4 - Dare

HIRAYA ALMENDRAL

I walked out of his office, frustrated and rubbing my knee where I had bumped into the side table. My emotions were a chaotic mix of irritation and embarrassment.

Damn. I didn’t study my whole life just to become a servant!

Disoriented, I wandered down the corridor, not entirely sure where I was heading. My mind was consumed by thoughts of the awkward incident with Dr. Yasmir and the burning frustration I felt.

"Are you lost?" The voice came from behind me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I turned around, and my jaw almost dropped. The man standing there was strikingly handsome, his features sharply defined and exuding a kind of effortless charm. If this is the kind of eye candy they have here, I might seriously consider applying to this hospital once I pass my board exam. Working around such attractive people every day would definitely make the job more appealing.

"Uh, yes. I’m actually looking for the coffee shop," I admitted, scratching my head awkwardly. He chuckled, a warm and inviting sound that made me feel a bit more at ease.

From his appearance, he was tall—probably as tall as Dr. Yasmir, who is six feet. This guy seemed even more charming compared to Dr. Yasmir. While Dr. Yasmir had a rugged, manly look, this man had a more refined, approachable demeanor. His lab coat indicated he was a doctor, too.

"Wait, a coffee for Yasmir?" His eyes widened slightly, clearly surprised. How did he know about that?

"Easy, Yasmir is the only one who drinks coffee at this time," he said, glancing at his watch.

At this time? It was only seven in the morning. Isn’t it normal for people to drink coffee at this hour? His familiarity with Yasmir’s habits struck me as odd. It seemed like he knew Yasmir’s routines quite well.

“Are you, his assistant?” he asked, his eyebrows raised in curiosity. I nodded, confirming his guess. The surprise in his eyes was evident as he chuckled, the sound of his laughter filling the hallway.

“Looks like you are,” he said, his laughter contagious. He put a hand on his stomach and wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. His amusement was clearly genuine.

“Yeah, well, good luck with that,” he added with a teasing smile. I couldn’t help but let out a resigned sigh. Luck was definitely something I could use right now.

“Damn, his laugh is incredibly charming,” I thought, trying to suppress a smile.

“You’re cute,” he said, causing me to blush furiously. I looked away, trying to regain my composure.

“I'm Elijah, by the way,” he introduced himself, extending a hand. I accepted it, shaking it firmly. “Hiraya, but just Hira is fine, Doc,” I replied with a smile.

“Hiraya, your name means hope,” he said with an appreciative tone. I scratched my head, acknowledging the meaning with a nod.

My mother named me Hope, but she never seemed to view me in that light. It felt as though I was a burden to her, a disease she wished would disappear from her life. In truth, she should be the one I despise for the messes she’s made in her life. Or maybe she hoped I would vanish, which is why she gave me such a name. It’s all so pathetic.

Despite my dark thoughts, Elijah’s kindness was a welcome relief. His demeanor helped lift the weight of the day’s earlier frustrations. He gave me directions to the coffee shop, which I followed without delay.

When I arrived at the coffee shop, I approached the counter and relayed Dr. Yasmir’s order.

“Good morning, um, I’m here to pick up the order for Dr. Yasmir,” I said with a polite smile.

The barista behind the counter greeted me with a warm and genuine smile, her eyes lighting up as she took my order. “Right away,” she said enthusiastically, turning to start preparing the coffee.

Her friendly demeanor was a small but comforting reminder that not everyone in the hospital was as intimidating as my earlier encounters. It was a simple moment of kindness in an otherwise chaotic day.

I waited as she expertly prepared the coffee, grateful for the brief respite from the stresses of the morning.

She was stunning, likely in her mid-20s or early 30s. The hospital seemed to be filled with strikingly attractive people, which made me wonder if it was a trend here or just a coincidence.

When I finally got the coffee, I found myself stuck in the middle of the first floor, unsure of where to go. I knew Dr. Yasmir's office was on the second floor, but the maze of hallways and doors left me completely disoriented. It was my first day, and I had no sense of direction, which only added to my frustration.

I was about to head left when I felt a tug on my uniform. I turned around to see Dr. Eli holding the same folder he’d had earlier.

“Where are you going?” he asked, his eyebrow arched in curiosity.

“To Dr. Yasmir's office,” I replied, my voice tinged with embarrassment. I could tell he was holding back a laugh at my disorientation.

