The Hospital Room - Afternoon
The hospital room was quiet, save for the soft beeping of the heart monitor. Bip... bip... bip...
Fatimah lay in the bed, pale-faced and weak. An IV dripped into her left arm. Her hair was slightly messy, her eyes tired. She managed a small, weak smile.
"Friends..." she said softly. "Thank you for coming..."
But no one answered. Because everyone was busy with their own activities.
Wony stood by the window, holding her selfie stick. She was adjusting her position, searching for the best lighting.
"The lighting here is good," Wony said, while flipping her hair. "Natural. Fatimah, you make the perfect background."
Fatimah blinked in confusion. "Background...?"
Wony began posing, with pale Fatimah behind her.
"Beautiful." Click. "...Elegant. Click. "...Poor Fatimah." Click.
Fatimah frowned weakly. "Wony... you know I'm sick, right..."
Wony didn't turn around. "Yes, that's why I'm using the 'Pale' filter to match you. Aesthetic."
Fatimah fell silent. She turned to look to the side.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6n02G6Xe4
On the floor, right next to Fatimah's bed, Naila was lying on a blanket she'd brought herself. She was hugging a hospital pillow, her mouth slightly open.
"Krrrrrrrr..." Naila snored loudly. "...Krrrrrrrrr..." Even louder.
Fatimah stared at Naila. "Naila... you're sleeping... on the hospital floor?"
Naila didn't answer. She just snored.
"Hmm... ice cream... don't take it..."
Fatimah sighed. "She's dreaming about ice cream. On the hospital floor."
The heart monitor beeped slightly faster.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEpLnqjMKd
In the corner of the room, Chima and Alice sat on plastic chairs, staring intensely at their phones.
"ATTACK! ATTACK FROM THE LEFT!" Chima shouted, tapping her screen aggressively. "...STUPID! WHY DIDN'T YOU ATTACK?!"
"I'M DEAD! REVIVE ME! HURRY!" Alice yelled back.
"WAIT! I'M IN A BATTLE!"
"CHIMAAAAAA! I DIED AGAIN! THIS IS YOUR FAULT!"
"MY FAULT? YOU RAN TOWARD THE ENEMY!"
"I FOLLOWED YOU!"
"FOLLOW ME BUT DON'T DIE!"
Fatimah watched them with tired eyes.
"Chima... Alice..." she said weakly. "I'm here... sick..."
Chima didn't look up. "Yeah, Fatimah, wait! This is ranked! I'll keep you company later!"
Alice also didn't look up. "Yeah! Wait! The enemies are tough!"
Fatimah stared at the ceiling with a blank expression.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ723CYCRfvG
She looked at each of her friends one by one.
Wony was still taking selfies with various poses. Now she had a butterfly filter on her head.
"Sick friend, but I still look pretty," Wony said while posing. "Great caption."
Fatimah sighed.
Naila rolled over on the floor. Now she was sleeping on her side. Her snoring got even louder.
"Krrrrrrrr... STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM! ...Krrrrrrrr..."
Fatimah closed her eyes.
Chima and Alice were still gaming, their voices overlapping.
"GANK! GANK! NOW!"
"I'M IN! I'M IN!"
"DON'T GO IN! YOU'LL DIE!"
"BUT I ALREADY WENT IN!"
"STUPID!"
Fatimah opened her eyes. Her gaze was empty.
These are my friends, she thought, staring at the ceiling.
She looked at Wony, who was now taking selfies with the heart monitor in the background.
Wony... you came to the hospital for selfies. Not to visit.
Wony posed with a fake sad expression.
"Visiting a friend in the hospital. Pray she gets well soon." Click.
Fatimah closed her eyes again.
Naila... you came to sleep. On the hospital floor. And snore louder than my heart monitor.
Naila rolled again, her leg bumping into a chair.
"Ouch..." she mumbled in her sleep, then continued snoring.
Fatimah shook her head.
Chima and Alice... you came to game. Not to keep me company. This is a hospital, not an internet cafe.
Chima and Alice were now shouting together.
"WE WON! YES!"
They high-fived each other right over Fatimah's bed.
Fatimah's internal voice was flat. Having friends like this... is something else.
Her heart monitor showed a slight increase due to stress.
***
Wony finally finished her selfies. She approached Fatimah.
"Fatimah, I got 300 likes in 10 minutes. This has viral potential. Thanks for being my background."
Fatimah's voice was weak. "You're welcome... Wony... I'm glad I could help your career..."
Wony didn't catch the sarcasm. "Right? I told you, you make a great patient model. Your paleness is natural."
Fatimah stared at Wony with weary eyes.
Naila woke up because her own snoring startled her. She rubbed her eyes.
"Huh... what time is it?" She looked at Fatimah. "Oh, Fatimah, you're still sick?"
Fatimah spoke patiently. "Yes, Naila. I'm still on IV. Just like 2 hours ago."
Naila nodded, then lay back down. "Oh... okay..." Snore.
Chima and Alice finally approached after their game.
Chima sat down, still holding her phone. "Fatimah, do you want a drink? Should I get you something?"
Fatimah felt a tiny bit touched. "Finally... someone cares..."
Alice cut in. "Chima, let's continue ranked later! I'm ready!"
Chima nodded. "Okay. But wait, let me ask Fatimah first."
Alice was impatient. "Hurry up! I want revenge!"
Fatimah let out a long, tired sigh.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5caZOcqtrI
Wony started taking selfies again, this time with Naila snoring on the floor.
"Friend who sleeps anywhere." Click. "...Aesthetic."
Naila snored. "Krrrrrrr..."
Wony started recording a video. "This is for TikTok content. 'Naila's Snoring ASMR.'"
Fatimah spoke weakly. "Wony... don't record... she's sleeping..."
Wony ignored her.
Chima and Alice resumed gaming in the corner.
The sounds of the game mixed with Naila's snoring and the clicks of Wony's selfies.
Fatimah stared at the ceiling with a resigned expression.
I'm here... with an IV... pale... and my friends are...
She looked at the heart monitor.
At least this monitor stays with me faithfully.
The monitor beeped. Bip... bip... bip...
***
A doctor entered. Everyone immediately stopped and pretended to be well-behaved.
The doctor checked on Fatimah. "How are you feeling, Fatimah?"
Fatimah gave a fake smile. "I'm... tired, Doctor."
The doctor looked at the monitor. "Your heart rate is up. Is something stressing you out?"
Fatimah looked at her friends.
Many things, Doctor. Many things.
Fatimah smiled at the doctor. "No, Doctor. I'm fine."
The doctor nodded and left.
***
After the doctor left, everyone returned to their respective activities.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3KVHmbAb8
Fatimah closed her eyes. A thin tear rolled down her cheek.
But... I still love them. Even though they're crazy.
She opened her eyes and looked at her friends.
Having friends like this... is something else.
Suddenly, everyone stopped.
Wony put down her phone. "Fatimah, do you want to take a selfie together?"
Naila woke up. "Fatimah, do you want ice cream?"
Chima closed her game. "Fatimah, do you want a drink? I'll get it."
Alice hugged Fatimah. "Fatimah, get well soon! I miss you bringing peace!"
Fatimah looked at all of them. Then she smiled.
Her voice was weak but warm. "I want all of it." She whispered. "...But please, no more gaming in the hospital."
They all laughed.
Alice perked up excitedly. "Tomorrow, let's bring a PlayStation!"
Fatimah's smile froze.
Of course they would.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJYNCpMhdw
and then Add to home screen.