One Wild Night

As soon as the plane touched down at the airport, Jade took Candace’s hands and pulled her with her as she walked in hurried step away from there to the spot they were to pick up their bags.

After they had gotten their bags and were headed out of the building, she took out her phone and dialed Tom’s line, “We are in Ludus now. Where are you guys?” Jade asked in an urgent tone.

“I just left the office. I’m on my way to the hospital to join Lucy and Jamal. Aaron is awake now. Where are you? I sent someone to get you from the airport. His name is Gad,” Tom said just in time as Jade spotted a man who was dressed in a chauffeur uniform, standing beside a black car and waving a placard with her name on it.

“That’s great! Give me a moment I think I’ve seen him,” Jade said as she turned to Candace.

“That’s our ride,” Jade said to Candace as they walked towards the man.

“Miss Hank?” The man asked politely when they stopped in front of him, and Jade gave him a nod when she saw the name tag on the front of his shirt.

“I received instruction from Mr. Hank to bring you to I-Global hospital,” the man said as he held open the passenger door for them to get in.

“What about Harry? Where is he?” Jade asked Tom as they got into the car.

“He went home. He wanted to be left alone,” Tom explained, leaving out the fact that Harry was not receiving his phone call.

He had received a call from Lucy, informing him that she had tried reaching Harry several times to inform him that Aaron was up, but Harry was not picking up his phone.

He had tried reaching Harry too, but there was no response either.

Although he was worried about Harry and was feeling tempted to check on him, he knew that Harry wouldn’t do anything stupid. If he was ignoring their phone calls, it was most likely because he really wanted to be left alone so there was no cause for alarm. At least not yet.

Jade glanced at her wristwatch. As much as she cared about Aaron and wanted to see him, she wanted most to be with Harry right now.

“Candace will meet you guys at the hospital, but I will drop by at Harry’s first. I will join you after I’ve seen how he’s doing.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I just told you Harry wants to be alone. He’s not even receiving his phone calls…”

“That’s all the more reason I should check on him. He’s the reason I’m here, Tom. I will let him be alone after I’ve made sure he’s okay,” Jade insisted stubbornly and hung up the call before Tom could protest any further or discourage her.

Jade turned to Candace whose hands were folded on her thighs as she stared ahead of her with a worried expression as she gnawed on her lower lip.

Jade took her hands, causing Candace to turn to her with questioning eyes, “Did you say something?” She asked, thinking that Jade had said something which she missed.

“No, I didn’t. I guess you are still feeling very nervous,” Jade observed with a small smile which Candace returned stiffly.

“Yes, I am. You would be too if you were in my shoes,” Candace said as she placed a hand on her stomach which was churning nervously.

“Yes, anyone would be nervous. But you are not just anyone. You are a strong, brave, and beautiful woman. I do not doubt that you will handle yourself properly. Don’t worry, everything will turn out fine. Thankfully, Aaron is conscious now,” Jade said, and Candace gave her a nod.

“That’s good,” Candace said with a sigh.

“I know this might sound crazy considering the fact that I dragged you here, but do you mind going there alone? Tom, Lucy, and Jamal are there. I need to stop by Harry’s house and see how he’s doing before climbing to the hospital,” Jade said, and Candace frowned.

“What am I supposed to say to them or do when I get there?” Candace asked as she looked down at her hands.

“All you have to do is get there. Tom and Lucy will be waiting for you. And I’m positive they won’t be doing any introduction without Harry. So you have nothing to worry about,” Jade assured her.

“Is he okay? Why is he at home when his dad is in the hospital?” Candace asked, and Jade sighed.

“He must be upset and wants to be alone. Who wouldn’t be after finding out that the angelic mother he thought was dead his whole life is actually alive and had actually abandoned him?” Jade said, and Candace sighed.

“You’re right. You should go to him,” Candace encouraged, and Jade embraced her.

“I will give you a call to find out how you’re doing, alright? And I will see if I can pull Harry with me to the hospital,” Jade said, and Candace gave her a nod as she embraced her back.

“Pull the car over at the next stop, please. I have to get out,” Jade told the chauffeur, and he did as he was told.

“Be good,” Jade called to Candace as she got out of the car with her handbag and luggage bag.

Although Candace was tempted to ask her why she was going over to Harry’s apartment with her luggage bag, Candace resisted the urge and waved at her as the driver drove off.

