One glass after another, I swallowed the juice. My throat began to constrict, my skin flared with painful, itchy hives, but I pressed on, unfazed. Before everything went dark, I caught a glimpse of Jerome running towards me.
The next thing I knew, I was in the hospital. My allergic reaction, compounded by the anemia from my last blood transfusion, had brought me to the brink. I needed type KEN blood urgently.
As I clung to life, Jessica conveniently fell ill too, arriving at the same hospital, pale as a sheet, tears streaking down her face. Yet she still had the strength to think of me, "Jerome, go save Tania. I'm in so much pain, but I can hold on. Give all your blood to her."
Her selflessness only made Jerome more concerned for her. To prevent further refusals, he kissed her right there, a kiss that lasted for twenty full minutes.
During that time, nurses repeatedly urged him to donate blood for me, but Jerome remained absorbed in the kiss, oblivious to their pleas.
Jessica's voice trembled with feigned guilt as tears welled in her eyes, "I'm just afraid Tania might be upset."
Jerome erupted like a furious lion, "Why are you worrying about someone else when you're like this?"
The nurses kept coming back, but Jerome lost his temper altogether during their last attempt, "She's not dying! Why is everyone acting so dramatic? Give her some glucose, she can last three days."
Jerome sent the nurse back to me with a message: [Apologize to Jessica and I'll give you my blood.]
I lay there, pale and confused. What did I have to apologize for? My question was answered when I saw Jessica's newest post online: [Thank you, Jerome, for saving me. Otherwise, Tania would've kept forcing drinks on me …]
Within seconds, Jerome's reply appeared: [Petty, jealous women need to be put in their place!]
On the first day after my hospitalization, both Jerome and Jessica shared posts about their romantic escapades at themed hotels across the city.
The next day, Jerome called me and asked me if I hadn't thought of the words to apologize after a day. He said I was as stupid as a pig and kindly reminded me that if I couldn't figure it out, I could check it online.
Late one night on the third day, Jerome couldn't help but come looking for me, only to discover my hospital bed empty.
The hospital explained that my boyfriend had picked me up after discharge.
