Chapter 14: Chapter 14

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Nobody said it was easy. No one ever said it would be so hard

Lauyton Diem Israel Elarde's POV

"We need a plan," she insisted.

"No, we don't need a plan," I emphasized as I continued to read my notes.

It's our preliminary examination and it sucks. We also have our clinical rotation tomorrow and I am praying I won't be assigned to a toxic hospital. Ugh!

I sometimes want to slap my face because I hate studying, yet I want to become a doctor, not just a doctor but a cardiothoracic surgeon.

Damn! It's freaking expensive to build a future, especially when you're planning to make it with someone you love -- who doesn't even recognize your desire to live with them forever.

"You're so expensive, you know," I told Gabby.

She raised her eyebrows and stopped writing. "What do you mean by that? I'm not a thing, duh!" She rolled her eyes and flipped her hair before writing again.

I giggled. "You know how expensive it is to build a future, right? I mean, with effort, money, time, sacrifices, and everything?"

"So, what?"

I scoffed and asked myself, Why so slow, Gabby?

"You're my future, expensive yet worth it. So, I'm building it right." I winked.

She stared at me for a second with a blank face before frowning. But, I know I won when her cheeks turned red as she looked back to her notebook.

"You love me, hah!" I whispered. Fuck! I'm having butterflies in my stomach.

"Shut up!" She reacted. "I said we need a plan!"

"Okay, okay. What's the plan?" I replied. "Does it include making love?"

She knocked my head with her hardbound book. "Shit!" I cursed. "Thank the universe because I love you-"

"Or what?" She raised her brow. The nerve of her to be annoyed when it fucking hurts. Why are girls like this?

"That's freaking hardbound with a thousand pages, and you hit me?!" I groaned in frustration. "Is that how you love?" I pouted and acted hurt, hoping she would show some concern. But, of course, she didn't.

I have to remind myself why I fell in love with this girl.

I mean it would be nice if I am really just playing with her and using her, but damn, no, and why does it feel like she was the one using me? Tsk. Girls.

"What are you gonna do, then?" She stuck her tongue.

I hissed. "Hit me again, and I'll--"

"You can't sue me yet for brain-head injury," she teased. "So, what will you--"

I kissed her.

I was told by my father that if I can't win against the girl I love, I should just kiss them to make them shut up. I never realized the importance of those statements until I met Gabby. It applied to my mother most of the time when they're fighting, and I guess I could also use it to my Gabby.

I'm so in love with Gabby's blank surprise look whenever I do something spontaneous.

I laughed in my mind as I watched her cheeks turn pale pink.

"I'm curious, future attorney," I said after letting her go. Fuck! I can't get enough of those lips.

"You son of a-" I caught her hands before she could throw a fist.

"Is stealing a kiss a crime?"

"If you do that again, I am going to file for sexual harassment!" She yelled.

"Oh, I see. So, that's it. But..." I paused while staring at her flushed cheeks. "Are you still going to do it even if you enjoyed the kiss?" I pointed at her face. "You're blushing, my Gabby!"

"I'm not b-blushing. It's the lantern and the l-lights" she denied. She's cute.

I laughed hard as she stomped her feet inside the trailer.

"Why are you going inside? I thought we're gonna make a plan?" I yelled.

"The plan is to kill you!" She shouted.

I chuckled. "You love me, so you won't kill me."

"You should know." She came back, picked her books as she seriously looked at me.

I recognized the sadness in her eyes I've been trying to take since the first time I met her. Yet, I understand, there's some pain that can't be eased away by the people around us no matter what they do because it's only meant to be erased by the person itself.

Gabby was also right when she said, "Sometimes, the thing that we love the most is also the only thing that kills us."

"Can you kill me?" I asked.

"I don't kill people."

"Can you destroy me, then?"

"I can," she easily replied.

I believe she wasn't pertaining to herself, but her family. I know I can't win against them. Gab can't either. But, I still want to do it because I want to know the truth. I deserve to know the truth about what happened to my mother. And, I will never believe that she died because it's her time. I know it was a medical malpractice that caused my mother to die, so even if it takes a decade for me to unleash the truth about that night, I will still continue.

"That's why I want to make a plan, so you'll know what to do when I slowly destroy you," she lied. She's never good at lying though.

