“Nurse Shizumi!”
The sharp bark of Nurse Crystral’s voice made Hana jump. She whipped around to see the stern head nurse glaring at her disapprovingly from the nurses’ station.
The steady beeping cut through the air. With a jolt, Hana realized she’d been lost in a daydream, the nurse’s cart before her half-filled, her gloved fingers hovering over a stray bandage.
“Don’t you hear that alarm? What are you doing just standing there daydreaming?” Crystal jabbed an accusatory finger at the monitoring screen, where a patient’s room number flashed in urgent crimson.
“I...I’m so sorry!” Hana stammered, cheeks flushing hot with embarrassment. She hastily abandoned the cart and its clatter of scattered supplies.
Mortification flooded her cheeks as she scrambled for the nearest monitor. A quick glance confirmed it was Room 402, a post-surgical patient needing immediate attention.
“Took you long enough,” the Head Nurse muttered, her voice laced with disappointment.
As she hurried toward the code room, she couldn’t help but notice Dr. Ren and Dr. Rowan witnessed the scolding scene from down the hallway corridor. She met his eyes for a fleeting moment before dropping her gaze. Hana, suddenly self-conscious under their scrutiny, ducked her head and hurried past, a mumbled “Excuse me” barely audible.
Rowan leaned over to murmur in Ren’s ear as Nurse Shizumi rushed by with flushed cheeks.
“Ooh, did you see that brief eye contact just now? Our little Nurse Shizumi must be feeling extra embarrassed that we witnessed her getting chewed out like that.” He elbowed Ren conspiratorially. “Especially in front of you, Mr. Hotshot Chief.”
Ren remained silent. This wasn’t unusual for him, but Rowan couldn’t help but sense something different in his gaze as it followed Hana’s retreating figure. He arched an eyebrow at his old friend.
He studied Ren’s face, searching for any telltale sign. “You know,” Rowan continued, his voice laced with a teasing lilt, “it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing in the world. Maybe Shizumi’s got you smitten.”
Ren didn’t reply, his jaw clenching slightly. This was Rowan’s usual tactic, prodding and poking until a reaction was elicited. But this time, the playful banter felt strangely unwelcome.
“Come on, Ren,” Rowan persisted, his voice dropping a notch lower. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed her. Pretty eyes, kind smile... She seems like your type.”
A flicker of something crossed Ren’s features, a fleeting emotion Rowan couldn’t quite decipher. Before Rowan could press further, however, Ren spoke, his voice clipped and curt.
“There’s nothing to notice,” he said, already turning away.
“Wait a minute...is there something more going on there that I should know about?”
Ren’s jaw clenched slightly, and a flicker of irritation crossed his features. “Nothing,” he said curtly, the word leaving no room for argument.
Rowan’s grin widened wickedly. “Or is our esteemed Dr. Jenkins actually harboring a secret crush on--”
Whatever teasing remark he was about to make was abruptly cut off as Ren’s hand clamped firmly over Rowan’s mouth, as a cluster of giggling nurses passed by.
Rowan, muffled but not defeated, struggled against Ren’s grip. A muffled, “Come on, man! You can’t tell me...” escaped his lips before Ren finally released him.
Ren swiftly dropped his hand once they had cleared the hallway, shooting a withering look at Rowan, his voice low and dangerous. “Not a word, Rowan.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said crisply, somehow managing to smoothly realign the disheveled lapels of his pristine lab coat.
“Mmhmm, if you insist,” Rowan replied lightly, making a show of zipping his lips shut but still grinning like a kid who’d caught his parents keeping secrets. As Ren turned on his heel to stride away, Rowan fell into step alongside him, humming a jaunty tune off-key.
Reaching the nurses’ station, they both dropped their patients’ charts into their designated slots. Nurse Dragenheart, ever the picture of efficiency, glanced up at them.
“Dr. Jenkins,” she began, her gaze flickering to the computer screen. “Your seven o’clock surgery is all set. Consent forms secured from both the patient and family member.”
