As I lay in the hospital bed, memories of my past swirled in my mind. Sometimes sharing secrets with friends feels like a weight lifted off your shoulders. Now, I regret not telling Chris about my past relationship.
The girl who walked in just now with Chris- was my first love, Shantel. Her presence brought back a flood of emotions, like a scent that transports you back in time. But how would I break this news to Chris?
As I pondered how to reveal my secret past relationship to Chris, my mind began to wander again. I couldn't help but think that if it wasn't for that mystery note, I wouldn't be lying in this hospital bed, struggling to find the words to explain my connection with Shantel to Chris. But the question still lingered: who wrote that mysterious note?
Chris broke the silence, walking over to my bedside. "Brother, I'm sorry I'm late. It doesn't mean I don't care. To be honest, my patience was tested today. There was a lot of traffic - you know how Harare can be during peak hour."
He chuckled. "I even found myself cursing and yelling at my Uber driver, which isn't like me." His expression turned serious, his voice laced with concern. "But I'm glad I'm here now. How are you feeling? What did the doctor say was wrong?"
Before I could respond, Sarah and Charlotte chimed in unison, "We're waiting for the results." Sarah added, "The doctor said he'd be back with the news soon."
Peter, seated beside Sarah, couldn't take his eyes off Shantel. His curiosity was palpable, clearly wondering why she had reacted so intensely.
Shantel broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper as she leaned into her boyfriend. "Hi, I'm Shantel. Sorry, I mistook you for someone I know."
After speaking, Shantel bit her lips, her eyes darting up to Chris before locking onto mine again. "I'm so sorry, Cedric. I wish you a speedy recovery," she said, her voice laced with sincerity.
Her actions - the bitten lips, the fleeting glance at Chris - spoke volumes. She was hiding our secret, and I silently agreed it wasn't the right time to reveal it. Could this jeopardize my relationship with Chris and the rest of the guys, I wondered.
Soon afterwards, the doctor came in with the results. Everyone was waiting for this moment, and the room fell silent as we waited for the doctor to speak. Sarah and Peter stepped closer to the doctor and collected the forms from him.
Then, turning to me, the doctor said, "You have kidney failure, but fortunately, it's stage 1. It's good that you came in early, and at this rate, we'll try to help you with medication. So don't worry." He smiled and then tapped Peter's back, a gesture to comfort him. Soon, he left the room.
Then they all gathered around, with smiles on their faces, and cheered me on. Then Sarah said, "Cedric, we're going home, and what a relief. I was so worried, but now it's a relief. I'm sorry you've had to go through this alone. But I'll be here for you, okay?" She smiled and leaned towards the bed, kissing me on the forehead.
Then Peter couldn't hold back his words; he began to clap his hands softly, his eyes shining with surprise. 'Wow, what a caring, beautiful young lady,' he said, his voice filled with admiration. 'There's no one like Sarah. Cedric, my man, you're blessed to have such a caring friend.' He smiled brightly, his eyes locking onto Sarah's, who blushed and smiled back.
Sarah's voice was gentle as she replied, "You're not telling the truth; everyone here is very caring. Look, we're all here to check in on and stand by our friend Cedric – I mean, Charlotte's boyfriend." As she said this, her face fell, and she forced a smile, her eyes darting to Charlotte's. The tension between them was palpable, and the air seemed to thicken with unspoken emotions.
"With a bright smile, Charlotte turned the conversation, her tone light and playful. "Mmmm, Sarah, that's not true," she said, winking at Cedric. "I mean, you're Cedric's girlfriend, and I'm sure he's grateful for that." The tension between them dissipated slightly as Charlotte's words shifted the focus.
"Now, everyone, sorry I couldn't tell you before, but I'm here with my boyfriend, Alex." She slipped her arm through Alex's, her gesture a clear attempt to ease the awkwardness. "Alex, these are my friends. From our right, that's Peter, Chris and his girlfriend I guess and then Sarah. I am sure you know Cedric right?"
Alex smiled warmly and waved in greeting. "Nice to meet you guys," he said softly, before turning to me with a hint of remorse. "I'm really sorry for how I've treated you before. I hope you can forgive me and see me as a friend."
Before I could respond, Chris exclaimed, "Guys, coffee before we take Cedric out of this hospital?" Everyone nodded in agreement and headed out to grab some coffee. Sarah seemed hesitant to leave, but I encouraged her to join the others. Meanwhile, Shantel opted to stay behind, her eyes locking onto mine as she said, "I'll keep watch and keep you company."
As the others hastily exited the room to grab coffee, Shantel lingered behind, walking over to sit beside my bed. Our eyes met, and an awkward silence fell between us. Shantel broke the silence, her voice gentle and low. "It's been a long time, Cedric," she said, a hint of nostalgia in her tone.
"The moment I walked into this room and realized it was you, I hesitated. I almost turned back, knowing it would be awkward between us, especially with Chris here." She smiled, her laughter tinged with humor. "But I'm happy to see you, my ex-boyfriend." Her bright smile transported me back to the good old days, flooding me with memories of our time together and the deep affection I once had for her – the girl who had loved me despite my humble beginnings.
"It has been a long time indeed," I said. "I didn't know you'd end up at the same university as me."
Shantel's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Oh, yes, me neither. I had no idea you'd managed to afford it – you were struggling financially back then. To be honest, I used to feel a bit embarrassed being your girlfriend, given our different circumstances." She paused, her gaze sweeping over me. "But you've changed a lot since then. You look... radiant. More so than my boyfriend, even." Her voice was laced with surprise and curiosity. "What happened? How did you make such a transformation?"
As she spoke, the sound of footsteps grew louder, approaching the door. I became hesitant to respond to Shantel's question, my mind racing with the fear of being overheard. To my surprise, Shantel seemed oblivious to the approaching footsteps and continued, her voice taking on a reflective tone. "I used to love you, I mean a lot," she said.
"Now, seeing you, I regret how I ended things with us in high school. I'm sure you were angry with me, or maybe you still are?" As she finished her sentence, I held my breath, praying that no one had overheard our conversation. The footsteps had stopped right outside the door, and I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was listening in.
Shantel's eyes sparkled with nostalgia as she continued, "I regret the decision I made, and I wish I could turn back time and fall in love with you again. You know, I was the first to love you despite your hardships and those ridiculous, baggy trousers you used to wear."
The phone outside the door rang loudly. The person picked it up, and I heard Chris's voice on the other end. My heart started racing, and fear showed on my face. Had he overheard our conversation? He opened the door, before he could walk in, he closes it again and walked away from the door.
To be continued....