Chapter 14: His decision
“I will go down there, and if you don’t want to, you can stay up here.” He declared firmly, “Or leave, it’s up to you.”
Without waiting for you to reply, Ansel headed forward, finding his way down to where Erica was lying.
“Ansel. Don’t be crazy. Leave this to the police,” Kevin cried out, wanting Ansel to stop. But Ansel is stubborn. Once he’s made up his mind, it’s hard to sway him.
Seeing Ansel getting further and further away from him, Kevin didn’t want to become an emotionless person, so he let the instigation of the invisible force take effect.
“Ansel, slow down. Wait for me.”
Kevin called out while moving, chasing after Ansel.
With relentless effort and relying on precise orientation, along with a little luck, Ansel stayed on the right track and arrived near Erica. As soon as he set foot in the muddy area, he ran quickly towards where the girl was lying.
By the time Ansel approached Erica, Kevin had also arrived behind him. Being the one who cleared the way, Ansel’s pace was slow. Meanwhile, Kevin followed Ansel’s footprints closely, making it easy and quick for him to be there alongside Ansel.
This somewhat speaks to the inherent differences between the two men. Ansel always wholeheartedly devotes himself to others without overthinking, comparing, or seeking personal gain. In contrast, Kevin is always calculating, constantly desiring a larger share for himself and pushing any losses onto others. This was most evident in the recent situation: Kevin didn’t want to be involved in the case but still desired to bask in Ansel’s heroic reputation if Erica was saved. However, if Erica were to die, Kevin would undoubtedly let Ansel bear the blame, considering himself innocent.
“Hey, girl, wake up quickly.”
Ansel urged, reaching out to gently shake Erica, but unfortunately, she didn’t respond at all. Ansel decided to place a finger on Erica’s nose to check her condition. Was she dead or alive?
Ansel’s nervousness melted away and was replaced with relief as he felt Erica’s breath. Although her breathing was weak and irregular, it was a positive sign that Erica was still breathing. Her heart is also beating.
Thank goodness, she’s still alive. Ansel exclaimed inwardly. His decision had proven to be wise.
“She’s still breathing.” Ansel couldn’t hide his emotions and smiled, turning to Kevin to let him know.
Kevin’s fearful expression immediately relaxed.
“Is it true?” Kevin exclaimed, pretending to be excited with Ansel for the sake of fun. “Oh, if that’s the case, it’s wonderful. We have accomplished something good, something meaningful.”
“Yes. Although her breathing is weak, she’s still alive,” Ansel continued. He couldn’t understand why he felt unusually joyful.
“So, what should we do with the girl now?” Kevin suggested, “Let’s call an ambulance!”
“Yes, call an ambulance quickly,” Ansel urged.
Kevin nodded in agreement, but then he suddenly exclaimed, as if remembering something, “Oh, how foolish of me! We don’t have a phone with us. I should have run to the police instead of coming down here with you. ”
“I will go up there now and call for help. Will there be enough time? Oh, I’m so foolish, truly lacking in awareness.”
Kevin pretended to scold himself for his oversight, but deep down he blamed Ansel. It was all because Ansel insisted on wanting to come down here. Kevin never wanted that. Well, now things were in a mess, and he wanted to see how Ansel would handle this unexpected and urgent situation.
Amidst the silence, Ansel sank deep into his thoughts after Kevin finished speaking.
“Ansel, what’s your plan now?” Kevin impatiently urged.
“Can’t wait for the ambulance to arrive. I’m afraid something unforeseen could happen. Time is crucial at the moment,” Ansel expressed concern, kneeling beside Erica, “She needs immediate care.”
A strong gust of wind swept by, carrying a pungent foul smell that made Kevin uncomfortable. He instinctively covered his nose with his hand, clearly distracted and unable to hear what Ansel had just said.
“Ansel, what did you just say? What do we do?” It was only after the gust of wind had passed that Kevin naively asked again.
“According to you, what should we do?” Ansel shifted his gaze from Erica and looked back at Kevin, seeking his opinion. In truth, I already had a decision in mind but wanted to know what Kevin thought. Ansel valued his friendship and always held others in high regard. Yet, some people failed to reciprocate the same level of appreciation for what Ansel did for them. Even a small sense of gratitude seemed to be lacking.
“Then quickly take her to the hospital,” Kevin blurted out without hesitation. His response aligned with Ansel’s intention. However, Kevin quickly added another remark that displeased Ansel:
“But with her current condition, is it advisable? She smells terribly foul. Not to mention, we don’t know if we can save her in time.”
Kevin’s tone carried a hint of mockery. His behavior scored low in Ansel’s eyes. Ansel couldn’t comprehend how they could be friends when they seemed incompatible, even contradictory. Ansel couldn’t grasp the underlying reason for their friendship. Perhaps their families had a close bond and a long history of cooperation. As a result, both of them had to behave in a manner that was acceptable and appropriate to maintain a strong and harmonious friendship.
Knowing that Kevin’s comment was inappropriate and even worse, Ansel refrained from criticizing or reprimanding him. Instead, Ansel focused on the immediate concerns.
“Saving one life is more important than building nine towers. Don’t dwell on it any longer. We need to take action,” Ansel stated, still kneeling beside Erica, delivering a persuasive speech to his friend. “What are you waiting for? Give me a hand and lift her onto my back.”
“Alright, I’ll listen to you.”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
Kevin reluctantly agreed and assisted Ansel in lifting Erica onto his back. Kevin’s expression displayed disgust as he made contact with Erica’s body. With Erica securely on his back, Ansel wasted no time and swiftly carried her toward his cherished sports car.
Ansel drove at top speed to make sure they got to the hospital in time.
After reporting the details of the incident to the treating doctor, Ansel left Erica in the care of the hospital’s medical staff. Naturally, all of Erica’s medical expenses were paid by a kind man named Ansel.