A Billion Dollar Exchange

Chang Ming stood at that spot staring at Liling's retreating figure until she finally disappeared. He then blinked his eyes and came back from his thoughts.

'Such beauty, now I understand what it means to fall inlove at first sight' He smiled sheepishly at himself.

'Liiling, now I've met you, I'll never let you go' He laughed out loud, turned and left the lobby to his office admist the stares from other nurses and doctors.

Liling walked back to her mom's ward, she hadn't woken up yet. She sighed and pushed her mom's bangs behind her ears.

"Mom you have to wake up, okay. Liling has no-one, daddy doesn't want Liling. Liling has only you, just wake up okay, please.. "

Liling said admist tears as she held her mom's hand.

Just then the door swung open, and she turned her head and faced at her father.

"What happened? "

He asked in a hoarse voice, with a frown evident on his face.

"She fainted this morning, that's why I came.. "

"Just like that!" Mr Liang interrupted her before she could even finish her sentence.

"Yeah, maybe something happened, but I don't know for now"

"How would you know, when you're the cause of her illness?, you stand here telling me that you don't know why she fainted" Mr Liang barked at her. Liling was shaken but she struggled to keep her composure.

"The doctors said it was heartache but she'll wake up soon..."

"Heart attack, heart attack, I knew it, you demonic child, you want to kill your mother, step away from her!! you accursed daughter!!! " Mr Liang screamed and Liling fled from the side of her mom and found herself clutching the curtains by the east end of the room. Even though she said heartache, her dad said heart attack.

"Now let me tell you, the next time your mother faints because of you, you will pay her bill. I won't go spending my hard earned money on damages you caused, nonsense!!!"

With that, her father stormed out of the room and headed to the doctor's office.

Liling's legs couldn't hold her anymore, as she slid down and clutched her knees with her arms and wept bitterly.

'Did I really do this? But what did I do exactly? why does father hate me this much?'

She asked questions that she knew no-one could answer. Laughing at her wretched state, Liling wondered what she did wrong in her former life to deserve such hatred from her dad. After crying for a while she wiped her tears with the back of her hand, stood up, gave her mom a lasting look and left the room.

She had exams to prepare for, since her dad was already around, and had chased her away, there was no need staying around the corner, it would attract more insults and accusations, she rather go back to school. She would come back later to check on her mom but for now, she needed to breathe.

Liling left the hospital and waved down a taxi and rode to her school. She studied Music, a course of three years, and this was her final year. She was happy with it because at least she would just stress her mom for only the school fees which was not that much compared to other big courses like Medicine and Law, and besides she really loved what she did. Her dad didn't even question her decision, one he wasn't paying for her fees and secondly he didn't even care what she did with her life. Even if she chose to study Horticulture, he wouldn't even care.

Liling came down from the taxi and made her way to her dorm, her thoughts clouded with family issues which she fought to remove from her mind. Her exams where fast approaching, and she needed to read and practice more.