Love My Friends with Benefits

On the way, Aunt Nancy seemed worried.

"I was chatting with your grandmother this morning and found that her memory seems to be jumbled up. The doctors said that she only has a couple of months left..." She trailed off sorrowfully and put the basin into the sink to fill it up. "How I wish that they were lying. Then again, even if she were to be discharged, what would end up happening to her?"

I said cautiously, "I can take care of her. There's nothing to worry about."

"You?" Aunt Nancy shook her head and grimaced. "How are you going to take care of her? You have a job of your own, Queena. If you were to quit to take care of her, how are you going to feed yourself and her?"

I had nothing to say. She was right.

She turned off the tap and concluded, "We can only play this by ear. If push comes to shove, I'll have her move in with me. I'll hire a couple of people to take care of her."

Aunt Nancy was a busy businesswoman and spent half her time away from home. This was why Grandma hadn't lived with her, in the first place.

I couldn't think of any other way, so I nodded in agreement.

Back in the ward, Aunt Nancy and I wiped Grandma down and helped her back into her hospital gown.

Its white and blue stripes made her look waxier than ever.

Aunt Nancy went to pour the dirty water away. When she was back, she said, "Mum, you should get some sleep."

"No," Grandma replied softly. "I want to chat with Queena for a bit longer."

"Alright," I said and sat down by the bed.

Grandma held my hand and said emotionally, "Queena, you're doing pretty well on your own now, but I still worry about you."

Aunt Nancy smiled. "What's there to worry about? Queena's a strong, independent woman now."

"How can I rest assured when I've yet to meet the person who can take care of her?"

Grandma looked at me expectantly. "Queena, do you have your eye on anyone?"

For some reason, I thought of Leonard, and my heart sank. "I..."

I wanted to say that I'd yet to think of such things, but I couldn't bring myself to actually say the words.

Aunt Nancy shot me a look. I knew that she wanted me to just say something to put Grandma at ease.

"Uh, I guess I do," I fibbed. "He seems to be a nice person... I want to observe him for a while longer before deciding whether I should be with him."

Grandma didn't push the matter. She nodded and said, "That's good to know. A person's character is the most important thing when it comes to these matters."

"Exactly," Aunt Nancy said huffily. "Look at your father!"

Grandma shook her head. "Alright, alright. Let's not talk about them." Suddenly, something occurred to her and she said seriously, "Oh, Queena, you have to swear that you won't end up like Phoebe." I didn't understand what she meant. "Like her?"

Aunt Nancy said sarcastically, "Yes, as money-minded as her. All that sucking up to the rich and all."

"Alright, you shouldn't take about others like that." Grandma stopped Aunt Nancy and looked at me. "Queena, you have to promise me."

I was about to say something when I thought of Leonard again.

I thought of him turning his back on me, and how protective he'd been of Phoebe.

I was a little dazed. Grandma seemed to take my silence as denial and said anxiously, "Queena, answer me!"

Aunt Nancy tugged on me and said in a low voice, "Just promise her to appease her. Don't take it seriously."

"I promise," I said to Grandma, then mumbled under my breath, "Not like I ever planned on getting together with some rich guy."

I didn't live a lavish life, but at least I was free. Phoebe, on the other hand, would have all the riches in the world, but she'd have to spend the rest of her life being looked down upon.

I'd seen my fair share of such matters.

I was a proud person. There was no way I'd want to live like that.

Grandma wasn't reassured. "Swear to me."

I widened my eyes, unable to speak.

Aunt Nancy seemed to sense that something was amiss. She quickly said, "There's no need to swear for something like this, right? Mum, Queena isn't the materialistic type. You should know this. You've spent the last sixteen years with her."

"I'm just afraid that you'll be blinded

by a moment of silliness and

pathe price for the rest

Swno

Halfway through her sentence, Grandma started coughing violently.

Aunt Nancy hurriedly patted her on the back. "Queena, just swear on it."

I stood there dazedly, not knowing whether to obey Grandma's wishes.

Grandma's face was red from coughing, and she couldn't even sit up straight. "Queena!"

Aunt Nancy raised her voice, her tone harsh.

I had no choice. "I swear."

I was a little absent-minded in the following hours.

When visiting hours were over, Aunt Nancy walked me out of the ward and to the elevator.

We were alone in the corridor. She

said softly, "Queena, don't take your

jur seriously. Her mind's

just a little muddled."

I smiled. "Don't worry about it."

"I'm glad to hear that." She nodded, seemingly wanting to say something else.

...

At this moment, the elevator arrived.

Aunt Nancy didn't say anything and watched me walk into the elevator.

When I was out of the elevator, I went back to my ward and changed back into my hospital gown.

The ward was silent. Feeling a little dizzy, I lay down and soon fell asleep.

After a while, I was woken up by the sound of someone knocking on the door urgently.

I climbed out of bed groggily and pulled the door open to see Aunt Nancy standing there, her eyes bloodshot.

When I saw her like this, I was instantly completely awake. "What's happened?"

My words seemed to turn on the waterworks.

She gnashed her teeth and burst into tears. "Queena, your grandmother... something's happened to her!"

Something had happened to Grandma?

Judging from Aunt Nancy's appearance, it had to be something terrible!

Feeling shocked, I shot towards the elevator.

It

at my

take a century to arrive

. When it arrived, I quic

at the button for the 13th floor.

God, please, let Grandma be okay.

I was almost in tears.

swnove

She was fine when I'd left. How had things taken such a sudden turn in just a few short hours?

I ran out of the elevator the moment the doors opened.

I ran towards Grandma's ward and saw several doctors and nurses gathered around her.

I pushed the door open, barely even able to get my words out. "How... how is she?"

A doctor frowned. "This is the ICU. All unrelated personnel should leave the room."

"This is the patient's granddaughter. We should tell her what's going on," one of the nurses recognised me and said. "You're the patient's granddaughter?" The doctor asked cautiously as he rubbed his eyes.

I nodded vigorously, feeling lost.

"Come here." The doctor led me to one side and said, "The patient's doing very badly at the moment."