The automatic door split open as I stepped out and it closed giving me a farewell sign. I glanced at the ICU one last time and rushed outside of the hospital, bumping into someone I didn't expect to see. "Ops! My bad!" the doctor wearing a white lab gown who seemed to have just finished operating someone uttered. The smell of ethanol and blood was assaulting my nostrils. My head hurt at the impact of colliding on his firm shoulder. "I'm sorry!" I replied, my head was looking down the floor. As I looked up to see who was the unfortunate guy, I felt I had seen a shelter to shield me from this horrible storm. He, too, was surprised to see me. "Kota!" "Paul!" We both uttered in unison and smiled. I had never seen Paul for two weeks although there was a time that he sent me a message, telling me he went to South Africa as one of the medical volunteers there. "Hey! It's nice to see you again!" he chuckled as he lifted me from the floor and twirled me around. "Paul, put me dow
After Five Days . . At Martin's private ward... My looks were as bright as the morning sun. My simple knitted baby blue sweater and tight jeans made me move freely inside of his room. My white knee-length boots made a click-clacking sound while my vision rummaged through the empty room. "Where is he?" I mumbled, talking to air. It was eight in the morning, too early for him to leave and stroll outside. Too cold, too. Winter was approaching, he needed to get out of here before the freezing weather came. I put my home-cooked meal; cream mushroom soup, egg mayo sandwich, and fresh brewed coffee on the side table. "Martin, babe, are you in the bathroom? You should have waited for me. You must not move a lot yet!" I strode to the bathroom just next to the entrance door, but he was not there. Where could he be? Till I heard some footsteps coming, which I thought were just the medical staff doing their morning routine. My thoughts scolded me wrong when the door to his ward slid open,
Inside Paul's office, he took the medical kit from the medicine cabinet while I was sitting on the patient's bed. I was just staring at him, admiring how fast and flawless his hands were in preparing for the cream and ointments. "All right. You've already washed your hands with lukewarm water. Let's apply some ointments now!" he then glanced at me with a smile. I almost lost myself there. Did he just notice me ogling at him? "You've been staring at me for quite a while!" d*mn, he just answered my question. Could he read minds, too? "Oh well! You can't blame a woman. My personal doctor is gorgeous!" I jeered and he just chuckled while applying the ointment at the back of my palm. I hissed in pain for quite a bit, however, once the ointment took effect, I felt a cool sensation running from the scalded skin. "Whew! That's quite good!" I uttered, and he just nodded. "Hmm! I bought this from China when I visited my friend there!" he told me as he lifted his head and met my gaze. "He'
Paul POV . . Her sweet and soft lips were still on my lips. A smile crept on my face while I was walking in the corridor, nodding and greeting the nurses, passing by. "Good evening, Dr. Castillo!" one of the nurses from the gyne department greeted with a light bow. "Good evening!" I greeted back. "Dr. Castillo, you're looking radiantly handsome tonight!" Marvin, my classmate at the medical university and colleague here at my hospital teased me while patting my shoulder. "Tell me, bro. Who's the unlucky girl!" he jeered. "Sh*t up, bro!" I jeered back. "Don't you have surgery tonight?" I jeered back, shaking his hand on my shoulder. "Ops! You're not only looking deadly handsome. You have a mark on your lips, too!" he chuckled. I stopped and touched my lips where I kissed Kota. A serious gaze was shifted to Marvin, who was obviously enjoying my flabbergasted look. "F*ck off, dude. I'm not telling you who she is!" I pushed him away. "Ahu?! But you can describe her
Dakota POV . . It has been almost a week since I passed my curriculum vitae and drawing samples to the HR of SF Galore, yet not even a single email of rejection was sent to me. I'd rather choose to be quickly rejected than wait like this, hoping that they would give my as* and my designs a chance to shine. I had been jobless for years now. What I meant was that I had a part-time job, but the income wasn't good enough to pay for my bills. Who was I kidding? Would I even consider force-designing for my bestie's and her family's clothes a job? Yeah! Right?! I was their personal designer, from her husband's custom-made suits to Amy Leah's dresses and gowns. "But all of my designs and creations for them always come with great packages!" I convinced myself, thinking of Areesh's wardrobe that has my tag. Every single shirt and pair of pants, and they were all free. I always gave that little bundle of joy free clothes and other gifts not just because he was cute but because he wa
Her head assistant, Mr. Armani shot daggers with his gaze as he strode towards me. "How dare you disrespect Madam Florence!" he roared, pushing my shoulder. He might be gay, but he was strong, and I was pushed back with his harsh poking. "I...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to~" I was stammering, my head was looking down the shiny marbled floor. "You didn't mean to?!" he cut me off, I flinched at the loudness of his voice. I lifted my head a bit to see his raging expression. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" Mr. Armani kept on cross-examining me like I just murdered somebody in the building. "What are these? What kind of rubbish are these things?" he then stared at my designs with disgust. The tips of his fingers were shaking like my clothes were trash. "Janitor, hey! Throw these pieces of trash out!" okay, that's too much. I raised both of my hands, spreading them on each side, trying to protect my designs. "Mr. Armani, I didn't mean to disrespect anyone here, especially Mad
"Amy Leah, I've got the job!" I excitedly told my best friend the good news. The moment Madam Florence said I could start tomorrow, I called Amy Leah right away. "Oh my goodness! Kota, baby, I'm so proud of you!" I could feel the sincerity in her voice. "How about let's celebrate tonight? Tell me everything about the new job you've got!" "Of course! I'm going to your place tonight. I miss you and Areesh!" my excitement was floating in the air. Who would have thought that after everything, I would totally land in the company I had been dreaming of working with for a long time? "All right, come to our place. I will let Dante pick you up so you won't need to drive when you get home!" Amy Leah offered, and I just followed everything she planned for tonight. Of course, I wasn't going to their mansion empty-handed. This was the best time for serious shopping. Aside from getting some gifts for my godson, Areesh, I also needed to buy some sets of casual attires. I got in my car,
Martin POV . . I have been stuck in this wheelchair for almost two weeks now. I already told my mom and Shantel that this wasn't necessary anymore, but my mom was adamant. If I defied her, she would give me a couple of hours of sermon, and she, the ever gentle and calm woman, was definitely different when she was mad. I wouldn't want to see the she-wolf in her! "Tesoro mio, I already called Mr. Vianchi, and guess what?" it was Shantel. She has been doing almost all of my work since I was confined at the hospital. She just walked into my study room with her fitted one-piece above-the-knee red dress, the tight-fitted outfit accentuated her curves. The click-clacking of her black stilettos was like a melodic rhythm seducing my manhood, but my boy didn't even respond. She deliberately flipped her hair to the side, showing her neck while giving me the documents, Mr. Vianchi and I signed about a month ago. "Thanks, bellissima!" I gently told her. She loved it when I called her th