More than Anything (English)

Chapter 1

Quinn

“This is what you get for everything that you’re doing!” Louise is absolutely sarcastic and angry at me when we arrived in the ER just so I could get my head stitched.

I didn’t know it would happen. I was just doing motor cross. I didn’t expect my bike to take a wrong turn making me hit my head into the fence.

Louise was raging in fury when she knew what happened to me. I couldn’t help but chuckle as I stared at my girlfriend of five years. Looking at her makes me plan on proposing to her next year as we celebrate our sixth anniversary. Why bother to delay it when I’m sure that she’s the woman I want to marry.

I laughed and ruffled her hair. “Don’t worry too much. I’m not gonna die,” I told her and that made her frown at me.

“If you’re going to die, I’m going to be the one to kill you,” she countered which made me chuckle.

I tried to calm her down and assure her that this cut is superficial. I believe I am not going to die just because of the fence of the motor cross track!

“Excuse me? Mr. Quinn Leonard Guevarra?” a nurse came to me.

I nodded when I heard my name.

The nurse smiled at me. “Our resident surgeon is out for now but the specialist in charge to stitch your laceration is already on her way,” she said.

I nodded and didn’t care at all. Don’t all doctors know how to stitch? And besides, I’m not in much pain, so, I’m not in panic.

Well, I’m not bothered much but my girlfriend bombarded the nurse with a lot of questions.

“Why don’t you have a resident surgeon here? Mustn’t he or she stay in the ER?” I can sense that Louise is in distress. “The resident surgeon must always be here!”

I can see that the nurse wanted to respond but she couldn’t find the right timing for it with the tone of Louise. She’s already hysterical and was talking nonstop.

“I thought this hospital is one of the best in this city? Why don’t you have enough doctors to treat my boyfriend?”

I held Louise’s hand and told her that it’s fine. “My wound doesn’t hurt, babe. I’m fine. There are a lot of patients who need more immediate attention of the doctors,” I told her, trying to assure her.

Louise narrowed her eyes on me. She didn’t speak but I can see that she’s mad. She has a habit of overthinking and she’s so easy to piss off.

“Dr. dela Fuente is already on the way, Ma’am. She’s one of our best general surgeons in this hospital,” the nurse said making Louise calm down for a bit. There, the nurse already told her that the surgeon is one of the best. She can surely calm down now.

Louise looked at me and I smiled. She sighed, still worried.

I smiled at the nurse curtly while listening to her try to explain and assure Louise that the doctor she’s talking about is almost here. When the nurse left, Louise turned to me with an obvious annoyed look.

“Who said your wound isn’t urgent? It’s in the head!” she pointed out, still wasn’t able to hide her worries. I thought she had finally calmed down. Guess I was wrong.

“I’m fine. I’m not feeling any pain now. I’d ask the doctor to order a CT for me or any other tests if you want,” I suggested, cooing her.

She pursed her lips in a thin line and sighed in defeat.

I smiled and planted a kiss on her forehead when I noticed someone familiar talking to the patient’s relatives.

Margaux.

It’s been so long that I haven’t seen her. After breaking up with her, I haven’t had any news about her. She made it sure that she was really out of my life. She never showed up ever again.

The last time I saw her, she’s already a resident. She’s a striving doctor who almost stayed at the hospital more than her home. Five years later, she’s wearing a long white coat with her name engraved on it.

I wonder if she went on and pursued her dream to be a cardiologist.

I wonder if she has a family now.

I don’t really feel bad about our decision to break up. I still think that being with Louise, the woman I love, is the right path. But I’m just curious about how the life of the woman I used to love went. Margaux is a good girl. She has a pure heart and she’s dedicated. Any man would be glad to have her. I just wasn’t the man for her.

She was smiling widely at the relative and they were smiling back like they’re liking all the things that she says. Anyone who could see her looking at the relatives would know that she’s having fun and she’s enjoying her job.

“Quinn Guevarra?”

I tore my gaze off of Margaux when I heard someone calling my name. I looked to my right and saw a female doctor standing in front of me.  

“That’s me,” I confirmed and she immediately went on to check my wound.

“I’m Deonna dela Fuente, General Surgeon,” she introduced herself while trying to remove the gauze placed by the nurse a while ago. “This looks superficial,” she mumbled but I heard it.

I didn’t know if I needed to answer because she wasn’t asking.

“He hit his head on the fence, doc. Isn’t that alarming?” Here come Louise and her endless probing. She really wouldn’t stop.