Jade took a deep breath before flagging down a cab. As she got into the cab she tried to assure herself that she was doing the right thing by going to be with Harry.

Although she wasn’t sure yet how to go about whatever it was they had between them, she believed she could be there for him as a friend for the time being, in the same manner, he had been there for her when he flew down to be with her.

Jade got out of the cab when it stopped in front of Harry’s apartment and after paying the driver she took her luggage bag and slowly made her way to Harry’s apartment floor.

When she got to his door, she shut her eyes and took a deep breath as she placed a hand on her chest where her heart was beating really fast like it was going to explode.

“Relax, Jady. He won’t send you away. It’s Harry,” she assured herself and once she believed she was calm enough she pushed the doorbell.

She waited for some seconds and when there was no response from inside she repeated the process two more times. When there was still no response she keyed in the passcode that he had shown her the last time, hoping he had not changed it yet, and thankfully, the door opened.

She walked into the house and paused by the living room when she saw his phone vibrating on the table. When she went closer to it and picked it up, she saw that it was Tom, and received the call.

“Hey, Tom! It’s Jade,” she said immediately after she received the call.

“What are you doing with Harry’s phone?” Tom asked not knowing whether to feel relieved that she was there or annoyed that she had gotten there before he could reach Harry and let him know she was coming over.

“What do you think I’m doing? Playing candy crush with it?” Jade asked dryly.

“Has Candace arrived there yet?” She asked curiously.

“Not yet. Where is Harry?”

“I just got into his apartment. I’m yet to see him, but I saw his phone on the table. I will call you back after I see him,” Jade said, and without waiting for Tom to say another word she hung up the call.

“Harry?” She called as she walked down the hallway to his bedroom.

“Harry are you in? It’s Jade,” she called again as she knocked on his bedroom door, and when there was no response, she frowned as she turned the knob.

When she opened the door, she was surprised to see Harry curled up on the bed in a fetal position still wearing his work clothes.

She quickly walked across the room to his bed, “Harry?” She called softly as she sat at the edge of his bed and observed his face.

His lashes were wet as though he had been crying, and his nose looked red and stood out in his pale face.

Her heart broke for him when she saw how pale he looked and the dark circles under his eyes. He seemed to have been having a tough time.

Seeing that he was in a deep sleep, she didn’t have the heart to wake him up. So she quietly walked out of his room and picked up her luggage bag from the living room which she took with her to the guest room where she had stayed the last time.

Once she was in the room, she dialed Tom’s line, “He’s sound asleep,” she said immediately after Tom received the call.

Tom looked at Aaron, “Jade says he’s sleeping. I guess that’s why he’s not taking his phone call,” Tom informed Aaron who had begun to worry.

“Can I speak with her?” Aaron asked, and Tom passed the phone to him.

Tom gave Lucy a nod when she looked at him questioningly. He could tell she wanted to be sure he was telling the truth and that Harry was okay since she too had begun to worry.

“Hello, Jade! It’s Aaron,” Aaron greeted in a weak voice.

“Aaron! I’m sorry I couldn’t come directly to the hosp…”

“The apology is not necessary. I’m glad you went to him instead. I have enough people fussing over me here already. How is my boy doing?” Aaron asked in a worried voice and Jade sighed.

“He doesn’t look so good. I think he cried a lot before going to sleep,” Jade said honestly, knowing that Aaron would prefer an honest response. It would be crazy if anyone expected him to be fine after all that revelation.

“Please don’t leave his side. Don’t wake up him either. I don’t think he has had a good sleep for the past two days and he looked stressed out earlier. If you can, please get him something to eat when he wakes up. He barely touched his meal last night,” Aaron said, and Jade nodded.

“Sure. I will. Don’t worry yourself, Aaron. Focus on getting well quickly and let me worry about Harry. I will ensure that he is fine,” Jade promised.

“Thank you, Jade,” Aaron said feeling very grateful that she cared about Harry enough to fly down to be with him.

Tom took the phone from Aaron and stepped away from the room, “Call me when he wakes up,” Tom said, and he paused when he looked down the hallway and saw Candace heading towards him.

“Candace is here,” Tom informed Jade.

“Are you going to introduce her to Aaron now?” Jade asked curiously.

“I can’t do that without Harry. I’ll call you back, Jade. Please take care of him,” Tom said and hung up the call once Candace got to where he stood.