Chapter 8: Threatened

Rogue Chavez followed Keilah Olivarez as they left the office and headed their way to the hall. His eyes were looking at her small shoulders, the more he gazed at her, the more he was focused on his plans. He wants to confirm something, and he wants to get done with his mission as soon as possible. Rogue paused from walking when the woman turned her back to see him, “I forgot to introduce myself,” her bracing gapes met his shuttered heavy eyes. “My name’s Keilah Olivarez and I'm working here as a registered midwife and obstetrician but I've been providing surgical services these years. I’m a middle child of Kassandra and Arthur Olivarez, the old lady is my grandmother and obviously, we are not in good terms.” She looked at him from head to toe and that made Rogue edgy.

“I don’t know what are your plans for why you're working here but I am pretty sure you're one of her minions,” her words are so straightforward that Rogue couldn't even have a chance to explain himself.

“You might end up telling everything to her later, I just want you to know that I don’t give a damn.” As usual, Keilah couldn't control her temper. The urge to get her revenge for the mistreatment she receives is still there inside her head, Rogue smirks of the thought, he confirmed that the woman is not close with her family and it will be challenging for him to snatch the position of a CEO.

They proceed to get done with the roaming and Keilah decides to start outside the hospital. As they walked through the hallway, the other coworkers were taking a glimpse of their direction, and of course, Keilah Olivarez is already aware of the reason. When they arrived outside, she faced Rogue with fierce gazes, “We’ll start with the hospital’s departments.”

They entered inside a waiting hall and saw some patients passing by. “This is the OPD or the Outpatient department, obviously, it must be placed in the entrance of the hospital for easy access for those patients who don't have to be admitted, I assume you already know that.” Rogue scanned the area with his skimming eyes and nodded his head, he had to remember every single thing that Keilah can partake in so he could do his job well.

“Since it’s separated from the Inpatients, we have it convenient for the outpatients to have easy access to the laboratory, X-ray, MRD, pharmacy and billing too. We made it accessible para walang patients na nagrereklamo o mahirapan.” Nakikinig lamang si Rogue sa sinasabi ng dalaga habang naka proseso na sa utak niya ang mga detalyeng pwede niya magamit.

“Any question, Mr. Hamsmith?” Keilah faced the man before her and she feels the sudden uneasiness, pakiramdam niya ay pamilyar ang presensya ng lalaki ngunit hindi niya mawari kung bakit.

“I don't have any questions so far, I can see that you're doing your best to explain and show it to me.” 

Keilah simply nodded her head and walked ahead of him, “Sige, let’s proceed to IP.” They headed their way back inside the hospital, “So as you know, ang Inpatient service is andoon na ang pag provide ng diet, lodging and medical care. We divided it here to make it even more convenient, we have the nurse station there and the wards, present rin and dietary service, then the sanitary facilities and other requirements na accessible.”

“How many wards do you have here for emergencies?” Rogue asked.

“You can find the ICU at the right wing of this building, andoon rin ang mga Intermediate Care Wards at Isolation Ward,” Keilah replied and walked ahead. Gusto niya magmadali dahil alam niyang aabutin sila ng gabi kung mabagal silang kikilos.

Ngunit bago pa man makaalis si Keilah ay hinila siya pabalik ng kasama dahil may paparating na mga nurses habang nagmamadaling inalalayan ang isang pasyente na naka-hospital stretcher at muntikan siya nitong mabangga. “I didn't know you can be this careless too, Miss Olivarez.” Rogue whispered to her ears while still holding her waist, gulat pa rin na nakatingin sa kanya ang dalaga at hindi kaagad nakakilos.

“Nagmamadali ka ba?” tanong pa ni Rogue. Keilah snapped in her senses and pushed him away, the man simply smirked at her and fixed his coat.

“Where are we heading next?” He flashes his grin at her and her brows meet as she prevents her face from turning red.

“We’ll head our way to the medical department.”

Ipinagpatuloy nila ang paglalakad hanggang sa makarating sila sa medical department kung saan sila naka-assigned. “We have our various clinical services here, that includes surgery, obstetrics, medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, dental, neurology, orthopedics, psychiatry, cardiology, and the likes.”