Dr. dela Fuente smiled and shook her head. “It seems like it’s nothing. Just a scratch,” she replied curtly. “But I’m still gonna order a CT Scan to be sure.”

Louise and I just nodded at what Dr. dela Fuente said. Louise held my hand. Now I think she got the view of the whole scenario. I’m not going to die. My girl needs to chill.

Dr. dela Fuente smiled. “You’re his wife?” she asked Louise.

Louise shook her head. “I’m his girlfriend,” she replied.

The doctor nodded and prepared the necessary equipment for suturing. Her hands were light. I almost couldn’t feel that she’s already trying to suture my wound.

We were almost done when her phone suddenly rang.

“Doc, it’s Dr. Marbel calling," the nurse said while holding the doctor’s phone.

Dr.dela Fuente nodded and motioned for the nurse to answer it and place the phone on her ear. “Yes, Margaux…” I narrowed my eyes when I heard her name.

Margaux Cynthia Marbel.

I looked at Louise to see if she noticed it and was relieved when she was talking with someone on her phone as well. It’s not like I’m cheating on her but I’m going to be doomed if she knew Margaux was one of the doctors here as well.

“Oh? I thought you’ll bring your new boyfriend," Dr. Dela Fuente joked and chuckled as she continued to finish suturing my wound. “Shawn is sick?” I can sense worry from her voice.

Suddenly, I was curious. Who’s Shawn? Her boyfriend? No. I heard her asking about her boyfriend so Shawn is not a boyfriend. Shawn is not her boyfriend. Well then, who is he? Is he her cousin? Brother? Stupid. Margaux is an only child.

“Are you bringing him here? Where are you? I’m in the ER. Cubicle 16,” she added. “Okay. I’m almost finished.”

I didn’t speak and just waited for her next words.

“Look, your son’s gonna be alright. I’ll go check when he comes here.”

My world seemed to have stopped when I heard what she just said. Son? Shawn is Margaux’s son? Who’s the father? Wasn’t he a responsible asshole? Is she alone in raising her son?

Who the f**k is that bastard?

“Yes. Calm down. It could only be UTI. Children throw up when they have UTI or even just a simple fever.” Dr. dela Fuente’s voice got softer when she tried to calm Margaux down. “Your helper needs to calm down as well. Are they on their way?”

Helper? Why is the child with just a helper? Does that mean she had the child out of wedlock? Does the child have no father?

“Yes. I’m done here. I’m coming to the lounge in five,” Dr. dela Fuente said as she did the final suture before asking the nurse to take over the wound dressing.

Dr. dela Fuente looked at me. “I’m going to send you to the CT scan room since your girl doesn’t believe that it’s just a superficial wound. And just to be sure," she said. “I’ll also be leaving a prescription with the meds on it. The nurse will explain to you the right time to take them.” she gave out one final smile before leaving the cubicle.

The nurse looked at me. “Please wait for the wheelchair that will take you to the CT Scan room. For a while, sir.” She bowed slightly before leaving the cubicle with the small table of the instruments.

I looked at Louise who’s got her eyebrows creased as she listens to whoever is on the phone with her. It seemed like it was an emergency. “Yes. I’ll be there,” she said before hanging up.

Louise looked at me and I smiled. “They need you at work?” I asked and she nodded. It was obvious that she didn’t want to go. I can see through her facial expression. “It’s okay. You can ask Roger to take you to the office,” I told her but she pouted even more.

“How can I even leave you here?” she asked.

I chuckled and gave her a hug. “I’m fine. I’m going to get my head scanned and then I’ll go home as well,” I told her to assure her I’m fine.

This is how she really is. She doesn’t want me hurt or wounded. She’s always worried about me. And that’s what I’ve always loved about her. She’s so concerned about other’s welfare that it makes it her asset. Besides, everyone loves a woman with a soft heart.

“But…” she’s still hesitating.

I smiled and cupped her cheeks. “I’m fine. Babe, you can go to work. I’ll call you when I’m done and when I’m on my way home,” I told her.

“It’s good that you’re on vacation or else you’ll be going to the office like that,” she told me, pointing at the elastic bandage around my head, before kissing my cheek.

I grinned and gave her a quick kiss on her lips. “Besides, no one will look my way because they all know that I am owned by you,” I told her and I can see how her cheeks blushed.

“You’re so annoying!” she whined as she slightly hit my chest and I hugged her even tighter.

“Don’t compromise your work for me, okay?” I whispered.

She nodded and took a breath of relief. “I love you, Quinn,” she uttered in a soft voice.

“I love you too, Louise.”