This early Saturday morning, Mathew was dumbfounded to receive a call from his sister.


    Sinceing here, he has been living in the same ce with 3 other dormitory roommates. The call woke them up.


    Mathew lived in the school itself, not wanting to rent outside since his sister had painstakingly paid for his tuition and boarding. His life and time in the school grounds were very fulfilling.


    As for his sister, she got a good job as a secretary in a newly established Arcadinian constructionpany.


    Though the pay wasn''t as high as that for those in Baymard, it still made them live far better lives than before.


    ''Look at the time!''


    Mathew looked at his watch nervously.


    They had to catch the next bus, or they would miss their appointment!


    "Sister! Forget about the food. We have to leave now!"


    Emily bitterly looked at the croissants and freshly baked pie, wishing she had the superpower to swallow them in one bite.


    Mathew wanted tough, seeing Emily''s distraught look. "Sister, I''ll pay the bill while you pack it up with paper napkins. I''ll be back with a To-Go box."


    .


    Mathew and Emily quickly moved across the capital as fast as they could.


    If they could, they wished they could fly over to the hospital now.


    Emily tapped her legs and wrung her hands anxiously


    ''Dear ancestors...''


    She looked heavenwards and said a silent prayer in her heart. "Little Matty, you said you already did several tests?"


    Mathew''s eyes were filled with emotion as he replied, "Yes, sister. I was told toe today after I did them... I just hope I can have one too."


    "Of course, you will." Emily encouraged, cing her hand over his trembling hands. "It will be okay. I''m here with you every step of the way."


    "Hmm..." Mathew was touched and felt his nervousness slowly fade.


    [Up next, Bridgeton Avenue.]


    There! That was them.


    Mathew nervously moistened his dry lips and clenched his umbre hard, while readying himself to leave.


    Several others also gathered their things making sure they left nothing behind. And when the doors opened, Mathew grabbed Emily and they ran.


    There was no time. They still had to run to the next bus that would take them directly to the hospital.


    The bus stop was just outside the train station. Yet, they had to rush because the ce was overcrowded and broad.


    In here, no one walks slowly, unless they missed their trains/buses, or weren''t leaving anytime soon. A majority of people moved though they were flying


    Emily''s eyes shot red as she finally took a seat on the bus.


    F***!


    How had she forgotten about Baymard''s fast-paced life?


    It was raining hard, yet the dark circles underneath her armpits would suggest otherwise.


    Breathe in, breathe out! Breathe in, breathe out!


    Emily''s nostrils were struggling to inhale all the air they could, causing her to take on a funny posture.


    Many chuckled lightly while reading their newspapers or listening to their iPods/music yers.


    "First time in Baymard?" An old woman knitting asked with a smile.


    "No... but it sure feels like it."


    "Pfft~... Don''t worry, you''re not the only foreigner who says that."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    After leaving Baymard for months and months, of course, their experiences always felt new when they returned.


    "Sis, get ready. We''re leaving in 2 minutes."


    "What? So soon?"


    Emily wanted to cry, seeing as she hadn''t caught her breath yet.


    Mathew was dumbfounded. Why was he okay, but his sister was breathing as though she was about to die?


    They''ve indeed been running constantly. But shouldn''t the time they spent on the trains and buses be enough for her to settle down?


    Sigh... Forget it.


    His sister arrived in the city early this morning. So maybe she was still exhausted from her long travels.


    From the dark circles under her eyes, he knew she hadn''t slept at all. Which also exined why her movements seemed sluggish, despite how much she tried to speed up.


    While gaining her feet, Emily took a bite of the blue pie slice and followed Mathew into the enormous facility.


    The bus stop was directly in front of the hospital''s main building.


    Wow!


    Emily could tell there had been some improvements made to once again expand the hospital to its present look.


    The hospital stood on one of the biggest estatends around this area and had several buildings scattered about with some connected by verandas.


    11:51 A.M.


    They were 9 minutes early. Not bad.


    Emily sat on her seat with a pleasant sigh. "Brother, will you eat your slice of pie?"


    "_"


    "I''ll take your silence for no."


    (-_-)


    Aren''t you supposed to be the elder here? So why are you taking food from your little brother?


    Mathew shook his head wryly, feeling he was very maturepared to his 17-year-old sister.


    From time to time, his eyes fell between his watch and the door, until it was finally time for his appointment.


    "Mr. Mathew McDonahey?"


    "Yes!"


    Mathew sprung to his feet, alongside Emily, as they followed the male nurse past the door and into another open space containing several offices and examination rooms.


    "You may go in now. Doctor Silvia is ready for you."


    "Thank you, nurse Gordon." The duo bowed gratefully after seeing his name tag. And in the office, they saw a very short and petite woman.


    "Doctor, doctor!... Is... Is it here yet?"


    After doing a series of tests, the hospital approved his need for hearing aids, telling him to return today.


    So until he received it in his hands, Mathew feared his luck might somehow cancel his already approved notice.


    Don''t me him for thinking so... Who wouldn''t be afraid of such a blessing flying away?


    Seeing their reactions, Doctor Silvia chuckled, understanding their worries. Mathew wasn''t the first patient to act this way.


    "Yes. It''s here. And I''m pleased to say that after today, Mr. Matthew will be able to hear sound."


    That''s right. His hearing aids were avable!