?MAY
I??
(R0m-nce is a Meal)
By Sommy Pearl F.
Chapter 85&86.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
May was still in the car, when she saw the incident. She shouted and West pulled the br@kes abruptly, almost hitting a p@$$ing dog.
Before the car could finally get to a stop, May had already opened the door. She ran out in tears and fell on her knees. She was beside Raymond who was now stained in his pool of blood, battling with his life and struggling with unbearable pains.
“Raymond… Don’t…don’t please,, I’m begging you. Don’t do this to me… Please” She begged, shaking his body.
She saw Raymond’s eyes move to hers. She didn’t stop crying.
“I’m sorry” He whispered, slowly as his hand stretched forward to wipe her tears.
“Raymond…” She for-ced the voice, amidst the high current of tears flowing down her eyes.
“I’m sorry so stay with me, huh?… Please,, I’m begging you… please,, don’t go… just stay with me” She muttered.
Carlos later arrived at the scene. He quickly ran to Raymond. Percy gasped and looked back to see Ryder at the floor, futher away Gr0-ning in pains.
She ran to him.
“Ryder? You okay?”
He gr-unted and shook his head.
“No, My back hurts. My legs,, owww… I can’t move… But you should be more concerned about Raymond right now. He… he..he- Ryder paused, and tears ran down his eyes.
“Stay with us, okay?… I don’t wanna lose you. I don’t wanna lose the last family I got. Losing dad and mum was enough,, not you now, please” Carlos cried out.
“Yes please,, listen to your brother. Stop closing your Fu-cking eyes for God’s sake and just hold everything till the ambulance arrives!” May shouted, crying heavily and loudly.
“M…ay” Raymond finally mumbled.
“Yes?”
“I…I…failed my mum” He cried.
“Huh?…How?” May asked, with tears still sli-pping down her eyes.
“Tomorrow is the International-Ko-rean Dishes National Events… What am I gonna do now…” He closed his eyes ti-ghtly, trying to hold the pain.
“I…i think I’m gonna meet her instead…I… I… failed… her…. She..is…is…gonna be disappointed… I failed…her” He stuttered, helplessly, due to the tears, and pains.
“And don’t you dare say such a thing! Please, just stop…” She quavered. She looked at her clothes, and raised her hands to her face. They were blood filled. She took her head down to him and cried the more.
Soon enough,, An ambulance arrived and pulled up beside them. Two stretchers came out and took Ryder and Raymond.
As they took Raymond’s stretcher to the ambulance, May ran alongside, holding his hand and her other hand busily wiping her tears.
“I love you, Raymond! So, please,, stay for me” She begged aloud seeing their hands unetangle.
At once, Raymond’s eyes closed…
****
May sluggishly walked to her mother who was standing with West and others.
“Mum…” May repeatedly said, crying.
Sandra sighed and hu-gged her.
“Mum… What am I gonna do? I really love him…Please,,don’t let him leave me. I want him to stay strong. What’s he gonna do now?… His mum…his dreams… God,, please… Mum,, what to do? What…” She stuttered.
“It’s fine. I’m here… and I will make sure he stays for you” Sandra said, with tears in her eyes. She tapped her back gently, and continuously.
“…Thank you,, Mum” She sniffed.
Hospital**
Sandra stood up and went to May.
“Stop pacing around. Raymond is gonna be fine..Ryder, on the other hand is quite fine. He just broke his spinal cord and legs. They are both gonna be fine… Thinking and getting worries too much, won’t help”
May sniffed.
“But the surgery is taking a while now. What if something happened in there?”
“You’ve started with your negative thoughts and statements. You don’t have to think that way, its gonna be fine. I mean, look at Carlos, Raymond’s own brother,, he is just sitting and hoping,, praying for the best while you are here, saying…
“The doctor is here!” Maybe blurted, and left her mother’s front. Sandra turned and saw the doctors walk out, with other nurses.
Carlos stood up and walked closer to him. He was visibly shaking. Percy held his hand, @$$uring him he would be fine.
Sasha and Marcus held hands and looked on from where they stood.
Carlos tried asking the doctor, how Raymond was,, but he was too scared. He couldn’t say anything. He kept shaking, while sweat ran down his chin.
