SWNOVELXO Chapter 5: Misunderstood Intentions
He quickly checked her vitals. He placed a stethoscope to her chest, the cold metal sending a shiver through her body, but the sound of her heartbeat was steady and strong. He listened for a few moments, nodding in approval.
"Your heart sounds good. Let's check your reflexes next," he said, pulling out a small hammer and tapping it gently on her knee. Nnenna flinched slightly at the sensation, but her leg kicked out in response, a positive sign.
"Good. That's a good sign," the doctor murmured, looking at the nurse. "Now, let's check her motor functions."
Nurse Courage carefully moved Nnenna's arms and legs, guiding her movements as she slowly tested the range of motion in each limb. Nnenna winced as her stiff muscles protested, but there was no sharp pain, just the aching feeling of disuse.
"Everything seems to be functioning as expected," the doctor said after a few more checks.
He scribbled something on his clipboard before turning to Nnenna. "We'll need to monitor you closely over the next few hours. You've been unconscious for a long time, so we'll start with light physical therapy soon, but for now, take it easy."
Nnenna nodded weakly, the words barely registering as the flood of memories continued to crash through her mind. Four months... She had been in a coma for four months.
She looked at the kind woman who looked worried about her and asked "Aunty...Mommy, May I call you Mommy Courage?" Mommy seemed more befitting for such a good woman.
Ding
"First impressions are very important to foster a great relationship. You just gained 20 good points for giving a great first impression and earning thirty percent of her affection respectively. Keep going."
'Noisy system. I'll have to find its mute button later...If it even has one.' Nnenna thought in annoyance. But she was glad about the affection part.
The middle aged woman grinned happily on hearing her words. She always wanted her own child so she agreed. "Sure. Are you sure you don't feel pain anywhere?"
"..."
Nurse Courage leaned over her with a soft smile, brushing a lock of hair away from her forehead. "You're safe now, Nnenna. We'll take good care of you."
But Nnenna wasn't listening. The voice in her head, this time faint and still strange, whispered again.
Ding
"New mission assigned! You need to help Nurse Courage leave her terrible fiancé. Completing this will grant you 200 good points, and you'll get additional 10 good points for every step you complete successfully."
Nnenna's breath hitched at the sudden repeated message, but she quickly pushed the voice aside. She didn't need the system to tell her what to do, she had already planned to save Nurse Courage, regardless of the mission.
The weight of her past life, her death, the royal family, everything felt like it was happening all over again. But this time... this time, she had a chance to change things.
For the first time, Nnenna felt a strange surge of determination. She wasn't going to let history repeat itself. She wasn't going to be the passive bystander she had been before.
This was her second chance.
And this time... she would take control.
Ding
"Inconsistency is a red flag in relationships. You just lost 15 good points for making her think you changed your mind. Try to get them back."
What?!
Nnenna froze. 'It's not my fault she misunderstood!' She scolded the system internally, her frown deepening.
The nurse noticed the change in her expression and leaned closer, her concern evident.
The system's voice chimed in again, unbothered by her frustration. "It doesn't matter. Our actions often shape how others perceive us. Even if you didn't do anything wrong, it's still your responsibility to clarify misunderstandings when needed. And this time, it's needed."
Nnenna rolled her eyes at the system. 'Great, a psychology lecture from a glorified voice in my head.'
Still, she didn't want Nurse Courage to feel hurt or confused. Pushing the system's words aside, she turned to the older woman and smiled warmly.
"No, Mommy Courage," she said softly, her voice soothing. "I just felt a little headache, that's all."
The nurse immediately sat up, her protective instincts kicking in. She reached for the pager to call the doctor, but Nnenna quickly grabbed her hand.
"There's no need," Nnenna said gently, shaking her head. "I'm fine now, really."
Nurse Courage hesitated, her eyes searching Nnenna's face for any sign of deceit. Finally, she sighed and put the pager down, though she still looked cautious.
"Alright," she said reluctantly. She pulled a rolling chair closer and sat down beside the bed, her kind gaze fixed on Nnenna.
"My shift is over, so I have a bit of time before I need to head home. Would you like to talk about anything? Four months is a long time to be in a coma. A lot has happened, you know," she said with a small smile, her tone both light and serious.
'Yes, and I know all of them.' Nnenna thought, her mind drifting back to a year before she died. She remembered being rushed to the hospital after a fight with her fourth brother, who had pushed her down the stairs because she refused to give him her second hand toy.
Petty. Petty indeed.
Nurse Courage didn't press her for an answer, assuming Nnenna's silence was due to her still healing throat. Instead, she continued talking, her voice gentle.
"Do you really have a family? I've seen your chart and you're Princess Nnenna right? You've been here for four months, and only one person, who claimed to be your elder brother and looks like Prince Somto visited."
"He comes once a month. I asked him why he couldn't visit more often and talk to you, since it might help you wake up, but he said something about traveling around. He also asked me not to tell you about it... but I thought you should know. He's quite a strange man."
Somto visited?
Nnenna blinked, surprised. 'I don't remember this happening in my past life. Or maybe I just wasn't told about it.'