27 SAY MY NAME

"Ha? I...uhh...I just suddenly recalled his name."

"You didn't even remember me when I'm your boyfriend," Eli complained which stunned Belle the most.

(Why are you being so dramatic?!)

"You are in a relationship with him?" Allen asked and eyes Eli from head to toe.

"Uhm...we.."

"Yes, we are," Eli answered without any second thought. He didn't understand why but he was really pissed off right now.

The two men looked at each other and she seemed to see sparks flying around them. She could already feel an oncoming headache because of this encounter alone. (God! Why are you doing this to me?)

Ceres laughed in her mind while seeing the interesting turn of events. For a dumb bloke, Belle must have not noticed anything from the way Allen looked at her. However, Ceres could tell that this man wasn't just a close friend – in his point of view. She was certain that Allen loves Belle more than a friend.

"Hmph!" Both men looked away at the same time with their arms crossed over their chests. She couldn't believe that these adults were being childish in front of her.

(I don't care anymore.) Belle commented in her mind as she put the coat inside her bag and started opening and pulling the blinders to bring in the natural sunlight inside Eli's office.

"Belle, is it true you are going to work for him?" Allen asked and ignored the sharp glares being thrown at him. "Why must you work under him? You can work with me, too. And most of all, you remember me." he said which irked Eli the most. He didn't really need to say those words but he was having fun watching the other man's face. "Tsk! I will curse that director for the rest of my life."

"I'm fine. Really. You don't have to think too much. I often deal with kids and the same goes for Dr. Rivera. He's a physician at the same time, he finished the required training for pediatricians. I can work well under him."

"And I'm her boyfriend," Eli added with a smug look on his face.

(You don't have to add it, you know.)

[Eli looks so proud. I'm happy.]

(You better keep your imagination to yourself.)

[Pessimist.]

(I'm a realist. Idiot!)

"Hmmm." Allen narrowed his eyes at Eli but he didn't say a word before shifting his gaze back to Belle. "Anyway, I'm back here now. If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know."

"Thanks, Allen."

"Why are you calling him by his first name?"

"Ah? I - "

"She's been calling me by my first name ever since the day we met." Allen retorted and Eli's face darkened. She clearly called him Dr. Rivera earlier. "So, you are still on the last name bases? That's sad."

"I'm only calling him Dr. Rivera because we're in the hospital." Belle tried to reason out which was futile with Eli's retort.

"You should call him Dr. Morgan if that is the case."

It was still early in the morning but Belle felt so exhausted already. In addition, Ceres was just laughing at her without lending her a helping hand at all.

[Hey! Your hands are my hands. Why are you asking me for helping hands?]

(You know what, you can be so stupid sometimes. It's really a miracle that you survive for a long time with that brain of yours.)

[I was just joking! Stop insulting my brain!]

(Yeah. Whatever.)

[I'm already helping you with Eli.]

(Heh!)

Belle ignored the yapping soul inside her and focused herself on the current situation in front of her. Thankfully, Allen decided to leave because of his work. Peace finally dawned on them or so she thought.

"You have to call me Eli here. I don't care if you are being informal. You could even call him Allen."

"I'll call you by your first name if we're not working."

"No. That can't do. People will think we're being so distant when we're in a relationship."

"Pretend relationship." She corrected which was more of a reminder to herself instead of Eli. She was afraid that she would fall in love with him again if she let him control the pace of their actions. "I'll try."

"Then, start it now."

"Right now?"

"Yeah."

"Can't we try it after work?"

"The point is, you have to call me Eli during work. Why will you try after work?"

(This is crazy! Why do I have to call him by his first name?!)

[Why not? I have done that a lot of times.]

(This is all your fault!)

[Lalalalalala... I'm just a little bit caught in the middle ...Life is a maze, and love is a riddle]

"Shut up!"

Eli was stunned at her sudden scream and he felt that uncomfortable prick in his chest. "You hate calling my name that much?"

Then, Belle realized what she just did. She was meant to shut Ceres who was singing in her head – not Eli. "No. I mean, it wasn't meant for you. Have you ever had a monologue with yourself? Like the two sides of your brain were debating? I...I just had that moment earlier. I was debating if I should really call your name or not. I...- "

"Oh." Eli perfunctorily replied while looking at her flustered face. "Then, what's your conclusion?"

"Eli." Belle blurted and her face instantly turned to a color of tomato paste.

Outside Eli's office, Allen was leaning on the door with a faint smile on his lips. "You are in trouble, Belle." He mumbled and finally left with long strides.