"Let's see… Oooh! Look!"
Zade leaned closer, squinting at the neatly wrapped bandage on the little girl's leg.
"Since you've been behaving well and taking your medicine properly, the wound has become much smaller," he said with a bright smile.
The girl's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Really," Zade nodded seriously. "At this rate, you'll be running around again in no time."
The nurse beside him chuckled softly.
"You've been very brave, haven't you?"
The girl nodded eagerly, her short hair bouncing. "I didn't cry even once!"
"I know," Zade said, gently patting her head.
"That's why you're my favorite patient today."
She giggled, clearly pleased, as the nurse finished cleaning the wound and carefully wrapped a fresh bandage around her leg.
The girl was only seven years old. She had come in for what was supposed to be a simple procedure, a small lump growing on her leg. Everyone had been worried at first, but thankfully, it turned out to be harmless.
Still, surgery was surgery.
And afterward, she had developed an allergic reaction to the plaster, forcing her to stay in the hospital longer than expected.
But now, she was finally getting discharged.
"Tomorrow, you're free," Zade told her. "No more hospital food."
"Yay!" she cheered.
Her mother, standing nearby, bowed her head gratefully. "Thank you, Doctor Grey."
Zade waved it off. "She did most of the work herself."
With one last smile, he moved on to the next bed.
The ward was unusually crowded that day.
Monitors beeped steadily. Nurses hurried back and forth. The air smelled faintly of disinfectant and medicine.
Zade checked stitches, reviewed charts, listened to complaints, reassured anxious patients, and answered endless questions.
By noon, he had already walked countless steps.
Today was one of the busiest days he'd had in weeks.
Normally, he would've been exhausted by now.
But thanks to the rare luxury of proper sleep the night before, he felt surprisingly energetic.
That, and the fact that he'd eaten a very delicious full breakfast and lunch.
Good food was always good motivation.
As he walked down the hallway, flipping through a patient file, his thoughts drifted again.
To food.
To Rai.
Without warning, a small smile tugged at his lips.
Even when Rai wasn't around, somehow, he still managed to invade Zade's mind.
A random memory.
A sarcastic remark.
A ridiculous argument.
Anything related to him was enough to make Zade feel thrilled about every single moment.
"I forgot to buy him anything yesterday," Zade muttered to himself. "I should get something today."
Yesterday, he had been too tired to think properly.
Too tired to remember that little habit he'd developed...
Last night, he'd forgotten.
Even so, he still had the energy to mess with Rai instead of resting.
That was just who he was.
Annoying.
Stubborn.
And far more invested in teasing Rai than in taking care of himself.
He snorted softly.
"Such a generous person I am."
Rai probably knew that.
"Doctor Grey."
Zade blinked and looked up.
A nurse stood in front of him, holding a clipboard.
"Room 307 needs checking. Two post-op patients and one scheduled for surgery this afternoon."
"On my way," he replied.
As he walked, his expression grew serious.
No matter how much he and the nurses emphasized it, there was always at least one patient who ignored pre-surgery instructions.
Especially fasting.
He never understood it.
They were told repeatedly.
No food. No drinks.
Yet somehow, people still treated it lightly.
It could be deadly.
Today was no exception.
Two patients had "accidentally" eaten a whole sandwich just two hours before surgery.
A whole sandwich.
Zade had stared at them in disbelief.
At least they hadn't lied.
That was something.
Still, he couldn't feel happy about it.
Honesty didn't erase stupidity.
By the time he finished rearranging schedules and explaining consequences, his patience was nearly gone.
It was almost ten at night when Zade finally clocked out.
Not too late.
But late enough to make his shoulders ache.
He walked to the parking lot, stretched, and unlocked his car.
As he pulled out, he noticed an old man standing by the roadside with baskets of oranges.
Fresh.
Bright.
Very Cheap.
Zade slowed down.
"Those will do," he murmured. "He loves them."
Five minutes later, he drove away with five bags of oranges in the back seat.
Not one.
Not two.
Five.
Because they were cheap.
And because he was impulsive.
And because he knew Rai would complain they were too much. He loves it when Rai whine.
The house was quiet when he got home.
He slipped off his shoes and glanced down the hallway.
Rai's door was closed.
No light.
No sound.
Zade frowned.
"That bastard is already sleeping."
He didn't know why it bothered him.
It shouldn't have.
Rai was always an early sleeper.
And an early riser.
Zade knew that.
So why did he feel irritated?
Disappointed?
He sighed quietly.
"Stupid."
He put the oranges in the fridge, took a quick shower, and changed into clean clothes.
Yet the strange feeling didn't go away.
Maybe he had been looking forward to annoying Rai.
Maybe he'd imagined their usual banter.
Maybe he'd been excited for no reason.
"I'm getting used to this bastard too much," he muttered.
When he entered the kitchen, he paused.
A covered container sat neatly on the counter.
With a sticky note on top.
Zade raised an eyebrow and picked it up.
"I know you're a lazy ass, but heat this up before eating. You probably know how to use the microwave since you hoard frozen meals. If you don't, then figure it out. Do whatever you want. I don't care."
Zade burst out laughing.
"He really wrote all that?"
Inside the container was dinner.
Properly portioned.