Ren grunted in acknowledgement, his gaze already scanning the next patient file. Rowan, however, couldn’t resist one last dig.
“Sounds like a busy night, Mr. Love Doctor,” he teased, leaning against the counter.
Ren shot him a withering look that would have curdled milk. “Focus, Rowan,” he muttered, his voice clipped.
Just then, both their phones chimed in unison. Ren and Rowan exchanged a knowing look.
“Another emergency?” Rowan asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Most likely,” Ren replied, pulling out his phone. He scrolled through the message, his face betraying no emotion. “Forward any non-critical cases to Dr. Lia’s office,” he instructed Nurse Dragenheart, his voice businesslike.
“On it, Dr. Jenkins,” she replied, already dialing Dr. Lia’s extension.
The familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee hit them as they entered Dr. Lia’s office, a stark contrast to the sterile air of the rest of the hospital. But the welcoming aroma did little to ease Rowan’s growing tension. He pushed open the door further, his eyes immediately falling on Dr. Lia.
She sat at her desk, an uncharacteristically empty expression on her face. Gone was her usual warm smile, replaced by a steely glint in her eyes as she sipped from a steaming mug. The silence in the room was thick, broken only by the faint clinking of the teaspoon against the ceramic cup.
Rowan’s face drained of color.The SOS message flickered at the back of Rowan’s mind. He could smell trouble brewing, a storm brewing in Dr. Lia’s usually calm demeanor. But unlike Ren, who seemed unfazed, Rowan couldn’t quite tell who was in the eye of the hurricane.
Without a word, Rowan dropped to his knees, his theatrics reaching new heights. “Forgive me, Dr. Lia!” he exclaimed, his voice laced with mock despair. “We, your humble colleagues, have sinned greatly! If there’s any punishment to be doled out, please, let it be swift and merciless! Whatever mischief Dr. Jenkins has gotten himself into this time, I assure you, I had no part!”
Ren, ever the picture of composure, rolled his eyes so hard they threatened to disappear into his skull. He started to lower himself into a chair, only to be met with a withering glare from Dr. Lia that sent him springing back to his feet.
The silence stretched on, thick and suffocating. Dr. Lia continued to sip her coffee, her gaze unwavering as it alternated between the two men.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
Finally, with a deliberate clink, she set her cup down on the desk. The sound echoed in the tense silence.
“Gentlemen,” she began, her voice low and dangerous. “I have a simple question. Are you hiding anything from me?”
A bewildered exchange of glances passed between Ren and Rowan. Lia’s words, however, cut through the fog.
“That involves,” she began, enunciating each word carefully, “a certain blind date.”
The gears in Ren’s mind began to turn. A slow realization dawned on him, followed by a flicker of annoyance. Of course, it wouldn’t take Lia long to find out. It wasn’t exactly a secret he’d actively tried to keep.
Rowan, ever the opportunist, seized the moment. With a theatrical sigh, he lumbered towards Lia’s desk, a hand dramatically placed on his chest.
He sidled closer to Dr. Lia, a conspiratorial glint in his eyes. “Is that it?” he whispered, feigning outrage. “Ren, what is the meaning of this? A blind date? And you didn’t even tell your best friend?”
Lia shot him a withering glare, her lips pursed in a thin line. “Don’t try to weasel your way out of this one, Rowan,” she said, her voice laced with a dangerous calmness. “I know you were in on it too.”
“Jiro, you sly dog.” Rowan, caught red-handed, mumbled under his breath barely audible. He threw his hands up in mock surrender, a sheepish grin spreading across his face, “Guilty as charged.”
Rowan, sensing a shift in the atmosphere, cautiously lowered himself into a chair. Dr. Lia, her gaze still pinned on Rowan, sighed. “Talk,” she commanded, her voice softer now, but no less firm.
Rowan, ever the opportunist, wasted no time. “It all started with Ren’s dear old mom,” he explained, milking the dramatic tension. “Apparently, she decided her son needed a little...companionship at this upcoming family gathering. So, she took it upon herself to arrange a little blind date for him.”
