Chapter 32: Chapter 32

When Arya woke up next morning, she felt refreshed and cheerful.

The things that happened last night flooded her mind and she recalled everything.

Her friendship with Dr Jack had improved leaps and bounds.  They could talk heart to heart, they could gossip together and it seems she had emotionally encouraged him.  It was awesome!

She felt very happy.  In her opinion, they are the type of people who cannot be lovers but can be friends.

She jumped up from the bed to clean up and when she looked into the mirror, she realized she had not changed her clothes last night.  That small bra beneath tank top was cutting into her badly.  She hurriedly took it off to release the tension.  Surprisingly, she did not feel any discomfort the whole night and now the tight bands had left marks on her.

As she was brushing her teeth, she thought to herself that it was time for her to lose weight some extra fat.  Although she was slim, she had actually put on more weight than before.  Looking into the mirror, she noticed her skin was not as good as it used to be and had to pay more attention to it.  Well, should she grit her teeth and save some money from her grocery to buy some premium skincare products?

Her eyebrows had not been trimmed for a long time.  It was time to get Soph to help her with that.  She looked into the mirror to check her teeth.  It looked alright.  Her teeth still looked white and should carry on with the brushing.

Finally, Arya had completed cleaning up and turned around to walk out of the bathroom.  She jumped with fright when she saw Sophia standing at the door staring at her.

“You scared me. What are you doing?”

“I should ask you.  What is the matter with you?  You washed up in three minutes and looked into the mirror for ten minutes.”  Sophia smiled mysteriously and nudged her. “Arya, looks like weather has changed in your life, right?  Did you go on a date for the whole of last night?  What’s the progress?”

“What do you mean by progress?”

“Mean the level of love. Base level or advance level? Tell me?”

‘Soph!”  Arya pointed her finger at her and said righteously.  “Your thoughts are not pure.  You think too much.”

“It is so serious?”  Sophia laughed.  “Then it must have been basic level at least.”

Arya blushed, ignored her and returned to her room.

Basic level her head!

While she was getting ready, she observed Jack’s coat on the bed. She recalled how he had covered her up before going out and faint blush rose on her cheeks.

She thought to herself.  It was difficult to be on good terms with Mr. poisonous tongue.  For her, friendship would come first and she must not let Soph mess up this matter again.

She wondered how Soph and Dr. Jack are getting along.

Did Dr. Jack discuss this matter clearly with Soph?  Did they not have dinner together the last time?  What is the situation now?  Dr. Jack had gone on a blind-date and according to his style of handling matters, he would not be still entangled with Soph.  Recently, she did not mention anything about him and perhaps she had really given up on him?

She was about to go out and ask Soph when she heard Soph shout out to her.  “I’m leaving for work!”, then she heard the door closed.

Forget it. She will ask her later.

Arya was thinking.  Dr. Jack’s love life is a bit complicated now with ex-girlfriend in picture and the new blind-date girl. She must talk to Soph and clearly explain to her so she will not get hurt.

Oh yes, she still had to go for dinner with Dr. Jack tonight.  She wondered what she will eat.

Suddenly, she had an evil thought…….perhaps she should prepare another box of braised ribbs for him so that he can enjoy with a bowl of rice.  Anyway, he did not get to eat the braised ribs yesterday…….

Wait a minute!  Braised ribbs!

Suddenly, she remembered the two remaining pieces left behind in the car by Jack last night.  It was left there overnight and it should be stinky by now.  Oh god., no…….if she waits for Jack to come and collect his car after work this evening, there will surely be an bad stinky odor in the car.  What to do?

She quickly changed her clothes and went downstairs to look through the car window.

Her lunch box  was really sitting in the empty seat beside the driver’s seat.  She wanted to open the door to take out the box but she felt that entering someone’s car without permission was not right.  After thinking for a moment, she gave Jack a call.

The phone was picked up and before she could say anything, she heard several people talking on the other side and it seems they were discussing some illness.  Then Jack’s voice sounded.  “Arya, is there anything urgent?”

“Uh……not urgent.”  ~ I want to take out lunch box from your car ~ this kind of thing is definitely not considered as urgent.

“Then give me a call later.  I’m on my rounds now.”

“Oh, Alright……”  She quickly hung up the phone with a little embarrassment.  She had disturbed him while he was working.

She remembered his appearance while he patiently and humorously explained a patient’s condition in reply to the patient’s question on his rounds.  She could not help but admire this handsome man for his seriousness in his work.

She bent down and looked through the window again.  It will be best if this serious man’s car does not have the stinky smell later.  She has to leave for work soon and if she does not take it out now, then she will have to come back at noon to do it.

