The Cure to My Scar

Through Time

OCTOBER 2021.

I drop my phone on the side table. I still couldn't get over this annoyance. How dare he called it commotion when it was an accident. I didn't intend to cause such "commotion". I am just trying to overcome this fear that I've been living with for years. He doesn't have any idea how much courage I have to gulp in just to make this day possible. How could he easily diss me that way when he barely knew me and my true story?! He's so full of himself and acting all-mighty as if he knew everything. Urgh!

"Why are you frowning? Is there something wrong?" Nini asked worriedly.

I just show her his text message and she was also baffled by what she has read. She probably thinks the same way as I do.

"Are you sure you've got the right number? I mean, I didn't think he's capable of saying that after what he has done for you. If you only knew how worried he was when he saw you lying on the floor. I've never seen a stranger who looks so worried for a stranger." Nini explained and I was perplexed.

"I think worried is overrated. Or maybe he is just worried that I'll mess up the place because of the commotion." I stated, emphasizing the last word.

"Maybe he is just a rude guy with a good heart." Nini trying to defend that guy.

"Why do I feel like you favor him more than me? Is there something else you wanna tell me that I deserve to know?!" I asked annoyingly.

She stops from what she is doing and looks at me intently. She exhaled a deep breath and sits on the chair right next to my bed.

"To tell you the truth, I am 100% sure that he is a good guy." She begins telling me what truly happens after I lost consciousness.

"While I was talking to the doctor and busy with your hospital confinement, he never leaves your side. He just stays here until I'm done with everything. No one unrelated to you would sacrifice his time, especially not a bad guy like the way you perceive him, for someone they barely knew." She starts defending that man and continues building him up as if I'm the bad person in here.

So as she continues, when I dropped my medicine back in the café, he didn't notice that it rolls down towards the other side of the counter as he was busy punching for my p*****t. He was too busy with order queueing so he noticed it too late. He picked it up from the floor and one of his staff told him about Nini, looking for a bottle of medicine she lost. And when he's about to bring it back to Nini, he immediately responded when he saw me lying on the floor.

As I keep listening to Nini's explanations, I was convinced that he is not a bad person at all. That he is more than what I have perceived him by just relying on his mere text message. And that made me realize and made me admit that I'm the bad guy in this story. I feel like I was ungrateful despite everything he has done to make sure that I am properly taken care of.

I just exhaled a deep sigh after all the realizations I had. Nini's right. He is probably a good guy who extended great help for someone who's in need. He could have just ignored me or just let others help me that time but he step up.

"He's even the reason why we are here in this hospital," Nini added. It feels like Nini became his number one fan.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused with what she says.

"He told me to bring you in this hospital so there will be fewer people who could recognize you. Or maybe to protect you from the media who was running after us as they have witnessed you from collapsing because of unknown reasons." She asserted.

"But I thought the media were not allowed in that event," I asked, worried that it will cause some issues instead of focusing on my new upcoming books.

Before Nini could respond to my query, a doctor who looks so young came into my room. And for some reason, he looks so familiar.

"How are you feeling now, Ms. Chloe? Or you preferred being called as Chase?" He asked while looking at the chart.

"Chloe will do," I responded while looking at him intently, still wondering where did I meet him. He looks so familiar but I just couldn't pinpoint when and where.

"As per checking, all test shows nothing unusual. Everything seems normal. All you just have to do is to keep your medicine with you at all times but I advise you to only use it when you feel like the incident a while ago might happen again." Then he continues explaining my condition but I couldn't understand what he was saying even though I've been looking at him.

He suddenly stops talking when he noticed that I've been staring at him yet my mind is somewhere else.

"Ah...Hmm. Is there anything you wanna say to me?" The Doctor asked.

"H-ha? W-what?! I-I'm so sorry. What were you saying again?" I kept stuttering as he caught me spacing out.

"I said you can go home and no need for you to keep being admitted." He responded. And I just nodded in response but my mind is still somewhere else.

The Doctor was about to leave but my curiosity is killing me.

"Excuse me, Doc. I hope you don't mind me asking but... have we ever met before?" I was hesitant to ask him but I just can't help it. I'll keep thinking about it unless I get the right answer.

He looked at me, astonished while pointing at himself as if asking if he's the one I'm about. As if there is another Doctor in this room aside from himself.

I nodded in response.

He slowly walks towards me and leans his face a little bit forward as if trying to whisper something.

"I wish we didn't bump in any bar during our younger years. But to tell you honestly, I'm a good friend of Jace." He said, which made me speechless.

I don't get it why does he have to mention that but one thing's for sure. I should thank that man properly. Texting him is not enough.

I smiled blandly at the Doctor despite the sweet smile he's displaying on his face. It feels like he is so proud that Jace is his friend and he was my attending Doctor at the same time.

========

"Ready to go?" Nini asked while I was busy packing my things.

"Yeah. I'm almost done. I'll be out in a few seconds." I replied.

While folding the last piece of my clothes, I gasped from shock as I finally remembered where did I meet that Doctor. I feel like I can finally breathe as I've been thinking about it since last night.

I ran towards the Nurse station and asked if where can I find my attending Doctor. Good thing we bump along the way and he is in awe to see me panting as if someone is after me.

"Doc, I remember now. We met a few years ago when you were a student of Prof. Cruz." I exclaimed excitedly as if I finally found the answer to the math problem I've been trying to solve.

"Oh! Yeah, yeah. I finally recall it too. You look so different now that I didn't recognize you. Great to see you so gorgeous after what you've been through. This is why I have huge respect for Prof. Cruz." He smiled proudly as we kept reminiscing those days. One of my darkest days, if I may say.

We bid goodbye after that short reunion and were happy to see each other again but this time, he is my attending Doctor and not a student anymore. How great it is to see people change for the better through time. I waved goodbye with a wide smile on my face.

"Thank you so, Doctor Brent." And he smiled back at me.

"Wish we won't meet as a Doctor and patient anymore. Keep going to whatever great you've been doing this past few years." And he bid me goodbye.

Time heals, indeed.

Only time can tell if you'll make it or not and you'll get through it or not. But strong will is a must to make these things realized.

And Doc Brent and I meeting this way is living proof of that.