Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

For a few days, Lara had to be in the hospital. Her recovery process needed to be undisturbed, requiring complete rest both physically and mentally.

Seno, her husband, was always around. Andre didn’t like seeing him. It seemed like Seno was portraying himself as the ideal husband, coming back and forth to check on Lara amidst his busy schedule. Whether he was genuinely worried or just pretending, Andre couldn’t tell.

According to the servant, Lara had been bleeding because of a young woman’s actions. Andre was certain it was related to Seno’s affair.

***

As Andre passed by the nurse station after finishing his shift, he took the opportunity to ask about Lara’s condition.

“Lara’s patient, how is she?” he asked.

The nurse, eager for some gossip, replied, “She’s getting better, Doc. Is there something?”

Andre was aware of the nurses’ gossip, especially if there was a hint of scandal. One of his trusted nurses had once shown him their Whatsapp group when rumors about his engagement spread in the hospital. It disturbed him, but he couldn’t do anything about it.

“Ah, nothing. That’s good then,” he said with a smile.

“Oh, doctor, don’t smile too often, I might melt,” the nurse joked lightly. Another nurse chimed in, “Yeah. The doctor’s dimples make us swoon, haha,” playfully hitting her colleague’s shoulder.

Andre swallowed hard, unsure how to respond to their jokes.

“Aren’t you tired of working? Get fired by the Doctor fiance, then you’ll know how it feels!” a senior nurse suddenly appeared, carrying a stack of files. The two junior nurses coughed awkwardly and pretended to be busy.

“Sorry, Doc. Please don’t take it serious,” the senior nurse said shyly.

“It’s okay. Their intentions aren’t bad,” Andre said, smiling again before hurriedly walking away. He didn’t want to be the subject of mockery or an object easily teased by the single nurses.

***

Splashing water on his face from the rushing tap, Andre looked at himself in the mirror. “Handsome?” he wondered. His handsome face felt useless if it didn’t win the heart of the woman he admired.

Lara. She had already walked down the aisle, and all opportunities evaporated. Irretrievable time had shattered his hopes of being with her.

He truly emerged as a loser.

***

For some time, Andre had been trying to find an opportunity to talk to Lara alone. However, the moment he longed for never came.

Seno, Lara’s husband, was always by her side when Andre was on duty. From morning till night, Seno appeared faithfully. Several times, Andre saw a man in a suit and a sexy-looking woman accompany him into Lara’s room. Before long, the employees would leave, leaving Seno to continue working while staying with his wife.

Lara’s relationship with her husband turned out to be more harmonious than Andre had thought. He believed Seno was the type of man prone to cheating, often seen in big bosses like him.

***

“Hah… there really is no chance,” Andre sighed disappointedly. He couldn’t speak privately with Lara.

The sky that night was studded with stars. Andre looked at its beauty with the glow of a slowly burning cigarette. The smoke that blurred his vision made him realize that real hope would never come.

Did he really have to let go of all assumptions about Lara and never bring explanations?

“Lighter, please,” a girl with thick makeup, who looked sweet, asked. She was walking towards him, requesting a light from the lighter he was holding.

“Here,” Andre handed her a black lighter with a typical batik pattern, engraved with his name: Andre Setiawan Ramsey. The lighter was a gift from his beloved sister, even though they were now separated by distance and position. She remained in his heart.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Do you work here? Hmm, I think I’ve seen you,” the girl narrowed her eyes. Andre just shrugged.

Judging by her appearance, the girl might be an employee, but her clothes and shoes were too revealing. Andre felt embarrassed to keep looking at her. If it wasn’t against the rules, he would have wanted to put his doctor’s coat on her.

“What’s your name?” the girl asked, but hadn’t even answered his previous question.

“Andre Setiawan,” he replied briefly. He didn’t want to ask her name back; coincidentally, his sister had sent a message. He’d rather reply to his sister’s message than get involved with her. He felt uncomfortable.

“Nice,” the girl murmured as she examined him physically, her eyes scanning his body from head to toe. Was she turning into an airport security officer?

Her gaze suggested that she was judging him. Was he just an object?

“Are you done observing?” Andre felt offended. From the beginning, their meeting had been just…

“Don’t you want to know my name, Doc? Maybe we can get to know each other?” the girl asked shamelessly. His sarcastic question hadn’t been answered. She didn’t even pretend to be shy or awkward. What kind of woman was she?

“No.”

Andre was still busy scrolling through his message app. Let her name be known to the civil records, her colleagues, and family. He wasn’t interested.

“Hm, but you look handsome.”

Andre was dumbfounded. He was surprised by her remark about his appearance. In the 21st century, do women really have the ability to conquer men?

“Sorry. Aren’t you too straightforward?” he tried to stay calm, though he wanted to fight back. He felt this girl was just seeking attention. It wouldn’t be polite to scold her.

“I am indeed straightforward. Aren’t men like brave women?”

Andre shook his head vigorously. Suddenly, Lara’s face came to mind. If only Lara acted aggressively like that, his heart would be incredibly joyful. But he still didn’t like women who took the lead. His dignity as a man was at stake.

“Look, Doc, please ask what my name is.”

“Fine. What’s your name?” he asked casually. He didn’t really want to know her identity. He needed to get out of this death trap that seemed to be lurking around him.

The girl laughed lightly. With forced sways of her hips, she walked towards him. Leaning forward, she whispered sensually from her thick lips.

“My name is Olivia Wilona.”