As Keilah was explaining to Rogue, a man with a lab gown approached their way, Torrent Perez walked with his chin up. He gritted his teeth in annoyance when he saw the two doctors together, he seemed bitter of what he witnessed. “Good day, Miss Keilah. I can see that you're in the middle of a tour with the new guy,” Torrent sounds so arrogant that it made the young lady roll her eyes. Kahit ngayon lamang niya ito nakita ay alam niyang ito ang nag-iisang anak ng Perez Company na nais ipagkasundo sa kanya.

“You’re probably Mr. Perez?” Keilah asked with a surprised look, the situation of being caught with two men makes her even want to go back to her office and rest.

“Let me introduce myself properly, doctor.” His charming grin made her even more annoyed, Rogue on the other hand smirks after seeing that there is a hint of admiration in the man’s eyes. “I’m Torrent Perez, and it’s a privilege to encounter a goddess like you, miss Keilah.” Torrent held her hand and kissed it, the woman rolled her eyes and stepped back from him.

“It’s nice meeting you, Mr. Perez. But I assume we had to go, I still have a lot of stuff to do in my office so kailangan ko talagang magmadali. So will you excuse me?” she passed by his direction and left him dismayed. Rogue followed after her and laughed inside his head, if he could draw the man’s expression, it’ll surely take months for it to be done, talaga naman kasing hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Torrent nang talikuran siya ng dalaga.

“You seemed to be not in your mood, doctor.” Rogue tries to approach her nicely, however, he only receives a deadly glare. “Why don't we have some coffee first? My treat for assisting me to roam around the hospital,” he continued and Keilah simply glanced at him.

“Uh, I’ll buy you donuts,” He insisted and the woman looked at him intently like she’s asking for an assurance.

“Let’s head to the nearby Cafe then.”

They went their way outside and visited a certain cafe where they could buy their snacks and rest for a while. Rogue was the one to check the counter and order their food, “I’d like to have one iced espresso and one frappuccino,” he looked at the menu again to see some desserts. “I would also like to have two chocolate frosted doughnuts and two jelly doughnuts, pa-add na rin ng ten munchkins.”

“Assorted po ba ang munchkins, sir?”

“Ah, yes.”

“One iced espresso and one frappuccino, two chocolate frosted doughnuts and two jelly doughnuts then ten assorted munchkins,” the server placed the list and began to prepare the orders. “We’ll have to serve it at your table sir, thank you for your order.”

Rogue came back to their table and checked his phone screen, bahagya rin siyang napa sulyap sa babaeng kasama niya. Hindi niya akalain na unang kita nila ay hindi na siya pinagkakatiwalaan nito, “I can see you.”

He bit his lower lip when she spoke, mukhang napansin ni Keilah na sinusulyapan siya ng tingin nito. “Do you need something?” Tanong ng dalaga.

“Uh, nothing.”

“What did you order?” Keilah asked, trying to divert the topic into something else.

“I ordered the snacks I want,” Rogue replied, which made the woman raise her brow at him.

“What?”

“Sinabi mo sa akin na akong bahala kung ano ioorder,” Rogue replied and she twitched her lips.

“Fine,” and she sounded so edgy. Rogue didn't mind her and decided to chat with his best bud to ask some advice.

When their order arrived, Keilah stared at the coffees in front of her. Nalilito siya kung alin doon ang sa kanya, “Alin dito ang akin?”

“Your choice,” Rogue is unsure if she will like it, nalilito rin naman kasi siya kung ano ba talaga ang gusto ng dalaga. He thought maybe next time he will buy everything and let her decide kung ano ang gusto niya.

Iritableng kinuha ni Keilah and frappuccino at uminom, nanatili namang nakasandal si Rogue sa upuan niya habang nakatingin sa dalaga. “Have some doughnuts,” sambit niya at inilapit ang plates.

“You think mauubos natin to no?”

“Why not? Halata namang kulang pa yan.”

“What do you mean, Mr. Hamsmith?” Keilah raised her brows at him and took a bit of her munchkin.

“Nothing, miss Olivarez.”

—---

The smell of the air conditioner filled the entire room and the rays of sun were about to disappear in the walls from the opened window. Kacie sat on her office table while typing on her laptop, she was told to submit her report for tomorrow and she had to do it quickly so she could afford to sleep early tonight. As she continues to type on her computer, her mind couldn't focus when sudden images flashes inside her head. “Loki…” her mouth suddenly mentioned his name, “What’s with that guy? Why do I have to keep on thinking about him?” She bit her lower lip and decided to close her laptop.