She thought about this.  Well, since both of them knew each other, his car should not mind if she invaded it.  She opened the door and sat inside.  As she was taking the lunch box, she saw a box of cigarettes lying next to it.

Arya had seen Jack smoke only once.  It was the time he left her alone in the car, to give her the opportunity to call home and told her he was going to buy a packet of cigarettes.

She felt Jack is not someone who is addicted to smoking, however, occasionally taking a smoke is also not good for health.  She put the cigarettes back in place and looked at the tissue box which was empty.  She wondered whether he will remember to buy another box.  If he needs to use tissues, it will be inconvenient.

While she was thinking, suddenly someone stood beside the opened car door.  Arya jumped with fright.  She turned her head to look and saw a young man.

“Miss, can you move your car forward?  I can’t drive my car out.”

“Oh?”  Arya was embarrassed and replied.  “This is not my car.”

The man was also embarrassed and was caught by surprise.

“Isn’t this your car?”

“This car belongs to my friend.  I’m just taking something out.”  As she answered, she looked down at her shoes.  In actual fact, she had learned to drive but she was good scared to drive Jack’s car. What if something happens?  That stinky man might take revenge on her.

The man’s face was full of black lines.  “Right now, I am in hurry. Please move the car”.

“Oh.”  She nodded at the urgency of the man. It’s alright Arya. You just have to move a bit.

She occupied the driver seat and inserted the key in the ignition. The slowly she moved the car forward to provide man enough space to reverse his car.

She got down from the car holding the lunch box and closed the car door.

Finally the man’s white car could also move.  He opened his car door, looked over at Arya who was standing there watching him and he smiled at her.

She also returned with a slight smile. Arya saw that his car had started to move and since there was nothing else that concerned her, she walked towards her house holding the lunch box.  Just as she took a few steps forward, she heard the young man called out.  “that…….”

Arya looked back and saw him leaned out from the car window, shouting at her.  “I felt you look familiar.  Are you the one who fainted in the car accident?”

She widened her eyes in surprise and this time, she also felt the man looked familiar.

“First aid bag……car boot…..car keys…….”  He smiled as he hinted at her.

“Omg…….it’s you!”

“That’s right.”  He laughed.  “What a coincidence.  Do you stay in this Apartment building?  I haven’t seen you before.   Oh god, I’m going to be late for work.  I have to go……bye!”

He waved his hand and drove away.

Arya felt very embarrassed.  Unexpectedly, he turned out to be the enthusiastic passerby who had helped her.

However, the incident was only just an occasional encounter and so Arya did not bother to think twice about it.  She returned home, dumped the two stinky remaining pieces, washed the lunch box and went off to work.

The whole morning, Arya was not able to concentrate on her work and Jack also did not call her.  Anyway, they were supposed to meet in the evening, so she also did not call him since she had nothing important and she also did not want to disturb him while he was working.

While she was working, her thoughts kept wandering and felt she wanted to do something for him.  The last time, giving him braised feet was a little mischievous but in the end, he still did not get to eat them.  She considered cooking some grilled chicken for him.  When they were eating at Mark’s gathering, she noticed that he likes to eat chicken.

Having made a decision, she hoped that noon would arrive quickly.  After finishing work at noon, Arya quickly ran outside.  She had also told her manager in advance that she would be going to see her client in the afternoon and would be back late.

She rushed to the market and chose a fresh chicken.  Then she bought a box of tissue and thought for a moment before she also decided to buy a pack of chewing gum.

She planned to place the gum next to his box of cigarettes.  Her meaning is that when he wants a smoke, he can chew on the gum instead and smoke less.

As soon as she had bought everything, she quickly returned home to grill the chicken.

At night, after work, Jack was late again.

Arya, who had experienced this on several occasions, had long been mentally prepared and did not mind.

She had a great time this evening and Jack had taken her out for a steak dinner.  He also fulfilled her curiosity and told her about gossips regarding his own affairs.  One of his last two girlfriends was courted by him and the other girl had chased after him.  Both girls came from families with their social status similar to his family and both girls were gentle and frank.

In Arya’s opinion, at that time, Jack was still afraid to meet another woman who would stubbornly say to him ~ Our family’s difference is too great and even if we are together, our relationship will not last.”

So what if they came from families which were well-matched with his family?  A year and a half?  Four months?  The time that can maintain a relationship can even be shorter.

Suddenly Arya wanted to drink again but Jack refused.  He said he is afraid that after she is drunk, she will sing loudly and talk loudly.

