Chapter 3

As I slowly opened my eyes, the bright morning light piercing through the window felt like a sharp dagger to my brain. I groggily lifted my head off the pillow, and a wave of nausea washed over me, making my stomach churn with a sickening feeling. I felt like I'd been hit by a truck, my body heavy and weak.

I tried to sit up, but the room began to spin, and I fell back onto the bed, my heart racing. The thought of getting out of bed and going to work felt like an insurmountable task. I couldn't shake off the feeling of sickness that had settled in the pit of my stomach, like a dark cloud looming over me.

I took a few deep breaths, hoping to calm my racing thoughts and settle my queasy stomach. But the nausea persisted, threatening to unleash a torrent of unwanted contents from my stomach. I slowly turned onto my side, praying that the day would pass me by, and I could just sleep away the sickness. But the clock on my nightstand seemed to mock me, ticking away the minutes, reminding me that the day was young, and I had to face it head-on.

As I lay there, feeling miserable, the sound of a car pulling up outside broke the silence. I recognized the distinctive hum of Doctor John's Car, and my heart skipped a beat.

I slowly sat up again, this time more cautiously, and made my way to the window. I pulled back the curtains, and sure enough, Doctor John's car was parked outside

I felt a wave of relief wash at the same time I was surprised, I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering nausea, and made my way to the front door.

"Mirabel" he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners of the house as he walked towards me “Why do you look pale?”

“I am fine", I replied my voice weak and shaky “I am just feeling a bit nauseous and sick this morning" I added

 John’s eyes narrowed slightly, I hastily excused myself and made my way to the bathroom, feeling a bit more energized now. I quickly changed into a fresh set of clothes and carried my bag, trying to shake off the lingering fatigue and nausea. As I splashed some water on my face and ran a brush through my hair,

I emerged from the bathroom to find Doctor John waiting patiently in the living room, his eyes scanning me with a professional gaze. "Feeling a bit better, I see," he said with a nod. "Good. Let's get you to work, then. I'll drive you myself."

“I haven’t even asked why you came here? And how did you get my address?” I asked, I couldn’t shake off the thought, wondering why he suddenly came over to me.

He smiled back and gestured towards the door. "You are my one of my partners at work, I didn’t see your signature on the attendance papers, so I wondered why you are late” he explained.

I nod my head feeling uncomfortable “okay thank you sir"

“Drop the formalities Mirabel" he said walking me towards the car.

As we drove through the streets, the silence between us was palpable. I couldn't shake off the feeling that Doctor John was thinking something was romantically brewing between us, and I needed to set the record straight.

"Doctor John," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, "can I talk to you for a second?"

He glanced over at me, his eyes inquiring. "Of course, What's on your mind?"

I took a deep breath, trying to choose my words carefully. "I just wanted to say...I really appreciate your help today, but...I don't want to give you the wrong idea. I mean, those times was a mistake, I didn’t know you are Andrew’s dad so we have to stop everything now before it gets out of hand , but...I don't think we should...you know.. do this kind of things, people might get the wrong idea once they see us together."

Doctor John's expression remained neutral, but I thought I saw a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "I see," he said, his voice measured.

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. "Thanks for understanding, Doctor John. I just wanted to be clear."

He nodded, his eyes returning to the road ahead.

As we walked through the hospital corridors, I couldn't help but notice the curious glances and whispered conversations among my colleagues. Some of them eyed Doctor John and me with a mixture of surprise and suspicion, and I worried that they might jump to the wrong conclusion.

"Doctor John, I think we need to be careful," I said, my voice low and urgent. "People are starting to stare, and I don't want them to get the wrong idea about us."

He nodded understandingly, his eyes scanning the surrounding area.

As we continued walking, I saw Andrew and Aliana walking towards us, I could sense that something is going to happen.

“Hey dad, why are you coming to work with Mirabel?” he asked “Mirabel, you can’t seem to get off me right? You hopped on my dad for promotion or whatever” he added

I felt a stinging sensation in my chest, like a sharp blade had pierced my heart. The accusation hurt, especially coming from someone who betrayed me first, But I refuse to let his words sink in I took a deep breath.

“Andrew, do not make a scene here” John whispered to his ears and walked away

 I stood tall, my arms folded across my chest and a fake smile spreading across my face.

“Aliana.. Are you having a great time with my ex boyfriend?” I asked smiling

Aliana exclaimed, I could feel her anger, its shown all over her already.

“Well you cant change the fact that he cheated on you” Aliana replied with so much courage

A subtle smile turned on my lips and I turned away. I knew my silence was more powerful than any words u could have spoken, I had chosen not to engage.

Aliana's eyes narrowed, her gaze following me as I walked away. I could sense her frustration, her desire to provoke a reaction from me. But I remained calm, my shoulders relaxed, my pace steady.

My silence was a shield, a armor that protected me from her venomous words. And it was also a weapon, a reminder that I refused to be drawn into her games.

As I disappeared from view, I could feel Aliana’s anger and confusion lingering in the air. She was used to getting a rise out of people, used to being the center of attention. But I had denied her that satisfaction, and it had left her off balance.

I knew that my silence would haunt her, would make her wonder what I was thinking, what I was planning. And that was exactly what I wanted. For in the game of silence, I was the one holding the cards.