I knew the apology wasn't for me but the doctor man. My Dad has not opened his mouth to apologize to me in a long time. "I'm just scared, Desmond. I'm really scared." He whispered, and with the tone of his voice, I don't think he was meaning for me to hear.

But I did. And by God, I've never heard my dad sound so scary and shaken like he did right now.

"I understand, Demi. Believe me, I do," The doctor, who Dad had called Desmond said, taking his hand to touch my Dad's shoulder. "But you have to calm down." He added. Dad let in a shaky breath like he was trying to calm himself down, nodding at what the doctor had said.

Why were they talking like they knew something I didn't?

Doctor Desmond brushed past my Dad and began walking towards me, possibly signaling to the nurse to leave because she left my side. I didn't raise my head, but I could hear his footsteps advancing towards me. I finally looked up when I felt the man squat in front of me, meeting his eyes with mine. He smiled at me, but I didn't have the strength to smile back.

I don't even think there is a reason to smile back. Not when I haven't heard anything from my Mummy.

"Hello, Simi." He began, his voice calm and soothing like he wanted me to feel comfortable with him. But I wasn't sure I could feel comfortable at the moment. "My name is Desmond, I'm your Dad's friend. It's nice to finally meet you." He continued, introducing himself.

I've never met any of my Dad's friends before.

Not sure what to say since he already knew my name, I just nodded, trying to muster a small smile but nothing came up. Doctor Desmond seemed to understand because he just nodded, and brought his hand to pat my shoulder.

"I know you are scared, and it's okay for you to be," He continued and I sniffed, using the back of my palm to wipe my wet cheeks again. "Your mum will be fine, okay?"

I nodded again, and he smiled.

"Desmond, how is she? Has she woken up?" Dad asked from where he was standing behind us, an expression of destitution marred across his face. Doctor Desmond exhaled, standing upright before turning to look at Dad.

Because his back was now turned to me, I couldn't see the expression on the doctor's face. But with the way Dad's demeanor faltered, even more, I knew something was at stake. That was enough to feel my heart with fear again.

"Desmond, please tell me how she is." Dad pleaded when Doctor Desmond didn't reply to him the first time, his voice reeking with desperation.

"She's fine," The doctor replied, but somehow, I felt things weren't fine. There was a way the doctor said it, something off about it. It almost felt as if he had said it because I was present.

Or maybe I was the one overthinking things. Maybe it was my fear playing tricks on my mind.

"She is stable now," Doctor Desmond continued and Dad nodded. "All that is left is for us to keep running tests on her to be able to determine what exactly the issue is. But I'm guessing it's major stress. Kendra does like to work a lot."

Is that it? Stress? I didn't so.

"Yeah." Dad agreed as if he had read my mind, running his hand across his face as he sighed again, this time from exhaustion. "She has been having shifts back to back lately." He informed Doctor Desmond, who hummed and nodded.

"She'll recover," He stated. "Just give it a few hours." He added and Dad nodded again.

"I'll stay here till then," Dad said, going to settle on one of the chairs. Doctor Desmond shook his head.

"Demilade, you should go home." He said. "Take Simi with you. Both of you need to rest." He added, but Dad shook his head.

"Desmond, I'm not leaving this place till my wife wakes up." He stated adamantly. Then, he threw me a glance before looking back at the doctor. "If Simi wasn't to go home, he can go ahead. But for me, I'm staying here." He maintained.

I exhaled, crossing my hand over my chest.

Doctor Desmond didn't say anything, but only nodded, threw me a smile, and began to walk away, leaving my Dad and me alone in the hallway, sitting just a distance away from each other in awkward silence. At some point, I would feel him glancing at me, but not once did I turn to look at him.

I couldn't look at him. Was scared of what I'll see. And just when I thought he'd get more understanding after finding out that me failing, me being the way I am, wasn't my fault... my expectations were cut short and I was disappointed.

We weren't always like this.

I still had memories of how close we used to be, how he used to play with me. Even when I started school, and started having issues with my academics, he'd still help me write my assignments, still help me. But over time, he... changed.

My Dad created a barrier between us, and as the years grew by, the margin got wider. And, I wasn't sure there was anything that could be done to close that margin up.

It was almost as if he didn't care about me anymore. And it pained. It pained me so much. And somehow, it felt like it was kinda my fault.

Maybe it was completely my fault.

No, Simi! Don't think like that.

I stood up, needing some air. I couldn't be in the same space with my Dad and not have thoughts like this. Thoughts that will make me feel like I wasn't enough.

I should be enough.

I've got to be enough for my mum to love me the way she did. I've got to be enough for Dr. David to make me believe that I wasn't wasting my time with swimming. I've got to be enough for my Civic teacher to sing my praise in front of the entire class. I've got to be enough for Gloria to be friends with someone like me.

I've got to be enough for Hilary... for Her to treat me like I mattered. Like I have and will always matter.

I've got to be enough. I have to be.

"Where are you going?" My Dad's voice jerked me out of my reverie. I finally looked up, meeting his eyes. His eyes were squinted inquisitively, his eyes scanning my frame. It was then I realized I was still on my feet.

"Where are you going?" He asked again.

