20 019 1ST APPOINTMENT [I]: EVIL EYE

"GIRLFRIEND!!!"

Fei Shuang who was sleeping peacefully woke up frightened because of the sudden shouting. She slowly looked at ZhenZhu who's the one screaming out her longs looking furious as she entered the room.

"Why are you shouting Bestie? I didn't take any alcohol yesterday,don't tell me someone's here to see me again..." Fei Shuang asked as she rubbed her eyesight. She's still sleepy yet her best friend shouted her lungs out. "I just want to sleep more. Is it too much to ask?" Fei Shuang asked again as a slight yawn escaped from her mouth.

"Oh God, Fei shuang! This is the third time i entered this room. Don't you know that it's already 7:30 AM and you're still in bed! Your first therapy appointment starts today by 8 remember? I told you not to stay late watching films on viki. Now look,you have dark circles below your eyes after all the beauty routine at the salon." Fei Shuang couldn't help but sigh on ZhenZhu's endless nagging about her therapy appointment. She's been talking all yesterday about it which made her sick.

"Now get up let me clean you up."

Fei Shuang groaned as she drowsily sat down on the bed while scratching her messy bed-hair. It was looking stylish and beautiful just yesterday,but looking at it right now, it has transformed into something else. She looked like a lazy cat who just woke up from a very long sleep.

*yawn*

She couldn't help but stretch her body as she tried to fight back the sleepiness. Before she could utter a word, ZhenZhu gently pick her up,heads to the bathroom and placed her inside the bathtub,hands her a toothbrush with a toothpaste on in and left her alone,closing the door behind her. "Take a bath now, girlfriend. Call me when you're done so that i can get you dressed. You're gonna be late for your appointment and I'll be late for work too!"

Fei Shuang kept scowling while brushing her teeth.

'I really don't want to go to my therapy appointment because of that cold stone. I get uncomfortable when people start asking me about my past.'

"Uhh.. as if i have a choice." She huffed to herself as she get undress.

"Do you need any help? I forgot to get you undressed."

"No,I've done it myself. Don't worry,I'm almost through!" Fei Shuang shouted inside the bathroom.

"Alright,hurry up. I'll be in the kitchen. Just shoutout my name when you're done." She heard ZhenZhu once more before she heard her fading footsteps out of her room. She sighed in defeat and took a quick bath.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Fei Shuang cowered as ZhenZhu got her out of her car to the general hospital. Her heart was beating really fast as if she was being chased by an angry dog.

*ba_dump*

*ba_dump*

*ba_dump*

She inhaled a couple of times to calm her heart. As she sat on her powered wheelchair holding Angel on her lap, she took one glimpse at the hospital and looked back at ZhenZhu.

"Girlfriend," she called her. "I don't think i'm ready for this." She bit her lips.

"Of course you're. Don't be nervous,i know you're ready." ZhenZhu encouraged her. "Shall we?"

Although she was panicking inside wanting for ZhenZhu to go in with her, she still tried to stay calm, fearing ZhenZhu would be late for work and be scolded by her boss.

"Wait,are you not late for work? Don't worry, you leave first. I can find myself to Doctor Xiao's office." Fei Shuang said looking worried.

"Wouldn't it be mean for me to let you go all by yourself? You're my best friend,I can't just leave you like this looking nervous. I'll take you in,then set off for work. Don't worry too much, i will explain everything to my boss when i get there." ZhenZhu spoke as she revealed a childlike smile.

"Alright,your choices are never wrong." Fei Shuang maneuvered her powered wheelchair to the entrance of the hospital.

The hospital gave off it's usual displeasing smell. Fei Shuang entered the hospital, escorted by ZhenZhu, who held Angel in her hands because Fei Shuang doesn't like it when she uses a handle to attach to his collar.

After finding Doctor Xiao's office which was right after the waiting room, they both entered after knocking at the door. ZhenZhu held her head high as she entered.

Doctor Xiao was sitting in his own office wearing casual i.e a white short-sleeved collared shirt and blue jeans with tennis shoes, with a white coat. He had his usual appearance, a square jawline and an oval-shaped face with dark brown hair. His dark brown almond-shaped eyes shone underneath his glasses over a hook nose. He was tall and average weight.

Seeing Fei Shuang approaching with ZhenZhu while sitting on her powered wheelchair, Doctor Xiao smiled, "Miss Lee, Miss Shao, welcome. How are you feeling?" He glanced at ZhenZhu, who was wearing black flannel trousers and a hazel brown smart jacket with an open necked t-shirt accompanied by sensible brown heels, continued. "Have a sit Miss Shao."

ZhenZhu did not respond as she closed the door with a mischievous smile on her face.

She glared at him as she gently flipped her wavy black hair before sitting with Angel. She was still mad at him for calling her Miss Arrogance. He didn't mind and faced Fei Shuang.

"I'm feeling alright Doctor Xiao,all thanks to your hardwork." Fei Shuang answered with a beam of smile on her face.

Doctor Xiao nodded his head with satisfied feeling as he dropped the file he was reading. He was about to speak when he got interrupted by ZhenZhu.

