10 At the Hospital

"I didn't lie, did I?"

"No.. erm.. I.."

"Shall we talk on our way to the hospital, Miss Taylor?"

Emily nodded. They strolled towards the hospital together. Rather it was Oscar who strolled and Emily trotted. His long strides left Emily breathless when she tried to catch up with him.

Oscar turned his head, noticed her plight and slowed his pace. Mirth danced in his eyes, but he kept his face straight.

"Need help, Miss Taylor?"

"No no, I'm fine. Anyway, how long have you been working here?"

"For about 10 years now."

"Wow, that's a long time," Emily said. Her breathing had returned to normal as they walked slowly towards the hospital.

"Don't you lose your way round here? I mean, this place is so huge that I manage to somehow end up in the wrong place every time."

"No. Do you want me to escort you to the ward?"

"I'll be fine on my own… I guess." Emily said, uncertainty filled her voice, but she did not want to bother this young man anymore.

"You sure?" Oscar raised an eyebrow.

"On second thoughts, if you're free, I mean, we can… umm.."

"It's alright. I can escort you to the ward, but what is it in for me? I saved you, I accompanied you to lunch, I helped you pay the bill and I'm gonna escort you around this facility. Shouldn't you pay me back in some way?"

"Erm… How would you like to be repaid? Money is obviously out of question. You tell me." Emily looked up. She could see the smile lingering on his lips.

"Date me."

"I'm sorry, what?" Emily's eyes became round like saucers. She thought, 'What weird meds is he on?' She said, "Are you sure you are not some runaway patient? Wait… what if you are? Run, Emily, run."

Seeing her reaction, Oscar burst into laughter.

"That's not how I imagined you to be. Hahahaha… you're too funny, Emily. Oh my God! I can't stop." Oscar held his stomach and laughed.

A blush crept onto Emily's neck, slowly spreading towards her ears and cheeks. She hid her face in her palms and let out a frustrated sigh.

"Can we get serious now?"

"So, do you wanna seriously consider dating me?" Oscar tried hard to mask the smile lingering on his lips, but to no avail. She could see that in his eyes.

Emily turned around and started walking. Oscar laughed a little more and then ran to catch up to her.

"You are walking in the wrong direction."

"So?"

"Unless you're actually going to get your eyes treated, I suggest we walk in the opposite direction," Oscar said, slowly breathing into her ears. His deep, masculine voice made her shiver a little.

"Ah, what are you doing? You know you're creeping me out. Ah, I'm fine on my own, you can go away."

"Is that how you treat your savior, Emily?" Emily did not realize when he dropped Miss Taylor and directly jumped to using 'Emily'. What if he was a stalker? Seeing a doctor nearby, she was going to call her, when she appeared in front of Oscar and her.

"Dr. Rivermore, aren't you on a holiday today? What made you come to the hospital?"

"Hey, it looks like you don't wanna see this old man's face anymore, huh? Why can't I come? Nina, let me tell you, I missed you guys so much that I had to come."

Emily was speechless. Such a white-faced liar.

Oscar looked at her and then at Nina and said, "Hey Nina, meet my friend, Emily Taylor. And Emily, meet my friend and colleague, Dr. Nina Lockwood."

"Hello, Dr. Lockwood! I have a question for you."

"Go ahead and ask, Miss Taylor."

"Is he usually like this?"

"Like how?"

Oscar quipped in, "Like how, huh? Tell us… tell us…"

"Shut up, Oscar," Dr. Lockwood glared at him.

He made a zipping motion in front of his lips and then threw the imaginary key far away.

"He just…" Ah, how could she tell his colleague about how he had almost proposed to her to date him? No, she couldn't do that. After all, this was his workplace. Plus, he was joking for sure.

"Does he always joke around with everyone?" Emily changed her question.

"Oh yes, Miss Taylor. He's always like that."

Emily gave her a shy smile and bid her goodbye before they entered the elevator with Oscar. She stood at the farthest corner of the elevator, hoping he wouldn't notice.

Oscar did not say anything else.

"Emily, may I have your cell?"

"For what?"

"Obviously to save my number on yours."

"No need. Just give me your number. I'll save it later."

"How can I refuse when a lady asks for my number. Here." He handed out his card. She took it and stored it in her purse.

The elevator dinged to a stop. She rushed out, followed by Oscar.

"We are here," Oscar said. A genuine smile hung on his lips. He scratched the back of his head, pulled out his mobile and waved it in front of her saying, "Call me when you're done. I'll accompany you so that you don't get lost again."

Emily nodded. In her mind, she decided against bothering him any further, but she never said that aloud. Taking one last glance at him, she entered the ward.

Her father was lying on the bed. So many instruments were attached to him. Her mother sat beside him, holding his hand and murmuring sweet nothings to him.

Emily cleared her throat. Her mother, Phoebe, turned her head and said, "Did you receive your salary? See, your father is recovering a little when I told him that you will bring the money for his surgery. He will be okay, right? We will be able to do the surgery this month, right?"

"I-" Emily opened her mouth to deny it, but when she saw the hope in her mother's eyes, she decided not to tell her the truth.

"Yes, Mom," Emily said and hugged her mother tightly. No matter what the consequences were, she couldn't see her mother unhappy and she knew what she had to do.

"Emily, what happened to you?" Seeing tears in her eyes, Phoebe questioned.

"Nothing Mom. I'm just happy for you." Emily tried her best to smile. Even though it did not reach her eyes, it was enough to convince her mother that she was okay.

"That's good." Phoebe said and patted her daughter in the back.

The visiting hours were for Emily to meet her mother, hoping to see her once, hug her once, and to tell her that everything was okay. She would be able to handle it all.

When her mother asked her to sit and chat with her for a while, she gave an excuse that she had too much work at the new company and she had to get going to earn more money.

Emily walked out of the ward. She did not notice Oscar sitting outside playing a game on his mobile. She walked down the stairs mechanically, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She jolted from the touch.