As we reached the hospital Michael was admitted in, we climbed out the car and by the meaning of we, it was me and Calum only. Luke didn't seem to be into visiting Michael and he told me to give him a call when we're done. When it was only me and Calum walking to Michael's ward, he just wouldn't stop talking. It was nice of him to be kind to a stranger, but I suddenly wished he was a mime.

"Calum," I stopped him from telling me about his weird ex-girlfriend who stuck her thumb into his nose and continued, "interesting story, man. Really bizarre. But can we focus on our friend here?" I tried to sound less rude than I have always did to everyone here and he, being a good gentleman, understood what I wanted, which was the silence.

Cassandra, a friend from the Starbucks staffs, told me that Michael was admitted in the yellow room. By the time we reached there, the visiting hours were passed. Me and Calum groaned in frustration and begged the security guard to let us in.

"Please, Monsieur," I made the best sad face that I could as Calum kept on persuading him into letting us in. However, he didn't seem to be impressed nor interested in considering us to visit at least, for a few minutes. That walk, those texts. It was all gonna be for nothing.

I groaned internally and realized how frustrating it was to have the visiting hours in any hospitals. What if I came down from India to visit him and by the time we reached here, it was already dark? I opened my eye lids faster than ever, grinning sneakily and pulling Calum to the side of the big doors.

Calum, who was tired of negotiating with the security guard whom didn't even take a look down to us since he was taller than both of us, snickered sarcastically at me, thinking that I wanted him to give up.

"Geez, I was about to on the way letting us to visit him," he rolled his eyes dramatically and looked slightly down on me since his height was more like Luke's. "Do you have any idea how stubborn is that nacho-eating inconsiderate giant polar bear?"

I squinted my eyes towards Calum and slapped his shoulder for noticing the guard's nachos on the other side of him. "Do you know how to act?" I inquired seriously and he took a few steps backwards.

"Woah, woah, woah. I acted at the Paris Opera House last year as the Prince Charming," he smiled proudly as he recalled that night in his mind. I was pretty impressed with him and continued my plan.

"Act like you're my husband," I said frankly as he widened his eyes, purely shocked at what I just said.

"Woah, beau. I'd love to be that one day, but-"

I cut him off. "Shush. I noticed your Australian accent, so I guess you're just like Luke? Half Aussie in you?"

He started. "According to my accent and my beauty, I could clear out the doubts that had been hanging in the air and say the truth which was the fact that I am half Aussie and—"

"Ugh, good." I told him a plan, not a very good one, but could totally get us into the room and visit Michael as soon as possible.

We walked to the security guard. I was crying on Calum's shoulder and Calum was soothing me softly. Calum said softly, "Can you please let us in?" His thick Australian accent really got me good. "My wife's brother is in there and he just got shot in the shoulder. We flew all the way from Australia to visit him. Her brother reminds her of our little baby boy who got kidnapped and was not found until now. Please let us in?"

Calum was so close to crying as his body heat was giving off more than he does. I controlled my chuckle as I heard the security guard hesitated. Calum was right. That polar bear was really hard to negotiate. I cried a little harder and dramatized a little more than I should have, before the security guard immediately opening the door wide open.

He whispered quietly, "Please be back in ten minutes or I'll get fired. And stay strong, Ma'am."

When he closed the door, Calum let go off me and said, "I might just go after eleven minutes just to see him getting fired." I wiped off my tears and chuckled lightly. He smiled cheekily at me and we walked into the hallway.

"You make a good actress, Mrs. Hood."

—

I like Calum in this story hehe.

7th of April, 2017.