Game of Passion

Chapter 5: Talk

"I'm fine, thank you," she said and tried to compose herself as much as possible. "So… you're Adam?"

He was looking at her strangely before answering. "Yes, I am."

“I am the new nurse assigned to you starting from now on. My name is Freira,” she said for formalities even if she has already told him her name before. "You can stand up now?"

His stance was not as straight and proper but still, it is nice to see that he is out of bed.

"Only if I force myself," he answered and sat back down with a grunt. "To be honest, the only part that I was severely injured is my arm."

"And your legs?"

"Had their injuries after the blow but they are better now than this." Then looked at his left arm.

"They are still an injury so we must keep in check of them," she said then put down her kit on the bed so she could change the gauze on his left arm.

Silence reigned between them as she performs her job. She thought he will speak no more but she was wrong.

"I do not mean to offend the last time," he stated which she was not expecting to come from him.

Nancy had mentioned once to her that Adam had been a b***h ever since he was admitted to the hospital. Someone like him that is too hard to handle comes a shock to her when they suddenly lower themselves down and apologize. She has met so many patients that think so highly of themselves and they never felt any regret for their show of rudeness. Only now did she gets to know someone reflect on his action and unexpectedly, coming from Adam.

"All is well," she said then smiled at him as she starts to remove his gauze.

"I do not know anything about you yet I speak so poorly," he pressed. "I apologize for taking your condition lightly."

"My condition?"

"The nurse, I forgot her name but it starts with N, said that you have a delicate condition, that you...lost your memories."

She pressed her lips tight, reminding herself to tell Nancy not to spread her story to strangers. "And it has not hindered me from my daily life, don't worry, Sir."

"But do you always faint?"

"No," she said then glanced at him who is looking down at her curiously.

After taking the gauze off completely, she gets to appreciate the way how his arm is amputated. She did not vocalize her appreciation though, avoiding starting another misunderstanding with the man. She continued with her work and planned not to talk more but it was Adam who was persistent to start a conversation.

"Have you been working here for long?" he asked.

"A few months already," she replied.

"It did not affect your condition at all?”

“I am not as delicate as it may seem. I can still learn new things without my memory,” she said. “It was only the latest events that I have no recollection of. My doctor said it was a selective loss due to trauma since the basics I do know of.”

After finishing on his left arm, she continued on his legs which have already healing wounds. The curtain is parted so they saw the busyness outside and how many new patients are being carried to their beds, nurses coming and going, and doctors with their tired faces. She started to clean Adam's leg, focusing on her work when he suddenly opens up.

"To think that the war has ended already a year ago and yet here we are, still packed in the hospital," he said.

She slightly nodded, agreeing with him and wishing nothing more to say but she cannot help not replying so she looked up at him and asked, "Why is that?"

His lips slightly tug upwards when their eyes met. "Why is what?"

"Why are there still incoming wounded soldiers when the war was told to be over?"

He looked down at what she is doing before answering."Until the agreement is signed, there is no saying that it is over. Before I was taken here, there are still many soldiers on the frontline—keeping guard and there are still fighting going on despite the ongoing peace talks at that time."

"But the rulers had already signed them?"

"Last time I heard, they had already."

She breathed deep, relieved that it is has ended. Nonetheless, Kislev had the most impact. They were conquered, a part of Patria now. Even if she is in the comfort of the hospital with all her necessities provided, she cannot imagine how the people of Kislev will get back on with their lives—some with their loved ones dead, their livelihood lost, their houses in ruins.

She wonders if the people she loved had survived the war. It is frustrating when she knew that she was in a loving family but cannot remember her parents' faces, when she knew that she lives in the countryside but does not know exactly the address, when she knew that she was a teacher but cannot remember what school.

It is unavoidable for her to think constantly of the life she had and the people she once cared for before. Thinking that no one had ever searched for her after over a year, she assumes there was none who had survived, and yet she still hopes that until now, someone could have recognized her at least.

"That's good then," she said before helping him lie down comfortably on the bed.

All the while, he watches her silently and when she looked down at him, he did not look away. It was his green eyes that strikes her twice already, the cause of her unconsciousness and the way to make her remember. A while ago, she saw a fragment of her past. She was with a man with those same green eyes. They were close to each other and the love was clearly felt. Just by thinking of it, she cannot help but tear up for something that she has lost, quite possibly forever if she does not remember anything fast.

What if that man did not survive the war?