"Yuk.. why do you always do that Angel?" ZhenZhu handed him to Fei Shuang when he licked her hand.

Hearing ZhenZhu's words, Doctor Xiao knitted his eyebrows in displeasure and spoke.

"That's because dogs like the taste of their owner's salty skin and out of habit ma'am. Mostly with domestic dogs,it's a sign of affection." He glanced over with cold eyes at ZhenZhu before he continued, "Licking releases pleasurable endorphins which gives dogs a feeling of comfort and pleasure— like the feeling people get when they are biting their nails,it relieves stress." He spoke in a deep voice.

For a second,she was angry but then she spoke, "Mmm. I didn't know you're also a veterinarian! So,can you check on him for me? He's been sleeping too much lately."

ZhenZhu looked at Doctor Xiao with obvious mockery in her eyes as her lips was curled in disdain.

At first, Doctor Xiao went speechless. He was actually very angry inside.

'How dare she make fun of me?!'

He could not utter a single word as his eyes narrowed and only grit his teeth. But later on,he striked her back in a cold tone.

"You should have known at least the temperament, life expectancy and the hours of sleep per day for a Shih Tzu dog before you went ahead and bought it. It generally depends on his age bracket. As you can see, your dog is a young and lively puppy so, you can expect him to sleep roughly 14 hours per day. And when he reaches adulthood,he'll probably sleep 12 hours a day. I knew you were lazy, how can you even raise a dog when you can't even control yourself arrogancy?" He smirked and leaned back slowly on his chair as he crossed his arms on his chest in an arrogant manner.

ZhenZhu smile stiffen on her face.

'What? Lazy? Arrogancy!'

Doctor Xiao's words felt like massive attack on ZhenZhu's mind. Her face suddenly turned red and clicked her tongue.

Fei Shuang's expression was a little pale as she bit her lips tightly, but her eyes were firm as she heard them both starting an argument. She wanted the ground to open and swallow her to avoid their chitchats.Her mouth formed an 'O' when she realized Doctor Xiao was also participating. She felt as if the two of them were on a debate. She gave a "hmpf" at them both.

"Alright, enough.. it's enough!"

ZhenZhu was impatient and so she spoke angrily, "Girlfriend,it was all Doctor Xiao,he's giving me an evil eye!"

Doctor Xiao stared at ZhenZhu's face in shock and disbelief.

'Me? Evil eye? What nonsense!' He couldn't help but wrinkle his eyebrow and shot a sharp glare towards ZhenZhu again.

"Just cut the crap bestie,I'm fed up already. This is a hospital and not a market place. For once in your life, can't you two just sit down for a minute without arguing? I've almost forgotten what we're here for." Fei Shuang spoke as she tried to remain calm. She turned back to Doctor Xiao and continued, "Doctor Xiao,can you direct us to Doctor Shen's office? Today was supposed to be my first therapy appointment."

Doctor Xiao smirked in his heart when he heard Fei Shuang scold ZhenZhu. 'Serves you right Miss Arrogance!' He muttered in his mind before replying back to Fei Shuang.

"I apologize for holding you so long Miss Lee,Doctor Shen is at his working place. He recently moved to the hospital from the outpatient clinic. I'll take you there myself but before we go, I'd like to say a few words."

Fei Shuang tried to put a calm expression on her face as not to make things hard for ZhenZhu but all she could make was an awkward smile.

Unfortunately, only Doctor Xiao saw her reaction because ZhenZhu was on her phone biting her lips.

"All i want to say is,

1- Never let a bad situation bring out the worst in you. You should choose to stay positive and be the strong person that you've been born to be.

2-Difficulty doesn't mean the impossible. It simply means that you have to work hard. And finally

3- There is a saying that says 'the secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not only on fighting the old, but on building the new.

You just need to be more self-assured and have a strong belief that you're capable to do this. I can't promise you that it would be easy, but i can assure you that we'll try our very best to support you and do all we can to see you on your feet again."

Listening to Doctor Xiao's words, Fei Shuang felt like she was relieved from her nervousness. There was also another person inside the office room who also felt relieved.

That person was her best friend, ZhenZhu. She sighed in relief when she heard his advice. This was what her bestie needed. To be self-certain and self reliant.

Fei Shuang nodded her head and spoke in a gentle way as she massaged Angel's soft back.

"Thank you so much Doctor Xiao,I'll heed your words from now on." Indeed What Doctor Xiao said was correct. So, she checked her wristwatch before turning over to ZhenZhu, "Girlfriend, i think it's time for you to go. You're already an hour late,Doctor Xiao and i can take it from here." Fei Shuang spoke in a worried tone.

"But..."

"It's really ok. Why are you being persisting eh? Please don't worry too much."

Doctor Xiao chimed in and supported Fei Shuang's words.

ZhenZhu gave him a 'i was not talking to you' expression on her face before smiling to her friend, "Alright,take care of yourself hun."

"I will,worry not."

She kissed Fei Shuang on her cheeks before she departed.