In a microwave-safe bowl.
He heated the food and ate quietly.
It was good.
As always.
After finishing, he grabbed a marker, drew a crude middle finger on a piece of paper, and stuck it to the knife stand.
Petty. He knows.
Childish. He knows.
Completely unnecessary. He knows.
But that's entirely Zade.
Honestly, at this point, Zade was ready to risk this meal privilege. Mostly because he knew Rai loved cooking and would even do it for an enemy.
Rai was like that.
Zade never understood why Rai's own friends found it hilarious that he cooked. All Zade felt was that those idiots were jealous because they couldn't cook like him.
Rai's cooking was impressive.
He couldn't deny that.
Rai was an idiot.
His friends were even more idiotic.
He hated those motherfuckers so much.
"I wonder if they're still in touch."
Zade assumed they weren't. Rai was very closed off. He never seemed close to his friends. Maybe Rai noticed it too. They only hung around him so others would take them seriously.
They were indeed idiots.
Zade sighed and stared at the paper he drew on. Then, he grabbed it again and started writing in his ugly handwriting.
"Oranges, fridge."
Then he paused and added,
"For you."
He stuck the note under a plate this time and went to his room after making sure the doors were locked.
"Hey! Guess what?! I got news!"
"Shawn! Just say it! Why are you beating around the bush? We are curious enough already."
"Well, guess what?"
"I am going to punch you if you don't tell it now. Ugh."
"First guess, dude!"
Zade chuckled reading the group chat where Shawn was making the others impatient with whatever news he had.
This guy was always like that, playing around and messing with them. But honestly, he kept the energy positive. He was a good guy, though he could be annoying.
'Like me.'
Zade watched as the others threatened Shawn more, but the guy kept dragging it longer.
"This is more for Zade."
Zade squinted his eyes and finally entered the chat, wanting to know what nonsense it was this time.
"We have got another surgeon. One we already know."
"Who?"
"Who?"
"Who?"
"Why is it for Zade?"
"Shawn! Just tell it already!"
"Motherfucker! I want to sleep! Tell it already!"
Everyone flooded the group chat again before Shawn finally sent the message.
"Thomas is coming back."
Zade froze. And read that again.
Yeah, he had read that correct the first time.
'Fuck!'
Zade immediately frowned, then typed furiously.
"What? When? Why?"
"Apparently, he got a transfer here again. Well, I guess we all can guess the reason though."
Zade rubbed his forehead, reading his friends' messages, but his mind went back to that guy.
Thomas.
Doctor Thomas.
A surgeon.
A great one, honestly.
Thomas was also at their age and had gotten his first post at this same hospital. He transferred back to his hometown around five months ago after his mother got sick and he had to stay around to help her.
That was not the most important part.
The important part was…
Thomas was gay.
Not that it was a problem.
Till…
He started pursuing Zade.
Zade was not gay.
He was clear about that from the beginning when he noticed Thomas's hints. He made it clear so Thomas wouldn't be heartbroken later.
But even knowing that, Thomas kept going, crossing boundaries to the point Zade found him bothersome. He avoided Thomas like the plague and even confronted him, strictly warning him to stop and at least respect the friendship they had formed so far. But the guy didn't back down.
After he left, Zade felt so much relief. On top of work stress, he definitely didn't need Thomas.
Well, now it seemed like he was about to be stressed again.
His friends knew how much Thomas had bothered Zade unnecessarily. They had also confronted him and advised him not to make the workplace more stressful when he already knew he was chasing something he wouldn't get.
But for whatever reason, the guy was so persistent.
Or… shameless.
That was what Zade finally thought.
'Ugh… good. Thomas was the last thing I needed on top of everything…', Zade complained in his head.
"Apparently, his mom had passed away. That's why he is coming back."
"Well, he should have stayed there. He doesn't have to come back."
"Mm… the chief said he wanted to stay away from there to heal. He really loved his mother. I bet it hurt to lose her."
"I know he loved his mother, but I still don't trust him."
"Well, he could have changed though."
"I wish, dude. I really don't want to go around protecting Zade like a girl getting stalked. Not again."
"Well, let's see if he's not so annoying anymore. Maybe he changed. Let's hope so."
"Mm… I bet Zade is mad now."
"Yeah. I honestly understand. After everything Thomas did, I wouldn't even want to be around him again. How crazy do you have to be to refuse to treat a patient just because Zade smiled at her and then tell patients he and Zade are dating? Dude was crazy."
Zade read everything, not joining in anymore as he felt a headache coming.
"Well, at least we have another week before he comes. Enjoy your peace, guys. We might have to do bodyguard duty again."
Zade read Shawn's message and couldn't help but chuckle.
These were some good friends.
They helped him a lot in Thomas's case.
They would do it again if he came around bothering him.
He had no doubt.
But Zade wished Thomas might have changed.
Maybe he got a boyfriend.
Or lost the attraction he had toward him.
"Well… let's see next week then."
Zade plugged in the charger and switched off the lights, forcing himself to forget everything.
Slowly, he fell into a silent, peaceful sleep.
But...someone's good night wish blessed Zade at late night.
Thomas....everywhere in his dreams...
Well,
Nightmares...
Rai's blessi- curses reached Zade...