"There's no plan that can win against your family. You of all people should do that," I answered bitterly. "So, we act and solve it when it's already in front of us," I suggested. "And, if you are really going to destroy me soon, it's okay. I will eventually know what to do."

She faked a laugh. "That's it. No plans, and you're just asking me to open that goddamn room in our hospital to get evidence you're not even sure if it's still existing!"

"Why not?"

"I will not hide my crime if I kill a person!" she scoffed. "Would you?"

"Yeah."

"You're a psychopath!"

I shook my head. "There's no harm in trying. If you can't do it, then don't."

"You know I will never step foot inside our hospital. Never!" she stressed those words and I could feel her anger.

"Okay."

She gave me a what look and I shrugged.

"Let's talk about it some other time," I showed her my notes. "I need to review."

The truth is, I'm just not ready to talk about it. I know I should be sharing things with her because I dragged her into this situation, but not now. I just felt like Gab is also not ready to know things about her family if it includes destroying them even if she says it doesn't concern her anymore.

"Whatever!" She grabbed all her things and went inside the trailer.

"Gabby," I said after a while. She didn't respond, though I knew she was listening. "If you really want to help, start by getting to know Dr. Pervilla."

"Dr. Pervilla?" I heard her say.

"Yeah. Why?" I asked though I knew she was talking to herself. "Did he ring a bell?"

I peeked at her. She was staring at the wall, maybe trying to recall the name, as she bit her nails.

I waited for her response until her phone rang. I scoffed upon seeing the registered name in her phone.

"Your phone is ringing," I frowned as I stared at the name, Var. "Var is calling you," I mocked. "Why is he calling you at this hour? Wow, late-night calls!"

Surprisingly, she didn't fire back. So, I stood up and checked her.

"Hey," I knocked on the door to wake her senses. "Answer your phone before I pick it up and trash talk that guy."

She ignored me and directly went to the porch to get the call. I raised my brow as I watched her talk through the phone.

Wow! Gabby greeted the guy with a smile. And, if it's me - she will yell? That's favoritism. I hate her smile when she's talking to someone else. I'm a very jealous guy. Psh!

I cursed the guy in my mind as I waited for their call to end. It's been three minutes, and they are still talking.

What's so important that he needs to call at this hour? What's his name again - wait, Var? I tried to recall the name. I think I heard his name before. His name sounds like a fuck boy. Maybe, I heard it in a bar. Right, he also looks like a bad boy when I see him. Tsk. Gabby should stay away from him.

But, wait, If I remember it right, his last name is Maquess. I quickly search the Google bar, and I couldn't believe I was right. Damn!

"Is Var last name Maquess?" I asked Gabby after the call.

I realized how small the world is when Gabby nodded. The universe truly knows how to put the right person in the right place, especially when you need them.

"Why is he calling you?"

"It's none of your business," she replied.

"How about you ask him," I paused. "Ask him if he knows the judge who sentenced Dr. Pervilla."

She choked. "What?"

"If yes," I laughed a little. "Then he is definitely my business."

-----

"Why are we the only ones staying?" I asked Dr. Seven Clad Arellano, the intern assigned to monitor us.

As usual, he was playing with his skewb.

"Aren't we supposed to follow the clinical rotation?" Zee added as we both watched him solve his skewb.

I looked at my watch and wowed when he finished it faster than the last time. I saw Zee smile a little as she surveyed him. Well, I think I have a hint as to why we're staying here in the hospital.

He finally looked at us and said, "Yeah, you'll do it here. So, welcome to the emergency room." He stood up and picked his stethoscope.

"Sucks!" I whispered.

"That's night shift," Zee sighed. "Did you do something bad for us to stay?" She lifted her brows.

I raised both of my hands in defense. "No. Did you?"

"Yeah. I did." She pouted.

"I know right," I tapped her shoulder. "Did you talk back to any of the attending?"

"Much worse," she heaved. "I disobeyed my parents, so here I am in the care of Gab's parents because they want me on guard 24/7," she stared at me with an apologetic look.

"Sorry. I need someone with me and since you owe me because of all the information I'd given you about Gab," she smirked. "Here we are."

"Crap!" I pretended I didn't like it. "Don't talk to me. I need a new environment," I acted not pleased, but deep down it's my pleasure staying in this hospital. It means I still have time to work on my plan.

"C'mon!" She pulled me. "I'll treat you."

