Brian's POV:

A beeping noise kept ringing in my head and I scrunched my eyes to make it go away, but it just wouldn't. My head felt heavy and I slowly opened my eyes, blinking to adjust to the surrounding lights.

"You're finally awake." I didn't have to turn around to find out who that voice belonged to. The dry tone of it said it all.

"What am I-" Before I could finish my sentence, bile rose up my throat and I felt her turn me to the side where I puked all my guts out in a dust bin.

Once I was done, she handed me a towel and a glass of water which I drank greedily. I didn't dare lift up my face but I could feel her judgemental stare on me already.

"You know what I am going to say."

I closed my eyes hoping the throbbing migraine inside my head will go away but it didn't. "Don't stress out. Eat properly and-"

"Let me do my job." She cut me off. "Why do you always want to put all the burdens on yourself? Have you ever heard of delegating responsibility?"

I sighed. "You won't understand it. My family is-"

"I think I know more about your family than you give me credit for, and if you just tell them what is happening, maybe they would help."

I glared at her. "Don't tell me you already did it for me."

She shrugged and sat down on the chair by the side of the bed. "That's not a responsibility that I can bear."

"But?"

She smiled with a mischievous twinkling in her eyes and I knew she wouldn't have left the matter at it. "What did you do?"

"I might have told something to someone."

"WHAT?!" I sat up straight. "Why would you do that? I swear if Cat-"

She rolled her eyes and cut me off. "I wouldn't drag Cath into this. She can't take care of you when she is the one who needs taking care of."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Then who did you tell this to?"

She smiled. "She will be here in a minute." She glanced at her phone and then pulled out a small rectangular box and handed it over to me. "Give this to her and tell her to use it on you if another emergency like this happens even though I hope you are sensible enough to not let it get to this stage again."

"Fine. Fine. What is this?"

"An injection for the next time you faint. There are instructions on how to use it inside. Just read it and keep this with you at all times. But you need to inform her about this because you can't use it on yourself once you're unconscious and if you don't, you might actually end up dead or in the hospital room with a consequence you wouldn't like."

"Fine. Just go!"

She left and I could finally breathe. After reading the instructions I tore off the labels on both the box and the little glass container that was inside it. A few minutes later, the doctors came in to check up on me followed by Sam.

"What are you doing here?"

She looked uncomfortable as she stepped into the room, glancing around awkwardly. "Maybe I should ask you that."

"I just fainted. Nothing serious."

Her eyes widened and she rushed to my side. "Are you alright? Is it because of-"

"Hey! Hey! It's nothing serious." I could have actually died if nobody was around to help. "I- uh, I just need more rest and good food. That's it."

She didn't look satisfied. "Are you telling me the truth?"

"Yes." Partly.

She nodded and once the doctor gave me the sign that all was clear, we checked out of the hospital. I contemplated whether to give her the box or not, but finally decided it was better to be safe than to face the consequences later.

"What's this?" She frowned as she opened the box.

"It's an emergency kit. If I did faint again, you will have to inject all the liquid from the syringe into the contents of the small box, and wait till it is completely dissolved and transparent." I showed her the tiny glass container with the powder inside it.

"And then take it back in the syringe, make me lean on one side and punch it either on my arm or my thigh."

She didn't blink for a second as I finished telling her the instructions. "Did you listen to any of what I said?"

"Yeah, but there's one problem."

"What is it?"

"I am scared of hospitals.. and medicines... and needles." She gulped as she looked down at the syringe inside the box.

"I know it's too much to ask of you, but I can't let anyone else know about this."

She seemed uncomfortable but finally nodded her head. "Okay, but keep this with yourself. I do not want to accidentally puncture myself with that monster."

I chuckled and placed it back safely in my office bag. "Fine, but don't let me die just because you're scared of the needle."

She gulped. "I won't."

                            ***************
By the time we reached home, the sky was already pitch black. All I wanted to do was go to bed as soon as possible. I have been feeling the tiredness a lot lately.

As soon as we entered the house, Mary rushed towards me. "My boy, thank god you're home!"

I frowned. "Why? Is something wrong?"

She was about to open her mouth when Sam cut her off. "Nothing is wrong."

She smiled at me and I didn't know if I should believe her or not. "You should go rest now."

I scanned her face for any sign that could tell me she was being honest. I then shifted my gaze towards Mary. "Is it true Mary? Or is there something I need to know of?"

Sam folded her arms and looked at Mary as well. "Yes, Mary tell him how he just overthinks and worries about everything when he already has a lot on his shoulders."

Mary hesitated for a second before she nodded her head. "Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to serve you dinner, so that I could go back home earlier and have some rest."

I nodded. "You can take your leave now Mary. I am sure there we could manage for a few hours without you."

"But.."

"Just go. Consider this my order."

She smiled and stood up on her toe to ruffle my hair. "You haven't changed a bit."

"Neither have you. Now get going before I give you a permanent vacation."

