81: C81 Chapter 81

C81 Chapter 81

2RENO

Ilana was dumbfounded when her eyes met Angeline's. It was like she hit upon something horrendous. Their past merely inscribed grief in Ilana's heart, I witnessed how badly Angeline treated her. Today they bumped into each other for the first time after ten years. My heart was replenished with guilt as I shoved her to her bad memory by letting Angeline come with me.

"I think I have to go," she uttered and spun around with her trolley. Despite having a strong urge to explain about Angeline, I did not hold her back.

"Is that Ilana?" I just walked instead of responding to Angeline. "Hey! Wait!"

I waddled to the parking lot, Angeline following behind. Keeping all the groceries in the car's trunk, I got into my car. Angeline had been settling in the passenger's seat. I put the car in gear, then stepped on the clutch and drove away.

"I got a house for you to live. From now on, you can live on your own. We should not see each other again."

"Is it because of Ilana?" She got not my response. "I regret what I have done to her during high school. I know you won't believe it. But, I feel guilty about her. I will do whatever to show that I have atoned." I stole a glance at her through the review mirror. She seemed serious and sincere about what she just said. Her sinful expression depicted what was in her heart.

"You should talk to her and apologize. That's probably the only thing you can do," I suggested.

"I will, maybe not now. I need more time to reconcile with myself, after all."

"You can take your time."

We finally came to a plain house. This was what I could solely do for her. The design was very simple on a white wall. The porch was narrow with only a few plants in their vases. The fence separated it from the road. The house was in the housing, far from a city center. In the afternoon, this area was not quiet because the children usually played football in the field which was just two blocks from here.

"So, this is the house?"

"Sorry, it's not a big house like you used to live in."

"No problem. Thanks."

"Here's the key. But, remember you have agreed that we will not see each other again after today. You can live as long as you want until you get a stable job and buy the new house."

"We can't really meet again after this?" I shook my head, "even as a friend?"

"I'm sorry."

"What if Ilana forgives me? Do I have a chance to be your friend? I know why you don't want to see me. It is about my past. I hurt Ilana, Vera, and probably you. Can you give me a second chance to show that I have changed?" I took some steps away but her next sentences make me pause. "Please, I will do anything for Ilana, for you as long as you both don't hate me." I turned to her.

"It was not about hate, it was just too hard for me to see someone who tortured a woman I love," I confessed the truth.

"You love her? Well, I understand. Goodbye." She rushed into the house and entered that building after unlocking the door.

I drove back to my apartment. Ilana's words played in my head. She was not going to get married. I didn't know how to describe my feeling at this moment. Did I have to be sad or happy? The fact that she did not marry someone else jolted me with happiness. However, to see her sad face when telling me the news, hurt me.

I jumped out of my car with the emotion I could not define. Hurrying to my room, I kept thinking about what I should do next. I came up with the idea to visit her mother in the hospital tomorrow. That might be an absurd idea. Yet, it was time to approach her. I had to use this only chance to get close to her again.

The following morning, I was ready to go to the hospital. I eyed deeply at my casual look in the mirror, a grey t-shirt with a dark denim jacket and jeans. My Ivy League haircut made me more mature. I had been in my car ten minutes later. The car led me to the hospital. I stopped by a florist and bought a bucket of flowers. I had no idea what kind of flower Ilana's mother liked. I chose chrysanthemum. I hoped she would like it. I paid for the flowers and had the seller keep the change.

It was early in the morning. Not many people I saw in the corridor, just a few nurses. I strode gradually to Ilana's mother's room which was just around the corner after the lobby. A woman in her late sixty was sitting and staring blankly at somewhere. At first, I hesitated that she was Ilana's mother. Her age was just forty-five years old because Ilana once told me that her mother had Ilana at the age of eighteen. She looked much older than she really was. Her life might be so miserable. I was clueless about what happened to Ilana and her mother in the last ten years. That woman turned her head to me. And her eyes became alive when she looked at me. She was just like finding back something that had disappeared from her life.

"Reno!" She ran toward me and hugged me tightly as if I was her missing child who was just found. "I have been waiting for you so long. You should meet Ilana. She misses you so much." She pulled herself back

I smiled and handed her a bucket of chrysanthemum I bought for her. "Thank you so much."

"I miss you, "I muttered.

"I miss you too. I'll take you to tour around our house." I wrinkled my forehead. Did she think of this hospital as her house? "This is our house. Well, it is not big." What she meant as a house was just her small ward. That broke my heart. I felt how Ilana had been through. Every day had to be hell for her.

"Reno...Mom..." Ilana just came in with a puzzled expression.

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