Chapter 5: Surgeon’s Other Woman

Nimueh was busy fixing her things for work when she saw the envelope lying in her drawer. She was too busy for the last few days that she didn’t even bother to read it. And since she thought it was just some kind of prank, she set it aside. With an odd feeling, she opened it.

"Keeper Malwood?” She read the name written above the letter.

Cold and uneasy feelings embraced her system. The name was familiar to her. She didn’t know why but she had a bad feeling after seeing the name of the sender. 

She yelped in shock when her newly bought phone rang. That was when she realized she was almost late for the wedding. She put aside the envelope and left for her work. That thing could wait, she thought, but the wedding couldn't so she immediately walked outside her apartment.

She was stunned and looked in awe after seeing the wedding reception. The venue was breathtaking, the white sands blended perfectly with the wedding’s theme. The royal and mint blue color of the silk cloth-lined to the benches and coated the flowers’ bouquet. Not to mention the gowns of the sponsors and people who attended the wedding also made her envious.

She was thankful that someone offered her big cash for their wedding album. She was eager to buy a new camera again since she saw in some ads the latest camera. Being a photographer wasn’t easy like how people without knowledge about it described it. She worked hard to reach her dream to be a photographer worldwide. But due to one reason, she gave up that dream and just accepted ordinary occasions to do her job.

“Compress, that’s right! Okay, I’ll count one to three.” She instructed the bride and groom together with their families. After the picture taking, everyone went back to their designated seat while she–she stood in the corner to see the photos.

“Look who’s here!” 

A rough and rude tone ruined her peaceful time. She didn’t mind it thinking that she was not the one that the voice was referring to. But to her surprise, a warm and big hand slightly patted her right shoulder. Her camera almost slipped on her hand. With irritation, she turned around only to face-to-face with the man who always visited in her dreams since their first meeting.

“Y—You?” She stuttered, shocked by the sudden appearance of the man. He was standing tall in front of her.

She trailed her eyes in his blue suit hugging his well-built body that made his sex appeal to stand out more. He was flashing sexiness, especially with his eyeglass.

The man smirked and stretched out his hand. “The one and only. I supposed we never got a chance to properly introduce ourselves? I’m Aiden Collin.” 

She was still dazed. The man, Aiden, snapped his fingers in her face. She blinked multiple times before catching her breath at its own pace. “N—Nimueh. Nimueh Reed.” She accepted his hand and felt his slight squeeze.

“So you’re the photographer?” He asked, pointing at her camera. His green eyes, looking amused, were making her uncomfortable.

She cleared her throat. She looked around to find any reason to excuse herself but didn’t find one. So without another choice, she replied with her boring tone. “Yeah. And you? What are you even doing here?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe be a doctor when someone collapsed?” 

She raised her eyebrows. Collapsed, really? But sudden realization hit her. A small gasp escaped from her mouth. Aiden was referring to her. Of course, she thought she would really collapse any time because of her tight black leather clothes and jeans, and the fact that she already felt exhausted. 

“Take a seat, yeah?” Aiden offered. She saw worriedness in his eyes.

The mention of collapsing strikes her. She cursed under her breath when she felt nauseous and ready to vomit. But she kept standing, acting brave. “I’m fine. Just need some rest.”

“You’re not. Come here, take a seat.” Aiden guided her to the chair near them. She couldn’t protest since she was feeling hot and jelly at the same time.

“Water please?” He asked the waiter passing their side. “I can tell Eric and Aya that you’re not feeling well. Eric’s my cousin so no worries,” he said after. 

“I’m fine, really. Don’t—” Her words were cut off when Aiden uttered some words then small black spots starting to become bigger and bigger until they clouded her eyes.

***

A loud and continuous knock stopped Aiden from preparing a soup. He cursed and immediately walked to his door to look at who was outside. He switched on the speaker and Kaegan started to shout. “Dude, come on! Open the door.” Kaegan had an odd look while cupping his crotch.

He nearly opened the door when he remembered something. But then, Kaegan continued to ring the doorbell. He sighed, opening the door.

“What the—” He was about to ask him what happened but Kaegan was already inside and running fast to the bathroom on the first floor where Aiden thought that it was such a bad move. He counted one to three and sighed when Kaegan shouted.

