Chapter 4

"You took a blood test without even checking if the patient has already eaten or not?! Even your juniors know that!" A hushed shriek of anger made me stop on my tracks as I looked at the direction to where the voice is coming from.

The place seemed quiet and calm, as if everything is handled calmly and very professionally but events like this always welcome me. It was as if I am a magnet being pulled towards the bad energy. 

"I’m sorry, Doc. I forgot." Another voice said, more hushed than the first one.

I looked at the corridor near the fire exit, thinking that’s where the voices were coming from and I wasn’t wrong.

I stared at the two ladies, the taller one had her brown hair tied in a clean ponytail, making her look clean and professional but with the minimal strands falling on her temples made her look more of a busy working woman. She had her doctor’s robe on making her look more intimidating than the other.

Meanwhile, the other girl has her hair in a clean bun. With her soft features, people wouldn’t think twice to ask for her help for anything. Unlike the other, she looks more like a kitten. But who knows who the real kitten is?

"Look here nurse. If did something worse because of your ignorance, and something bad will happen to the patient, would you take responsibility? You’re working for the people and they trust you, so do your job properly!"

My lips twitch as the doctor already looks so frustrated while the nurse is still feigning ignorance.

Things like this happens commonly in hospitals – they would be talking about who would take responsibility.

The conversation was getting boring and too dramatic for something that’s happening in an ordinary day at the hospital so I was about to leave. Their conversation is making me less interested. Aside from that, I may look like a creep who listens to what the professionals are talking about.

"Is that what you really are angry about, Doc? Stop bitching around in this hospital just because your father is also working here."

I'm not a person who likes eavesdropping but they were getting too much attention and it looks like the nurse just spilled some piping hot tea.

"You’re acting high and mighty after you killed the girlfriend of your ex. The audacity!"

I looked away, trying so hard not to laugh with the sudden turn of events. What the hell is this tea?

I shook my head and readied myself to leave. But before completely leaving I heard the doctor retorting to the nurse’s words.

"And you think you’re high and mighty just because you caught some gossip?"

I let out an exasperated laugh with the drama I just witnessed. What the hell was that? It’s not really good to eavesdrop, look what I’ve got.

While walking through the empty corridor, a loud alarm rang saying something about Code Blue. Not even long after the alarm rang, both girls were running towards my direction, the way to the Intensive Care Unit.

Looking at the back of the girl with a doctor’s robe on, with her hair swaying from the way she’s running, I can’t help but feel pity towards her. She's a Bach doctor so I'm sure she didn't kill anyone just because of a love affair.

BACH MAIN BRANCH HOSPITAL, just one of the many hospitals owned by the Bach family. By my family. 

If you managed to enter her, you’re one of the best. Others exerted a lot of effort just to get accepted and be an employee of the Bachs while some are through connections but one thing is for sure, you can't get inside without either pure talent or skills. 

Even I didn’t have an easy life so I could work for the Bachs. It was never easy, for me or for anyone else.

My stomach grumbled making me groan. I was trying to hold it in but I think it reached its limits. Good thing the staffs were kind enough to assist me to where the canteen was. They even helped me order food.

After eating, I finished roaming around and checking out the hospital. It's quite bigger than the other branches but of course, the France branch is still way bigger.

This is the first time I’ve been here after for so many years. I almost forgot how it looked like.

Maybe I was too young to remember the last time I went to this hospital... and maybe it was too painful for me not to forget.

The sky was in red and violet hues when I finished my tour. I guess this concludes my day today. I was about to go down when I come across with a very familiar man.

He looks like he's in his early 50s or late 40s. I was about to walk past him but something made me stop on my tracks. 

"Miss Elijiah Bach?" He knows me. Where have I seen him?

I know I looked so rude, just staring at him who is all smiles in front of me but I don’t really know him.

"Dr. Frue, Head of the Cardiothoracic Department." He held out his hand but I can’t help but just stare at it in pure curiosity.

I dug all the information inside my brain before accepting his hand. Frue. That’s why he looks familiar.

"I didn’t know you were back. Your Lol-"

"Hey dad!" He wasn’t able to finish his sentence because of the sudden interruption.

We both turned to the woman’s voice who called for her dad when I saw another familiar face. Nice to see you again. So she’s his daughter.

Before she came closer, my phone beeped for an appointment reminder.

"Dr. Frue, I have to go. I have an appointment." I took a step sidewards, readying myself to leave.

