Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Angel sits peacefully on the corner of her bed. Trying to write an outline for her new novel. She is so engrossed in her work that she does not realize someone is watching her closely in the dark.

In the shadows of the night, a figure of a muscular man wearing all black leather shoes appears. This mysterious man walked several steps away as Angel realized that she would need another heaping cup of coffee if she wanted to finish her outline tonight.

The silhouette in the shadows received a message on his phone, “Keep your distance tonight, report even the smallest detail,” that the man responded affirmatively and went on his way.

---**---

“Are you really gay?”

James' question echoes in Kyle’s ears as he struggles to find the right words to answer.

1,2,3,4,5 seconds have passed.

6,7,8,9,10. Seconds.

Kyle is about to open his mouth though he is still unsure of what he should say, then life has a funny way of helping you out when things seem to get out of hand.

A phone rings.

It is Kyle’s

“Good Evening, Dr. Estevez. We would like to ask if you be able to report on duty today as we have been short-staffed since….”

The person on the other line could not finish her sentence when Kyle answered abruptly in a relieved yet excited tone.

“Sure, I will be there now!”

Kyle is saved by the bell. He was able to stall time. Though he knows that one day he will not be able to avoid these questions any further, at least he can prepare and not be caught off guard like this again.

Kyle is about to take his leave when James grabs his arms.

“I will call you a cab.”

“No need, I can do it on my own,”

“You sure are excited for a person who will be working out of schedule. Would it be okay to be on duty even if you had a drink?”

Kyle just smirked, said, “I have my ways,” and went on his way.

James was left on the table with his mind running wild with questions that he failed to squeeze the answers into tonight. He decided to have a little walk to sober up since he was not in a hurry to reach his empty apartment just yet.

It was a starry night after the harsh rains.

The pavements are still slippery, and it is easy to slide if you will not be careful.

James decided to stop by a corner store for some mint ice cream, a very peculiar choice amid cold winds.

A notification was received.

James is about to check who was it, holding the phone in one hand and the ice cream on the other while standing just steps outside the corner store where the lights on the posts are on the brink of death that is evident through its occasional blinking.

A slender figure wearing an all-dark hoodie, pants, and masks quickly emerged in the background snatching James’ phone.

James’s mind was stunned, but his reflexes were fast! James ran after the culprit with all his might. As if a marathon race, both contenders are like a flash. James has lost the number of the alleys they run to and his voice as he keeps on calling out the person who snatched his phone.

The long race pushed into a sudden halt when the snatcher slid on a dark alley and hit herself to a wall. James took this chance to pounce on the culprit!

James tried to twist the person’s arms when he realized that the figure was not a man. Confused, James pulled out the hoodie, letting out long, lush hair and fair skin- the snatcher is a female, and her head is bleeding.

“Are you okay?” James said without realizing that he was still twisting the person’s arms.

“Are you crazy? You are f*cking twisting my arms!”

“Ow, sorry,” James almost let go of the person when he changed his mind,

“But, You know. You snatched my phone. I can’t just let you go even if you’re pretty….” Coughs.., James cleared his throat after saying the last word inaudibly.

“What did you say?”

“Come with me,”

---***---

“Dr. Esteves, we are glad you came in.”

“I got some drinks, give me ten minutes to sober up,”

“Sure, we totally understand doctor, it is not even your duty today.

“I am glad you know that,”

Kyle walks inside his office. He automatically melted on his ergonomic chair as he recalled James’s questions.

“What the heck! That was intense. He is one tough nut to crack. I mean, he is just full of smiles in front of Angel, but at the back, he already had his mind going wild,” Kyle did not notice that he was thinking out loud.

A beautiful doctor shows herself inside the office. She automatically sat on the couch and picked up one of the magazines laid on the table. All this time, Kyle did not say anything but followed her around with his irritated eyes.

“Do you not know how to knock?”

“Well, I did not deem that necessary,”

Kyle just let out a sigh, “I am too tired for even your presence as of the moment. Can’t you give me my ten minutes of peace?”

“I think you do not realize that most men in the hospital would die just to see me sit inside their office for ten minutes,” Dr. Sue, who is wearing a fitted top paired with loose square pants and, said haughtily while flipping her hair and glancing at Kyle.

“Then do me a favor and visit those offices,” Kyle said in the same proud tone.

“I have something to tell you. That is why I am here.”

“What is it? Just say it and get lost,”

“Are you gay?”

Kyle looked at Stacy with irritated and confused eyes. His mind cannot process that he could get out of a sticking situation just a while back just to be asked the same question again.

“The f*ck is wrong with that question? It keeps on popping out today!”