Chapter 6

As dawn painted the Ethiopian sky, the bustling streets came alive with the rhythm of daily life. Office-bound commuters hurried along, weaving through the crowd like threads in a tapestry.

In a cozy home, an old lady's voice echoed through the corridors. "Liya... Liya, my dear, breakfast is ready," she called out. The response came from a long-haired girl, descending the stairs—a vision of grace and determination. This was Liya, a Neuro-ophthalmologist, her mid-thirties marked by both professional success and societal expectations.

Around the breakfast table, Liya exchanged morning greetings with her parents. Her mother, Mrs. Roman, beamed affectionately. "Good morning, honey." Meanwhile, her father inquired about her work. Liya, born into a family of textile entrepreneurs, had charted her own course—a fervent pursuit of medicine.

But her mother had another agenda. "And Dr. Henok? How is he?" she asked, her words laced with unspoken hopes. Liya sighed, recognizing the matchmaking dance. "Mom, he's doing well," she replied wearily.

Mrs. Roman leaned in, her smile coy. "Why not invite him for lunch? I'll be waiting." Mr. Mulat, Liya's father, feigned disinterest, but his eyes betrayed concern. Liya rose abruptly, leaving her untouched breakfast. "No, Mom. Henok's swamped today. I'm late. Love you both." With a kiss, she stepped out, determined to defy societal whispers.

At thirty-five, Liya stood firm—a beacon of independence in a culture that demanded marriage by thirty. Behind her back, tongues wagged, but she walked on, resolute. Liya knew her path, even if it diverged from tradition.

After an hour of navigating the bustling streets, Liya arrived at her workplace—the Mriano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, affectionately known as the Philippines Hospital. As she stepped into her role as a Neuro-ophthalmologist, her best friend, Henok, knocked playfully on her office door.

"Good morning, Dr. Liya," he teased, his eyes crinkling with warmth.

"Hey, good morning, Heni," Liya greeted him, her smile genuine. Henok's concern was palpable as he observed her fatigued appearance. "You look sleepy. What happened? Didn't you sleep last night?"

Liya leaned against her desk, her eyes alight with excitement. "Emm. I was engrossed in a fascinating journal about ocular cancer by a Philippine doctor. His findings left me in awe, and I delved deeper into his story."

Henok leaned in, curiosity piqued. "And?"

"As I suspected," Liya continued, "he has a remarkable journey. Like gold forged in fire, he's faced trials since the tender age of five."

Henok's eyes sparkled. "How about this? Let me treat you to a steaming cup of coffee, and we can discuss it further."

"I'd appreciate your company, Doctor," Liya replied, grateful for the distraction. They headed to the nearby coffee shop, the aroma of freshly brewed beans enveloping them.

"One macchiato for me," Henok ordered, "and one black coffee for this beautiful lady." As the waiter scurried away, Liya playfully scolded him.

"Heni, enough of this. Your flirting has my parents imagining all sorts of things."

He grinned, unabashed. "What if they do? Besides, they're not the only ones."

Liya's heart skipped a beat, but she brushed it aside. "Okay, enough diversion. Tell me more about that remarkable doctor."

Henok leaned forward, intrigued. "His name again?"

"Dr. Patric Miguel Solomon," Liya said. "An Oncologist. Orphaned at an early age, he found solace with his grandfather. But fate dealt another blow—brain cancer claimed his beloved grandpa. That loss fueled his determination to become an oncologist. His biography reads like a gripping novel."

Henok frowned, doubting his memory. "Dr. Patric. Got it. Wait, do I know him?"

Liya hesitated, her gaze distant. "Perhaps you do, Henok. Perhaps you do."

"Guess what, Liya?" Henok leaned in, eyes dancing with intrigue. "I think he's one of the board members of this hospital."

Liya's eyes widened. "Are you kidding me? This is incredible! A golden opportunity, my friend. Imagine—he could provide specialized training for our doctors!"

Henok scratched his head, genuinely puzzled. "Are you that sure? I mean, you've read countless journals, encountered brilliant doctors worldwide. What sets this one apart?"

Liya leaned back, her conviction unwavering. "Of course, I am. He's an absolute genius. His research papers? Mind-blowing. By the way, when's the election for the new hospital chairman? Prof. Enrique is retiring, so there'll be an unexpected vote among the board members."

Henok shrugged. "Today, in the afternoon. But whatever they decide, it won't impact us."

Liya's expression turned thoughtful. "Don't be too sure, Heni. Leadership matters. Prof. Enrique was exceptional—a good man, a great leader. Let's hope the new chairman follows in his footsteps."

As they returned to the hospital, vibrant decorations adorned the compound—welcome banners, floral arrangements. Liya raised an eyebrow. "What's all this for?"

Henok shook his head. "No clue, Liya. Absolute mystery."

