Chapter 5 — Prim
1796 Words
Chapter 5 — Prim
Monday mornings in the Pediatric Cardiology Department were always crowded with patients.
Small children sat waiting with their parents. Some clutched their stuffed animals tightly. Some fussed because they didn't want to be examined. Others stared at the medical equipment with wide-eyed curiosity.
Amid the bustle, a little girl sat quietly in a chair, hugging a rabbit plushie to her chest.
Prim.
Eight years old.
She swung her legs back and forth, perfectly calm.
Unlike the man sitting beside her.
“Prim.”
Krit called his daughter softly.
“Yes?”
“Aren't you scared?”
The little girl shook her head.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I'm sure.”
Prim looked up at her father.
“But you look more nervous than I am.”
Krit froze.
“I'm not nervous.”
“You're gripping your bag really tightly.”
Krit looked down at his hand.
He was, in fact, gripping the strap far too tightly.
“I’m just…”
“Scared of the test results?”
Krit was silent for a moment.
Then gave her a small smile.
“A little.”
Prim reached over and took his hand.
“Don't be scared.”
“Why not?”
“Dr. Nut is good.”
“You know Dr. Nut?”
“Of course.”
The little girl answered with absolute confidence.
“Dr. Nut is kind.”
Krit laughed softly.
“Do you remember every doctor here?”
“Yes.”
“That's impressive.”
“I'm a regular patient.”
Krit sighed.
“You don't have to be proud of that, sweetheart.”
Prim smiled.
“I want to be a doctor.”
“That's good.”
“So I can fix my own heart.”
Krit fell silent.
His daughter's words somehow made his heart feel heavier.
He knew Prim needed regular follow-up appointments.
And more than anything, he wanted her to have a life like every other child.
He didn't want her to feel different.
He didn't want her to be afraid of hospitals.
Or doctors.
Or her own heart.
“Mr. Krit?”
A voice called from nearby.
Krit turned.
Nut was standing in front of them.
“Dr. Nut!”
Prim immediately smiled.
“Good morning, Prim.”
“I didn't cry today.”
“That's very brave.”
Nut crouched down in front of her.
“But we're going to have several tests today.”
“I know.”
“There'll be a blood test too.”
Prim's smile disappeared instantly.
“…”
Nut couldn't help laughing.
“Scared now?”
Prim nodded.
“A little.”
“If you're scared, you can tell me. You don't have to pretend you're not.”
“Okay.”
Nut turned to Krit.
“Don't worry too much, Mr. Krit. I'll have Prim do an ECG first, and then we'll assess everything together with Dr. Rawit.”
Krit nodded.
“All right. Thank you very much.”
“Of course.”
Nut stood.
“I'll have the nurse take her in for the tests.”
Prim nodded.
But before she followed the nurse, she turned back to her father.
“Dad.”
“Yes?”
“Wait for me.”
Krit smiled.
“Of course.”
“Don't go anywhere.”
“I won't.”
Only then did Prim agree to follow the nurse.
Krit watched his daughter until she disappeared from sight.
Then he let out a long breath.
“Mr. Krit?”
Another man's voice came from nearby.
Krit turned.
A doctor in a white coat stood a short distance away.
Tall, composed, with sharp features that somehow didn't make him look intimidating.
The name badge on his chest read:
Dr. Rawit Watthanamet
A senior physician specializing in pediatric cardiac surgery.
“Yes?”
“I'm Rawit.”
He extended his hand.
“I'll be taking care of Prim's case today.”
Krit shook his hand.
“I'm Krit.”
Their hands touched for only a moment.
But Rawit immediately noticed that the man in front of him looked tired.
Not from work.
From worry.
“You look nervous, Mr. Krit.”
Krit gave a slightly awkward smile.
“Is it that obvious?”
“A little.”
Rawit smiled.
“But there's no need to worry too much. My team is taking good care of Prim.”
“All right.”
“I've gone through Prim's medical history.”
Rawit opened the file.
“Her condition is stable overall. Her previous results were good, but we'll be doing some additional assessments today to get a clearer picture.”
Krit nodded.
“Okay.”
“If there's anything you're unsure about, feel free to ask me.”
“I will.”
Rawit closed the file.
Then asked,
“What do you do for a living?”
Krit paused.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“I'm a university lecturer.”
“What do you teach?”
“Engineering.”
Rawit nodded.
“That explains it.”
“Explains what?”
“You speak very systematically.”
Krit laughed.
“Are you complimenting me, Doctor, or analyzing me?”
“Both.”
Krit laughed again.
Rawit smiled along with him.
His gaze didn't leave the man in front of him.
Not because he was reading the patient's file.
