All of a sudden, there was chaos among the staff in the emergency room. They ran back and forth, wearing their N95 face masks in a snap of a finger. Those vigilant watchers of the waiting patients at the ER started to panic. They began to ask questions while putting themselves, as well, into their protective gear. Some sprayed alcohol on themselves, almost emptying the contents of a bottle in just a single use. Some of them even wanted to cancel their admissions and go home right away or transfer to other health facilities.
"Everything is under control. No need to panic," I heard someone from the infectious control department addressing the crowd, standing tall from the nurses' counter. She had power in her voice, however, the glints of fear reflecting in her eyes betrayed her inner feelings.
"What's happening?" someone from the watcher's lounge asked as he slid himself into the main ER's entrance.
"Someone came over here for a consultation. Just because he is a foreigner, the people from outside think he is infected with the virus. We already assessed the said patient and we, as the health care team, do think otherwise."
She may be lying or not; she only intended to calm down the public and stop them from creating false reports and unnecessary panic. None among the patient's family had access to the isolation room anyway, and it was too early to put a verdict on the suspect. After much convincing, the tension eased down, and everything was back to normal.
Foreigners were mostly misjudged because most of those who got infected were tourists from other countries. The locals were not willing to spend the dollar value imposed in that tourist spot since there were lots of magnificent beach resorts all around, offering a much lower price.
I went to the isolation room in a different route, away from the prying eyes of the patient's watchers. Somehow, I took a step back when I finally stood by the door, drawing a deep breath to calm my racing heartbeats. Who would not get scared when finally you're thrown armless into the real battle?
I turned the knob open, and the moment our eyes met, I felt my heart got stuck in my throat. I didn't know why, it was so silly of me again.. I knew it was not from the scare I felt towards the virus but from the way his gaze pierced into my soul. Of course, it was the first time I met him, but why did I feel like seeing him in my dreams before?
"Good morning, doc!" I heard him spoke, and his deep and resonant voice sent butterflies into my stomach.
I stared at him and my foolish self, suddenly, lost the energy to remove my gaze at him. I began to do a quick mental reassessment of myself. Just when did I start to become stupid in front of a gorgeous man?
"Good morning, Mr.?" I asked, expecting that his name would be as handsome as he was.
"Sean...Sean Grey."
Before I could blink, his lips twisted into a delicious curve, intensified by the spark in his eyes. Dear heavens, I was too ready to die with him if, at that moment, he would graze his lips on mine.
"I'm Dr. Red, Red Nelson, your physician-on-duty today. Now, may I ask, Mr. Grey, what prompts you to come here?" I began to do my duty but my eyes were on his lips. He must have noticed my craziness because I saw him swallow hard before he replied. Perhaps, my sticking eyes, like leeches on a skin, distracted him.
"I was one of those who went to Sama Island a month ago."
"It's already a month, isn't it?" I asked; a load of worries dispelled right away from my heart with my initial conclusion that he was not a suspect for the virus infection. The incubation period was only one to two weeks before the signs and symptoms start to manifest. Cough, fever and red patches all over the body were the cardinal signs, and airborne transmission was how the virus spread itself.
"Yes, but I'm getting paranoid when I learned that a lot of tourists are tested positive of the virus."
"After that, have you gone back to Sama Island or traveled to countries where the virus is on outbreak?"
"No."
"What else prompted you for a check-up?"
"I have a cough."
"Describe your cough, Mr. Grey."
"It's dry and persistent like every time I got my asthma attack."
"Are you having a breathing difficulty?"
"Not anymore. I had my puff."
"Do you also have a fever?"
"Not yet."
I laughed hard at his answer. This man was not only stunningly handsome but was shockingly coward and paranoid. He threw me a puzzled look but I ignored him. How would I explain myself? I walked over to his side, placing the diaphragm of my black stethoscope into the quadrants of his back. I then stepped in front of him, bending a little as I also listened to his lung sounds. He stared into my eyes as I did my ministrations on his chest, almost tempted to place both of my palms instead. The loud sound I heard was not the rales or crackles from any of his lobes, but the loud thuds coming from my heart. He was as healthy as an ox.
"Go home, Mr. Grey," I said as I mentally scolded myself for acting so silly. It was not my first time to have a male client, nor my first time to touch a handsome man. Yet, I couldn't understand why I was acting this way as if I was running out of a man. I had a handsome boyfriend who believes he was mighty and powerful as a king.
"Why do you send me home? Aren't you going to test me if I am positive or not? Aren't you going to treat me?
"You are as silly as I am, Mr. Grey," I mumbled foolishly, speaking softly to myself. I was too late to realize that he heard me because when my eyes fell into his face again, I saw his brows turning up.
"What did you say?" he asked, his confused gaze turned into a spark of amusement.