"Sounds great." I followed her to the cafeteria. "Anyways, what's with the 7th floor? The restricted area?" I acted innocent.

"Oh, that. Nothing, just a bunch of computers. I never even thought that was a restricted area until I worked here," Zee answered. "I mean, Gab and I used to play inside that room before."

"What's it like?"

"Why are you asking?"

I shrugged. "I just heard that you need the heart of a specific person to open it."

"Ah yeah," she laughed a little. "That's amazing because you need to place a beating heart on the door, and it will open if it's the right heartbeat."

"Who's heart---"

I paused when Zee stopped walking. I almost bumped into her when she bowed down. I thought of doing the same, but it's awkward to me, and I'm not Chinese either.

"Hey!" Zee happily greeted the doctor. "I thought you're out of the country, Gabriel."

I surveyed the male version of Gabby. My eyes were fixed on his white coat as I recognized the name written on it. So, this is Gabby's older brother. It's my first time seeing him.

"How are you, Zee?" He asked.

"I'm fine. I'm gonna stay here for a while, so take care of me."

"Yeah, sure. How's Gabriella?" He smiled at Zee before turning to me seriously.

"She's great," I replied.

"Does she need anything?"

"No."

Gabriel surveyed me from head to toe. I met his gaze and felt like a spark of electricity crossed between us.

"You are Gabby's boyfriend?" he dropped, not sure.

"No. At least not yet," I brushed my hair and felt a bit shy.

"Do you love her?" He stressed each word.

I nodded and smiled. "I do."

We stared at each other for a second until he slowly nodded. "Do me a favor, then." He walked past behind me and whispered. "Don't make her feel alone."

He tapped my back before waving his goodbye to Zee. I watched his back until they faded from my sight.

"They're close?" I curiously asked Zee.

I know Gabby doesn't have a good relationship with her family, so I wasn't expecting that kind of conversation with her brother. I was even ready for some drama like the time I met her sister.

"Yeah," Zee nodded as we entered the elevator. She pressed the button before saying, "If you would ask her, she would tell you Gabriel is the only family she knows."

----

"I told you to quit your job!" I welcomed Gabby with a sarcastic smile as she walked outside the hotel.

She combed her hair with her hands as she slowly moved forward. She stopped in front of me and rolled her eyes.

"I told you not to fetch me. Aren't you supposed to be on rounds?" She checked her watch. "How's Zee? Is she okay? Any suicidal symptoms?"

"Zee's okay, so far," I replied. "But I'm not okay. I told you to just focus on your study and the band. Quit the hotel."

"I'm sorry. I don't have a trust fund to waste just like you," she fired. "So, no. I'm not going to listen to you because this is my life."

"You know I can help you pay for your tuition and other expenses if you let me," I begged.

Gabby's restless since her term started. She's killing herself with too much work and study, and I am fucking worried. She'd be the death of me.

"No. I can handle this. I don't need your help."

"Oh," I mocked. "So, Var Maquess is the only one who can help you and pay for your tuition fee."

She unbelievably stared at me. "Var paid my tuition fee not because he likes me but because I earned it. And, so I deserved it."

"You earned me, so you deserve me."

She laughed a little, and I was happy to see the glow in her eyes for a while before it turned into sadness again.

"You're already helping me by letting me stay at your house, so you don't need to do anything."

"Fine!" I pouted.

"You don't need to fetch--"

I cut her off. "Date me."

Gabby's mouth hung in surprise, and then she laughed again like I've said something impossible.

"I don't date, Loud."

"Okay, let's skip the dating part," I moaned in frustration. If she doesn't want to date, I'll level it up.

"Marry me."

"Wow!" She gazed in awe. "I am really having butterflies in my stomach, and I'm definitely blushing." She pointed at her face as she snorted.

"What's funny?"

I waited for her to stop laughing until she was out of breath. She held her cheeks and smiled happily. I stood there praying to see the happiness in her eyes, every day. I watched her smile hoping it would forever glow.

"You accepting my proposal?"

My smile faded when she said, "Ask me again when you already find the real doctor who operated on your mother because I believe it's not Dr. Pervilla."

She glowed under the night sky. It's the glow I've always wanted for her to have. That spontaneous happiness she never thought she could feel especially after everything that happened to her.

I don't want to get that away from her.

So, how could I tell her?

How could I tell her that it was really her brother Gabriel who operated on my mother?