ZEPHLEIT-LY 13.5

I groggily opened my eyes as I struggled out of the deep sleep I was in. My eyesight was a bit blurry so I repeatedly blinked eyes to try and get them into focus.

"Nggg…" I groaned. I looked around and found myself lying on the bed, covered with a white blanket. I turned my head left and right and found no one. "What happened? Why am I here?" I asked myself. I tried to get up but my body twinged from just a slight movement of my arms. "Auggh!" I cried.

Thanks to the sudden dart of pain, I had fully regained consciousness, and memories of the previous events had begun to sink in. "I'm… alive…"

I gave the room another gaze and finally understood the situation I was in. Several moments later, I heard the door open. I quickly turned my head towards the door and saw, "Mom!" I called.

"Z-ZL! Thank goodness you're finally awake!" She clasped her hands as she reveled in joy and ran back outside. "Everyone! My son! He's finally awake!"

The very first person to come rushing into the room was "Z-Zeph!"

"Finally! You're awake! You made me worried sick!"

"Sorry…" I apologized as I looked into his eyes. "I'm really sorry. All of this happened because of me. I--"

"No." he shushed. "I'M sorry. I shouldn't have been a jerk to begin with. I should have acknowledged your progress since day one. That could have avoided all of these events from happening."

Marcus, Brent, Aldin, and Ein also came rushing in but my mom stopped them from entering further. She pushed the four guys back outside and winked at me as she closed the door from outside. I think I know why…

"ZL," Zeph said as moved closer, "I am really proud of your progress. I really am. Honest!" he continued as he brushed my hair a bit. "Just the mere sight of you training already makes me happy. I…"

"There, there… I don't want to see my big brother all mopey." I said as I gently raised my left uninjured arm to feel his cheek to try and cheer him up.

"S-sorry, ZL." Zeph placed his right hand over my left hand. "I-I've been keeping all of these to myself 'cause I don't really know how to tell it. Please, ZL. Please forgive me."

"No. I won't…"

"…I-I see…" He muttered as he shook his head down and frowned.

"I won't forgive you… 'cause I already did, right after you turned your back on me."

"Z-ZL, I…"

Zeph's face lit up from joy after hearing my words. He gave me a light hug and kissed me the cheek. "Thanks, ZL. Just don't do that again! I-I don't want to lose another brother, y'know."

"Fine, fine. I'm sorry."

I pinched Zeph's cheeks and then he pinched mine. We looked at each others' funny faces and laughed. "You can all enter now!" Just as when Zeph was about to open the door, Brent came barging in charging in at Zeph which shove the poor guy into the wall. "Hey, watch it Brent!"

"ZEPHIE!" Brent leaped in besides me. He grinned widely as he quickly rubbed and messed up my hair. "Good to know that my pet's safe!

"Z-Zephie!? P-Pet!?" I exclaimed. "Where did that come from?" I asked Brent with a puzzled look on my face.

"Oh, shut it, Zephie. That's Zeph," Brent pointed to Zeph on the wall, "and you're Zephleit. 'Zephie' for short."

"Now I'm confused." Marcus uttered scratching his head.

"Zephie… that's nice!" Ein jested as he sniggered. I saw my mom giggle in the corner as well.

"Cut it out already. ZL is just fine…" I protested glaring at Brent.

"I'm sorry, Zephie-err… I mean, ZL."

Huh? Who said that? I looked around and saw one guy by my feet. "A-Aldin? Why so gloomy?" I asked.

"I'm sorry Zephie-err, ZL… I take back everything that I've said the other day. All the swearing, and false accusations… I-I'm really really sorry." Aldin bowed down as he pleaded. "I'm also saying this in behalf of my mom. Please do forgive the both of us."

I raised my feet and kicked him gently in the face. "Oh, cut it out, Al. No one needs to be sorry about everything. I had already forgiven all of you."

"But, ZL--" Ein insisted.

"No, Ein. There's no need." I said with a smile on my face.

--

I've been confined at the hospital at around five days, now. Zeph and the others frequently visit me, of course. Brent always brings me a home-made dish (approved by the doctors) that helps me recover quickly. In fact, they asked Brent for the recipe so they could also prepare and cook it at the hospital to give to the other patients. Aldin brings Sirius with him to play with me. Marcus sings and plays his guitar, to help me relax. Ein, on the other hand, wheels me around the hospital every morning.

