I can hear a continuous beeping sound from my side. Also feeling the comfort of where I was lying, and the moment I tried to open my eyes, the light on the white ceiling greeted me. I squints as I groan, feeling the wound in my chest as I moved.
I managed to sat on the bed and finally guessed where I am. Inside a silent comfy hospital room. My heart aches with just minimal movement making me gasp, before gritting my teeth.
This is impossible. I perfectly knew I was dead by that gunshot. No doubt about it. But when the door of the room suddenly opens, maybe this man in a white coat could answer my unspoken question to help me ease my mind a little.
He got stunned seeing me. Even the nurse who's with him.
"Well," the doctor smiled, both hands on his waist and looking at me with such curiosity. "that's. Incredible. Truly incredible."
My eyes squinted in confusion. "What happened to me? I thought I died."
"Well. Tell me about it. This is exactly what a miracle should be," He replied. Pointing to my wound. I might heard him wrong when he sounded too excited about it.
They examined my condition. Checked my blood pressure and some other things. I was silent the whole time. Letting them work in peace, while stopping my self the need question them too much.
After the job was done. The doctor finally explained what happened. "You have been shot through your heart."
"Obviously." Making him giggle a little. What's wrong with him?
"If ever we could let you see your heart now, you'll definitely see a whole in your heart," he continued, "but here's where the miracle happened." He pointed at me.
Silence ensued for a bit. I glanced to the doctor and the nurse before asking, "Why are you pointing at me?"
"Oh. Because you're the miracle. Mr. Valentine." The doctor's hands slid inside his coat's pocket. "When you are delivered to us, you're as good as dead, but strangely we can still feel your pulse. Mild but consistent so we still tried saving you. We successfully removed the bullet out of your chest and declared you in a coma state. But."
He shook his head . "It's just been three days since your confinement started, and yet we are surprise to see that you're already conscious and in good condition. Congratulations, Mr. Valentine."
Three weeks had already pass since then.
When I got out from the hospital, all my things are already outside the apartment where I stayed. By the baggage, an enclosed letter was left from Mrs. Acula.
Read it silently, making me sigh before throwing the paper away. "Alright. Time to find a new home, Tobias."
With my knapsack and baggage, I left the place without a certain knowledge of where should I go from here. On a bus stop. While waiting for the transportation, I decided to rummaged by bag and found my wallet, with the extra money left inside it. My retirement money was gone. The thief must have taken it after shooting me.
The hospital bills are free, thanks to that cheerful doctor in-charge of me. He permitted me to be discharged without asking for any payment.
But the real problem is: how will I live after that? Did I become lucky for being alive or did it just make it worst for me? Maybe I should have just stayed in the hospital for a long time.
The transport vehicle honked as it's side stops infront of me. The door slid open and I walked inside. More than half an hour later, I let myself out and heard it ran through the highway behind me. As I just stared to my front a gorgeous mansion.
Exactly 6 o'clock pm when I pushed its doorbell. 'Who is it?' A familiar voice of a man asked through the speaker.
"Ah. It's me, Fin. Tobias." I shyly answered, waving through the camera in it. "Can I ask you for a little favor?"
'Tobias? Tobias, it's really you! Come on in!' he answered enthusiastically. The gate's small door opened letting me enter.
By the entrance door, it opened too sudden but that did not left me stunned but the girl who is hugging me tightly after it.
"Uncle Tobi! I'm so happy you're here!"
I smiled, rubbing this girl's head. "You've grown so fast, Chloe."
She giggled.
Then behind her, I saw my old friend, Fin, smiling from ear to ear. "Long time no see. Hero Tobias Valentine."
I laughed by how ridiculous that sounded right now. "Stop that. I'm not even a hero anymore to begin with." We hugged each other. Tight and almost not to be part anymore.
"Still. You're the one who saved my daughter." All I could do was smile.
"Except your wife, I couldn't." then that smile did not last long, replaced by a grim one.
"Tobias. Come on. I know what you've done. It's hardwork. You tried to. Remember? On the other hand, I'm guessing you did not come here just to reminisce the past, did you?"
I sighed. "Right. Sorry about that."
"Uncle Tobi? Will you be living with us from now on?" I faced her before turning my head to my friend.
"Yeah. About that. The truth is."
I told Fin what happened to me this past few weeks.
"So all of those things happened to you, and yet you didn't even told me? Not even a text or call? You did not bother to inform me."
I scoffed. "Well. I'm already here, am I? Telling you all about it. Also, it's quite an embarassing thing to happen to me and I don't want to cause trouble to you."
He frowned, sighing. "I told you before; you're already part of this family."
"Thank you, Fin. And of course, I'll need to find a job as soon as possible."
He stared at me. Thinking. "You know what. If you're searching for one, I have an offer to you. Are you fine by being my daughter's bodyguard? Our last bodyguard resigned two days ago."
"Perfect." I'm not in the position to be picky, Am I? "Anything will do, Fin."
"I'm joking." He said. "You don't have to work. You can just rest here in the house for as long as you want."
I want to laugh. "Fin. Seriously? I don't want to cause any trouble with you or your daughter. At least give me a job. Or find me one."
"Are you hearing what you're saying right now? You have a hole in your heart. What if guarding my daughter is the reason you might die, I'm not gonna allow that."
"I'm fine, Fin."
"No."
"I can assure you. If you'll let me guard her, she'll be safe, you know that." I just desperately need a job.
"Is that true, dad?!"
"Sweety?"
"Uncle Tobi will be my bodyguard starting tomorrow?!" I saw her eyes spark when she turned to my direction.
"No, honey. That's—"
"Yehey! Uncle Tobi will be my bodyguard tomorrow!" Then she ran back upstairs excitedly and shouting.
Fin let out a long sigh. Left dumbfounded and silent, while I forced not to laugh before drinking the beer he was holding. Tastes bad.
Then he looked at me in a serious face. "Tobias. Are you really sure about this?"
"Come on, Fin. You can't disappoint the kid, could you?"
"Fine. You'll start tomorrow."
"Thanks, boss."
"Stop it."