"I want to get some air," I answered, my voice coming out crooked because I haven't spoken in a while. He nodded, still peering at me.

It's the fact that he was talking to me like he had not yelled at me minutes ago.

"I... uhm... I'll call you if there is any news about your mum." He stated, and I nodded. "You do have your phone, right?" He asked and I nodded again bringing it out to show him.

"Yes sir," I answered, and he nodded again. I took that as a signal the leave, so I turned around and started walking away, down the hallway that led to the entrance of the hospital.

But I stopped short when my Dad called my name.

"Simi."

I altered in my steps, turning around to look at him. He was staring at me, a conflicted look on his face. He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, and his facial expression gave it away as well. And I waited, wanting to hear what he was going to say.

But in a matter of seconds, his conflicted expression disappeared, replaced with a stoic one. He shook his head, his mouth glued shut. That was enough to tell me that he wasn't going to say anything anymore.

Typical.

I turned on my heels and walked out of the building.

Soon, I found myself outside the hospital itself, sitting on one of the benches situated just outside the gates and by the sidewalks. It was a weekend, not many people were walking around so I was more or less the only one outside, asides from a few cars driving through.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Gloria's number. She was like family to us, so she deserved to know what was going on with mum.

"The number you have dialed is switched off..."

I hissed, tapping on the end call icon before the operator finished speaking, wondering why her phone was switched off because Gloria Esho's phone never runs out of battery. Then, I remembered that she had a shift at work this afternoon and doesn't operate her phones when she's working.

So, I went over to Whatsapp and shot her a quick text for her to see when she comes back online, after which I shoved my phone back into my pocket and stared ahead, my eyes following every moving vehicle that drove in front of me.

My mind automatically reverted to the events of the past hours, some more life-changing than others. And just when I thought finding out that I had a learning disorder called Dyscalculia was the most terrifying, my mum had to collapse all of sudden, literally knocking the breath right out of me.

I remembered what Dr. Desmond had said about her being stressed, and again, my mind began to travel by a mile.

Mum has never been one to fall sick. If anything, she was the most healthy person I knew, even if she had to work twenty-four hours in seven days.

And then, the way Dad was unusually scared. I know the kind of love he has for mum, but his reaction was strange, almost like he knew something I didn't. And with the way Dr. Desmond was speaking to him too, it was like he was also knew something.

Were they hiding something from me?

It doesn't feel right. All of it.

What if... what if something was wrong with mum?

Fear gripped my heart.

"No," I shook my head, trying to make the horrible thoughts disappear into thin air. "Stop thinking this way, Simi," I chided myself, trying to think only of good outcomes. "She's going to be okay," I assured myself desperately, wanting to believe it.

But there was still a part of me, deep down that didn't believe it.

So, I decided to distract myself.

Fishing out my phone from my pocket again, I opened my WhatsApp and began to look through the status updates. I didn't have many contacts. Just a few from school, and others being family, Dr. Ejiro who served my migraine drugs, and Nurse Kamsi, well because she was a nice woman.

I think I have more grown-ups on my contact list than I had people of my age.

I saw the Gigi uploaded in her status some few hours ago, so I clicked it to check. It was a picture of her and Kizito, and surprisingly, she was in her work clothes. It looked like he had come to visit her. That, and she captioned it He came to visit, with a blushing smiley, heart and star emoji. I smiled.

Those two were so obsessed with each other, I doubt there is anything that could come between them.

After I was done feeding my eyes with her post, I kept swiping left to check every other person's... till I landed on Hilary's status.

My eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"She posted," I muttered to myself.

I was surprised because since I got her number, I haven't seen her post anything on her status. I saw it as a sign of her limiting her social media presence because of everything that has been going on. I can say I pay enough attention to her for me not to notice little things like this.

I guess I pay more attention to Hilary than I have paid anyone in my life. Before it would have bothered me how invested I am in anything that had to do with her, good or bad.

But not anymore. I think we have been through so much together for me to be bothered about it. She has been vulnerable with me and I've been more than vulnerable with her, letting my guard down without thinking twice. There was nothing to be bothered about anymore.

If anything, right now I welcomed all that she made me feel with all my heart.

I wanted it.

Being with her made me forget everything that was wrong with me. She... made me forget.

I sat up as if to get a better view of the post. It was just one post, and it was a picture of her, with no caption. Just the picture.

A very, very beautiful picture.

As if having a mind of its own, my lips stretched into a smile as I stared at the picture.

(The picture that wants to drive Simi insane with smiles😩✨❤️)

I wasn't sure what exactly enthralled me about the picture. Maybe it was the simplicity of it or the way she swept her head to the side, allowing the hair she on to fall to the side of her face. Or maybe it was the fact that she used a blue contact lens, making her eyes look more beautiful than they already did.

I didn't know which one of the options to pick from. All I knew was that this picture beguiled me, having me completely entranced. Like a spell.

Hilary had me transfixed.

And like someone under hypnosis, I found myself getting up from the chair and walking to the bus stop that stood just a few walks down the hospital gate,

With Hilary's house in mind.

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It wasn't until I got to the entrance of the estate that the absurdity of what I was about to do dawned on me.

What was I thinking? I asked myself, literally face-palming.

I had