Chapter 43

"Well, this sucks."

"No kidding," Owen muttered. "I can't even go to work."

"Dude…we both had surgery. Why in the hell are you thinking of work?"

"Because unlike a certain freeloader, I have mouths to feed."

Owen didn't know if it was luck or Dr. Belle's doing but Masafumi ended up beside him post-surgery. Both were okay. The surgeries went off without a hitch and now they were resting up. Ophelia and Isabella had left since only one of them was allowed to stay overnight. They said, "It's either both of us or none of us." As soon as the hospital visitor hours open, they would return. 

Owen put an arm on his forehead, sighing. "By taxi too…" The trip cost thirty dollars every time. He was definitely going into debt after this…

The door swung open to reveal Dr. Belle entering with her usual air of efficiency. She took a quick glance at the charts hanging at the foot of each bed before turning her attention to the two patients.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen," she greeted them, her tone brisk. "How are we feeling today?"

Owen offered a half-hearted smile, while Masafumi grunted in response. Dr. Belle raised an eyebrow, her gaze flickering between the two of them.

"Any pain or discomfort?" she inquired.

Owen shook his head. "Just a bit sore."

Masafumi grumbled something unintelligible, his expression a mixture of annoyance and resignation. His injuries were much worse: wooden shrapnel in the back as well as messed up stitches.

Dr. Belle nodded, her gaze lingering on each of them and then the monitors beside their beds. It was all very quick. She analyzed their their bodies, expression, and the stability of their heart beat 

"Your vitals are stable," she remarked. "Just make sure to take it easy and follow the post-operative instructions I've given you." Dr. Belle proceeded to eye Owen and approached him close. Her voice became low so that Masafumi couldn't hear. "There is one last concern I have."

"Go ahead," Owen said. Masafumi, in turn, closed his eyes and covered his eyes. He winced from moving his shoulders too much. Still, he committed.

"Your wrist," Dr. Belle said. "Those black marks are very deep and curious. You should stay for a couple more days."

"Every day I spend here adds to my bills. I'm sorry, Doctor."

Dr. Belle stared him down. "Is there no way to convince you?" He cast a look at his wrist, which had a thick black line around it. "That looks bad. It could be a rare type of muscle contusion."

"It doesn't hurt so much." It did.

"External pain does not equal internal pain. What if this ends up being something to amputate?"

Owen inhaled. The doctor's worry was touching. However, the only man that could possibly help him with this was not her but the man obediently covering his ears. "I'm sorry."

Dr. Belle frowned and put her hands in her coat. "I understand." 

"Ah, wait," Owen called out. 

She was leaving and stopped in her tracks. "Yes?"

"This is…well, sort of a favour. I don't know if it's really possible but…do you mind becoming my family doctor?"

She fully turned toward him, puzzled. "Huh?"

"You do great work and I think Isabella and Ophelia really appreciate your thoroughness. I just think they'd be more happy to know if you were there to take care of us."

"Us…" Dr. Belle echoed. A question had been lingering in her mind. "What exactly are they to you?"

Owen smiled. "My girlfriends."

"...I see." An unseen show of surprise flashed her eyes. She seemed torn, pursing her lips and considering her next words carefully. Owen tilted his head, still smiling. Dr. Belle went for it. "Are you two-timing them or…?"

"Nothing like that," Owen replied, laughing. "They're both dating me, that's all."

"Okay." Blink, blink. "I will…think about your offer." Dr. Belle nodded before turning to leave the room, her footsteps echoing softly against the tiled floor. The door closed. 

"I think you scared her off," Masafumi commented.

"You think?"

"A resting bitch face does not mean she's actually a bitch," Masafumi said. "She was definitely surprised by whatever you said."

"Fair, fair."

"By the way, about the investigation…" 

Owen grimaced. "Yeah, I know." 

They found nothing but not because there was a lack of something. It was the opposite, there was too much to find and too much to risk. The magic circle and the blue moon, it felt like the beginning of a new story. Owen didn't like it. He wanted to move on. He wanted to be ordinary again.

"Another mystery...just like before." Masafumi stared up at the ceiling, head on the pillow. "You ever…you ever think about whether what you're doing is right? Is the path you walk actually worth it?"

"Why?"

"We snuck into someone's rich lady's room and nearly ended up killing ourselves. I'm sure if that thing had gotten out, it would have died to the police." Masafumi let out a laugh. "Like seriously, how useful are we really?"

Owen drew in a breath and closed his eyes. He too was resting on the pillow. "A while ago, there were these guys who harassed one of my coworkers. My boss told me to take care of it and my instinct was to just beat them up. It felt like I hadn't changed at all. But I have. I know I have because I never would have fought for the sake of someone I didn't know. I never would have spared them and given them advice. It's small, probably insignificant, but…I'm changing. I know I am. So to answer your question, I think everything we do is meaningful. Every little step is a journey toward who we will become. Who we want to be. Tell me, why do you exorcise ghosts?"

"Because I want to." Pause. "Because I have to. Otherwise…there wouldn't be a single good thing about me."

"There's meaning in that too."

"Is it? It never feels that way."

"It's not supposed to."

Time ticked by. Night was upon. Owen was outside the hospital in the parking lot. While he wasn't discharged, he was allowed to move.

By sheer coincidence, he saw Dr. Belle in the very back of the lot overlooking the road. He rolled up next to her. From here, the starry night was delightful. 

"Want a blunt?" Dr. Belle asked.

"Sure." She didn't give him a new one, she handed him the one she was currently smoking. Owen frowned once it left his lips. "Hm."

"It's shit, right?"

"Yeah."