The restaurant is a classy place and he is afraid she will put herself to shame.

She laughed.  He had begun to mouth his poisonous words and she actually felt it was very funny.

After they left the restaurant, she actually started singing to irritate him.

La la lala……la la la la laallaaa…

“Arya, please stay a bit further away from me.  Don’t let others think that I know you.”

She laughed and insisted on holding his hand.  He flung away her hand acting annoyed and walked forward two steps faster.  She ran up to pull his hand again and held on tightly.  His eyes shine with sparkles and held her hand.

Then she suddenly thought of a song and she wanted to sing the song very much.  This time, she seriously sang the song.

~~~~~~~

City of stars

Are you shining just for me?

City of stars

There's so much that I can't see

Who knows?

I felt it from the first embrace I shared with you

That now our dreams

They've finally come true

City of stars

Just one thing everybody wants

There in the bars

And through the smokescreen of the crowded restaurants

It's love

Yes, all we're looking for is love from someone else

A rush

A glance

A touch

A dance

A look in somebody's eyes

To light up the skies

To open the world and send it reeling

A voice that says, I'll be here

And you'll be alright

~~~~~~~~~~

She laughed out loudly and glared at him.

Suddenly, she shook his hand.  “Dr. Jack, if the woman comes to you again and asks to be reunited with you, you must tell her the truth of what you feel. Even if its anger or frustration!  It’s better to vent out your emotions!”

He looked at her for a moment and suddenly gave her a knock on her head.

She twitched her mouth and rubbed her head.  “Even if you are reluctant, you shouldn’t knock my head.  Dr. Jack, I’m telling you seriously.  Although you are bad-tempered, your mouth is so amazingly poisonous and you’re inconsiderate but still being your patient is better than being your girlfriend.  However, you will definitely meet someone suitable.”

“You really know how to comfort me.  Your praises are so good that I’m disheartened.”

Arya laughed and gave him a hard pat.  “Do you also want to imitate Mark to clutch at your heart?”

“No, that kind of style is way too low.  I’m on the high-end route.”  He repeated what she had said before and it made her laugh.

When the two of them reached Arya’s house, she got down from the car and waved goodbye to him.  When she reached the building entrance, she suddenly remembered and anxiously ran back to the car to knock on his window.

Jack wound down the window and frowned.  In his hand was the pack of chewing gum.  Apparently, he just found out that Arya had secretly put things in his car.

Arya hurriedly said.  “Dr. Jack, you have again forgotten to give me Director Jon note.”

Jack pursed his lips and opened the storage box.  From inside, he took out a business card folder and pulled out the note for her.  Then he shook the pack of chewing gum at her with a questioning look on his face.

She bit her lip and suddenly felt embarrassed.  She did not dare to tell him that the lunch box had been changed with a new dish and also did not dare to tell him that she had helped to replace the box of tissue.  Will he blame her for being a nosy person?

“Oh…….that…….Dr. Jack, it’s late.  Goodbye!”

She wanted to slip away.

“Arya!”

When she ran to the entrance, she was waylaid.

“Are you telling me that my mouth stinks when I smoke?”

“No……No!”  I’m accused wrongly……My lord!

“I seldom smoke.”

She nodded…….I know, I know.  If she had known, she would not have bought it.

“I don’t think.”

“That’s not what I meant.  Absolutely not!”  She waved her hand and felt anxious.  Did he feel humiliated?  It is just a pack of chewing gum, is it so serious?  How shall she explain this to him?  “That’s really not what I meant.  I don’t have to kiss Dr. Jack, so I don’t need to have this thought.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a figured flashed across her eyes, her chin was seized and she felt her lips tightened.  The soft touch of his lips blew into her brain with a ‘bang’.

“I must prove that I don’t stink.”

Arya’s mind was blank and did not know how to respond.  Then she stupidly gave a reply.  “I have to go back.”  Then she turned and walked away.  When she reached the elevator, she stood for a while and then she suddenly reacted.

Oh my god!   He took advantage of her!

That dead man!  That dead poisonous man!  Just to prove he is not stinky, he actually kissed her!

Such a bully!

She rushed out angrily and found Jack still had not left.  He was leaning against the car deep in his thoughts.

She rushed towards him, fiercely pinned him against the car and landed a forced kiss on his lip and bite his lower lip. “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth!”

She really used her teeth!  Her teeth has broke the skin on his lips.

Theh she saw blood!

The murderous Arya did not expect the result to be like this.  She became frightened and turned around to run back into the building.

In one breath, she ran up the stairs and entered her house.