“I need to get over him,” she whispered and took her phone to call her friend.

“Everette, are you busy today?” Kacie averted her attention, she took the aircon’s remote and turned it off.

“Yes, Kacie? Are you alright, girl?”

“Someone is bothering my mind and I need to let this out before it could poison me,” she stated and bit her nails out of worry.

“Is that your sister again?”

“Hindi, it’s different this time. It’s a guy, Eve.” Tila hindi mapakali ang puso ni Kacie habang iniisip ang sinabi niya, ngayon lamang ito nangyari sa kanya at hindi niya alam ang gagawin.

“What? Are you serious? Who’s the lucky guy?” Everette Martines, a good friend of hers, seemed surprised after what she heard. Kacie hasn't fallen for anyone, and she thinks this is the perfect time for her to entertain boys because she is about to enter her 30’s.

“Girl, I think it’s not a problem. At your age, need mo talaga i-let iyang heart mo to fall in love.”

“But–”

“Wait, let’s meet tonight. Libre kita ng dinner, just calm down sweetie.”

“I haven't mentioned anything yet! How did you know that I like someone?”

“I just know.”

Kacie hung up the call and sighed, she prepared herself to meet her best friend. Wala namang nagpa-appoint sa kanya ngayon at marami rin naman siyang mga kasamahan kung sakaling may magpa-check up na pasyente. She left her office and drove her car to the certain restaurant that Everette mentioned in the text, it will be a long night for them.

Meanwhile, Keilah decided to go home right after Rogue treated her to a snack. She wanted to rest her head didn't bother to check her office stuff, sinabihan na niya ang secretary niya na iligpit ang mga gamit niya para bukas.

She quickly rushed herself to have a cold bath before jumping into her bed. It’s still past seven o'clock but her mind is sleepy and her body is about to give in, maaga pa siya bukas kung kaya ay kailangan niyang matulog ng maaga. Marami rin siyang dapat asikasuhin lalo na ang mga pasyente niya na nag pa-appoint sa kanya.

Keilah turned off the lights and kept her eyes focused on the ceiling, as usual, a lot of thoughts began to flash inside her head. Loki Hamsmith bothers her, it seems that he can be one of her rivals. Mas lalo lamang nadagdagan ang iniisip niya dahil nakita niya rin ang doktor na si Tempest Canosa, ang isa sa mga nais siyang ipatumba. Iniisip niya rin ang binabalak ni Kamila na pagpapakasal sa kanya kay Torrent Perez. “Argh, this is really driving me crazy.”

Mag-isa. Iyan ang mas nangingibabaw sa puso niya, pakiramdam niya ay wala siyang kakampi. Pero hindi rin naman iyon magiging hadlang para hayaan niya ang sariling pamilya na hilain siya pababa.

It’s too late for her to realize that she snoozed herself. Her heavy breathing fills the air and her fierce expression is no more, all that could be seen is her fragile beauty. How could someone hate her for being excellent, competitive and beautiful?

As she let her dreams play in her mind, the glass window in her unit swung open and a shadow went inside. The silhouette was covered in black, but it can't be denied that it was a figure of a woman. It tiptoed on the ground and went nearby the bedroom, the shadow opened the door and saw the woman sleeping. The threat walks even closer and watches the sleeping beauty peacefully snoozing, “You need to die, Keil.” She slowly took a pillow from the headboard and was about to wrap it on the woman’s face to stop her from breathing when Keilah moved her body and changed her sleeping position.

The shadow doesn't have enough courage to kill her directly, she stands there looking at the sleeping lady with raging eyes. She gasped when Keilah slowly opened her eyes, and before she was caught on guard, she ran and jumped on the balcony. Nanatili namang gulat ang dalaga at hindi makagalaw nang malaman niyang may nagtangka na namang pumatay sa kanya. Alam niyang iisang tao lamang ang lagi siyang binabantaang patayin. Halos hindi niya malunok ang sariling laway dahil sa kaba, pero napalitan rin ito ng galit at iretable siyang bumangon at pumunta sa kusina.

“Hinahamon talaga nila ako.”