Fan Fiction |
by Mimosa
“Mister, if you don’t mind… May I ask for a cigarette from you?”
“Sure”
Roger lit the cigarette, took a puff, and immediately choked. The smoke rendered a horrible bitter taste at his throat and tear in his eyes.
“Roger, I didn’t know you smoke” Jessica’s voice held a tingle of disapproval. She looked into his reddened eyes and startled to see the anguish blazing inside them.
“Hi Jess” He looked away and took another puff from the cigarette. The chemical abraded the back of his throat, but the discomfort was nothing compared to what he had been suffered the whole evening, since the moment he learned about his brother’s tragic end.
“Roger, please!” pleaded Jess “Don’t be like this!”
“Then tell me, Jess!” Roger looked up to the night sky, “How am I supposed to feel when I learned my brother is shot down”, he stopped to swallow back the mixture of anger and frustration, “And… and then my own girlfriend tries to kill herself just to be with him?”
“Love...” Jessica attempted but seemingly stuck, and Roger looked at her peculiarly
“You knew?” He raised his tone “You knew all along that she is in love with my brother?”
Jessica lowered her eyes lids, unable to find something soothing to say.
“Ha!” Roger smirked acidly “I’m a fool, I see!”
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Quarter 3 - Private wards Sector)
“Dr. Tong” the nurse greeted Carmen cheekily “Oh, you look really pale, would you need to sit down for a while?”
“I’m okay, Alice!” Carmen shook her head “I’m fine! How’s Mr. Kent?”
“On his bed, sleeping I think.” Alice gave the secretary a folder in exchange of a new one, and started walking along side Carmen down the direction of patient’s wards. “He was rather exhausted after the blood fusion, Dr. Tong. Twice his alarm beeps for sugar level.”
“I know” Carmen quickened her pace “We had no choice. The girl lost too much blood, and we ran out of that particular type! I’ll see if we need to administer some sugar solution in his IV.”
“Just let me know, Dr. Tong” Alice winked before turning into the first ward “I’ll take special care of him.”
Carmen can’t help but smile at the young girl. This patient of hers had just been transferred here last night, yet he had seemingly won the heart of all people on this floor. Carmen shook her head warmly and gave the door a gentle push.
Her patient wasn’t sleeping. He smiled and sat up at the sight of her entering the room. She hastily advanced to the bedside and pressed him down.
“Dr. Tong” his eyes sought for assurance “Is she…”
Carmen nodded quickly “She will be fine. She’s still under intensive care, but she will be fine.” She checked the monitor and frowned.
“I…” he spoke, hesitantly “Could I…”
Carmen shook her head firmly “Not now. I’ll let you see her, but you have to rest first!” His blood level was indeed low. It was surprising that he could still sit up and talk as he had just done. There he attempted to get up again. Carmen waved a warning finger at him as she pressed the intercom.
“Alice? Could you please add 50 cc of 5% glucose into Mr. Kent’s IV? Thanks!”
“I’m fine, really!” He tried.
“No, you’re not! Please, listen to me. I’ll let you see her, but you have to promise me you stay put for the next hour, okay?”
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Carmen came back half an hour later to find out her patient was no longer in his room. She stomped her feet irritably. There was only one place he was dying to go. Sure she would find him there. Carmen rushed to the elevator and bang impatiently on the buttons. “Come on!” She was really worried. He should know wandering around in his current condition was never a good idea.
Carmen couldn’t wait to get to the IC unit. But at the last turn before entering that quarter, her speed slackened. Now she wouldn’t really sure whether she wanted to see what she was about to see. Carmen suddenly felt very tired. She halted just at the corner and pressed her forehead against the wall.
From the corner of her eyes, Carmen spotted a shadow. He tumbled blindly into her and staggered as if he were drunk.
“I told you not to leave your bed!” She quickly caught his arm.
He said nothing. His gaze wandered over her face. She looked up and found her heart wrenched from the poignancy she found in those eyes.
“What’s wrong?” She questioned wearily “What’s happened just now?”
He set his jaw into a grim line to hide the quivering on his lips. “I don’t know. I don’t mean to hurt anyone, yet…” He looked down and gently removed her hands on his arm “I guess I’m going back to my bed now. Don’t want to think anymore!” Seeing the concern in her eyes, he forced a weak smile “I just need some sleep, and then everything will be just fine. Please, don’t worry about me!”
Leaving her there, he walked on, staggering along the way. Carmen watched him. She didn’t feel well herself. What should she do now?
Reluctantly, Carmen turned around the corner, heading toward the opposite direction. She didn’t know from the far end of the corridor, he had stopped and cast a glance back.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Intensive Care Unit)
Carmen was walking aimlessly through the IC area, greeting and nodding to people without realizing herself doing so. She’d been too occupied by her own thought.
Then she saw herself standing a few steps away from Hester’s room. Carmen turned and about to leave when she heard the murmur sounds of a masculine voice from the inside. She frowned. Who would be in there?
Unobtrusively, Carmen got closer to the look-on window. She widened her eyes in surprise.
“It is painful to see him like that!” A soft voice whispered by Carmen’s side, startling her slightly. It was the other twin. Carmen had met Jessica in front of the ER earlier.
“Gallen's brother... Why is he here?” the question was seemingly ridiculous, and it took Jessica a few second before she could reply
“Of course, why not? He’s officially her boyfriend!”
Carmen’s eyes had ever been so big and round “But why…”
“I know what you’re about to ask!” Jessica sighed “My dear sister seemingly falls in love with both brothers at the same time.”