Today's actually my last day here. We'll be checking out this noon and I can finally go home. Honestly, I'm getting tired of this place. I think I'm already famous here. Almost every hospital staff knows my name. Speaking of famous, I think I got my own stalker at this hospital.

There is this one guy, about my age, who keeps following me whenever Ein wheels me around the hospital. I only pretend not to notice but I think that guy already knows. In fact, it's that time of the day again. Around the hospital in 80 minutes… well not really 80 though. "Please take care of my son, Ein."

"Don't worry, ma'am. I'll take good care of ZL."

"Please. Just 'auntie' is fine."

Ein wheeled me out of my room. To my surprise, I immediately caught sight of my stalker as soon as we got out. What the-what's he doing here? He's usually at the garden, but this guy was standing right across the hallway. Just who is he? It has been really bothering me for days now so I finally called out Ein's attention. "Hey, Ein." I whispered, "Look at that guy; the one in orange. I noticed that he'd been following us since Monday."

"Huh? Who?" Ein scanned the area.

"There, right across the hallway…" I whispered once again.

Ein adjusted his glasses and look directly across the hallway from where he is standing. "Wait a minute?" he said, "I think I know-Hey!" Ein yelled and waved his hands on the air to try and call the attention of the guy in orange. "Hey! Ralf! It's me! Ein!"

Now, now, WAIT A MINUTE!? Ein knows who that person is?

This 'Ralf' guy noticed Ein and walked towards us. Actually, Ein did not only grab Ralf's attention, but he also managed to grab everyone else's around. I can see the annoyed and irritated look on their faces. Now, I'm more famous, or should I say, "shame-ous".

"Hi, Ein!" greeted Ralf.

"Hello, Ralf! What are you doing here?" inquired Ein.

"My dad's a doctor here. I usually visit him every afternoon. By the way," Ralf laid his hand in front of me, "I'm Ralf. Nice to meet you!"

I raised my left hand and shook his hands, "Nice to meet you, too! I'm ZL."

"Oh, so you're ZL. Ein always talks about you."

"Really?"

"…and I hate it…" Ralf mumbled.

"You said something?" I asked. Hmmm… for a second there I heard him say 'he hates it'. Oh well.

"It's nothing." He smiled back at me. "Say, Ein, are you going to wheel ZL around again? Can I come?"

"How about it, Z?"

"Sure, why not. It's good to have someone else tag along." I said cheerfully.

"…get lost, pig…" Ralf mumbled.

"You said something, Ralf?"

"Huh? I didn't." Hmmm… maybe I'm just hearing things. I thought I heard him say 'get lost, pig'. Oh well.

The three of us wandered throughout the hospital, with Ein wheeling me and Ralf tagging along. We stopped by the garden to catch some fresh air and have a little conversation. "Umm, Ralf, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, fire away!"

"Ummm, don't be mad but, errr… I dunno how to ask this, but here it goes… are you stalking me?"

Ralf paused for a brief moment then, "Hahahahah!" Ralf guffawed and hit my chest. "Oh, sorry! Hahahah! I didn't mean to." There he was laughing while here I am crying in pain. "Stalker? Oh that. I'm not stalking you. I'm just checking you out."

"Ch-Checking me out!?" I exclaimed still holding my chest trying to ease the pain.

"Hold your tongue, birdbrain! Errr-I mean, it's not like that. My dad told me about a guy who bravely faced death all by himself. He told me that he's staying here at the hospital. I'm just curious. I just want to get a good look at the person who stupidly risked his life for someone completely defenseless." Ralf explained.

"I'm sorry. It's just--"

"Don't worry about it." Ralf cut me off. He yanked my chin up and jerked my head facing him. "I'd say you're pretty cute. But not as cute as my Ein here."

"Cut it out. Ralf. You're embarrassing me."

"Oh, Ein… I like it when you blush." Ralf cuddled. "Anyway, I gotta go now. See you at school, Ein. And get well soon, ZL." He struck me again at my chest. After that, Ralf run off.