“That’s not the way, Miss Hira,” he said with a playful smirk. He pointed to my right.

“Did you get lost earlier and forget where you came from?” he teased; his laughter evident.

“Are you still annoyed with Yasmir?” he asked, noticing my pout.

“No, just... frustrated,” I admitted.

“Head to the right and follow the hallway. It’s at the very end of the building on that floor,” he instructed. I nodded and followed his directions, relieved to have some clarity.

As I made my way, I encountered Nadine, who was busy carrying some supplies for her rounds. She looked up and gave me a nod as I approached.

“Oh, why are you frowning?” Nadine asked playfully when she saw me, her tone light and teasing. “Later,” she added with a laugh before quickly walking away, leaving me in a bit of a daze.

When I finally reached Dr. Yasmir's office, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. He was deeply engrossed in typing away at his keyboard, his eyes locked on the monitor. The office was quiet except for the clacking of keys and the soft hum of the computer.

I cleared my throat softly to announce my presence. “Here’s your coffee, Doc,” I said, holding out the cup. He glanced up briefly, his attention momentarily diverted from the screen. I couldn’t help but notice how focused and serious he looked. He had this intense, captivating aura about him when he was in work mode. On the other hand, his smiles were charming, though they carried a hint of mischief that made them both appealing and frustrating.

“Didn’t you get anything for yourself?” he asked, his brows furrowing in concern as he noticed my empty hands.

I gave a polite shrug, trying to downplay his concern. “I’m good, thank you,” I replied with a faint smile. Despite my casual demeanor, I was touched by his thoughtfulness, even if I hadn’t indulged in getting anything for myself.

I reached into my pocket and took out his card, intending to hand it to him. However, he was so absorbed in his work that he didn’t notice. I placed the card on his desk, but as I was about to pull my hand away, I accidentally nudged the coffee cup. The cup tipped over, and hot coffee spilled onto my lap.

I let out a pained yelp as the burning liquid made contact with my skin. “Shit! That’s really hot!” I exclaimed in a low voice. I tried to move away, but the pain was too intense, and I could feel tears welling up in my eyes.

Dr. Yasmir looked up in alarm, his expression quickly shifting from focused to concerned. “Damn,” he muttered under his breath. Without hesitation, he lifted me up and carried me towards the office bathroom. His movements were swift and determined. In my sudden panic and fear of falling, I clung tightly to his neck. In the chaos, my lips accidentally brushed against his neck.

He seemed momentarily startled by the closeness but quickly shook off his surprise. He set me down gently on the closed toilet seat and began removing my shoes with a sense of urgency. He tossed them out into the hallway and then reached for the shower head, turning on the cold water.

"D-doc," I stammered, feeling anxious about what he was doing. I couldn’t understand why he was handling the situation this way.

"Stop talking, Hira!" he snapped at me. Really? He had the nerve to get mad? Wow.

I noticed he reached for the shower head and turned it on low. He directed the water towards my burned leg, and instinctively, I lifted my skirt to prevent it from getting wet.

He turned his gaze away, but even with him avoiding looking at me, I was getting drenched! I wanted to be angry, but I forced myself to stay calm. My future, after all, depended on Dr. Yasmir’s favor!

“D-doc…” I called out hesitantly. He glanced back at me, but his expression was still stern. Shouldn’t I be the one mad, considering I was soaked through?

“Doc, I’m wet.” I pointed out, but he only frowned at me. I dropped my gaze, noticing that my skirt was soaked through, and so was the upper part of my uniform. Thankfully, the uniform was thick, or else my bra might have been visible, and I’d be embarrassed in front of this overly strict doctor!

He quickly removed the shower head from the water stream and chuckled. Ugh, why was I so unlucky today?

Dr. Yasmir dashed out of the bathroom, only to return with a clean towel. I took it from him and wrapped it around myself, shivering slightly from the cold.

“I’m sorry, I was too preoccupied,” he said, his voice softening with apology.

I couldn't hold back my irritation. “If I get sick from this, I’ll be in trouble and this is your fault! I might end up falling short on my OJT hours,” I snapped, unable to keep my frustration in check.

He looked at me with a concerned expression. “Well, I'll take care of you,” he said.

My cheeks flushed at his words, and my heart began to race. Damn it, stop with the charm, Doc!

I turned away from him, trying to hide my embarrassment, and sneezed. Of course, I knew this would happen.