“Do they…” Carmen pointed into the room “I mean…”
“If you’re about to ask whether Roger and Gallen knew they love the same girl, then the answer is no.” Jessica bit her lips and blinked “But I guess Roger does, now!”
Carmen couldn’t help but looked curiously at Jessica as the latter leaned back against the wall; her long eyes lashes curtained her slightly closed eyes. Was Jessica, too, part of the circle of love? She sounded overly concerned toward that Roger. Carmen took another glance into the room. Roger was still there by the bedside, holding on to Hester’s hand and smiling dearly at her.
“How long had he been in there?”
“Since you doctors allowed visiting!” Jessica replied. She had reopened her eyes and stood up straight “I need something strong! Would you like to join me, Dr. Tong?”
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Nick Cheung's apartment)
“Urg!” Nick groaned “My head!”
Nick struggled a little bit to get up. The morning sun bothered his swollen eyes. He blinked and staggered toward the restroom. Nick was in the shower when the phone began ringing impatiently.
“Not another bad news, please!” He turned off the water, fetched a towel and picked up the phone, praying in his head.
“Hi, Nick’s speaking!”
“You! Why did it take you so long to pick up the phone?” The female voice sounded restless and concerned. Nick recognized it.
“Tara? I was in the shower.”
“Open the door!” She ordered, “I’m in front of your house.”
“How? I’m still in the shower!”
“What? Then hurry up! I need to talk to you, and quick!” Tara hung up and sighed. She hated waiting.
But Tara didn’t have to wait, Nick appeared on the doorstep 30 seconds later. Tara hastily turned and covered her eyes
“Put on your clothes!” she cried
“Oh please!” He grumbled and held the door open “It’s not that I’m naked! What do you want to talk about?”
“Put on some decent clothes please.” Tara groaned as she slipped herself inside, taking utmost care not to touch him “I don’t feel comfortable talking with a guy in a wet towel!”
“Fine!” Nick grunted and head back upstair “Give me 2 minutes. Make yourself at home!”
“Ahhhh!” Tara dropped down on the sofa and touched her burning cheeks “I shouldn’t have rushed him!”
He came down again in a jean and a plain T-shirt. The outfit, together with his wet undone hair, made Nick look startlingly young.
“Coffee?” He asked without looking at her
“No thanks!” She got up from the sofa and followed him into the kitchen “Nick, I’m very sorry about Gallen!”
Nick’s hand froze in midair at the mention of his best friend. He could feel the chill brushing through his spine and the blood rushing to his head. Once again the horrible feeling encased him, making him suffocated. Nick shut his eyes…
“I’m sorry, but I need to talk to you, Nick.” Tara went on quickly “You could help him.”
“How?” Nick spun round and stared at Tara fiercely “How could I bring him back to life?”
“You can not!” replied Tara at once. The simplicity in her answer seemed to offset Nick. He swallowed hard. “You can’t bring him back to life Nick” Tara repeated, eyeing Nick sincerely. “But you can tell me about his mother.”
“What’s his mother got to do with this?” Nick asked agitatedly
“I don’t know, Nick.” admitted Tara “but I think Raymond must smell something when he rushed up to me last night with those old tissue samples.”
“Old tissue samples?” Nick was puzzled “Whose tissues?”
“I don’t know. It would take me 7 days before I could have a full characterization done on them. Ray wants the result ASAP, and that’s impossible unless…”
“Unless you have a reference to match with?” Nick interjected,
“Yes,” Tara nodded, slightly surprised. She was preparing a much longer “speech” to explain her objective to this man. For a layman, he was quick.
“And what make you think of Gallen’s mother?” Nick frowned, then he stared at Tara “Are you telling me that her death in Australia was a fake?”
“I don’t know for sure, Nick!” Repeated the girl “Not until I have her DNA profile to match with the dead woman.”
“And you intended to get it from me?” Nick asked sarcastically “In case you forget, I’m not one of her children”
“I know” Tara grunted “What I want to ask you is to get some sample from Roger!”
“And how am I about to do it?” Nick exclaimed, “Cut his finger off while he is sleeping? Or punch him in his face and save you the blood-soaked tissue?”
“Urg!” Tara winked in disgust “I’m not joking!”
“Me neither!” Nick shrugged. “Tell me what I have to do, because I have not the least idea, Tara!”
“Look here” Tara reached for her bag and produced a little purple plastic case the size of a toothpick. Nick raised his brows
“Don’t tell me it’s a syringe” Nick guessed
“You’re right” Tara nodded “I don’t need much, 25 microliter is plenty for the test. And he won’t feel anything. Nick, Nick! Hey you!”
Nick appeared far and away for a moment. “Tara, I don’t think it would help!”
“Why?” Now it’s the girl’s turn to be surprised
“Because I don’t think Roger is Gallen’s mother’s child neither!” Nick sighed “I meant you could try, but…”
“What?” Tara finally managed a short exclaim. “How could you know? I mean how….. Arg… Forget it! It’s no time for me to ask question now even though my curiosity is killing me. Anyway, I guess you’re not very close with the oldest Wong, aren’t you?”
She received a shrug and a smirk from Nick. Tara sighed “I guess I’ll have to ask Raymond to get the sample from Gallen’s body.”
“Tara!” Nick cried.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” Tara covered her mouth “Didn’t mean to say it that way!”
======================================================================================================================
P.S. Sorry Tara, hehe, your profession requires you to sound kinda scary at time, hope you don't mind haha...
Dr. Tong... hmm... something's up her mind, ;)