He's Attached.

A week later... and a few days more...

"shayna? are you busy?" Mr. Fong asked, knocking on her door.
"i'm alright papa. you can come in." she said, as she closed her textbooks. "what's up?"
"well, i came to talk to you about... colby and colin."
"papa. i don't really wanna talk about it." shayna said, she hugged her pillow and leaned back against her chair. Mr. Fong sighed and sat down directly opposite her on her bed.
"shayna. colby misses you a lot. colin hasn't been visiting often because of the extra workload. colby's been complaining that you haven't been visiting him and he wants to see you. he misses you a lot. even the nurses cannot cope with his tantrums."
"i know papa. i will visit colby soon. when colin's not there that is..."
"what happened between the two of you? quarrel?"
"papa. colin... he... he has a girlfriend already. so.. stop trying to matchmake us together already alright," shayna said, burying her face in her pillow. she tried her best not to tell her father but it had to come out... to make her mind stop thinking about it... to heal her broken heart... to make her whole again... Her father didn't say anything, but just hugged her and left the room.

as the door closed behind him, shayna started to tear and she started to cry, just a little. she had been working very hard on her psychology classes and her counselling classes. it's also to forget the pain that colin caused her. she also avoided the hospital and alyssa's workplace, so as to minimize the meetings with colin. she had to forget him and continue life. a wonderful 2 days of him being in her life but it has to stop now because things will never work out between them...

"stop thinking about it!" she told herself as she forced herself to return to her books. she wiped her tears and buried herself between the pages of her texts. she felt silly, dumb and used. she no doubt miss colby and wanted to make him feel better but with colin around... it's harder to face him. oh how? she closed her books back and changed up. she had to do something first that would set part of her heart at ease first...

"where are you going at such an hour?" Mrs. Fong asked.
"i'm going to the hospital to visit colby. i'll be back as soon as i can."
"alright. just try to be home early," Mr. Fong said, giving her a comforting smile.
"thanks papa. bye."

***

"colby?" shayna whispered. colby woke up from his sleep and almost screamed when he saw shayna. "sssh. not so loud. i shouldn't be here you know."
"sorry. i'm glad you came to visit. where have you been all week?" colby complained.
"colby. shayna jie can't visit you as often anymore."
"why? is it because i was naughty? i promise i will take my medication... eat my food.. not throw tantrums anymore... just come back and visit please?"
"colby.... colby listen. it's not you, silly. yes, you must take your medication and get better, so i can take you out to play but shayna jie is starting work and she doesn't have much free time as last time."
"you... don't like me anymore? shayna jie?"
"no silly boy. i like you a lot. it's just that i have to work. please understand. i promise to visit you as soon as i have time alright?"
"okay. can you stay with me now.. for a while until i sleep? kor didn't visit me too. he seems upset."
"colby. hush now and sleep."
"did kor make you angry? if he did, i will scold him for you..." shayna smiled.
"no he didn't. now go and sleep."
"alright. i miss you shayna jie." colby said, as he held onto her hand. shayna couldn't help it but tear. colby was such a special boy... yet, his brother had to break her heart so much.

when colby really fell asleep, she loosen his grip on her hand and stood up to leave. as she was about to leave, she saw colin standing outside. looking at her. his eyes had regret and guilt written all over it. shayna just ignored him and was about to walk away.
"you are just gonna walk on. just like last week. and you're gonna walk on again and again." colin commented. "you're gonna be a selfish brat and just think about how hurt you are and not how i felt? how selfish can you get? i might be not the perfect guy but at least i don't deny that i have hurt you. why can't you just think of the hurt you're causing me now?"
shayna stopped in her tracks. she felt a pang of guilt. but it's HIS fault. HE should be hurt. it's not her problem anymore.
"sorry colin. i'm only here to see colby. nothing else. i have to get going now."
"so... you're gonna live in your little selfish world still? shayna, please... give me a chance."
"what chance colin? you're attached."
"but we can still be friends! why don't give us a chance to work things out?" shayna couldn't stand hearing his voice anymore. it's hurting her more than ever... is that love she's feeling? it can't be. she shook her head and walked on... not turning back to see his face... his hazel eyes and his tears.

***

shayna continued with her studies and also her visits to the hospital for colby. she went at times when she knew colin was at work. colby got better and the doctor decided to discharge him because he showed signs of improvement. however, colby has to take care of his health. espcially with his illness, it's hard to completely heal. it takes the love of his family and his friends. Mr. Fong told shayna the good news and he saw his daughter smile for the first time in weeks. somehow the news that colin was attached didn't really go well with shayna. she was indeed hurt... maybe her feelings was being dragged into this too much. but she is going to be a social worker soon. she has to learn that sometimes, her feelings shouldn't affect her decisions too much or her work would be affected. shayna loved her courses and is doing very well in them, soon she would be able to complete her courses and start on her hospital rounds.

the next morning, Mr. Fong was drinking coffee and reading the newspaper before he headed out for work. shayna crept up from behind him with her books in hand and sat down right next to him.
"good morning papa!" she chimed, souding really happy... more like guilty cos she had a favour to ask.
"hmm, your good morning today sounds more like, 'papa. i need a favour from you' today," Mr. Fong replied, not even looking up from his papers.
shayna sighed. her father could always see through her false smiles and know what she had in mind.
"papa. could you give colby this when he discharges later in the morning?" shayna asked, passing her father a note and a present.
"can't you give it to him personally. i know he would appreciate it more than if it was from me."
"i know papa. but i... i have classes. i can't go down."
"liar. i know your schedule. you're just gonna avoid colin, aren't you?" shayna stayed silent as she shifted in her position. Mr. Fong then took the present from her. "alright. i'll do this. just once alright. not more doing your dirty work for you anymore."
"thank you papa," shayna said, she hugged him and went on to eating her breakfast.