5 What I Want

The hospital I worked at was a large teaching facility famous for taking on many terminal cases. The building was named Hope Garden per the request of the late founder's wife. So throughout the decades of service, many have come and gone to be treated, building the establishment's reputation with every visit.

My only problem was with my incompetent intern!

"I have told you over and over again, don't tie it into a bow tie!" I was absolutely furious with Tommy's idiotic choices. I throw the banana he was working on into the pile of compost we were accumulating and take another one.

"You should be proud of me Doctor Zhu! It is much more difficult to tie a bow tie knot than the ones you have been teaching me." He huffs and grabs the untouched banana, peeling it into becoming his next victim.

"At this point of your studies, you should be able to do a square knot with your eyes closed! Don't you dare come within ten feet of me without a properly sutured fruit!" As I leave him to his homework, I make my way towards the nurses' station to pick up a few of the updated charts.

"Doctor Zhu! You have some deliveries that were made to you. Please take them with you." I look over at the goods and see a box of sweets along with some flowers. A card was stuck upon the bunch of liles and I take a glance.

It read, 'Doctor Zhu, don't be a stranger. Let us make it up to you for your troubles. We cordially invite you to our family's annual Jade Essence banquet. - Elliot Chen'

This sickly sweet invitation had created chills running up and down my back due to the irony of the situation. The woman that had verbally banished me was now personally requesting for my presence.

--

At a hospital on an island off the coast.

"Hello Mother what is it?" Adam says into the phone.

"Adam you need to come to the Jade Essence party as a part of this family. You need to be with your brother to support him!" He sighs and looks over his schedule.

"I don't think I can make it, I am quite backed up with surgeries this month. It may be a while until I can get a day off." This was both true and not true as the man did have a long waitlist of patients to go under his knife, but to actually perform those tasks were entirely under his discretion.

"Your sister-in-law and niece are going as well. After their incident, we need to put up a strong face as a family before the public perception will change." He did miss his niece, but being near that wretched woman was going to make him sick.

Many years ago, Adam had recieved medical care in a private hospital located just outside the city. His father did not want news of his poor health to spread and affect the company. His lung condition worsened as the years went by. It was to the point where a lung transplant was the only option left for treatment. In his pain, a young girl had always kept him company in the hospital.

Sarah. No matter how hard he pushed her away, she still came back to him. Everyday he yearned to be able to be by her side, but knew it was impossible as his condition was only getting worse and worse. Daily, he thought of new tactics to hurt her and make her resent him, but after performing them he prayed that he had not gone far enough to not see her the next day.

"Adam? Adam. Are you still there?" He had forgotten he was still on the phone.

"Yes, Mother. I'm still here but I am afraid I will have to decline on the invitation. I'll try to come visit you very soon to make it up to you." His tone was quite soft as to not hurt his mother's feelings.

"Well if duty calls, what can we do. I just hope that doctor I had invited will make an appearance. Her presence might solidify the health status of your sister-in-law and niece." A doctor? He thought for a moment before recalling the hospital that the two were treated at. Hope Garden...

Out of the rambling of his mother, a few words had caught his attention. "Yes what a wonderful girl! Her name was Sarah Zhu, a fantastic cardiac surgeon." Sarah?

"Mother on second thought, this party must be a very special occasion to personally convince me to come. I'll be there."

—

During the night shift at Hope Garden.

"What a day. I can't wait to get some sleep."

"Sarah, I'll take you home. Let's go." William picks me up and gets up to leave.

"Wait! Wait! Doctor Zhu!" I groan as my ears ring with an annoying sound.

"Look at my banana! I sutured it perfectly this time!" His eyes hold a childlike excitement as he sticks the fruit in my face.

"Yes, yes. Very good... Only that it took you the entire day! Do you realize what time it is?" I yell as I dig my face deeper into William's shoulder.

"Doctor Zhu. Why are you so mean to me!" Tommy starts to shed fake tears and looks away for a more dramatic effect.

"Let's go Will, this guy can go on for hours." We leave him to sulk by himself and get into the comfortable car.

"Hey William, you know I got invited to a party by a patient? They went through a lot of trouble to invite me, so I think the least I can do is show my face." He starts driving but doesn't really say anything.

"It seems like the party is a big deal as the organization behind it is Jade Essence Cosmetics. There will probably be many famous actors and influential people in attendance." I look up at him to see his response.

"Well it seems like a good opportunity to network and make..." He coughs. "New... friends." He grips the steering wheel tightly as he spits out the words.

Not noticing the anger beside me, I continue. "I'm super antisocial so please come with me! I don't think I can survive beside all those important people." His face and body relaxes as he hears this.

"Sure, I'll be your date." He smirks a little and awaits my outburst.

"What are you talking about!? What date!?" She hides her face in her hands and looks out the window.

This party was going to be very interesting. I just wonder if Adam would be there...

—

When I got home, I quickly shower and change and head for bed. My phone shows a notification just as I was about to set it down.

'Good evening Dr. Zhu,

You have been specially selected to enter the cardiac team here at Etherial Hospital. We look forward to working with you in the near future.'

Etherial Hospital? The top hospital in Asia wanted me to join them?

I turn off my phone and lay back down to process the information. Out of all the benefits that I would definitely receive, I could never imagine working with Adam.