2 ONE

I took the last piece of French toast and hurriedly run towards my car. I wore the seatbelt and drove as fast as I could. It's seven in the morning and I promised Ollie that I would cover for her shift. My phone is giving me a hard time as well. I need to make a trip to Steve's place later. He's the best technician in town. Well maybe because he's my favorite cousin. I reached the hospital fifteen minutes before Ollie's shift and I saw her assistant, Guia, gave me a thumbs up.

The phone rings as soon as my butt touches the swivel chair. I rolled my eyes and was really planning to ignore it but knowing the person on the other line, I might lose my free concert ticket for next month.

"Hi there. Thank you for calling Dr. Olivia Dirksen's office. Please rest assured that your eight or more hours of serving the patients for today will be fully accommodated by yours truly."

"You sound so convincing, Dr. Kathreen Jackson. But I bet you almost lost our bet there. Anyway, thank you for the cover. I know it's your rest day today. If only the babysitter has no emergency situation that she really needs to attend to."

"No worries. I have nothing to do today except make a run at Steve's place after shift. I need an expert to fix my phone."

"You should just buy a new one."

"No thanks. I have a lot of important documents there. I haven't saved it on my hard drive."

"I know there's more than that reason. I've known you since before our menstruation hit us, K."

I can imagine her head shaking. This girl knows too much about me. Should I disown her?

"Stop thinking about disowning me, young lady. I can hear your thoughts." She laughed. She knows me better than I know myself.

"Okay fine. Maybe I will just let you cover for me if that trip gets approved."

"Sure. I got to go. Alexa is giving her sandwiches to the neighbor's dog again."

"Give her a kiss from me. See you."

Ollie is a single mother. Her jerk ex-boyfriend left her when she got pregnant. But damn, I am really so proud of her because after what happened, she still continues her medical practice. She never had a single thought about giving up even though her own parents were so disappointed with her. Now, she is contented with her daughter by her side and of course, she will always have me to be there for her.

Guia knocked on the door. "Done? There is a patient in room 382 that needs to be in the ER at noon. Olivia kept the folder of the patient at the second blue drawer."

"Thanks, Gee. I'll be right behind you."

**************************

My morning until the afternoon was all about stitching and making people bleed a lot. Guia just bought me a cheeseburger for lunch. As I checked Ollie's schedule for today, she has an appointment for a stitch removal at 3 pm. It's 2:45 pm on the clock. I decided to make some reports for Ollie while waiting for that patient of hers.

I guess I was too focused on what I'm doing that Guia needs to tap my shoulder.

"Oh. Am I too focused? Is Mr. Gueverro there already?" I asked.

"Yes, Kath. Should I let him in or you need more time?"

"Please let him in. I was just trying to kill some time. There is no appointment or some emergencies after this right?"

"I guess so. The other doctors are here today so I think we can go after this patient. Nurse Frank told me that they will just call you or Olivia if they run out of helping hands."

"Good. I have someplace to go after work. I don't want to be scolded by the director again because they can't reach my phone."

"You really need to pay Steve a visit. Please stay calm and be gentle with your patient okay?"

I was confused with her last sentence about being calm and gentle. I am always gentle with my patients.

She went out and let my last patient for today come inside the office. I was looking at his records so I just told him to take a sit.

"So it was a gunshot wound. It says here that Dr. Dirksen did the operation twice? Wow. You are a bit of a careless man, huh?"

"It's part of the job."

That voice seems so familiar. I looked up and let out a frustrated sigh. Now I know why she said about being calm and gentle.

"I guess my name is not that important for you that you can't even remember me."

"Maybe. It is on my list not to waste time on anything or anyone that doesn't even need it. Let's get down to business here and please lay down on the bed there. I have an important appointment after removing the staples and threads on your stomach."

I really don't know why I dislike Olivia's half-brother so much. Maybe because of how irritating he was back then? Or the fact that he annoys the hell out of me every time he will start asking a lot of questions? I can't even remember his name! Maybe Guia doesn't want to upset me that's why she didn't say that my last patient is this guy. She knows how my blood boils up at the sight of him. She is one of our high school friends. Ollie was so happy when she started working with her. And by the way, Guia is Steve's longtime girlfriend. See how small the world is? One more evidence was the fact that I am in Ollie's office together with her half-brother whom I dislike so much.

"Same as the old days, Kat Kat. At least be happy that I am here."

I just rolled my eyes at him. He's the only one who calls me that and it's so damn irritating. I started to do my work as soon as he lies down on the bed. He stared at me so intensely that I wanted to forcefully cut everything. I tried my best not to be distracted by him.

"You don't want to know why I have a gunshot wound?" he asked.

I stay silent. I don't want to satisfy his cravings for attention.

"I'm hurt. Where's your little sympathy? But I will still tell you. It was from 4 years ago. I was badly hurt you know. My life is on the line whenever I'm at work. Do you know my job, Kat Kat?"

I don't know why I am thinking about this but what's his job again? He rarely pay Ollie a visit. I remember that he was there on Alexa's 7th birthday two months ago. He is the only family that my best friend wants to be connected with.

"I bet you don't give a damn about what is my job right?"

I guess I badly wanted to get rid of this man that I finished removing his stitches for about 15 minutes or so? "There. Done. Please make it your last visit to your sister's office because she might be losing a lot of sleep again if something like this happens again."

"She wants to be my doctor to make sure I will stay alive, you know? And I can't promise about making it my last. As I've told you a while ago, my life is always on the line."

"Okay fine. What's your job, Mr. Hot Shot?"

He stood up and wore his shirt. He shortens the gap between us and I ended up like our bodies want to embrace each other. Good thing my balance is so good and I did not lose my composure there. I can smell his strong body mist and I can even hear his breathe.

"My job is to make sure that you are safe and alive."