Game of Passion

Chapter 8: Hidden

It is the first time Flynn gets that mad wherein she is present.

She has never seen him in that type of mood whenever she is around. Usually, it was when he deals with another nurses' incompetence did he only breaks his fixed countenance. He is known for being aloof but he becomes a different person whenever he is mad, said by everyone. Because of that, they avoid keeping him mad, fearing how to deal with him.

“You made him mad,” Hyacinth commented, frowning. “You should follow him or he would make it difficult for the other nurses to deal with.”

“It was you who suddenly brought up that topic.”

“It’s the truth,” the woman pressed and she just ignored her.

She continued with her work—arranging the books in what she assumes is a proper order. It was a mix of books of medicine and nonfiction ones relating to businesses. She doesn’t know why he has those books of business when all of his time is allotted to the hospital. She cannot imagine he would take on a different field when he doesn’t even have time for himself.

After an hour, seeing no point in staying there and since Flynn hasn't come back yet, Hyacinth grunted and walked out of the office without a word uttered to her. She did not stop the woman, annoyed that she would bring up something that is not true. What Hyacinth said may have been true—Adam may have been asking for information about her out of curiosity. But they shouldn't put any malice into it. For all they know, Adam may have only been curious because she is the only one in the hospital who was once a patient with memory loss, endorsed by a doctor so she could become a help, and eventually became a nurse entirely. The jump was unexpected and huge that it is a great story to be told.

But she did not acquire everything just because she had a connection. She did her best to become deserving of this position from all the observation and tailing on Nancy. And so far, she has not messed up any records and vitals of her patients. She wants to avoid committing any mistake so as not to make Doctor Harrington disappointed and regret helping her. Much more so that she makes herself proud with little achievements she could get from them.

She breathed deep, realizing she is left without any help. She was the one who suggested cleaning so she shouldn’t complain now. She quickened her pace then she could go back to her floor as soon as possible. Occupied with arranging and cleaning, she lost track of time and only when the city’s bell was sounded for another new hour did she realize she needs to get back to the third floor to distribute the meals to the patients assigned to her.

She jumped down from the chair she is standing on and went to the doctor’s desk to grab a pencil and a piece of paper. She wrote that she will be back once her duty is off to continue her arrangements. Putting it where Flynn could see it immediately, she then rests a figurine over it.

She was about to go but her eyes caught something that made her stop. She shouldn’t meddle, she was never the type to be intrigued by other people’s things or businesses.

Though now, she felt like she had to.

There was just a deep urge that makes her want to meddle.

A drawer on the table was slightly opened, making her see the box Doctor Harrington hid a while ago. She shouldn’t mind it, shouldn’t think more of what is inside that made the man immediately act when she entered.

She shouldn’t take it.

But she did anyway.

She swallowed hard as she slowly opens the lid, only to feel weakened upon seeing what was inside.

~~~~~~~

“Nurse Freira, Nurse Freira.” She snapped out of her reverie and looked at Adam who is staring at her with concern. “Are you alright?”

She slowly shook her head, waking her up and forced a smile. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You’re constantly spacing out lately,” he observed and shifted on his seat. “Are you really alright?”

“Don’t worry about me,” she said as she writes on her clipboard. “Think about yourself. I have observed you’ve been eating only a little. How could you heal faster if you do not take every nutrient your body needs?”

“I don’t want to heal faster,” he whispered but she heard it.

Instead of scolding him, she only shook her head and was about to leave when he called her.

“Do you need anything else?” she asked.

“I was wondering if you could help me out tomorrow,” he said, his eyes moving right and left but not settling on her.

“About what?”

"I was told the hospital has managed to build a little garden. I would like to see it if that is alright."

"Of course," she answered. "I'll take you there when I have some free time."

Adam finally looked at her and now that he did, she feels the void whenever she became aware of the fact that she does not remember anything and it was him who was the only one who triggered something out in her. She does not understand the reason for it but she wants to experience the same again—from the unexplainable relief of getting back a memory despite the pain it gives.

"I'll take my leave now," she said and the man simply nodded at her.

As she walks to the reception, she is contemplating if she would tell the doctors of Adam's possible release. He is all well now yet he refuses to go. They are the complete opposite when it comes to that matter—when he wants to stay at the hospital while she wants so badly to get out. Though Doctor Harrington has somehow already approved of it. She just has to wait on what is to come.

"I'll go to Doctor Harrington," she said to the woman behind the desk as she gives back her patients’ files.

"Again?"

"I am helping him with something," she replied.

"You do know that you are assigned on the third floor, right? Not on the second."

"I'll be quick."

"No," the woman hissed. "You will not go until your shift is over or else I will tell the Head Nurse. You have been handled quite loosely just because you have that condition of yours. I think it unfair to the others." Then huffed and turned away from her.

She does not know what the woman's problem is so she just stayed there, instead of causing any trouble and being unfair to others just like what the woman says. The woman has a point and she has to stop taking privileges.

It was after her shift did she indeed got free and even if she was tired, she still went downstairs to finish her work with Doctor Harrington. She badly wants to get off of her uniform of layers of the gown and white apron, her brown hair is pinned with a veil and though she looks all clean, in truth, she feels dirty already. A day’s work makes her all sticky but she cannot just retire when she still has work to do. Besides, it was her who suggested arranging Doctor Harrington’s books. It is rude to just leave it all to him.

The second floor has already lied low with their activities—conversations now hushed and nurses refraining from making any loud noises as they continue on with their work. There are some who are still roaming but the lights opened were reduced and most of the patients are on their beds, trying to get some rest. Fortunately, she did not see Hyacinth. She doesn't want to deal with the woman now that she just wants to get the day done and finish her work early.

Fixing her uniform first, she then knocked on Doctor Harrington's office. When no one answered, she tried to twist the handle and it gave in, showing a dark room. Doctor Harrington may still be doing his rounds but she does not want to wait for him anymore. Besides, he has left them a while ago so it is to say that he is comfortable with her being alone in the room.

She grabbed a candle from the candelabras in the hall before entering. After that, she lit up the ones on the tables inside. She roamed her eyes around and it is still the same as when she left off. However, when her eyes settled on the desk again, she felt her throat drying.

She saw a photo of Doctor Harrington's likeness together with a woman.

It is easy to assume from that that he has a lover but she does not know who it is since the woman's face was torn on the upper part. Mayhap the piece of the photo was taken everywhere by the doctor, therefore, making it look old and worn out. She envies him for having a photo of someone with him. If only she had just one thing to remind herself of the past, it would have at least helped her thread everything together.

No places, no image of the house she used to live in, not even the face of the man she has been with.

It still agitates her now that she still had no progress and she just hopes Doctor Harrington would hasten the process of her dismissal.

After sweeping the floor, she decided to wipe it but she does not want to go out and go to the supplies to get a mop. She does not want to cross paths with Hyacinth again, knowing what just happened when she allowed the woman to meddle. A cloth and a bucket of water will do.

She roamed her eyes around, searching for the door to the lavatory. Spotting one on a corner, she grabbed the bucket of dirty water and headed there. The door creaked as she opened it and darkness filled the room. She will refrain from meddling with the doctor’s things and it would be much more effective since the room is dark and her only light is from the office. She puts the bucket inside before going back to the office to grab a candle, only to stop midway when upon a low light, she saw what was behind the door she just opened.

Her mouth parted with astonishment and even if she wanted to move, her feet won't allow her.