CHANGE
“Are you sure you’ll do this?” Hunter asked me as I am walking to Bianca’s hospital room.
It’s been about a month when I last saw her in person. That was when Dad was hospitalized. Now, Dad already recovered. He’s at home and resting like a king.
Kristoff and I have been better. He visits me every day in my unit. He’s trying to convince me to move back to our old house but I declined and refused the offer. Somehow, I loved what and where I am now.
But what difference did it make? He comes home to me every day. His clothes got piled up in my place and it seems like we are living in one house again.
Hunter, well, he is still Hunter Looney, the jerk with the inspirational messages from time to time. Nothing has changed with our relationship. He’s still my closest guy friend. And I am still his hot topic friend. I don’t know. He told me that one time.
And now, I am visiting Bianca. I heard from Mom that she is going through her cancer treatment right now that’s why she’s confined for close monitoring.
Surprisingly, she never did something wrong with me or to someone else. At first I thought she was just waiting for her time to attack, but Mom told me that she has changed.
I didn’t want to believe that since I always knew that she is a walking and living counterpart of Lucifer on Earth but right now, maybe I could.
I looked at Hunter and nodded. I asked him to accompany me since I don’t want to disturb Kristoff in his work. “Well, she’s harmless. I guess.” I shrugged and continued walking.
Hunter followed me while shaking his head in disagreement. He never wanted this idea because he believes that Bianca is still Bianca—the person who told him things about her and me and Hunter and Kristoff. He still thinks Bianca’s the same sly fox as before.
And he just came because he didn’t want me to come alone. In fact, he didn’t want me to come at all.
I stopped at the door of the room Bianca is staying at. Now, I suddenly felt the uneasiness. Should I just go? But I wasted all my time already.
“Aren’t you going in?” Hunter asked me.
I looked at him and took a deep breath. “I am,” I replied as I turned the knob.
Bianca was there. She’s wearing the hospital gown and she’s looking outside, staring at the vast space. She suddenly looked at the door that opened. And saw me. I immediately felt nervous. But I still managed to smile.
“Good morning, Bianca.” I greeted her happily.
She smiled back at me and bowed a bit. “Good morning, Ashanti,” she replied. “What are you doing here?” she asked gently.
This is really the exact opposite of the Bianca I knew before. She’s gentle. She’s smiling genuinely. She’s definitely an angel.
She was a bit taken aback when she noticed Hunter behind me. “Oh, Hunter.” She beamed.
Hunter just gave her a small nod.
I walked to her and brought down what I got for her. I brought her some cooked food because I don’t believe in hospital foods.
I read from the books that fresh foods aren’t recommended for the cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, that’s why I didn’t bring her fresh fruits. I also didn’t bring her flowers because that’s something fresh as well.
“Have you eaten?” I asked her.
She smiled and shook her head. “Nope. I don’t really like the hospital foods,” she replied.
“Oh! That’s good. I brought some home prepared foods,” I told her as I prepared the food.
She looked at me like she is confused of what I am doing. The truth is I am also confused of what I am doing. But what can I do? Do I have to let her be miserable here alone?
I smiled at her. “Here. Eat some,” I told her as I placed her food on the over-the-bed table.
She smiled at me and nodded. She didn’t utter a word. She just ate.
Hunter sat on the couch and just watch us interact with each other.
Bianca finished about three spoons of the food before she looked at me. “Ashanti,” She called me.
I looked at her. “What is it?” I asked.
She smiled bitterly. “Thanks for visiting me.” She told me. “In fact, you are the only one who visited me. Well, aside from your Mom and Dad.” She smiled.
I looked at her and waited for what she is going to say next.
“I just want to… apologize…for everything that I have done to you and Kristoff,” she said.
I looked at her. Now, she’s apologizing. Hunter looked our way. He seemed to be surprised that he is hearing these words from Bianca right now. I want to tell him I told you so. But I’ll reserve the teasing later.
Some people really change from time to time. And Bianca is one of them.
“I know I did a lot of horrible things to you and Kristoff.” She started. “I guess I just loved him too much that I was too eager to take him away from you.”
“I wanted him to be mine. I thought if I get rid of you, he will learn to love me.” She smiled. “But no. He even loved you more.”
I was stunned at what she is saying. It’s as if I’m having another take of Kristoff’s words that night. Only, this time, it’s from another person.
“It was so hard for me to see him breaking apart because of what I’ve done to the both of you. I regret it each passing day.” This time, her tears started to fall.
“I should’ve just made you live happily. I shouldn’t have acted in between. I shouldn’t have separated you two.” She sobbed.
I looked at her and it broke my heart. The Bianca Lee is bawling into her tears. The Bianca Lee is conceding to her sins.
“I tried to console him. I tried to comfort him. But every time I do, I can see that he longs for you more.” She looked at me. “He loves you, Ashanti. He really does.”
I smiled. I know that. I can feel it.
“That’s why I am apologizing for everything I have done.” She heaved a deep breath. “I know I am months late and I know that words aren’t enough, but I really do. I sincerely do. I am sorry, Ashanti.” She looked at me.
I walked to her and smiled. “It’s fine now, Bianca. Everything’s fine now,” I told her as I gave her a hug. “Just like how you will be fine.” I smiled wider.
She chuckled and hugged me back. “Now I know why Kris loves you so much.” She mumbled.
I laugh at her. I looked at Hunter who was smiling while watching us.
I told you so, Hunter.
Bianca has changed. And she has just earned my respect as a sister.
***
“Where have you been all day?” Kristoff asked me as we are cuddling in the couch, watching some idol music show.
I smiled widely. “Well, I did a good job today,” I told him.
He gave me a look. “Really? What?” he asked.
I chuckled and leaned my head on his chest. “Well, I visited Bianca in the hospital today,” I told him.
He looked at me with wide eyes. “Really?” he asked in disbelief. “Alone?” he asked again.
I shook my head. “No, of course. Hunter won’t let me,” I told him.
I heard him scoff. “So you basically spent most of your day with Looney?” he asked me.
I looked at him and raised my brow. “Why? Are you jealous?” I asked him.
He scoffed at me. “Why would I?” he asked back. “He’s just your friend right?” he told me with emphasis on each word.
I laughed at him. “You are so jealous, Mr. Kristoff Marx,” I told him, happily.
He rolled his eyes on me then pouted. “You should’ve just asked me to accompany you. Why would you even ask Looney?” he asked in frustration.
I smiled. “Well, if I asked you, your work will be interrupted,” I told him.
He gave me an I-don’t-care-if-the-folders-pile-up look.
I shrugged. “And besides, Bianca apologized to me. If you were there, she’d be shy to tell me those things. Hunter was the best person to accompany me,” I told him.
He rolled his eyes on me. “There’s Gen. Why Looney?” he asked me still disappointed.
I smiled. “Well, Gen’s out of town. Don’t you remember?” I told him.
“Then you should’ve called me or you should’ve gone alone.” He uttered, still uneasy.
I chuckled at him. “Don’t be mad okay?” I asked him cutely. “In fact, I have some good news for you, Mr. Kristoff Marx,” I told him.
He raised his brow. “What?” he asked curiously.
I smiled and hugged him again. “I’m agreeing with you,” I told him. He looked at me, confused.
“I’m coming back. Back to our house,” I told him. And now, he’s smiling like an idiot.