Chapter 3 TWO

**CAT**

I regain consciousness to the sound of a beeping monitor. My headaches, I feel slightly woozy, forcing my body to get up causing me to stumble slightly. My memory is impaled as I can't recall why I'm in a hospital nor his I got here. There's a slight ringing at the back of my head, I groan in retaliation shifting sideways slightly. It becomes worse once I'm exposed to light, I winced in pain struggling to return to the body.

Once I laid down, I press my eyes as I try to retain a calm demeanour then think of how I got here and why I'm here. Flashes of images rush in and I snap them back open. I remember falling which explains the pain at the back of my head then the loss of time and memory. I remember too many persons crowding me at once causing my fall. Finally, I remember my dad planning the surprise event without caring about my fears, he has no prior knowledge of them in the first place. Speaking of him, I expect someone to lurk around while waiting for me to wake. The room is empty, void of a single soul. No surprise there, once again I'm alone.

I look over at the room, tears brim at the edge of both eyes, the sight before me is depressing. Why didn't he wait for his daughter? Did he give a shit if I live or die? What business is more important than he has to run off, leave me in a strange scenery with no familiar face. I sniffle then bury my face in my palms. I don't get why this hurt so much. It should not. I'm accustomed to this behaviour.

I'm a grown Twenty-three-year-old young adult, I'm not a kid nor a child. I can take care of myself, that starts with checking myself out of this institution. Like skipping my day isn't enough, he ends up guaranteeing I sleep through most of it. It's after two pm if the hospital clock was accurate. I missed classes and college because of him. I kissed Noel.

I move a little but feel a slight pain at the back of my head, another effect of my fall. I'll request pain meds from the pharmacy before leaving.

I manage to stand up, take a seat on the edge of the bed. I struggle to reach my bag, wincing at intervals. When I do, I unfasten the screen and take a look at my notifications.

"At least he sent a text."

I shrug my shoulders, glancing at the title informing me of a text from my father. I swipe it off the screen with an eye roll, I don't feel any remorse for ignoring him, he deserves much more. Besides, I already know what the text contains. A simple apology for ruining my birthday, one I doubt he composed himself having so many employees to cater for his needs. Doesn't matter. He still hurt my feelings.

Unknowingly to him, he made my day worse by throwing me a party. Girls my age ate those parties up, he figures I'm one of them. Another side effect from nog knowing his daughter. I admit it's a nice gesture, I appreciate it but it's not something I'll ever want. A room full of students I don't interact with, people who are fake and will walk past me on any other day.

I'll prefer a quiet day with Noel even if all we did is the seat and not speak a word. His presence is more than enough. After all, in my books, he's the only one who made my day tolerable.

"The same guy whose text you still haven't answered."

My subconscious reminds and my eyes widened. I force my entire weight to move and grab my phone for the second time, the force results in the same pain in my lower back. I ignore it and search for his text.

"How can I be so silly? I should have reacted as soon as I saw it. He'll guess I didn't care about his gesture. Stupid!"

I exclaim while peering at the text for the third time. I flicked my eyes over the words, the reaction remains the same. I shake my head a few times then place both hands on the keypad. How do I say thank you without making a full of myself? Here reaches the hard part.

**I'm sorry I didn't respond. It's been a long day. Thank you for the text, it was lovely. Cat**

I clicked send, place my palms over my face then squeal. That sounded so flat, why did I send that? Oh God, I am dumb. I toss my phone on the bed groaning in frustration. Almost immediately, my phone beeps, a new text came through, can't be from dad, he didn't care that much to send two texts. Maybe, just maybe Noel was waiting for my response. The thought made my heart flutter harder, but I decided not to think over it too much like last time, I quickly opened the text so I can reply,

**It's not a big deal, but I'm a little worried since I didn't see you in class today, is everything alright? Any problems? Or you decided to spend your birthday elsewhere. Lol. Noel**

I sighed before clicking reply. He has no clue. None at all.

**It's a long story that involves my dad. Cat**

I click send once again. Ten seconds later, he sent a reply. He's fast. Is the seating by his phone like I am waiting for a reply?

**That's understandable. Do you Want to talk over it at dinner? Noel.**

My phone slips from my grip nearly hitting the floor. I can't believe my crush is asking me out on a date. It has to be a date because the semester is just resuming, there's no way we're going to be studying. Oh my God! Don't overthink, just reply.

My phone beeps once again and I quickly picked it back up.

**Umm, that was kind of unexpected. It's fine if you don't want to go or you have after plans. Noel.** Is he crazy? Of course, I want to go with him. Just reply to Catherine before something goes wrong.

**I want to. Just tell me when and where. Cat.**

I bit my lips waiting for his response. I start counting seconds eager for a notification from my phone. A minute later, I jump at the tone from my phone.

"Finally!" I exclaim.

**I'll pick you up at your place by six pm. Sounds good? Noel.** I drop the phone then dance around on the bed a little. Shit! Reply!

**Perfect. I'll be ready. Cat.**

I squeal a little excited over my first date. I hope I don't screw it up. I like Noel.

I shift my gaze when the doorknob twisted slowly before opening. I arch my brows wondering who that is. A nurse maybe.

"Darling! Thank goodness. You need to come with me."

My dad says placing his phone on his ears. Seriously? Not how are you Cat? Are you fine? Do you have a mild concussion? He walks in and orders me around. Perfect.

"What! Where?"

"I'll answer those later. We need to go now." He commands, listening to whatever or whoever was speaking to him at the receiving end.

"I don't understand dad. If I'm going back anywhere, it's back to my apartment. Dad."

I state firmly.

"My darling you don't understand...." My darling! He always calls me "my darling" whenever he screws then tried to smoothen it over. Not this time!

"Of course I don't understand. You never tell me anything, you just tell me what to do, how to act and now I'm supposed to follow these orders without question. Right?" His expression informs me of the answer. A hefty yes. Not this time.

"I guarantee you, I'll clarify everything once we get to a safe place. Just listen to me Catherine, we need to go. You need to come with me, it's not safe..."

"Safe? What's coming for us?" I slash him mid-sentence trying to decipher if this was a new technique from him or we are genuinely in danger. I always wave it off as his paranoia, is this real? Is there truly a threat out there?

"Not here. I can't. There's no time." He yanks me back to reality with a short answer. I snap my gaze fully on him. No time? Seriously? Time is all we have. It's all we've had for over two decades and he prefers to neglect it at this point. Typical. He picked the wrong day.

"I'm not going with you dad. I have a date in a few hours. Sort your problems out yourself because I'm a grown-ass woman who can make her own decisions. I decide to go out with a guy I like, you ruined more than half of my birthday, do not be a monster by not letting me enjoy what remains!"

I retort making my stand. I sound bitchy and slightly snappy, I'm on edge and the events of the day are making me feel dizzy. I just want to dress and look fancy then seat across Noel while talking about random shits. Daddy dearest will not obstruct me. There's no danger to my life or his, there hasn't been one for years. It's not shifting now.

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