Chapter XI: Doubts and Despair

Onmaen wondered why people called this the waiting room. He thought that maybe, this is the place where loved ones await the fate of the people in danger. The stark white walls of the hospital made him want to puke - he wasn't fond of hospitals. Just then, his mobile phone vibrated in his coat pocket. "Hello?" he mumbled as he flipped his phone open.
"Is this Onmaen?" a deep, manly voice said on the other line.
"Yes sir," he answered, this time, his voice a bit louder.
"This is Nathan, Nix's brother. I'm allowing you guys to come here,"
"I'm afraid we can't, sir. My friend and cousin are in the hospital. I think Nix should come here,"
"She will pass by tomorrow. She's still a bit... Hurt, right now," Nathan said with a hint of hesitation and anger in his voice.
"We will be counting on that," Onmaen said and snapped the phone shut.

"Mister, are you of any relation to the two?" a nurse asked him.
"I'm cousins with the guy and friends with the girl,"
"Oh. They're both on stable conditions but are resting. Come back again tomorrow, if you want. It's awfully late, you should be going home," she said with a sweet smile.
"Thank you. Good night," he said and walked down the hallway, his feet making padded sounds in the quiet building.

Onmaen decided to pass by Nix's house, just to see how she's doing.
"You're not allowed to see her yet," one of the guards retorted upon seeing Onmaen.
"Her brother, Nathan, called me today,"
"He said it's okay for friends to see Ms. Nix tomorrow," he said, emphasizing on the last word.
"Fine, fine," Onmaen said and raised his arms in defeat.

"Onmaen!" someone called him from afar.
Onmaen turned his back and saw Lexi speeding, running towards him. "Hey," she panted. "I heard about Zilch. How's she?"
"Well, she's okay now. That girl... Ah, I don't know what's going on in her twisted mind," Onmaen sighed.
"Wow, you must really care for your friends. I also saw you a while ago over at Nix's,"
"What are you, my stalker?" Onmaen poked Lexi's arm.
"No, silly! It just so happens I like to follow you and take things you dipsose of out the bin. Hell, I even have an altar of you in a secret room over at my house," she said sarcastically.
"Wow, someone sure had an overdose of pills," he snorted. "So what brings you here?"
"I went to see an old friend," she said uneasily.
"Friend or flame?"
"Er, why?"
"Who?
Lexi took a deep breath.
"Nathan Schneere," she said with a sigh. "We used to be... Well, we're just friends."

"Just friends..." Onmaen repeated in a whisper. That phrase reiterated in his mind the whole night. After walking Lexi home, after dinner, before sleeping. It was an uneasy night for him, as he tossed and turned, unable to get the sleep he needed.