IV. It's Not Funny

When Farrah finished dealing with all the patients that needed treatment, it was already midnight. She haven't had dinner and felt hungry so she decided to retire first. One of the soldiers offered to send her back to her house but Farrah politely refused. She can defend herself if needed, there's no need for a 'tail' to protect her. 

As she was about to walk on the exist door, she heard some people, precisely two young women, chatting about her. How did Farrah know? Because the moment she neared them, she heard her name being mentioned loud and clear. 

“It seems that Dr. Cherry hated Dr. Lee so much huh, she's even thinking of replacing Dr. Lee as the Assistant Director of this hospital!”

“F*ck, that's too scheming of her. But why? Ever since I worked here, I haven't heard much about the reason why she hated Dr. Lee...”

“Have you heard about Dr. Lee recently deceased husband? That... leader of Fire Bird mercenary group?”

“Oh, yes. Who didn't know, everyone's talking about it everywhere I go...”

“It seems that there's something fishy about the three of them. According to my seniors, Dr. Cherry tried to climb Dr. Lee's husband's bed, but who knew that guy could be so stiff and indifferent under Dr. Cherry's graceful and tempting body... It was a powerful slap in the face. Since then, Dr. Cherry hated Dr. Lee so much, but Dr. Lee seems to ignorant about it or she just really don't care.”

“I really don't like Dr. Cherry that much, what could she do but pose her beautiful body? Her healing ability is not even half of Dr. Lee's! What is she, a decoration vase? Where did she get such confidence? Tsk! Tsk!”

“Whether you like it or not, you shouldn't say anything anyway. We are in the bottom of the food chain here, be careful of what escapes your mouth. Now that Dr. Cherry climbed the Director's bed, the position of Assistant Director might be hers sooner or later...”

Farrah leaned on the wall and listened as the footsteps of the two young women faded into distance. She raised her eyebrow and sneered. If not because of what she just has heard, she might have forgotten about this certain bitch that has been annoying her for a long time already. Farrah shook her head, unbelieving how humans could be so greedy with things that weren't even important in this kind of time full of crisis. 

D*mn, as if she cares about her position as Assistant Director. Take it from her, she won't even shed a single tear. 

But one thing that the two females said made her very surprised and a bit angry.

Dr. Cherry, that piece of sh*t, actually tried to climb her husband's bed? Dr. Cherry actually dared to seduce her husband? And she only discovered it now? Now that her husband was dead? Farrah didn't know whether to curse her dead husband for keeping secrets or praise him for being a loyal partner. If only he was alive, Farrah would have kicked his ass for not telling her about this incident. 

Farrah went home calmly. Because of today's full moon, there's no need for lamps or flashlights. There's also a group of soldiers walking around every 10 minutes, keeping vigil. Some of them offered to send her home, just like the soldier from the hospital who offered to send Farrah back. The latter refused without second thoughts and resumed her way back.

As she was walking in an alley, something buzzed inside her bag. The familiar buzzing made it easy for Farrah to guess what it might be. She picked up the phone from the bag and was greeted by the similar call she received the night before.

Looking at the time, it's indeed midnight. 

Unlike yesterday, Farrah was very calm this time. Without any hesitation, she answered the call in a swift manner. “Who. Are. You?”

1, 2, 3... Seconds passed but no one answered. Farrah expected it so she no longer waited for the person on the other line to answer. “Whoever you are holding the phone of my husband, stop playing this kind of joke. It's not funny, and it will never be. Stop calling, and please respect my dead husband.”

She hung up the phone and silently placed it back on her bag. She's hoping that the person on the other line wouldn't be an asshole that would ignore her plea. She sighed and stepped forward but before she could move another feet, there's a familiar buzzing on her bag.

Farrah, "..." 'This asshole really ignored her words, don't they?'

Frowning and looking dissatisfied, Farrah directly turned off the phone. She must discover the other's identity sooner or later and give them a beating! If they wants to play Farrah, then they chose the wrong one to play! She'll teach them a lesson!

*

Another day passed, and Farrah no longer had the heart to open her phone. She's one-hundred-percent sure that there's currently hundreds of call histories on her phone right now, she just have this guts telling her this. She directly ignored the phone. Out of sight, out of mind. She's also quite busy for David suddenly had a low-fever. Thankfully, it wasn't anything bad. He just sneaked and drank cold beverage without Farrah's consent and had a bad tummy, it triggered low-fever making him listless all day. 

“Mama? Papa, where?” 

As Farrah was putting the folded clothes on their clothing cabinet, the silent and ill David suddenly questioned. His eyes full covered with mist, the corner of his eyes moist. He seems to bewildered that his father haven't gone back yet for some many days. His father, every time he left, he would still come back. But it's been a week, yet no shadow of his favorite papa appeared. He was originally fine now, not that ill and weak, but because of his father's unexplained disappearance, his energetic mood seems to have been affected. 

“Papa, where?” He asked again after receiving no response from his mother.

David saw his mother froze for a few seconds before she walked towards him. There's a weird and awkward smile on her face, forced and not genuine. “Ahm... Listen, baby—Papa's on a long business trip, so it will be a veryyyyyy long time before he could go back home. Listen to Mama, okay?”

David was hugged by his mother, although it was hard for him to understand, he vaguely felt that his mother was lying to him. Fortunately, his grandpa's timely arrival took away his attention. 

“Grandpa!”

Ferdinand laughed hearing the jolly voice of his grandson. Kissing David's cheeks, he grinned. “How is my beloved DaeDae? Is your head still hurting, honey?”

“No, hurt...” David shook his head innocently, pointing his forehead with his little index finger. 

Ferdinand was relieved, he lost all his concentration in his work and was filled with thoughts about his ill grandson. He was even scolded by his superior ruthlessly, but when he came home and saw his grandson's cute face—all his grievances vanished like it didn't even exist in the first place.

“Since DaeDae is such a good and strong boy, Grandpa bought you your favorite bao! Do you want to eat bao?” 

“Yes, bao! bao!” 

Bao, or also known as steamed bun, has always been Dae's favorite snack, especially the meat-filled ones. Hearing his grandpa mentioning the word 'bao' , his eyes seem to contain stars in it, looking so cute and adorable. Ferdinand can't stand such a look and immediately gave one bao to his fluffy grandson.

“Fae, do you want some Bao?” Ferdinand gestured at Farrah. The latter shook her head in refusal. 

“Thanks, dad. I already ate. How's work?” 

Ferdinand snorted, “What else? Hellish!”

Both Ferdinand and Farrah laughed, making David look at them in confusion. Ferdinand shook his head, then as if remembering something, he tugged Farrah and made her look at him. 

“About the source of the call, I have discovered it.”

Farrah's eyes widened, “Really, dad? Tell me!”

“It's still in the same city where Dior died. Same place, same location, same city—it never moved. And that's what makes everything so peculiar, because the day after Dior died, that place has been marked as one of the most dangerous places by the government themselves. There's no signs of life there, no survivors, just...none.”