“No shit! Dude, why the hell there are women's clothes here? Are you banging someone right now?” Kaegan asked from the bathroom.

He just groaned. He sighed and walked to where his friend was. “Leave them there. And come out quick. Fuck you, Kaegan. Am not in the mood to bang someone right now.”

Kaegan came out afterward. “Then whose clothes are they?”

“Keep your voice down,” he hissed.  He came back preparing the soup while  Kaegan was behind him. 

“No shit sherlock! You’re making soup?!” Kaegan gasped, looking at him like he turned into some disgusting creature.

He pointed him to the stool on the counter. “Yes. And if you keep on shouting, am gonna slice your tongue and mix it here.”

Kaegan abruptly shut his mouth. But not long enough. “Are you sick?” He asked in a whisper.

“Nope. It’s for the woman there,” he said, pointing to his room. “The amazon girl was right there, sleeping. She fainted while at work. Only happened that I was there too and came in rescue.”

Kaegan clicked his tongue. “Wow. Are you some kind of soulmate? Coz you know, you always keep on bumping into each other.”

“Idiot!” He chuckled at that thought. He was torn between accepting that it might be real though he didn’t believe in soulmates and sweeping off that idea. 

“Anyway, you’re staying here in New York for good or what? Coz I'm planning to ask for your help in Bachelor's Pad.” Kaegan changed the topic easily. 

“Dunno. Father still wants me to be here. The hospital’s doing great with the help of the board members. If he comes with me to Australia then there’s no reason to stay here,” he answered.

Before Kaegan could reply, someone broke a loud cough. He was startled and remembered Nimueh in his room. He didn’t wait for his friend to comment on something, he ran quickly and opened the door. He saw Nimueh still on the bed, coughing hard. 

He scooted beside her and ran his hands lightly on her back. He picked the water on the side table. “Hey, drink first. Do you still feel dizzy?” He asked smoothly. 

“Y—Yes.” She drank the water and said thank you after. She laid down on the bed again and covered her whole body with a blanket, imitating a fetus.

He stood up and got his stethoscope. He went back to her and leaned closer. “I’ll check you first, okay?” She nodded but was still lying in the bed. 

He helped her to lift up her back on the headboard and checked her blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, and temperature. “Don’t stress out yourself. You’re over fatigue so take a rest for one to two days.” He said while listing his advice on a paper.

“You wanna eat some soup? I prepared it while you’re asleep.”

“Prepared soup?” She asked, saying the words slowly. That’s when she looked at him with wide eyes. “Where am I? And—” 

A hard smack hit on his chest. “Where’re my clothes?!”

He blinked a couple of times before realizing that he changed her clothes, in fact, was dressed in his clothes. A large shirt. “Oh, I changed your clothes coz you kinda puke?” He almost stuttered. He didn’t do anything wrong, why was he nervous in front of her?

“What!? You changed my clothes?” Nimueh looked shocked. Her face almost looked like a red apple. 

“Hey! I didn’t look at your–you know. I swear!” He blurted out. Shit! Why is the freaking like a woman?

Nimueh stared at him for a moment with murderous eyes. Those eyes again. 

Loud knocks spilled on their silent moment. “For fuck sake!” He muttered under his breath. “Kaegan, could you please just leave?” He shouted that surprised Nimueh.

“A'right bro. Jeez, am I interrupting something?” Kaegan shouted back.

He was about to yell again when Nimueh groaned. “Hey. Whoever you are! Yes, you’re interrupting me from murdering this person. So if you never wish to be killed like him, shut up and leave!”

A moment of silence filled the room. The sound of the clock was the only one that could be heard. Aiden wanted to burst out laughing after and Kaegan’s curse could be heard outside the door.

“Oh, ah yes. I’m going.” Kaegan stuttered then he heard a shuffling sound. “You can’t kill him, woman! He still needs to spread his seeds.”

“Fuck you, Kaegan. Fuck you!” He cursed his friend in his mind.

A whimper caught his attention. He turned to Nimueh and his face softened seeing her pale and shivering body. She was now back in her doleful look.