40 I'm Sorry

Catherine Fields Medical Center was built in 1950 in honor of Miss Catherine Fields, who donated her inheritance to a certain foundation. In her will, she indicated her desire to build a hospital. A hospital that would be willing to undergo various researches for promising medical breakthroughs in the future. A hospital whose medical experts would one day be able to save people with the same disorder as hers.

She died of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), which is also known as myelogenous  leukemia. It's a type of cancer that starts in certain blood-forming cells of the bone marrow.

Before she died at the age of 60, she had already arranged the turn-over of her inheritance. One of the business tycoons in the country who took an interest in expanding the hospital business investment married Jim's great great grandmother.

Throughout the span of time, Catherine Fields Medical Center became the leading hospital in the country. It was one of the highly respected health care institutions due to its prestigious international affiliations and accreditations like the Joint Commission International (JCI), the international arm of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations globally.

Soon, it expanded to the Philippines under the strong influence of Jim's mother. Aside from the medical facility, investors decided to build Catherine Fields Medical University, where Jim and Jia took their medical courses.

Dr. Grace was not in a good mood as she came back to the hospital. As one of the surgical team with Jim, the thrill and excitement that lifted her high spirit during the surgery this morning now flunked down into a deep abyss.

She waited for him at the doctor's quarter. Only a single concrete wall separated the male and female quarters. Sooner or later, he would be taking his meal break here.

There was a wooden dining table and couches outside their rooms. Doctors would spend their free time here to eat, relax while watching TV, play computer games on their phones, and do any of their personal matters.

When Dr. Grace came in, she was alone. Both male and female quarters were silent. Perhaps, they were all in a hospital's cafe to buy food since it was dinner time already.

Not long after, Jim came in exhausted. He sat on the couch and leaned back while closing his eyes. He was stressed with the long reports his seniors had just instructed him to do.

Dr. Grace approached him and stood right in front of him.

"Dr. Jim, you must be tired. I can give you a short massage on your shoulders and forehead."

Without waiting for a reply, she walked over to the back of the couch and started massaging his shoulders.

"No, no, I'm fine." He said as he shrugged her off, but Dr. Grace was born a stubborn pig who always got her ways.

Meanwhile, in front of the Emergency Room, Jia's eyes lingered on the signage of the hospital's name. Jim, who was one of the heirs of the hospital business, was so humble to hide his identity.

After a while, she went inside, and an ER nurse saw her. She recognized right away that she was the woman Dr. Jim Wayne kissed passionately with.

"Good afternoon, Miss..?" she paused for a while, then continued, "I'll be happy to accompany you to the doctor's lounge."

"Yes, please," Jia replied politely and smiled.

The nurse was suddenly stunned with her beauty that she stood staring at her for a while. She's so pretty!

"May we go now?" she asked again, and the nurse snapped back into her senses.

Finally, at the door of the doctor's lounge, she stopped and politely excused herself.

She knocked, but no one opened. The nurse, who was on her way back to the ER, yelled out.

"Just open the door. Maybe Dr. Jim is on his bed."

So, she opened the door, and her strength drained out at what she saw. Jim was facing Dr. Grace at the back of the couch and was holding her hands. Were they kissing? How long had they been with each other? Were Jim's sweet words early that afternoon only a cover-up?

Jia hesitated whether to leave or call his attention. But the wicked woman saw her and smiled maliciously, alerting Jim of her presence.

Dr. Grace was beautiful and elegant. Jia was sure of one thing --  she also came from a prominent family like Jim's. The fact that she also took her training in this foreign land could explain it all.

"Sweetheart!" Jim hurriedly approached her and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Why didn't you call me?"

"Why? Because you did not want to get caught?" she replied softly, preventing Dr. Grace from overhearing, who was then calmly and happily browsing on her phone by the couch.

"It's not what you think," Jim tried to reason out.

"Take your meal now. I'm going to wait." She tried to feign a smile though her heart was breaking. Jim was already fed up with her!

Sensing the hurt she tried to hide, he tightly hugged her from her back while resting his head on her shoulder. He could feel her racing heartbeats.

His heart also broke.

He remained hugging her long enough until her heartbeats slowed down.

He then helped her in opening the meal boxes.

When they both sat down to eat, Jim was happy. He was happy that Jia felt bad. It could mean that she had already learned to love him. But he did not want to know it that way. He never wanted to see her hurting.

"Jia, I'm sorry." He lifted her chin when he said it, forcing her to look at her.