And if he did, he might have married someone else already since she is here and not with him.

Seeing her pain, she is thankful that he did not ask more and let him leave him hurriedly. She was on her way to the reception to bring back the patient's information, wiping her tears as she goes, when she saw Hyacinth approaching. She cannot help but remember what she just witnessed last night and wonder whatever has happened after that.

Did the woman get what she want from Doctor Harrington?

She shouldn't be thinking about it. She has high respect for the man but now, she is being constantly reminded of the feelings she wishes so hard to avoid because of that meeting.

"Hi, Freira," Hyacinth unexpectedly called her, therefore, she had to stop.

"Hyacinth," she acknowledged.

"I wonder if you have some time to talk. I have something to ask."

"Me?" she asked, confused.

The woman is far from her post. Hyacinth is assigned on the second floor, close to Doctor Harrington. Her, coming here, must have been very important for her to abandon her job so easily.

"Yes, you," the woman said then smiled. "If you have time, that is."

"Whatever do you need me from?" she asked as she continues to walk to the reception and gave the files to the woman behind the desk.

Hyacinth followed her and waited until the woman behind the desk walked to the other side, giving them enough space to talk privately. "It's about Doctor Harrington."

She immediately frowned, confused as to what her connection is. "What about him?"

Hyacinth looked around first, checking if there is anyone listening to them. "You see, Doctor Harrington has never been linked to any woman because he is always aloof. But when it comes to you, he was not at all."

"I am his patient."

"Among many others," Hyacinth pointed out. "He has countless patients, Freira, some are women and they cannot help but admire him as well."

"What do you want to point out?"

Hyacinth cleared her throat, her eyes lowering down as if shy that she was about to ask her the question. "I just wonder if you are like them."

"Like what?" she asked, getting irritated by the woman's suspense.

"If you like Doctor Harrington as well."

She was not expecting that, therefore, she does not know how to answer.

Like?

Indeed, she likes him because he has been there from the very beginning. She appreciates his efforts ultimately. He had been understanding and cared for her immensely. She respects him immensely but if what Hyacinth is pertaining to is something of a romantic kind, she could never even think of her feelings to be that. She could never betray him like that. Having feelings would complicate their relationship and she doesn't want the man to have a difficult time handling her. She has been taking most of his time and attention already and it would be selfish for her to like him, becoming a threat to his clear professional record.

"I don't...like him," she finally said, feeling her throat obstructing her answer but managing to say it anyway.

Hyacinth smiled widely, looking relieved after hearing it. "That's great! I actually thought there is something going on between you two since he always rejects everyone who admits to him. He always says he has his eyes on someone and I thought it was you."

She swallowed hard. "He does?" she asked, not expecting Flynn has someone already. "But how did you know that?"

"Well," Hyacinth smiled shyly. "I confessed to him and that is what he answered."

Hyacinth is beautiful and she expects the woman to be more than just running after a man she likes. What she has witnessed and what the woman is telling her otherwise.

"Is that all?" she asked, crossing her arms. "I still have things to do."

"Wait," Hyacinth called when she was about to go. "You said you do not like Doctor Harrington, right?"

"Yes," she said and she did not hide her expression of wanting to leave already.

"I was wondering if you could help me," the woman said which made her turn cold. "Since you get to freely go to him and he speaks to you casually. It is unmistakable that you're friends. You said you do not like him then maybe you could help me get his attention."

She frowned before saying, "What will that even benefit me?"

Hyacinth smiled. "I found out you have stayed in the hospital ever since you woke up and I know you constantly looking outside the window as if you want so badly to get out."

She does not know how that woman gets to have that information but it only shows that Hyacinth has been planning to offer something for a while already

"So?"

"I can arrange something for you," Hyacinth suggested. "My father is a wealthy man and I could ask him enough money so you could have a life outside. A house, a job, everything."

Her mouth parted but she frowned right after. "You're kidding me."

"I am not," Hyacinth countered. "My father is a politician and he could definitely arrange something for you when I ask him for it."

"In exchange for what?" she asked since that type of help never comes free.

Hyacinth smiled. "The attention of Doctor Harrington."

The crease on her forehead deepened, mistaking that the woman's feelings were just an attraction but it was actually an obsession. She is firm with saying no but what Hyacinth said next made her reconsider.

"Mayhap that is what you need to retrieve your memories, not just staying here at the hospital where you are constantly reminded of the things you have lost. Mayhap what you need is to be outside."