“Why did you use cold water?!” I scolded, sneezing again right after.

“To cure the burnt area. Are you really a nurse, Miss Hira?” he asked with a teasing tone.

I didn’t respond immediately because I sneezed once more, struggling to maintain my composure.

“Geez,” I muttered, glancing at him with annoyance.

He opened a drawer and handed me a partially empty bottle of water, indicating he’d already drunk from it. Was that an indirect kiss?

Wait a minute, why am I making such a big deal? You’ve already had a more direct kiss with him at the bar, remember?!

“Take this medicine and rest up,” he said calmly but with a hint of seriousness. “If you can’t make it tomorrow, don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of your time since it’s my fault id you got sick.”

He then left the room and headed toward a door that I assumed led to a bedroom.

I sneezed again. Great, just what I needed—an impending cold.

“Change into this so you don’t get any colder,” he said, handing me a t-shirt that was obviously too large for me.

“I don’t have any pants or shorts that would fit you, so just wear this shirt for now. You can change back into your skirt at the dorm. Go on, get some rest,” he instructed with genuine concern.

I took the t-shirt from him and, sneezing once more, made my way into the bathroom. I quickly changed into the oversized shirt, which fell loosely around me.

When I stepped out, I saw Doc Yasmir slumped against his desk, his head turned in my direction. He glanced up as I emerged, his expression serious but with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“Take your medicine first. I want to see that you’ve actually taken it,” he said, his tone firm but kind. I pouted, but he simply chuckled.

“Is this how you are with all your patients?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He laughed softly, leaning back in his chair. “Yes, but you’re not my patient, Miss Hira. But if you want to be, I'd be more than willing to be your doctor.”

I rolled my eyes at his corny comment but couldn’t help a small smile as I took the medicine. "You're so cheesy, Doc."

“Only with you,” he whispered, though I caught his words.

“What was that?” I teased, pretending not to have heard him.

“Nothing! Go back to your dorm. And here,” he said, handing me his calling card. “Take this. Call me if you need anything.”

Seriously?

“I’m sorry, I don’t have any load on my phone,” I replied, truthfully. With how expensive prepaid credits are and how quickly they expire, I’d barely used any of my current balance.

“Give me your number, and I’ll top it up for you,” he offered, a playful grin on his face.

“Are you serious?” I asked, surprised. He nodded, looking earnest.

“I don’t want to be seen as a freeloader!” I protested, though I was half-joking. “I’ll just buy my own load.”

He’s still my senior, for Pete’s sake! The way he treats me like I’m his spouse, casually letting me in and out of his office—it’s beyond unprofessional!

“I’m leaving—” I sneezed again, “ugh! I’m leaving now, Doc Yasmir.” Frustration was creeping into my voice with every sneeze.

“If you’re still sneezing tomorrow, don’t come in. You might spread something,” he said, his tone light but his eyes serious. The chuckle that followed his words only added to my annoyance.

Why does he have to be so annoyingly charming? It’s like he’s deliberately trying to be irritatingly handsome!

I headed straight for the dorm, deliberately avoiding eye contact with the nurses to avoid any suspicion of sneaking out. But really, I wasn’t sneaking out; Doc Yasmir had told me to go home! It’s his fault I’m in this situation in the first place!

Once I got to the dorm, I gulped down some warm water and collapsed onto my bed. Exhaustion took over, and I was quickly enveloped by sleep.

***

The sound of animated voices woke me up abruptly. I squinted against the harsh light and saw Aya and Nad in the middle of an enthusiastic conversation, their laughter echoing off the walls.

“Oh, our princess is finally awake!” Aya said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. The playful tone in her voice only added to my irritation.

I tried to ignore them, closing my eyes again and wishing the throbbing pain in my head would just disappear. Was I coming down with a fever?

“So, spill the beans, Hira! How was your day with Doc Yasmir?” Nad demanded, her excitement palpable.

“You're silly, Nad. It wasn't even a full day because you got sick!” Aya interjected, chuckling. Argh! I hated being around them sometimes, their minds always so green, yet their attitudes could be so fiery!

“How was it? Big? Long? Hot?” Mira asked, her head peeking over the edge of the top bunk. I had been dozing off, but her sudden appearance jolted me awake.

“What are you talking about, Mira?” I asked, my irritation barely masked.

I noticed she was still in her uniform, which meant they had just come back from somewhere.