May went to the doctor instead.
“Raymond. How’s he?” She asked, quickly.
The doctors exchanged meaningful glances and inhaled de-eply before looking back at May who was now getting more nervous.
“The surgery was a success. We got his blood type without much trouble…
May sighed in relief.
“However,,,
May quickly looked at him, so did others,, they fear and nervousity were already creeping in.
“What happened now!” Carlos shouted in rage. He couldn’t hold it anymore. His fear was taken over by anger.
“Calm down, young man” Another doctor, chipped.
The head doctor sighed.
“His br@in is on knockout…. He’s gonna wake but we don’t know when. He’s in coma, right now”
Next Day***
At home, May kept on thinking about Raymond’s words. It was today… The event was that day.
She looked at the time. It was 7am, on the dot. She slowly drank the water from the table and looked in front to see her mother come in, from her room.
“Good morning, Mum” May greeted.
“Morning, sweetheart… Heard from the hospital, yet?” Sandra asked.
“Yeah, I called his nurse and she said he’s still in coma”
“You don’t have to be too worried. He’s gonna be fine”
“I pray so”
“Before I forget, May…” Her mother said.
“Yes, Mum?” May replied.
“You said, you wanted to tell me what you wanted… What you would love to do,, what is that about?” Sandra asked.
“Oh,, yeah. Mum,, I wanna make your dreams come true. I’m gonna be a lawyer and make ra-pers regret their actions and even law defaulters and bad people”
Sandra chuckled.
“You don’t have to worry now. I guess I was too ha-rd on you. Just do what you want,, okay??”
“But that’s what I want…”
“May? You sure?”
May nodded.
“You wanna stay in Korea to study or-
“Italy! I wanna travel to Italy. That’s where your dreams lies, right?”
Sandra nodded, with a small smile.
“Wait, what about Raymond though? What are we gonna do about him?,, will you just leave him that way? The next semester starts in a week. I could start making arrangement and ways for you to go in, unless you want to go in next year…”
“No,, I want to go in, next semester… Next year, indeed. Don’t want that”
“Then, what will you do about Raymond? I know you truly love him and he does too. Though, it’s too bad,, you didn’t pick Ryder”
May shook her head.
“Ryder is just my past. Raymond is my prese-nt. As for Raymond, I think i might leave him… Besides, I kind of broke up with him…”
“What?! Why?!”
“I had to cause I wanted to achieve my new dream… Studying law in Italy. Didn’t want him to think too much. That was the best thing to do”
“Alright then..So, what next?”
May looked at the time again.
“It starts by 1pm at Major’s Hall…”
“What?” Sandra asked, confused.
“Mum,, I wanna make Raymond and his mother’s dream come true” May smiled.
“What am I doing? I don’t know how to do this…” She thought,, before breathing ha-rd.
Major’s Hall***
The MC of the event scanned his eyes around. Many chefs represe-nting each country had their ingredients and food items in order to prepare their dishes on the white clear table before them.
“You all ready,, I hope?” He asked.
“Yeah!” They all chorused.
“And in the count of 3….2….1…. Start!!!!”
Everyone started immediately.
“Remember,, you have just 30 minutes…”
May sighed de-eply and remembered the only meal, Raymond taught how to prepare.
“I guess I’m gonna make Maccherroni after all. Its the simplest dish. Gonna prepare it, in less than 15 minutes, Geez!”
32 Minutes Later***
Everyone stopped their cooking. Out of 20 countries, 8 didn’t finish cooking so they were evicted.
They were remaining 12 now,,
May took her time to prepare the meal.
***
“Are you ready for the final results,, The judges has tasted and casted their votes. Y’all ready??” The MC asked, but everyone was quiet.
“Well,, let me start now cause we have no time. The 2nd runner up goes goes to the U.S…”
“Whooaaaa!!” They shouted, jumping.
“The 1st runner up goes to……Sweden!!”
“Whooaa!” They also shouted, joyously.
“And the winner goes to…
May looked down,, while everyone looked up.
“Please, please please…” She kept muttering with, interlocked fingers.
“It goes to…..,,
Tbc