Lia’s eyes flickered towards Ren, a hint of softness replacing their earlier chill. “And? How’d it go?” she inquired, her tone gentler.
He let out a long, weary sigh, the sound echoing in the tense silence of the office.
“That bad, huh?” Lia asked, a touch of concern creeping into her voice.
Rowan, never one to shy away from a quip, chimed in, “Not really surprising. The lady reeked of...perfection,” he quickly corrected himself under Lia’s withering glare. “I mean, robotic perfection”
Turning back to Ren, she inquired, “So what did you say to her?”
Ren ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that spoke volumes of his frustration. “We shouldn’t waste each other’s time.”
Lia’s lips pursed thoughtfully. “That might be a problem,” she said, her voice laced with concern. “You know your mother. If you show up alone at that gathering, she’ll have a field day.”
Ren’s jaw clenched slightly, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. “Maybe not alone,” he muttered, the words barely audible.
Both Rowan and Lia froze, their eyes widening in surprise. Rowan’s jaw nearly dropped, while Lia’s gaze darted between Ren and the door as if expecting someone to burst in.
“Maybe not alone?” Rowan echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. A mischievous glint sparked in his eyes. “Do tell, Ren. Who is this mystery companion?”
A curse almost escaped his lips. How could he have blurted that out?
The air crackled with anticipation, Rowan and Lia’s eyes burning into him, their initial amusement replaced by a shared curiosity.
“It’s not... sure yet,” he mumbled, the truth hanging awkwardly in the air.
Rowan’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Not sure? Come on, Jenkins, don’t be coy! Who is it? A secret admirer? A long-lost love interest?”
Lia, ever the pragmatist, cut through Rowan’s teasing. “Do we know them?” she inquired, her tone serious.
Ren hesitated, his jaw clenched tight. The truth was, he wasn’t entirely sure himself.
The thought of Hana walking through the doors of his family mansion, facing his eccentric relatives and the scrutiny of his mother, sent a shiver down his spine.
“Someone,” he finally muttered, the word a noncommittal placeholder.
Rowan threw his hands up in mock exasperation. “Oh come on, Jenkins! We’re going to find out sooner rather than later anyway.”
Lia’s gaze narrowed. “Do they work at the hospital?” she asked, her voice laced with a hint of suspicion.
Rowan snorted. “Of course, they would. Ren doesn’t know anyone else outside the four walls of this hospital. He barely has a social life aside from us.”
Lia seemed to consider this for a moment, then nodded in agreement. “That makes sense.”
Ren opened his mouth to protest, then shut it again. Rowan wasn’t entirely wrong.
A collective gasp escaped Rowan’s lips, shattering the tense silence. “Wait a minute,” he exclaimed, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes. “It couldn’t be...”
He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Shizumi?”
The single name shattered the mask Ren had been wearing. A flicker of surprise, tinged with a touch of panic, crossed his features before he slammed it back into place. But it was too late.
Lia, however, remained blissfully unaware. “Shizumi?” she echoed, a furrow appearing in her brow. “Who’s Shizumi?”
Rowan, ever the showman, launched into an elaborate explanation. “Ah, dear Lia,” he began, gesturing with his hand, “Shizumi is the epitome of shyness. Always flustered, easily embarrassed, and about as outgoing as a hermit crab. Remember the nurse who practically ran out of the room during the last nurses’ party?”
Lia’s memory flickered, finally placing the name with a face. “Oh, right. The new nurse, right?” she said, finally placing Hana.
Confusion deepened on her face. “But what on earth could possibly connect her to Ren?”
Rowan, a mischievous glint in his eyes, relished the opportunity to tease his best friend.
“Oh, the connections are endless, Lia,” he said, his voice dripping with mock seriousness. “You should see the way Shizumi steals glances at Ren whenever she thinks he’s not looking? Or how she can barely meet his gaze but somehow manages to catch his eye every single time?”
He leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper. “And don’t even get me started on how awkward Ren gets whenever the conversation takes a turn towards her.” He wagged a finger playfully at Ren.
Ren, his face burning with a mixture of frustration and a strange sense of belated realization, cleared his throat with a forced cough.
“Rowan, enough!” he growled.
The truth was, most of what Rowan described was entirely new to Ren.
“Lord knows what you said to the poor girl,” Rowan quipped, unable to resist another jab.
“I didn’t say anything,” Ren countered, his voice tight. “She hasn’t even given me an answer yet.” He turned to Lia, the weight of the situation settling on him. “It was just a favor I asked. I’m sure she’ll say no anyway.”
Lia, however, didn’t seem so convinced. “Ren, you know this is a big deal,” she said, her voice serious. “If she accepts, she’ll be meeting your family. That’s a whole different level of... exposure.”
Ren ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I know,” he muttered. “It just came out in the heat of the moment. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Rowan, never one to miss an opportunity for amusement, chimed in with mock sympathy.
“Ren, Ren, Ren,” he drawled. “You must really hate Shizumi. Throwing her to the wolves like that. Or maybe you secretly enjoy the idea of watching your family tear into her?”
Ren glared at Rowan, his jaw clenched. “That’s not it at all. I had no other choice, okay?” He turned back to Lia, “I had no other choice, okay? I could have asked you—”
Before Ren could finish his sentence, Rowan dramatically threw his arm around Lia’s shoulders, pulling her close in a mock protective stance. “No no, Jenkins,” he declared in a theatrical voice. “Eyes off her. This beautiful woman is taken!”
Lia burst out laughing, swatting Rowan’s arm playfully. “Get your slimy hands off me, Romeo,” she teased. Turning back to Ren, she said, “I understand, Ren. But we can’t have a worse rumor circulating, can we?”
Rowan smirked, relishing the juicy gossip. “Oh, I can practically hear it now,” he announced, his voice taking on a dramatic tone. “‘Heir steals best friend’s wife!’”
Lia cut him off with a sharp glare. “Rowan!”
Rowan, sensing the shift in mood, zipped his mouth shut with a theatrical flourish. “Fine, fine,” he mumbled, pretending to seal his lips with an imaginary zipper.
Lia took charge, her voice firm but laced with a hint of concern. “Alright, on a more serious note, let’s say this Shizumi agrees to your, uh, ‘request’. What kind of story are you going to tell your family? Who is she going to be?”
These were the questions that truly sent a jolt through Ren. Who, exactly, would Hana be to him in the eyes of his family? A junior colleague? A friend? The word “girlfriend” wouldn’t even dare to cross his lips, not in this context.
Ren’s mind raced.
He looked at Lia, a silent plea in his eyes. “I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice a low rumble. “I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
Lia’s voice cut through his jumbled thoughts. “Well, Ren,” she said, a hint of amusement in her voice, “you better start thinking.”
With a glance at her watch, she rose briskly. “That’s enough chit-chat for now. I’ve got a surgery prepped and waiting. Now, shoo! Both of you!”
Rowan, ever the opportunist, tapped Ren’s shoulder with a mischievous grin. “Later, Dr. Jenkins. And hey, try not to scare the poor girl away with your stoic charm.” With a wink, he sauntered off down the hallway.
Alone in the hallway, the weight of the situation pressed down on Ren. His fingers instinctively reached for his phone, hovering over Hana’s contact. The urge to call her, to explain the ridiculous situation he’d gotten himself into, was strong.
But what could he possibly say? “Hey, remember that favor I asked? Well, it turns out it involves facing down my entire family as my… what exactly?” He couldn’t bring himself to utter the word “girlfriend.”
With a frustrated sigh, he shoved his phone back into his pocket. There was no way he was ready to have that conversation just yet. There was no point in calling now.
With a heavy heart, Ren turned and headed towards his office, the weight of his impulsive decision hanging heavy in the air.