“Lunch is here, and guess what? It was brought by Doc Yasmir himself. He said it’s his fault you got sick,” Aya announced, a smirk dancing on her lips. Damn it.

“Did he go overboard, making you end up with a fever?” Mira added, her eyes twinkling with mischief. I rolled my eyes and turned away from them.

I was so disoriented that I accidentally bumped into the wall when I sneezed. I hadn’t realized how close I was. Their laughter echoed in the room, making me more irritated. Just as I tried to settle back down, my stomach growled loudly.

“Ugh! Will you be quiet already? Nothing happened, okay?!” I snapped. They exchanged amused glances before bursting into even more laughter. I was at my wit’s end. I had no chance against these three.

“Why do you sound so disappointed, Hira? Did you expect something else?” Nadine teased.

“Nothing! My head hurts, and you guys are so noisy!” I shouted, only to be interrupted by another sneeze.

“Damn!”

“Here’s a hot citrus tea, made by Doc Yasmir,” Aya said with a grin, placing a vacuum bottle carefully on my bed.

I raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“And why would he do that?” I asked sharply, trying to hide my curiosity behind a veneer of annoyance.

“Duh, do you really need to ask that?” Nadine said with a hint of arrogance.

“You’re not answering his calls or texts. Gosh, he's worried. What did you do to make him like that, Hira?” Aya asked with a grin, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

“I did nothing!” I snapped at them and buried my face in the pillow, but then I remembered that I had kissed him.

I looked up at the three of them, who were eagerly waiting for my answer.

“He's the guy I kissed at the bar, okay? Happy now?” I buried my face in the pillow again.

I heard them squealing, so I quickly covered my ears with the edges of my pillow.

“I knew it! That’s why he looked familiar!” Nadine exclaimed.

“Argh!” I grumbled in frustration. I sat up from my position on the bed, feeling hungry.

“Do you want another dare, Hira?” Nadine raised an eyebrow.

“What now?” I asked, irritated, as I grabbed the plastic bag from the table and opened it.

I wanted to feel touched that Doc Yasmir had gone through the trouble of bringing me food, but damn it, I didn’t eat vegetables!

Veggie salad, vegetable noodle soup, and other ingredients that were all vegetables. I laid my head on the table and immediately hugged my stomach because of the hunger.

“Ow, we didn’t know Doc Yasmir was going to pack veggies for you,” Nad said, her lips pursed as she saw me groaning in disbelief.

“I’ll just order something else,” I said, standing up and grabbing my phone.

“But Doc Yasmir said you must eat that to get better,” Nadine said.

“I’m not an animal that eats grass, Nad,” I retorted, but she just laughed at my comment.

“Here’s the deal,” Aya said. I looked at the three of them, who were exchanging knowing glances.

“Make him fall for you, and once he’s head over heels, break his heart. In return, you’ll get a full scholarship for med school in Canada, Hira.” Damn. They really knew how to hit my weak spot—a deal I couldn’t possibly refuse.

The proposition hung heavily in the air, its weight sinking deep into my thoughts. Make him fall for me only to shatter him when he least expected it. It was a tempting yet morally ambiguous offer that I knew I should resist.

But as I glanced at my friends’ eager faces, their eyes alight with anticipation, the allure of a full scholarship for medical school in Canada was too enticing to ignore. It would lift a significant financial burden off my shoulders.

Still, the thought of manipulating someone's feelings for my gain left a bitter taste in my mouth. Was I willing to sacrifice my integrity for the sake of my ambitions? The answer eluded me, lost in the murky depths of uncertainty.

I hesitated, torn between conflicting desires. In the end, the promise of a brighter future won out, pushing aside the lingering doubts.

With a heavy sigh, I nodded in reluctant agreement, steeling myself for the consequences of my choice. Little did I know, this decision would lead me down a path fraught with unforeseen challenges and heartache, testing my resolve.

“What if I lose?” I asked, still unsure.

“Simple, no scholarship,” they said with a chuckle.

“What if he confesses right away?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Then it's end game,” they replied in unison. Argh!

“You shouldn’t let him know,” Aya advised.

“But it seems like he already has feelings for me. Do I really need to follow through with the dare?”

“Be clear, make him fall for you, fall hard, and then run. If you fall first, you lose,” Mira said with a mischievous grin. My stomach churned with anxiety.