Chapter 23: Chapter 23

“You are here again?!”

A police officer is shouting to a pretty woman in her mid-twenties wearing a black hoodie.

“Wait, officer. I don’t think there is a need to be harsh here. I am not even filing a complaint- yet,” James said as he is more concerned for the reason of the action than putting the culprit behind bars.

“Sir, you need to understand. This person here has been in and out of prison for two months. No one really files a complaint completely-maybe they are swayed because she looks like that,” The irritated tone of the police officer echoed in the station.

“Looks like what? At least I do not look like you,” a sarcastic laugh was heard from the beautiful woman who is handcuffed at the moment.

The officer almost hit the woman in the head when James stopped him.

“That is police brutality. Let’s not resort to that.”James smiled at the officer and then let go of his hand.

James decided to not file a complaint. He waited for the snatcher outside the station, but when she was finally outside, she acted as if she didn’t know him, so he called her out.

“Wait for a second,” James ran towards the lady and grabbed her arms.

“What?! Do you expect some kind of reward?” the tone of annoyance is evident in her voice.

“Let’s go to the hospital,” James calmly said.

“Let me go. Hospital your face! I can handle myself.” The maiden slapped James' hands

“Okay, we will not go to the hospital then but at least let me give you these,” James hands her a plastic bag with ointment and medicines. “Your head is still bleeding a little.” James pointed at the wound.

This is the first time a complete stranger shows genuine concern for her. All the people she met would hit upon her or try to get something from her but never give anything freely without expecting anything in return.

Linda’s world seemed to move in slow motion as she watched this stranger’s back walk away from her – never to be seen again.

“I hope to see you again,” Linda whispers as he glances at the bag and then goes on her way.

---***---

“So someone else asked the same question today? I mean, the rumors are all around the hospital, so I guess it reached you as well,” Stacy said nonchalantly while flipping the pages of the magazine she is reading inside Kyle’s office.

“I never thought that you were this interested in my life, Stacy.”

“Everybody is interested in your life Kyle, especially us, the board members.”

Kyle did not respond, and so Stacy continued to speak as she walked towards Kyle’s table. I mean, a rumor about the next CEO of the hospital line having a questionable orientation will certainly not help our stocks and share. I know you know the drill.” Stacy winked at Kyle as she now stood before him, running her hands on the nameplate resting on Kyle’s table.

“I can handle myself. Thank you for your concern,” Kyle responded sarcastically as he glared at Stacy.

Stacy Sue is a very competent doctor who is a board member for the Esteves group of companies. Kyle almost married this person of the same breed if he had not been exposed to Stacy and his parents that he was gay on their engagement.

Stacy never believed him. She never thinks that there is more to it than just being a community member, not that she has anything against it, but something just doesn’t sum up for her.

She recalls a day when she saw Kyle talking with a female transfer student. There is something with the way Kyle looks at her. Something that irritated Stacy to the core- though that person did not even finish the semester in that school, Stacy will never forget the smile that person was able to paint on Kyle's lips- something she failed to do no matters how she tried.

“That would be great then. I will see you around,”

Stacy left Kyle’s room.

Coughs…

“What the heck is wrong with this day!” Kyle did not realize that once again. He is thinking out loud.

“Dr. Estevez, if you are ready ….”

Kyle let out a sigh, stood on his chair, and proceeded to the conference room to help the surgeons decide on a crucial surgery scheduled that day.

---**---

A doorbell on her door at three am wakes up Angel.

She refused to be awakened and covered her ears with pillows.

Another doorbell, this time the person outside, is not ashamed to show that she doesn’t have the most prolonged patience in the world.

Angel reluctantly sits on her bed. Threw the pillow on the ground that she initially used to cover her ears and then spewed some words that clearly showed how unpleasant this experience was for her.

She walks half asleep as she walks towards the door, asking who the person is and then checking the monitor that shows the person outside the door.

“Annyeong,”

She heard a familiar voice. Angel squinted her eyes to be sure that she was not mistaken, but she was not. She will be able to recognize that round eyes, pointed nose, and milky-white skin anywhere- It is Linda!

Linda is Angel’s tutee way back in college raised as a sheltered daughter in a conservative family. Linda is the beautiful, intelligent, and elegant student from the block who steals every heart in the neighborhood. She lives a peaceful life full of providence until one day.

On a peaceful day of spring, when flowers bloom and dance into the breeze, Linda and her family are happily drinking an imported cup of tea on their wide veranda. Several police officers rush their house, read a warrant and handcuff her father.

It wall happened too fast! Her perfect life shattered, and she was not liked the same as before. All the admiration she used to get vanished in thin air. She is not seen as the beautiful, intelligent, and elegant student from the block who steals every heart in the neighborhood anymore but a daughter of a thief- a person who scams people for their money –worthless garbage no more, no less.

At that time, Angel was the only person on her side- the only one she could rely on and who stayed.

“Come in! It is nice to see you!” Angel greeted her with a smile and open arms, unaware of the problems she would cause her soon.