He must have sense the urgency in my actions, reason why he didn’t bother to stop me or prolong our conversation.

"Have a good stay Miss Bach."

I nodded curtly before leaving for the Bach Headquarters building. It is quite far from the Bach Hospital so I was able arrive when darkness was already fully embracing the skies, with not much light twinkling in it.

I presented my ID to the scanner on the front door. The building has no guards outside, unlike the usual. Instead, it has two scanners where it would recognize a person through the identification card and eye scanner. 

As I entered the building, the empty lobby with its modern design welcomed me. The receptionist gave me a huge smile as she saw me entering, with her head slightly bowed.

"Good evening ma'am, how may I help you?" She may sound so professional but the hospitality and calmness would surely not intimidate any person who’d come to the front desk.

I just smiled at her and waved my hand to say no before walking towards the elevator. I was waiting for the elevator to open when a familiar tone rang and resounded in the empty lobby.

As soon as I swiped right, a tender and loving male voice welcomed me. “Elle, I’m in the hospital right now. Where are you?”

Oh. I was just there. The timing sucks.

"I’m in the headquarters but I’m on my way there.”

With urgency, I ended the call and maneuvered my car swiftly but nothing is swift with traffic especially in the roads of the city of Manila. After for more than an hour ride, I finally got to the hospital.

Even with the darkness of the night, the small lights on the meadow made it seem as if I was entering a large manor, not a hospital.

The lamp posts on the streets guided me to a large building, but even with the lights, it didn’t look bright nor lovely. It was rather solemn, calm but somewhat melancholic, just like how it always seems at night.

I was still walking on the entrance, towards the lobby when I immediately saw those familiar ocean green eyes.

I smelled his familiar scent, the scent of love and home as his arms enveloped around me. I chuckled as he wrapped his arms tighter, as if never letting me go.

"Darling, I miss you. It’s been so long." He removed his hold on me but he renewed it as he held my shoulder, so he could look at my face clearly.

His lips slowly curved up as his face illuminated with an unknown glint of joy. I turned red, embarrassed from his public display of affection. I'm 27 for fuck's sake but he still treats me the same way, like I was twenty years ago.

Even with the sunglasses, I knew the bodyguards were looking at us. Even the few passersby – nurses, doctors, hospital staff, patients or visitors.

I love it when my grandfather is acting sweet and making me feel loved because after all, he is all I have but not infront of a lot of people. Their stares and curious looks make me want to hide under a skirt.

"Come in.” He clicked his head as he held my arm so I would follow him going inside the lobby.

I smirk in disbelief as he treated like he owns this house, and we’re just going to have a little tea party in his living room.

His steps were slow and frail as he walked slowly, holding on to his cane made of expensive wood. On top of it is the family emblem in its 3D version carved in pure gold. 

I assisted him as he sat slowly on the couch, groaning as his knees slowly bended and touched the soft material. After assisting him, I sat adjacent to where he was.

“When will you start working?”

“Uh…” I laughed silently at the thought of Lolo inviting me for a talk just in a lobby, not even a private room.

“Tomorrow.”

His eyes grow round as his brows furrowed as if my answer was very questionable and unacceptable. 

"Huh? But you just came back. It’s not even 12 hours since you came back. Won’t—Don’t—” His next words were stuttered as he doesn’t seem to figure out what to say next. “Aren’t… Aren’t you tired? Jet lag, perhaps?”

He surveyed my whole body with furrowed brows as if something is really wrong with me.

"I'm fine, Lo. The earlier I start working, the better. After all, I’m not here for a vacation.”

The wrinkles at the corner of his eyes became more prominent as it turned gloomier.

“Uh, did you already have dinner?” I said, changing the topic since his expression was making me feel uncomfortable and somehow, sad for a reason.

After some small talks, I decided to go home early since he still has another appointment. I wanted to escort him but he insisted in letting me go home.

Instead of going home at the manoir, I went home to my condo instead that’s nearer my workplace rather than the manior. It’s just a newly bought condo, Lolo’s welcome gift for me.

Due to the exhaustion, my body immediately became one with the soft mattress as I let drowsiness weakly drag me to slumber.

“Elijiah…”

A deep sweet voice that seemed like a heartwarming serenade wake me up from my deep slumber.

My heart was beating erratically as the sound of his voice made me feel a familiar comfort but at the same time, hitting my entire system like lightning.