Just who is that Ralf, guy? Why is he so mad at me? What did I do? Hmmm… maybe, just maybe. I have an inkling that Ralf doesn't want me around, especially when I'm with Ein.

I asked Ein that we both return to my room. Besides, it's been an hour, mom might be worried. Ein brought me back to my room as I requested. When we returned, Zeph and the others were there too. They informed me and my mom that I get to stay at the mansion for the night. Well, that's great. This is the first time my mom gets to stay at the mansion with me. Plus, I missed the place. It has been awhile since I last set foot in there.

"Okay, guys. We'll be leaving."

"Thanks, doc."

And so, we left the hospital by noon and went on our way. The ride home took about twenty minutes. Besides, the hospital is not really that far.

--

"Hey, Ein. Haven't you told ZL yet?" asked Marcus.

"N-no. Not yet." Ein replied glumly.

"Then go out there and tell him. He's out there at the garden. Now's your chance to apologize!" Marcus pushed Ein out of the music room. "I'm going to take a nap. Now, shoo! Go now!"

Ein left the room and gloomily walked across the hallway and went towards the garden. There, he saw ZL on his wheelchair, reading one of the novels he lent him. "I-I can't do this…" he muttered to himself as he his behind a bush.

"Hey, Ein!" Zeph accosted making Ein jump out of the bushes in shock. "What are you doing there?"

"N-nothing." Ein asserted as he scuttled back to the music room.

"Why are you still here? Aren't you supposed to be with ZL?" asked Marcus who is lying down on the sofa and was about to doze off.

"Well, I don't know." Ein said as he grabbed the nearest chair and sat on it. "I don't know how to tell, ZL."

"Why don't you at him in the eye and honestly tell him how you feel." suggested Marcus. "Come on, Ein. You already did it once. I bet you can do it again."

"O-okay… I-I'll try."

Ein went back to the garden and carefully made sure no one is in sight. There, he slowly approached ZL's wheelchair. "Ummm… ZL? Can I bother you for a sec?" he asked.

"Sure." ZL slipped a bookmark in the book he was reading and closed it. "What's the matter, you look so glum." I wondered.

"Well… ummm. I--"

"Is something bothering you? Go on. Tell me what's troubling you. I'm all ears."

"Well, I… I…" Ein looked at my eyes and tightly grasped my hands with his. "I love you, ZL. Will you forgive me?"

"…"

Is he serious? Did he just confess his love to me? No, it can't be. I must be hearing things. Yeah. That's it. I'm only hearing things.

"I love you, ZL. Please, forgive me. The training, the video, everything. I'm sorry for everything." Ein said once again.

"I-I…"

"Oh, no, no, no! I-It's not what you think." Ein insisted on denying. "I love you… as a--"

I dunno what came into me but I suddenly found myself yelling, "I LOVE YOU TOO, EIN!" on the top of my lungs and accidentally punching him with my injured hand before he even managed to finish his sentence. Did I just--? Oh, what have I done? "I-I'm sorry, Ein. I-I…" I quickly turned my wheelchair to the side helped him up. And I have to admit, my hand throbbed from pain. Damn, reflex.

"Heheheh… Don't worry about it, ZL. I'm not mad."

"But, Ein. I…"

"I love you, ZL. I love you as a friend, and as my brother." Ein kissed me on the cheek and kneeled before me. "I look up to you like my own older brother. I'm an only child so I never had a sibling. I've always wanted one, and I found it in you."

As soon as he finished, I gave him a very tight hug. "I love you too, Ein. I forgive you. And you already knew that."

Ein gently hugged me back and began crying like a little kid he is. "Thanks, ZL. I'm glad to have met you."

I gave him a light pat on the back and comforted him as he cried. But little did we know that something unexpected would happen as we were having our little melodrama.

Ein suddenly stopped crying and fell on the ground. He's not dead. He's… sleeping. What just happened? I try to wake Ein by shaking and slapping him up, but it doesn't work at all. I shifted his body around and noticed a small dart-like projectile stuck on his neck. I pulled it off and examined it. Could it be one of those tranquilizers? Where did it come from? I quickly looked around but found no one. I cried for help but before a word even managed to get out of my mouth, I felt a pang on my neck. In just a matter of seconds, my eyesight started to fail and I felt numb.