April was on her way to get her purse from the head nurse when Jorge's word rang in her ears. 'Your face is a hell of a mess'. So she diverted her way and made straight for the bathroom instead as her thoughts flew in different directions. If they had just two days to vacate the house, then they needed to start moving out immediately. That was something she found difficult to wrap her mind around.
Luckily there was no one in the vestibule as she stared at herself briefly in the mirror and washed her face thoroughly before stepping into the toilet.
She had barely pulled down her pants to ease herself when she heard a group of nurses walk in.
"She is so pathetic. I heard they can barely afford their rent and would be thrown out soon."
The rest of them laughed as the nurse continued. "So much for all her carriage and beauty. I knew it when I saw her. She had the perfect appearance of a poor kid. Little wonder she tried to hook herself up with the professor and his friend. People like her should find their kind among their league, and besides, this hospital is not fit for her kind, so they don't pass on their bad luck to the patients. Funnily, do you guys know what happened this night that amazes me? I saw her friend, Jorge"
"Shhhh…. Hold on guys." Another one interrupted. "I think I saw that bitch headed here when I stopped to answer a call on my way here. I feel she could be hiding in one of these doors."
April stopped breathing as her mind ticked quickly for a fresh idea. She had just two options; either to challenge them or cower before them. She picked the first as she pulled up her pants and kicked the door open. There were about three of them standing there.
"Yeah, go on with your story. I am listening. So, my friend Jorge did what? That was where you stopped, right?" she faced them as they all looked down at her like she was suffering from a contagious disease.
One of the ladies who appeared to be their ring leader, and the one who had been doing the talking the entire time, stepped forward to April with a menacing smile. Her gown was far above her knee, and one of the shortest uniforms April had ever seen. With her well exposed cleavage and heavy red lipstick, April wondered if she was actually a nurse.
"Trust me, you don't want to hear this one, so that you can at least live to take care of your sister." she said, breaking off into a laugh as the others joined her.
April nodded in agreement with a crooked smile. "Yeah, I guess you are right, huh? But why would you suddenly want to care about me? Whether I live or die, what is it to you?"
Another nurse, a short lady with a short bob of hair , spoke up. "Come on. Don't tell me you have forgotten. Caring is our profession." She sang.
"Indeed. It obviously is." April snorted, eyeing their ring leader. "I don't want to imagine how many guys you have made out with today. You claim you are a nurse, yet you are dressed like a prostitute. Or is that also part of the profession?"
The lady got angry and charged at her immediately, dealing her a deafening slap on the cheek. April retaliated immediately with two slaps on both cheeks, and then again, that was the moment Naomi chose to walk in.
"You, again? Follow me." She ordered sternly, glaring at April.
April didn't hesitate to follow her. Today might as well be the worst day of her life.
"I will hand you over to the security and warn them to deter you from stepping into the premises. If you refuse to comply, we would be forced to transfer your sister to another branch of the hospital, since she is the reason you keep showing your stupid self here." Naomi breathed in anger as April walked with her.
"Do whatever you want. Just hand me my purse." She retorted.
Naomi halted at once and faced her. "Excuse me. Did you give that to me to keep in your care or something?"
April took a deep breath. "Okay. I am sorry. Let me rephrase. Thanks for your help earlier in the day. But please, can I have my purse now?"
Naomi shook her head angrily, rolling her hands in a fist as though she wanted to punch the air. "So much beauty without brains, and it is quite unfortunate. Didn't your friend hand it to you? I gave it to him since to hand it to you." she moved on sharply, heaving with rage inside her.
April hurried behind her as she tried to think. Didn't she just ask Jorge about the purse before she left the ICU? And what was that he said? That the purse was with Naomi, meanwhile she had given it to him, or had he forgotten? She also remembered one of the foul-mouthed nurses in the toilet was going to say something about him before she was interrupted. April badly wished she heard what she had to say.
She followed Naomi on to the elevator as she led her down to the security when she walked into her dad. His face turned to scowl when he saw her. He was in such a bad mood that he totally ignored Naomi. He held up April's purse to her face.
"You care to tell me what is in here?" his voice was hard and strident.
"Oh, thanks, dad. I was just searching for it now." Not minding her dad's disposition or demeanor, she was glad to see the purse. It wasn't like it held any cash in it or whatsoever, but the fact that it belonged to her late mum made it dear to her, and she also had her mother's bangle in it and a tiny diary she loved to carry about and write in, especially when she was having a hard time. Now, was her dad mad she had them with her? He wouldn't need them for anything in the world, would he? "Just give it to me, dad. Whatever is in there is mine." she told him with outstretched hands.
"Really. So you really got yourself a pack of condoms?" he arched a brow.
April was stunned and speechless.