2nd Kiss

We were outside of the hospital. We just arrived a few minutes ago. A swirl of nervous energy took hold of me. It was as if a stampede of wild horses was thundering through my chest.

"Are you alright?" Chito asked, his voice soft. I shot him a glare, his innocent grin only adding to my irritation.

"Seriously, Chito? You find this funny?" I retorted, shooting him a stern look. Here I was, already trembling with nervousness, and he had the audacity to chuckle.

"No, not funny. Just... amusing," he corrected, his eyes dancing with mischief.

"Isn't that the same thing?" I replied with a huff.

"Ugh! Arianne! Do you really want me to explain that..." Chito began.

"Fine, fine. They're different. I get it. Are you happy now?" I snapped at him, narrowing my eyes even more.

"You're kinda cute when you're annoyed," he murmured softly, the words almost lost in the air.

"I don't get you sometimes, Chito," I sighed, feeling his warm hand enclose mine. His touch was a familiar one, his affectionate nature being something I had grown accustomed to. Then, unexpectedly, he pressed a gentle kiss on the back of my hand, causing my eyes to widen in surprise.

"You know I love you, right?" he whispered, his gaze unwavering.

"Ch-Chito..." I stammered, caught off guard. It was one thing to say I love you and another to receive it. For some reason, it still felt uncomfortable. He raised his hands, palms up, almost as if surrendering.

"Okay, okay," he chuckled, breaking the intense moment. "Geez, you're taking this seriously!"

He stepped out of the car, and I quickly followed suit, noticing the faint frown on his face.

"What's wrong?" I asked, puzzled.

"I was going to open the door for you. You should've let me," he said.

"Oh, come on! You know I'm not used to that. You're just too much of a gentleman," I teased, scrunching up his nose playfully.

The truth was, I had grown accustomed... back then. You see, Joseph wasn't the kind of guy who showed public displays of affection. He would even shy away from holding my hand. So, what more if he were to open a car door for me?

"Let's just go inside. I'm excited to see your ex's reaction," Chito commented.

"Stop it. Someone might overhear you," I chided.

"Fine," he grumbled, wrapping an arm around me.

"Chito!" I scolded, tilting my head to question the arm draped casually over my shoulder.

"I just wanna hold you, okay? What if you faint or something?" he reasoned. I had to admit, he had a point. What would Joseph do if we ran into each other? Would he be angry? What if he didn't want to help me?

We entered the building, and I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.

This is going to be alright, Arianne. I repeated the mantra in my head.

We walked towards Joseph's clinic, and the crowded waiting area didn't surprise me. From the beginning, he had always been the one eager to help others.

Chito approached the nurse's desk, leaving me momentarily.

"We have an appointment with Dr. Joseph Jang," Chito informed the nurse, who blushed slightly, and I couldn't help but chuckle. Chito was undeniably handsome, his long hair styled in a way that exuded confidence. I suspected he was part Taiwanese. The nurse was clearly flustered by his presence. Who wouldn't be? Chito might have the looks of those stereotypical arrogant guys, but he was different. His kindness radiated from him. He was truly passionate about marriage, believing it to be a sacred bond where the husband should cherish his wife. Maybe this was the reason why he and Joseph never saw eye to eye.

Once our appointment was confirmed, we took a seat to wait for our turn. I absentmindedly played with Chito's hand, a comforting gesture that had become second nature to me.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"I'm just fine, you know. You're so persistent," I replied with a sigh. "I'm not going to drop dead here, I promise."

"Tsk! Don't talk like that," he scolded. We fell into a brief silence. A nurse walked by, catching our attention. Chito and I exchanged glances, both realizing who it was. His sassy demeanor was unmistakable in the way he walked and rolled his eyes. It was none other than Aries, our college friend. Chito's closest companion in those days.

"It's Aries!" we both exclaimed simultaneously. Our voices were probably louder than intended, causing Aries to halt and glance our way. Our eyes widened. Aries stared back at us with a cold look before walking away. Disappointment washed over me, mingled with a pang of sadness. I knew Chito felt the same way. Aries used to be our college friend. We were classmates in nursing school. I was aware of his resentment towards me. He probably felt that I had taken Vicky away from him, another one of our friends. Our group consisted of five tight-knit friends: Chito, Aries, Nina, Vicky, and me.

"Aries, wait!" I called out, but he didn't listen. I turned to Chito.