But because he was looking at Krit.
He didn't know when he'd started becoming interested.
Maybe it was when he'd seen Krit holding Prim's hand.
Maybe it was when he'd seen him trying to smile despite how worried he was.
Or maybe it had happened the moment Krit first turned around.
But there was one thing Rawit knew for certain—
he wanted to know this man as more than just his patient's father.
“Mr. Krit.”
“Yes?”
“If there's nothing urgent after today's examination…”
Rawit paused briefly.
“Could I buy you a coffee?”
Krit blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“Coffee.”
“With me?”
“Yes.”
Rawit said it as naturally as if he'd just asked about the weather.
“I'd like to get to know you better.”
Krit went quiet.
He looked at the doctor in front of him, unsure whether he was serious or joking.
Rawit didn't look away.
He didn't laugh it off.
He didn't change the subject.
“I mean…”
Krit searched for the right words.
“Do you mean…as the patient's parent and the attending physician?”
Rawit smiled.
“If that's where you'd feel comfortable starting, then sure.”
Krit let out a laugh.
“You're very direct, Doctor.”
“I don't really like going around in circles.”
“I can tell.”
“Then…is that a yes?”
Krit hadn't even had time to answer when a small voice came from behind them.
“Dad!”
Prim came running back.
“I'm done!”
Krit turned.
“That was fast.”
“The nurse was really nice.”
Prim looked at Rawit.
“Are you Dr. Rawit?”
“Yes.”
“The doctor who's going to treat me?”
“Yes.”
Prim nodded.
Then asked, with complete seriousness,
“Do you like my dad?”
Krit nearly choked.
“Prim!”
The little girl looked confused.
“I was just asking.”
Rawit laughed.
He crouched down until they were at the same eye level.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Krit whipped around.
“Doctor!”
Rawit laughed.
“I was just telling the truth.”
Prim beamed.
“Then you have my permission.”
“Prim!”
“Why, Dad?”
The little girl looked completely serious.
“I like this doctor.”
Rawit smiled.
“Thank you.”
Krit pressed a hand to his forehead.
“I think the two of you can talk among yourselves.”
“Sure.”
Rawit smiled.
“But about the coffee…”
He looked back at Krit.
“I’m still waiting for your answer.”
Krit sighed helplessly.
“Doctor…”
“Yes?”
“Are you this good at flirting with everyone?”
Rawit smiled.
“No.”
“Then why me?”
“Because I'm interested in you.”
The straightforward answer left Krit silent again.
Rawit gave him a small smile.
“See you later, Mr. Krit.”
He walked away.
Krit watched him go.
Then shook his head.
“Unbelievable…”
From another corner of the department, Phat happened to be walking by.
He stopped when he saw Rawit talking to Krit.
“P’Rawit.”
Rawit turned.
“Oh, Phat.”
Phat glanced at Krit.
“Who’s he?”
“Mr. Krit. Prim's father.”
Phat nodded.
Then looked at his older brother.
Then at Rawit's smile.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
Rawit raised an eyebrow.
“Like what?”
“Like someone just found something he likes.”
Krit let out a laugh.
Rawit, however, answered with complete composure.
“Something like that.”
Phat stared at his brother.
“What’s gotten into you?”
Rawit didn't answer.
He simply turned back toward Krit.
“Don't forget to give me your answer this evening.”
Krit sighed.
“Doctor…”
“Yes?”
“Do you flirt with everyone this confidently?”
Rawit smiled.
“No.”
“Then why are you flirting with me?”
“Because I'm interested in you.”
The honesty of the answer made Krit fall silent once more.
Rawit smiled faintly.
“See you later, Mr. Krit.”
He walked away.
Phat watched him go.
Then turned to his brother.
“You're flirting with him?”
“Mm.”
“You just met him?”
“Mm.”
“And you already told him?”
“Mm.”
Phat was silent.
“Aren't you embarrassed?”
Rawit laughed.
“If you like someone, why be embarrassed?”
Phat said nothing.
He thought of someone.
Dr. Nut.
The man he'd bought coffee for that morning.
The man he'd felt jealous seeing sit with Gavin.
The man he'd wanted to ask, almost every day, whether he'd eaten yet—
yet somehow could never manage to say anything nicely to his face.
Phat frowned.
Then murmured to himself,
“It’s not that hard…”
Rawit turned back.
“What isn't hard?”
“Nothing.”
Phat walked away immediately.
Rawit watched his younger brother go with an amused smile.
Then shook his head.
“One person who doesn't realize he's in love…”
He chuckled softly.
“And another who knows exactly what he wants, but has no idea how to flirt.”
He laughed again.
“This family really is full of strange people.”
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