Inside, the nurses greeted them. "Hey, Heni. Hey, Liya," Nurse Aron chirped.

"Aron!" Liya saluted.

Melat enveloped Liya in a hug. "Good morning, my dearest."

Aron playfully scolded, "Honey, do you have another lover besides me? Cheating!"

Liya laughed. "Don't worry, Aron. Melat's like a sister to me."

Aron grinned. "I know, just teasing."

Henok cut to the chase. "What's with all the arrangements?"

The nurse shrugged. "Not sure. But rumor has it, a board member's visiting today."

Liya scoffed. "Who does he think he is? Doctors are here to treat people, not orchestrate grand entrances."

"Off to the card room," Melat announced, her eyes glinting with purpose. "That's my spot today."

Henok couldn't resist teasing. "Don't worry, Melat. Aron's got your message loud and clear." Melat blushed, a shy smile playing on her lips. As she left, Henok and Aron exchanged knowing glances, tracking her graceful departure.

"You're a lucky man," Henok blurted out, his thoughts escaping unfiltered.

Aron chuckled. "Luckier than me, Henok. You've fallen for the most beautiful doctor in our hospital. Age doesn't dim her allure."

Henok's frustration surfaced. "What's the point? She doesn't feel the same way. I'm not even on her radar."

Aron leaned in, sharing hard-earned wisdom. "Remember how Melat made me wait? How many times she rejected me? But look at us now—two years later. You? It's only been six months. Get to know her, Henok. Learn her quirks, her passions. Love takes time. Don't give up. Patience is the heartbeat of any love story."

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by an emergency call. They sprinted to the waiting ambulance, adrenaline fueling their steps. As they pushed the stretcher, Henok fired off questions. Once they reached the ER, he swiftly changed into his white gown, ready for action.

"What happened, Aron?" Henok demanded.

"Car accident, Doctor," Aron replied crisply.

"Driver or passenger?" Henok's urgency was palpable.

"According to the police report, he was behind the wheel," Aron answered promptly.

Henok's trained eyes assessed the patient's neck, shoulders, and legs. Tenderness, reflexes, strength—all checked. The verdict: severe leg injuries. But to rule out internal trauma, he ordered further tests.

"Nurse," Dr. Henok's voice cut through the ER's urgency, "I need CT scan and MRI tests for the patient. And please, inform Liya to see the patient. I suspect the glass shards have affected his eyes." Henok was known for his compassion, not just for his patients, but for their families too.

"Okay, doctor," Aron replied promptly.

As Henok stepped out of the ER, a distraught young woman approached him. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, "Doctor, Doctor, please... save my husband. He has to live—for me and our unborn child." Her desperation tugged at his heart.

"We're doing everything we can, ma'am," Henok assured her, his courage unwavering. But once he moved away, her anguish lingered, weighing on his mind.

At noon, Henok searched for Liya in her office, but she was absent. Aron appeared in the corridor. "Hey, did you see the princess?" Henok asked.

Aron grinned. "Your princess is in the operating theater."

"The OT? Why?" Henok's curiosity flared.

"The patient from this morning, the one Liya's attending to," Aron explained. "He needs a double operation—dilated cornea and a cornea procedure. Plus, there's a blood vessel link to his eyes. It's a complex case, and we estimate it'll take around 12 hours."

"Twelve hours!" Henok exclaimed, stunned.

"That's right, Dr. Henok," Aron confirmed.

"When did she head to the OT?" Henok pressed.

"Around 10 AM," Aron replied.

Henok couldn't fathom Liya being in surgery until 10 PM. "Our hero's tackling her first marathon surgery," Aron commented.

Later, when Liya emerged from the OT, Henok waited for her in the corridor, holding a cup of coffee. She leaned against him, exhaustion etched on her face. "I'm drained, Heni," she confessed.

"Need some coffee?" he offered.

"Just as I like it," she murmured, accepting the cup. Together, they stepped out into the hospital compound, finding solace on a bench.

Liya's voice trembled as she confided, "Heni, I never believed in true love. Not until today, when my patient and his wife showed me a love straight out of books and films."

Henok leaned in, curiosity piqued. "And the cornea surgery? How did it go?"

"It was a success," Liya replied, her eyes shining. "But what truly astonished me was his wife's sacrifice. She willingly donated her own cornea to save her husband's sight."

Henok's disbelief spilled out. "Are you serious? I remember her pleading with me in the ER this morning."

Liya nodded. "And now, Dr. Henok, do you believe in true love?"

He hesitated, emotions swirling. "I'm torn, Liya. But I think love still exists. Today, I witnessed it firsthand."

Their eyes locked, and Henok took a deep breath. "Liya," he began, "I need to confess something."

Her brow furrowed. "What is it?"

His heart raced. "I'm in love—with you, Dr. Liya."

Her reaction was explosive. "What? What are you talking about?" she exclaimed, caught off guard.