How I wish I could tell him I was crazy to feel this way. I was never a believer of love at first sight, not until this moment when this stranger before me, affected me in a way that makes me question my mental health.
"I mean you are as paranoid as me. Look at me now, wrapped in this troublesome protective gear, thinking that you are infected with the virus," I explained laughing but not over what I said, but for my craziness.
I began removing my shields, including my goggles and my mask before I spoke to him again. "Mr. Grey, just continue your maintenance medication for your asthma. I'll give you an antihistamine for five days but you may consult your doctor if symptoms get worse."
"Give me your number," he said, with all the seriousness my mind could imagine he could do. I looked at him dumbly and my mouth fell open.
"My number?"
My shift finally ended after a few hours Mr. Grey left the hospital premises. I gave him an antihistamine for five days but encouraged him to consult his physician if symptoms persist. I took a shower before leaving, planning to dive into my bed as soon as I arrive home. It had been a long shift, and all I wanted was to sleep for another 24 hours. I was already in my third year of medical residency training, specializing in Internal Medicine. I planned to pursue a subspecialty program, also known as fellowship training, and perhaps, I choose either Cardiology or Infectious Diseases. I was already a few months away from completing my residency, but still, I had not made up my mind yet.I took another shower as soon as I arrived home. I didn't want my boyfriend, Eric, to blame me if he ever gets sick. I was already tired of his foul mouth as I was becoming more and more worthless in his eyes. Yes, he had reasons why he looked down on me. He rescued me from the pit of financial
"See you at the Amara Hotel tonight, 7 pm. Don't be late.""Alright."Throughout those five years we were together, I learned to submit myself to his plans and decisions. I never questioned him though sometimes, I felt suffocated. I even accepted the fact that if he brings me to any function, it's not because he wanted my company but because I was like a trophy for him to show off. He was always far from the man I knew every time important men in his social circle surrounded us. He became the gentleman that he never was, sweet and caring like a thoughtful sweetheart. Sometimes, I even wished there would be more events to attend.I set my alarm clock to three hours before the event. It should be enough for my preparation, knowing that Eric was so meticulous. Perhaps because his call disrupted my train of thoughts, I drifted into a dreamless sleep as soon as my head hit my soft pillow..._____I was in a boat, enjoying the sceneries around me. We wer
I felt my blood rushing in the wrong direction when I heard Mr. Grey's name on Eric's lips. My heartbeats thumped erratically, and I started to feel afraid that Eric would sense my reaction. I turned away and pretended to grab my bag, heading out of the room ahead of him."Red, have you heard me?" I heard him asked before he grabbed my arm. I turned to him and raised my brow, pretending I didn't get his point."My goodness, Red, can't you be so stupid just for once?" Eric yelled into my face, and I stepped back in fright, even if he already did this to me a thousand times."What do you exactly want me to do?" I sighed as I responded, having realized I overacted my denial."You must grab a chance to talk to him or, better yet, dance with him!"I nodded but I added, and his reply increased the sense of humiliation I felt inside. "And you won't get jealous? Wouldn't this be a problem between the two of us?"He looked at me with disdain, laughin
"I mean, we are doing well in five years, so I guess, a piece of paper does not make any difference," added Eric when he, perhaps, sensed that we got dumbfounded. I smiled and nodded, but tried hard to conceal my embarrassment and sense of shame. I felt rejected, unwanted, and undesired. "It makes a great difference if you were to ask me, Eric. One of the best days of my life was when I walked down the aisle with the woman I love," Mr. Tim Cruz pointed out, and I swore, I saw Mr. Grey smirked and threw a scornful look at Eric. To my added embarrassment, Mr. Cruz turned to Mr. Grey and solicited for his idea. "Sean, what is your opinion regarding this?" All I wanted at that moment was to faint and not wake up forever when he glanced and cast me a look of pity. "I have the same view as you do, Tim. When the right time comes, I will ask her hand for a marriage," seconded Mr. Grey while his eyes stayed on me. Right at that moment, the last s
As if the music conductor knew that the most important figure of the night approached the dance floor, the music instantly turned into the most romantic strain I ever heard. The moment he placed his hands on the small of my lower back and me on his shoulders, my world began to spin. The sound of my heartbeats competed with the loud sound of the percussion instrument hammering in the background."You're so beautiful without the white coat on," Mr. Grey commented after he ran down his eyes on me. I felt like wax then, melting against the glow of his gaze."Thank you," was all I could mutter after letting out a faint and awkward smile. I was no longer the dominant doctor I was, knowing that I was in his territory."How are you and Mr. Martela?"The question sent shivers down my spine, and it brought back the pain I was trying to push back inside. I couldn't look into his eyes, so I kept staring at his chest, hoping he wouldn't notice my reaction.