She nodded her head, picked up her bag and left the house. Sam and I had dinner and all throughout she kept me entertained with stories. I knew it was all a distraction and I felt bad to put her in such a spot but I had no choice.

Sam kept assuring me that all was well, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that she was hiding something. Once I had managed to convince Sam that I was alright and pretended to be asleep, I waited for a few minutes until she left the room.

I waited for a few more minutes before I stepped out of the bedroom and checked upon the girl's room. I didn't want to be a creep, but I couldn't just sleep not knowing if they truly were alright or not.

Sam and Cath laid on the bed wrapped around in a warm blanket. I waited for a few seconds and they still lay asleep. Once I was sure about them, I made sure to check up on my mother and then go to bed. Finally, I could get some sleep.

                         *************
Sam's POV:

"Is he gone?" I didn't dare open my eyes even though I heard Cath shuffle beside me on the bed.

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"You can open your eyes and find out for yourself."

I peeked my eyes open slowly, and then fully and then left out a breath in relief.

"Why did we just pretend to be asleep?" She frowned.

"So that he doesn't worry about us."

"How did you know he would come for us?" She looked at me curiously.

I grinned at her. "He was pretending to be asleep and he didn't really believe in what I said about everything being alright, thanks to Mary. So I knew he would come check upon us."

"Do you think he would have really believed us now?"

I turned my gaze towards the door, waiting for it to open any second now, but it didn't. "Yes, he wouldn't come back now. I am sure he would be halfway to heaven in his sleep by now."

Just then a knock sounded and I jumped up and grabbed my blanket, before wrapping it over myself. I probably looked like I was committing suicide with the blanket around me but at least I wouldn't be caught lying.

The knock came again and I squeezed my eyes shut hoping that it would go away, but then I heard someone's voice. "Cath are you awake?"

I should have been delighted that it wasn't Brian and he surely wasn't here for me, but I couldn't help but feel quite useless in recent times. Nobody needed me or wanted me in a while; not even stupid Michael needed my help with anything anymore.

Begrudgingly I got off the bed and opened the door to find Daniel. His eyes didn't stay on me for more than one second before it shifted behind me towards Cath. The audacity of this man. He didn't seem to feel the blaze of my eyes as he ignored my existence completely. "Cath, can I talk to you for a minute?"

I blocked his view of her. "No! She is going to get some rest now." I was about to shut the door when he blocked it with his arm.

"I think Cath can do the talking." His eyes shifted to Cath once again. "It's really important, but if you're still not feeling well, we can talk tomorrow."

"I am okay now." She shook her head and got up from the bed. Maybe she thinks she is a good actor but I didn't miss the way she wobbled a bit as she stood up. I wanted to point it out but I didn't think she would appreciate me treating her that way anymore.

"Do you really think you should talk now? We barely managed to dodge Brian. What if he comes back again?"

Daniel frowned and leaned on the door frame. This time his eyes stayed on me as he spoke. "Why would Brian come here at this time?"

Ah, now he was generous enough to give me his attention. I crossed my arms against my chest and looked him straight in the eyes. "Why are you here at this time?"

"To talk to Cath."

"He may come here to talk to me." I didn't know what I was expecting him to do. Maybe I wanted to make him feel a little jealous, but I didn't expect him to say what he did next.

"You and he seemed to have a lot to talk in recent times."

"Maybe." I shrugged, finally feeling having a little bit of the upper hand in the conversation.

"And more frequently at night."

I raised my eyebrows. "Is there a problem with that?"

"No, unless there's a secret you're trying to hide."

My eyes widened and for a second everything went blank. Did he know about Brian's condition? I still decided to play dumb and composed myself. "What makes you think we have anything to hide?"

He looked at me for a few seconds before he shrugged. "Just saying. The truth can never be kept hidden for too long."

I stood speechless as he looked at me one last time before he walked out of the room with Cath in tow. Even as I shut the door and laid down on the bed, I couldn't get his words out from my mind.

Will the truth really come out? And if it did, I hoped it didn't come from me.

                               **************
Cath's POV:

"Did you finish the book?" Those were the first words that Daniel asked me as we exited my room and walked towards the one he stayed at.

I shook my head. "Almost."

It fell silent before he spoke again. "We could really do this tomorrow if you aren't feeling well."

I shook my head once again as we continued to walk. "I am alright." I was not. "I was just feeling.. a bit dizzy." Actually, I was getting back the symptoms of my relapse but I didn't want him to know that.

Thankfully he nodded and the two of us walked inside the boys room. I thought it would only be the two of us talking like the last time, but I was surprised to see all of them wide awake and quite serious if I should add. Even Blake looked humourless and that meant that whatever Daniel had to say was going to be serious.

Daniel made me sit on the chair that was placed in the middle of the room, and the rest of the boys surrounded me but none of them spoke a word.

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes!

"No!"

Daniel and Michael spoke at the same time. Daniel glared at Michael. "I think we should tell her what is really happening."

"But she is not well. Can't you see how pale she is already?"

