Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

Andre was shocked by the news from the nurse who had just entered Lara’s hospital room.

“Ndre!” Lara smiled joyfully and held Andre’s hand tightly and warmly. “Ra! Let’s go to Mahya’s room!” Andre invited while holding Lara’s hand and walking slightly hurriedly towards the intensive care unit on the top floor.

***

“Mahya!” Lara called out emotionally as she hugged her friend who was still struggling to move her body.

“Aww! Ouch,” Mahya groaned playfully when Lara came and immediately showered her with hugs.

“How are you? Where does it hurt?” Lara asked with concern. She stepped back a bit so Mahya could breathe easier, but then the black-haired girl just smiled broadly.

“My heart hurts,” she joked.

Lara pouted and lightly hit Mahya’s chest. “Don’t joke!”

“Seriously, you know! My heart hurts. How could we be caught off guard like this, huh?” Mahya joked lightly, recalling the unfortunate events that had befallen them both.

“Come on, forget about it,” Lara said softly while gently stroking Mahya’s face. Mahya’s words were indeed true. Both she and her friend, they never thought someone would tail them and harm them like this.

“Tell me, Ra! What happened when I was in a coma? You owe me all the details!” Mahya demanded, staring sharply at Lara.

“No need to know, May! The important thing is we’re safe,” Lara replied reluctantly.

Being in a full body cast certainly made Mahya unable to move freely. Lara didn’t want to drag her further. Even Lara’s heart ached seeing Mahya, who was usually like a wild horse, now lying helpless on the hospital bed.

“Lara… you know, right? This isn’t your fault,” Mahya whispered, as if understanding the turmoil in Lara’s mind that she showed in her pleading gaze. Mahya was responsible for herself, and Lara wasn’t the root of the problem.

“Mahya, calm down. I’ll take over your duties,” Andre suddenly joked, which was immediately greeted with Mahya’s happy enthusiasm. “Doc!” she called.

“How are you?” Andre asked casually. Mahya grinned widely. A small laugh accompanied every opening of her small mouth.

“I’m feeling better, Doc. Thank you for your efforts,” she said. But a voice made everyone in the room startled. High-heeled shoes with a clack-clack sound seemed to join the conversation happening among them.

“Aren’t you the wrong person?” Miriam, who had just entered, asked.

“Y-yes? Dr. Miriam?” Mahya became awkward. Had she offended the doctor? Who was actually responsible for her?

“I am responsible for patient Mahya. Dr. Andre is responsible for patient Lara,” she said with a smile. Miriam didn’t want to appear desperate and harsh in the eyes of her patient.

“Ah! I’m sorry! Thank you very much, Dr. Miriam,” Mahya corrected. Now, she knew what was really going on here. Mahya’s instinct was quite sharp. As a reporter, she was used to being sensitive to situations.

‘Someone’s jealous, apparently,’ Mahya thought to herself with a laugh. She had felt since the beginning that Andre and Lara’s relationship was not ordinary. Although they never hinted at it, Mahya could judge for herself.

Mahya’s guesses sometimes became a double-edged sword; she was too quick to draw conclusions.

“How are you feeling today?” Miriam asked while signaling her assistant to check Mahya’s condition. Andre and Lara stepped back a bit and gave them space. The atmosphere in the room became tense. Mahya even found it difficult to answer the doctor’s question calmly.

“I’m feeling better, Doc. Although I still can’t move my body optimally,” she said softly.

“Good progress, Miss Mahya,” Miriam said as she checked Mahya’s vital signs. The assistant recorded every word the doctor and nurse said, ready to obey the instructions given.

The treatment room was filled with small commotion as the nurse straightened the sheets and performed routine activities around Mahya’s bed. Andre and Lara, standing in the corner of the room, looked at Mahya with smiles and gratitude for the progress that had been made.

Shortly after, Andre’s shift came. He had to go back to his room to work. “Sorry, I have to go,” Andre whispered softly to Lara. The warmth of Andre’s breath made her hairs stand on end. Lara’s smile widened.

On the other hand, Miriam was fuming. The doctor who was evaluating Mahya’s condition grumbled in her heart. ‘This can’t be allowed!’ Miriam’s inner turmoil boiled.

“May, get well soon! Doctor, I take my leave,” Andre bid farewell to Mahya and his colleagues. That’s Miriam’s position in Andre’s heart. “Yes,” Miriam replied shortly, returning to focus on Mahya’s medical records held by her assistant.

After checking Mahya’s condition, suddenly, the atmosphere in the room became silent. Miriam, who had finished writing the medical notes, raised her head and looked at Lara seriously.

“Ms. Lara, may I speak with you for a moment?”

“Y-yes, Doctor? What’s up?” Lara asked nervously. She had already felt intimidated by the doctor’s attitude when Andre approached her. Hadn’t their engagement ended? That’s all Lara knew.

“We can’t talk here. Can we talk in my office?” Miriam asked with a smile.

Lara nodded in understanding. She glanced around for a moment then blinked at Mahya. “I’ll be leaving now, okay?” she said.

“Don’t take too long. I’ll get bored!” Mahya warned.

“Okay!” Lara waved and followed Dr. Miriam’s footsteps after bidding farewell to the patient properly. The two of them left Mahya’s room to talk in the doctor’s office. Andre didn’t know anything about their conversation.

***

“Do you already know who I am, Ms. Lara?” Miriam asked directly to the point.

“What do you mean, Doctor?” Lara asked to make sure. She really didn’t know the context of the knowledge Miriam was referring to.

“Can we stop pretending? Ms. Lara has taken what belongs to me.”

Boom! Lara’s heart seemed to explode and jump out of its place. “Wha-what do you mean, Doctor, Andre?” She finally spoke.

“Yes. My fiance. Your attitude towards him has exceeded the limit. I can no longer tolerate it!” Miriam finally raised her voice. But Lara was completely confused and didn’t understand the direction of this conversation.

“You should ask Andre, not me, Doctor. He approached me and… isn’t your engagement already over?” Lara finally replied fiercely. She really didn’t want to be seen as someone who snatched someone else’s fiance.

“What?! Who said such nonsense?!” Miriam couldn’t accept it. She even slammed her desk and stared fiercely at Lara. Fortunately, there were only the two of them in the room.

Miriam had suspected that a confrontation like this would happen.

“Ask Andre, Doctor. I have nothing to do with the end of your engagement.”

After saying that, Lara left and left Miriam alone. She didn’t want to be intimidated

by the doctor’s jealousy and childish behavior, which seemed to accuse her unjustly.

Lara certainly wouldn’t let Andre approach her if his relationship with his old fiancee hadn’t ended properly. Andre had shown evidence of his conversation with President Andromeda-Lara’s father, after meeting the old man some time ago.

Miriam probably just didn’t know the truth.

***ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Dad! Are you hiding something from me? What did Andre say?! Answer me!”