It had been some weeks already after that first and last time Mr. Grey dropped me off at home. When he gave me that piece of advice, I responded with just a smile. I couldn't pour out all my heartaches to him because I didn't want him to think that he was better than Eric because he was richer. And besides, we were still strangers who just got to know a little about each other. We were neither friends. Eric's shame was also mine because it also meant I was too stupid to allow him to trample my worth and pride.My mind was all set up. I would be leaving him. I was just waiting for the right time, and I would be breaking it to him gently. I was then slowly taking my distance. Oblivious to him, I was able to purchase my townhouse. After duty, I no longer went home. I just went there sometimes, but I wouldn't take long. I just told him I was accepting another job as a company doctor and slept at the doctor's lounge. It didn't seem to be a problem because he didn't argue with me a
I did not know how long I was crying on Sean's chest. He did not say a word but did not stop stroking my hair and my back. Knowing somebody cared and understood your heartache was such a nice feeling that my crying spell took longer. After what seemed like an eternity, I pulled myself up and looked at him with a faint smile. "Thank you, Mr. Grey." "Sean. We already agreed on this." "Ah, yes," I chuckled, feeling awkward. "I need to go back. They are already looking for me," I said as I looked around, ignoring his complaint. I sighed in relief when I realized we're standing on a corridor that only ER staff were using. I pulled my phone out and saw unread messages. I then opened the one from my fellow physician-on-duty. "Doc, Red,don't worry. I'm taking over. Mr. Martela asked if you are on duty, but I told him you are accompanying a patient who transferred to another institution." I smiled at Dr. Mimi's thoughtfulness, but I grumb
Eric rolled up his window and threw me a confused stare. Suddenly, I lost my courage to say it personally to him that I was already leaving. Not because I had hesitations, but because I did not want to hurt myself anymore. I knew he would start insulting me again and remind me how ungrateful I was."Eric," I greeted him as soon as I was done placing some of my things in the passenger's seat. It was not much anyway because I already pulled some of it every time I dropped by."What happens to your car?" I was right. He didn't notice the absence of my things, even in our bedroom. Either he was too busy with my best friend, or he just didn't care about it. I was used to it, anyway."It's safe from scratches here. Long hours in the hospital's parking lot is too risky.""I won't mind. You can have it fixed anytime."Oh, really. What makes him so gentle today?"Thank you," I said, giving him a pursed smile. "Eric, I have to g
"This is a mistake," I said, breaking the silence and awkwardness. "Because you thought that another man is coming in?" he said, and his lips broke into a tender smile. He strode fast towards me, then wrapped me right away in his arms. "I miss you, babe," he said in a hoarse voice, hugging me tighter. "I missed you so much." "You have no right to say that. In the next few hours, you will already have a new bride." Sean then held me at arm strength and looked into my eyes. "Mia?" "Who else?" I replied, my voice startingto crack. "My mother has long adopted Mia as my little sister. I'm sorry for not telling you this because it was part of the plan to mislead President Ric and his allies." My goodness! I felt like a candle, melting in too much shame. "I have always told you that there's no one else in my heart, long before I found you." Sean cupped my face, and when he was about to bend his h
I furrowed my brows while I took the paper bags from her hands."Dr. Mia would like you to be there at her garden wedding this afternoon."I froze in my seat, unprepared to take the big blow. Sean and Mia are getting married today? Why hasn't she told me about it? Is she afraid to break the news to me because I am sick?I felt a lump sticking inmy throat, summoning the floodgates of tears behind my eyes to open up. I chuckled loudly, but my tears trickled endlessly that I couldn't brush them enough with the back of my index fingers."Look, Dr. Red, the garden is already ready," the nurse said as she walked towards the glass wall, peeping throughthe narrow slits betweenthe curtains.I jumped off the bed after a while then sauntered towards the glass wall. A beautiful flower garden greeted my eyes, and there were rows of chairs and tables indeed, wrapped in cream and burgundy pleated skirts.I scanned the place furth
I ran to the window and parted the curtains to the side. I looked over the direction of the Kalasag Hill, and just as I anticipated, I saw black clouds of smoke rising from the forest. Instead of losing my strength in fear, I felt an adrenaline rush from within me. I stormed out of the room, and without heeding the manager's yells, I ran towards the direction of the forest.I felt within me a prodigy of strength that none of the resort’s staff was able to stop me. Not long after, I heard the sound of the galloping horse’s hooves.“Ma’am, hop in!” the manager yelled at me while I moved to the side to give way.I saw him pulling short both the reins. Then he braced one hand on the horse’s neck, holding the rein tightly and grabbing its mane. Raising the other rein up and back, he then pulled it toward his shoulder.The manager then got off quickly from the horse as soon as it pulled to a stop. Without waiting for his inst
