After a while, Casper heard a soft knock on the door, a gentle feminine voice soon followed after.
"Casper dear, can I come in?" The feminine voice which he recognized as his mother's "Mrs. Margaret," asked.
"Mom, you can come in, you don't need to ask for permission before entering," Casper said.
The hospital door creaked open as Mrs.Margaret made her way into the hospital ward.
Her face was tired, her eyes swollen and there were dark bags under them, it was quite clear that she had been crying a lot and also getting little sleep.
A sharp pang stabbed into Casper's heart as he saw his mother looking like this.
"I made her cry, I'm a bad child," Casper thought as guilt assaulted him.
His chest tightened, the pang he was feeling right now was more than the physical pain.
"I'm so sorry mom for putting you through this," he said before his mom could say anything.
"Casper," she said in a low tone, "it's not your fault, you don't need to apologize for anything."
"No, I do," he refuted, "I put you in pain, I made you cry and worry."
"My child, you did the right thing, you defended Cassie from that horrible boy," she said with a low tone as she stroked his head.
"How's Cassie and the rest," despite already asking nurse Titi earlier, Casper couldn't stop himself from asking again.
"They're all fine, they only got some bruises and fractures," she said.
Casper sighed in relief as he nodded his head which caused him to wince in pain.
"How are you doing?" She asked with a tone of worry.
"I feel pain , but at least I'm alive and recovering,"Casper said.
Mrs.Margaret nodded her head.
"Where's Anny?" Casper asked.
"She's at Mrs Sandra's home; it hasn't been long since she left here," Mrs Margaret said.
They chatted some more with nurse Titi coming once in awhile to check up on Casper's condition.
"Alright, I think we have talked enough, I bet your friends are dying and anxious to talk to you," she said while letting out a warm smile.
"Let me go call them in," she said as she stood up and made her way to the door.
Not long after Mrs Margaret left, an anxious knock knocked on the door.
"Um, Casper, buddy are you awake?"a nervous voice said.
"Yeah, guys I'm awake, come in," Casper responded.
The door was opened to make way for Cassie, Henry and Joe who all had a look of worry on their face.
Cassie was unable to look Casper in the eyes, as she avoided making eye contact with him . It was clear that she felt guilty and blames herself for what happened to him.
"Yo, guys," Casper said with a smile on his lips.
"Hi, Casper how are you doing man," the others asked with a soft tone.
"Oh come on, drop that shit man, you guys are acting as if I died or something," he said as he tried to lift the gloomy mode in the room.
"But you nearly died , we nearly lost you all because of me, I don't know what I would have done if you died," Cassie said as tears ran down her cheeks.
"Cassie, look at me," Casper said with a soft tone.
Cassie looked up at Casper, tears falling from her eyes as her mouth quivering.
"It's not your fault, Cassie, this was all Derek's fault, he put me in this condition," Casper said with a tone of anger in his voice.
"But I ...," before she could say anything, Casper cut her off.
"But nothing Cassie, Derek is a monster, he disrespected you and only god knows what he would have done to you," he said with a strong tone.
"I regret nothing," Casper added.
"Oh, Casper," Cassie said as she rushed towards his bed and gave him a hug which made Casper to wince in pain.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Cassie said as she let Casper go while taking a step back.
"So, how long have I been out?," Casper asked.
"Six days," Henry responded.
"The doctor said that you were lucky as they couldn't find any internal bleeding , or head trauma when they examined you," Joe said.
"Yeah, they said with that level of beating they were expecting some internal injuries or something," Henry added.
Casper keep quiet for a while before letting out a sigh.
"Thank God, at least I don't have any life threatening injuries."
"Damnit, how would my mom pay for my hospital bill?" Casper asked with a frustrated voice.
"Don't worry, my parents has offered to pay for all your medical bills," Cassie said.
"What?, you know I can't accept money from your family," Casper protested.
"Stop it Casper, it's the least they can do, after all you literally nearly died because of me, I would be disappointed in them if they didn't offer to pay the bills," she said with her hands akimbo.
"Okay, thanks then," Casper said.
He new that nothing he said will convince Cassie not to pay for his hospital bills, and besides they really needed the money.
"No need to thank me, as I mentioned earlier, it's the least my parents could do," Cassie said while letting out a sweet smile.
As they were discussing nurse Titi walked in , to examine Casper again.
"I see that you guys are having fun," she said with a warm smile on her face.
"Don't worry Jasper, in two days time you would be ready to leave," she said while examing him.
"It's Casper ma'am, not Jasper," Casper said.
"Oh, I'm so sorry for that," she said with an apologetic tone.
"No need to apologize, you must be tired, it's quiet shocking that you relatively still remember my name," he said.
"Thanks," she said while letting out a short laugh.
After she was done she left the room to go attend to some other patients.
Casper mom later returned, as she and the rest chatted with Casper until visiting hours were over.
"Alright, Casper, good bye," Joe said.
"Don't worry we will visit you again tomorrow," Cassie said.
"Rest up man, and good night," Henry said.
"Bye guys, I look forward to seeing you all again tomorrow," he said while smiling.
"Good bye sweetie, don't let the bed bugs bite," Mrs Margaret said as she planted a kiss on Casper's head.
"Good bye, mom," Casper responded with a smile.