Chapter 260 The Past: Oreo III (1/2)
Ralph's head felt heavy and touching it, he was surprised to feel it wrapped up. He looked around and realised for the first time, that he was in a hospital. On a hospital bed in a hospital gown.
His head hurt as he tried to make the connections.
Just then, a nurse walked in.
”Ah, Mr. Machhio. You're awake,” she said with a gentle smile.
Ralph looked at her, and she seemed familiar but he couldn't quite remember.
”Do you know who you are?” she asked kindly.
Ralph nodded.
”Do you know where we are?”
”Hospital XYZ?” he said tentatively. After all, that was the last thing he remembered.
”That's good,” the nurse replied as she carried out the normal checks on him. Temperature, blood pressure and so forth.
”Your operation was successful,” she continued, ”The doctor will come by later to do the full check-ups.”
”Operation?” he mumbled.
”Yes. The surgeon said that it was a close call,” she replied, ”From the looks of it, it was ready to burst. Without this operation, you would have been dead by now.”
Ralph's eyes went wide open at that.
The thoughts of his daughter being all alone after he died made him panic. But operation? How? When?
He looked about the room again, realising - yet belatedly again - that it was a private room. He couldn't afford the operation, let alone this room! He had to get out before they found out. No, he couldn't do that. That wasn't honorable.
”I'm sorry, Nurse,” Ralph began, ”But I think there's been a mistake. I can't afford all of this.”
She looked at him with a smile, ”Oh, don't worry. It's all been paid for already. Your boss from MIB said it's part of your medical plan.”
Ralph's eyes narrowed at that.
Just then, a phone rang. It kept on ringing until the nurse asked, ”Aren't you going to pick that up?”
”Huh?” Ralph said in a daze.
The nurse took it to mean that Ralph was still not in full capacity, due to the surgery. Thus, she took the phone that was at the bedside table and handed it to Ralph just before she left.
On the front, were the words, MIB.
Ralph answered, but didn't say a word. He just listened.
”I know you're not happy with this, but the operation was needed,” the voice on the other end said, ”There are no strings attached.”
”Yeah, right,” Ralph said scoffingly, unable to hold back any longer.
The guy laughed, ”Yes, you believe that there is no such thing as a free lunch, right?”
”So why the lie?” Ralph pointed out.
”I didn't lie,” the guy said, ”There are no strings attached. Everything has been done and paid for. The operation, the ward for one month, your daughter's medication, and caretaker for her while you're at the hospital.”
Ralph's eyes went wider and wider after each sentence. His mind just hurt thinking about the debt that was piling up.
”You're my charity case for the month,” the voice went on.
”No,” Ralph insisted, ”I rejected your offer on MIB but I will repay you for all of this.”
He took a deep breath, ”No matter how long it takes, I'll pay it back.”
”I know,” the voice said, ”How about a compromise then? I send you some jobs to do for MIB. It's entirely up to you if you want to do it or not. 50% of the pay goes to you and 50% as repayment for the bills.”
Ralph snorted inwardly. Like he'd ever take up any of those jobs the guy would give him. He's going to do good, honest work.
”Fine by me,” Ralph said non-committedly.
”Great,” the voice went on, ”Keep the phone. I will keep in touch.”
Ralph snorted after putting down the phone. The guy was right about one thing. The deed is done, and he had literally saved his life. So, for now, he had this life debt to pay.
Meanwhile, Kyle smiled wistfully at the phone. Did he feel guilty for Plan B? No, not even a little bit. He needed Ralph and he would do anything to get him, so long as it didn't go against his own moral grounds.
Since his first death though, the line of what was 'ethical' and 'right' was very, very low. He was tortured and killed over doing what was 'right' after all ... so saving a man's life without his consent would hardly give him any loss of sleep.
Ralph was probably going to resent him for a long time for this, but that was something he didn't care about and was willing to take.
~ A year later ~
Ralph stood outside the building that he managed to purchase for the mysterious boss of his. No, bosses. He scratched his head, wondering just what went on in the minds of that pair. Initially, he had thought that they were lovers but the more he interacted with them, he figured out that they were best friends.