"Thanks, God! You're finally awake!"I shut my eyes back when the blinding light of the sun entered my eyes. I then opened them slowly until I got adjusted to the glare. I stared at the woman who stood by the bedside, brushing the tears in her eyes with the back of her hand."Mia?" I exclaimed, my eyes glowed at the sight of my rival in my love for Sean."Why are you here?"Her lips trembled right away, and her eyes welled with tears. "You scared us so much, especially Sean. I got so worried that he might not be able to handle his grief."I furrowed my brows as I gathered back my thoughts on what happened before I drifted off to sleep. The ache on my back, the muscle pain, and my grogginess told me I had been in bed for days. Then, I remembered I was running after Sean and ended on escaping from the president through the cave. And I recalled everything that followed after that. A bronco bug bit me, and Philip's voice was the last thing I heard befo
The manager gestured with his hand to let me follow him to the elevator. Once we were there, he took me to the seventh floor. He waited until I stepped out before he came up by my side. Then he led me to a room at the end corner of the floor. It had mechanical locks that seemed difficult to break in, but the manager keyed in the codes with deft fingers. In less than a minute, the door opened, and he led me inside.My eyes caught the huge screen right away, displaying multiple windows that showed different areas of the hotel. The manager then ran his fingers on the keys, and the lobby where the president and his men were dining,zoomed in.“Did you hear something from them that scares you?” he asked, turning his head to look at me.I just held his gaze, but I did not nod nor shake my head.“Is this the reason?” he asked again, and after some clicks, a window opened to an area by the outskirts of the forest.My eyes flew
I tuned in a sharp ear while I was sipping from my cup, listening to their conversation. Pretending to be occupied, I picked up a magazine from under the table. These men were just a few meters away from me, though a pillar blocked me from their view. I knew they saw me, but perhaps thinking I was harmless, they did not seem to mind my presence.“Have the troops arrived already?” one of the men asked, his voice louder than a whisper. But because of the deafening silence of the place, you can hear even a needle dropping.“Yes, they are already surrounding the forest of Kalasag.”“How far is it from here?”“It’s the next hill from here.”So, I am now in a resort close to Kalasag, Sean’s homeplace. Mr. Ian and all his allies must have brought me here to blackmail me into selling the other half of my shares by using Sean as a pawn. But of all places in the face of the earth, why does Mr. I
I got up from my bed and walked towards the window. Parting the curtains to the side, the blinding light of the sun piercing through the window panes made me close my eyes for a moment. I closed my eyes tightly then opened them slowly until I got adjusted to the glare. The moment I gazed into the distance, all I could see was the rich and sprawling greeneries below the wide canopy of the sky, animated by its sailing, fluffy clouds. From where I stood, it looked like I was on top of a hill overlooking the rolling stretch of farms and plain below.I then looked around the room. My huge bed satatop a carpeted floor under a chic ceiling design illuminated by white, LED lightings underneath a rectangular frame. Aside from a set of couches, a coffee table, and built-in lockers, only a set of television, a phone, and a refrigerator graced the room. But what caught my interest in being here was the glass walls that allowed me to see the spectacular views of the rows of trees, t
I couldn’t seem to imagine that my grandfather had other women. Perhaps, he did it while grandmother was still alive. But who am I to judge him anyway?“It was a short-term relationship with his secretary, back then. When your grandmother found it out, she almost left; but luckily, your grandfather was able to persuade her to save their marriage. From then on, he never had a female secretary, and that was how Philip came in.”“So, Philip was grandpa’s secretary?”“And Sean’s, when he passed away. He is your grandfather’s most trusted assistant.”My heart sank as I heard it. I still remembered how Philip affirmed Hazel’s confession about my real identity. If it were not for him, I would not have trusted Hazel’s claims. If it were not for him, I would not have come to believe that Sean was making lies all along.“Sadly, he has betrayed them,” I said, my lips tur
“Dr. Red, I just received a report that Prospero City is now on complete lockdown,” the pilot told me after I climbed into the plane after our last stopover for refueling and engine checks.“Is it because of the spread of the Bronc X virus?” I asked, stiffening in my seat; my eyes unblinking.“Your city is the only place negative of Bronc X infection,” the pilot replied while his hands were fumbling over some keys on the cockpit. “But it is heavily guarded since Mr. Sean Grey’s business establishments are there. No one is allowed an entry or exit for the moment.”My thoughts then went on Sean and I was wondering if this pilot beside me was the one who transported Sean to wherever he may be at this moment.“Is Sean in Prospero now?” I tried to sound dry, presuming that everybody already knew our status. And surely, this pilot who brought every dignitary to each of their destinations had also