"She is also the one who knows anything at all related to this. If anyone could find out what is happening it would be her."

"But don't.."

"Guys!" I interrupted and the two of them looked at me. "Just tell me what is going on. I am alright. Don't treat me like I might just break down any minute now." Though I really did feel like that, having them treat me just as fragile made me feel worse about my situation.

"Fine." Michael sighed. "Kevin called."

I frowned at him. "Kevin? Why would he-"

"He wanted to warn us about Ruby."

My frown deepened and I could feel the throbbing of a migraine starting. "What are you talking about? What do Kevin and Ruby have to do with anything?"

"Let me tell you from the beginning." Harry finally spoke. "A long time ago, did Kevin ever try to reconcile with you, or ask for your forgiveness?"

I remembered the incident he was talking about. "Yes, but I didn't. I remember slapping him."

"Apparently Ruby was there as well. She bribed him into getting along with her and separating you and Michael so that she could have Michael, and Kevin could have his revenge on the both of you."

"That doesn't make any sense. Why would someone stalk, and blackmail me just to get revenge?"

"That's because they are not the stalkers; or at least not the main ones."

I rubbed my temple. "Can you just be a little clear, please? I don't understand."

"Yes, just don't interrupt me till I am done talking." And I didn't.

"As I was saying, Ruby tried to bribe him to team up with her, but Kevin didn't want to. According to his story, he had changed and truly did want your forgiveness. And he knew if Ruby was planning something against you, it could very well be dangerous and so he pretended to go along with her."

"But she wasn't the only one who wanted to separate you both, there was someone else too. Kevin hasn't seen him but is sure it's a man who knows you."

"How could he be sure?"

"Because Ruby wanted Michael, Kevin wanted revenge and he wanted you."

This brought a sick feeling to my stomach. I thought he would be someone good but why would he go to such great lengths to separate me and Michael? Maybe Daniel was right. I shouldn't try to find the good in someone I couldn't trust.

"That doesn't make sense either." Michael interrupted. "If Ruby had wanted me, she had achieved the goal when Cath went away. We were almost going to get engaged in front of the whole world and she just said no."

I blinked at him. "You were going to get engaged with Ruby?"

Michael blushed. "NO! I mean y-yes.. but it's not what you think! It's a long story. I will explain it to you later."

I tried processing the information. Ruby and Michael were going to get engaged and I didn't know? How many other things happened without my knowledge?

"Coming back to the point." Michael looked back at Harry. "If we did believe Kevin's theory wouldn't she have jumped up at the chance of marrying me? She had tried to get her way using my father for so many years, and then when everything did go as she wanted it to, she literally ran away."

"Maybe she realised how much of an arse you are and decided she could do better." Blake shrugged.

"Maybe she didn't even like you in the first place," Zoran added.

"Or she could be self-sabotaging her own happiness since she has never experienced what it's like to have what she has always wanted."

"Or maybe she fell in love with someone else." Daniel who had been silent all this while finally spoke and all eyes fell on him. Michael's eyes widened in realisation. "I did overhear her telling her father that she liked someone else."

"And if my guess is right, he is the same person that we are searching for."

"What makes you so sure?"

He shrugged. "I am not sure, but I think I may be right. She got along with a man to separate you two to get to Michael. And when she did get him, she already liked someone else. Who else could it be?"

"Uh, Kevin?" Zoran piped in.

Daniel shook his head. "She wouldn't be here if she wanted Kevin."

"WHAT?" All of us asked in unison as we stared at Daniel.

He looked up at us in a leisurely manner as if he had all the time in the world. "Remember the club I said I saw Brian on the first day we came here?"

All of us nodded. "I saw her there."

"B-But how?" Michael frowned.

"I don't know. I knew there was something fishy about the club and decided to watch it for a while."

"That's why you were missing for a whole day?" Harry asked and he nodded.

"I didn't know what I was waiting for but I definitely didn't expect Ruby to show up. I saw her only for a second and almost thought I had imagined it, but I am sure. She is here and she is here for him."

"A psycho in love with another psycho?" Blake grimaced. "I can't imagine what they may be even be planning now."

"I am sure we can find out pretty soon." Daniel seemed pretty confident.

"Uh, do you remember we failed at impressing her the first time?" Zoran reminded him.

Daniel nodded. "That's because we failed to give her what she wanted. She wasn't interested in Michael anymore and that's why we failed."

"Do you think she could be interested in me then?" Blake flexed his arm.

Daniel rolled his eyes. "She doesn't need a guy now. She already has him."

"Then who else could she possibly need?"

His eyes then fell on me. "Probably a girl who her lover needed her for in the first place."

************
So.. that's a pretty turn of events..

What do you think of the information Daniel just shared with the group?

Do you think plan 'Get Ruby with Cath' work?

And do you also believe 'truth cannot be hidden for a long time'?

Keep commenting and let me know your thoughts!

Vote for this chapter!

Until next time,

- Love, S!