"Just wait here, Arianne. I'll go talk to Aries," he said, and I nodded in agreement. Chito left to follow Aries.I waited there, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety bubbling within me. I promised myself I would make amends with Aries tomorrow.

"Arianne Yuan," the nurse called, motioning for me to enter the room.

My nervousness intensified. Damn! I needed Chito here, but I knew he had to do things with Aries first.

I turned the doorknob, taking a few deep breaths to steady my nerves. When I felt ready, I stepped inside. Just as expected in a doctor's clinic, the room was pristine and white. My gaze was drawn to Joseph. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I saw him looking at me, his gaze predatory, like I was some sort of prey.

I approached his table and took a seat in front of him.

"Jose—I mean, Dr. Jang," I said.

"Ms. Arianne Yuan," he replied. It was as though my heart was squeezed tight. He said it with such detachment, as if I were just any patient. As if... Ugh! What did you expect, Arianne? He never cared about you back then, did he? What makes you think everything has changed now? I fought against my own thoughts.

"Doc..." I began. He read something from a folder, probably the test results from the States. Joseph had known about my condition since the beginning. I can still remember how he promised me he would take care of me, find a solution, and cure my illness.

He started talking, his words flowing like a seasoned professional. He discussed my condition and the procedures that would be done.

I'll admit, I was hurt. How? How could he just move on without me so easily? Maybe it was true. Maybe he didn't need me at all. Maybe I was just a hindrance to him.

I stole a subtle glance at him. He appeared unchanged to my eyes, though there was a hint of maturity that now graced his features. His clean-cut appearance accentuated the sharpness of his jawline, a defining trait that had remained consistent even back when we were teenagers. He had an air of seriousness that clung to him, even in his younger years. And now, as a doctor, that trait served him well, enhancing his aura of professionalism. It was as if his very essence was tailor-made for the medical profession.

I couldn't help but acknowledge that he looked good in his doctor's attire. The white coat seemed like a natural extension of him, as if he had been born to wear it.

I wondered how Mama, Papa, and even Joshua was doing. Would it be okay to ask about them? I missed them dearly. Perhaps one of these days, I should pay them a visit. I cleared my throat to get his attention.

"Jose—I mean Dr. Jang. How are Mama, Papa, and Joshua?" I couldn't help but blurt out. He looked at me, an expression on his face that I couldn't quite decipher. His lips curved upwards slightly as he gazed at me, and I bit my lower lip in response. Did I say something wrong?

"Mama? Papa?" he repeated, chuckling lightly. I pressed my lips together, trying to hide my embarrassment. It was as if he was teasing me.

"I'm sorry. It's just a habit. Are Aunt and Uncle okay then?" I asked. He closed the folder in front of him before leaning back in his chair. His intense stare made it difficult for me to meet his gaze.

"Mama and Papa are doing well. Joshua is fine too," he replied, raising an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"

"Um, well... it's nothing," I stammered. "I just miss them."

He laughed heartily at my response, as if finding amusement in my sentimentality.

"Why? Is that all you miss?" he asked, leaning in closer to me. My eyes widened at his action. What did he mean by that?

"Wha—" I started to say, but before I could continue, the door swung open. Chito walked in, raising an eyebrow at the scene he had interrupted.

"Are you done here, sugar pie?" he said. My eyes widened at the endearment he used. I knew he said it intentionally, his gaze now challenging Joseph, whose expression I couldn't quite read. The term "sugar pie" sounded so out of place. It was as if he had plucked it from another planet.

"Not yet. We're almost finished," I replied, smiling back at him, though I knew he understood the meaning behind my smile. Chito approached and took my hand in his. I saw Joseph's eyes flicker to our entwined hands. I thought I saw a brief tightening of his jaw, but it was probably just my imagination. It couldn't be real.

"Dr. Jang, we just returned from the States. We're eager to proceed with the operation as soon as possible. We need to get back there," Chito said.

"No!" Joseph exclaimed. "I mean... I still need to evaluate her condition thoroughly. It'll take a month or two before we can begin the series of operations."

Chito and I exchanged glances. He gave me a reassuring smile.

We stood up to leave, and Joseph mentioned that his secretary would call us for the next check-up.

As we walked out, we heard something shattering in Joseph's clinic. Chito and I exchanged a nonchalant look and continued walking.