Silent Strings

Chapter 6

Ines glanced around the cafeteria, her smile faltering when she caught sight of one of the senior nurses at the far end of the room, watching them with keen interest. She cleared her throat and leaned in slightly toward Jackson, lowering her voice. “Behave, Jackson. We’re being watched.”

Jackson paused, his fork hovering midair, and followed her gaze. When he spotted the nurse, his lips curled into a devilish grin. “So?”

“So?” she hissed, narrowing her eyes. “So, I don’t need people gossiping about me in my first month. Thank you very much. You’re being too obvious.”

He leaned back in his chair, studying her with that maddening smirk of his. “Let them gossip. Maybe it’ll save you some trouble.”

“What are you even talking about?” she asked, exasperation lacing her tone.

He placed his fork down deliberately and leaned forward, his eyes locking with hers. “If they think you’re taken, they won’t bother you. I’m just doing you a favor, sweetheart.”

Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt the heat rise to her cheeks. “Taken? By who, exactly?!”

Jackson chuckled softly, a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers down her spine. “By me, of course.”

Her jaw dropped, but before she could even formulate a response, he reached out and gently tilted her chin up with his fingers, forcing her gaze back to his. His touch was warm and featherlight, but the sheer intimacy of the gesture made her pulse race.

“Focus on me, Ines,” he murmured, his voice low and smooth, like a secret meant only for her. “Stop worrying about everyone else, or I swear, I’ll kiss you right here and now.”

Her breath hitched, her eyes widened at his boldness. “You wouldn’t,” she whispered, though her voice betrayed her uncertainty.

His lips twitched, the teasing spark in his gaze making her chest tighten. “Wouldn’t I? You know I don’t bluff, Ines.”

The world around them seemed to blur, the hum of the cafeteria fading into the background. All she could see, all she could feel, was him—his thumb brushing lightly against her chin, the warmth of his gaze burning into hers.

She swallowed hard, her voice shaky as she tried to regain control of the situation. “Jackson... you’re impossible.”

He let out a soft laugh, finally releasing her chin, but not before letting his fingers linger just a moment too long. “And yet, you’re still sitting here with me. Funny how that works, isn’t it?”

Her cheeks burned, and she quickly looked down at her plate, determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing just how much he affected her. “I’m only here because you insisted,” she muttered under her breath.

Jackson leaned back with a satisfied grin, his gaze still fixed on her. “Whatever you need to tell yourself, Nurse Cua.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the senior nurse finally look away, but the heat of Jackson’s presence was far harder to ignore. She exhaled slowly, her heart still racing as she silently vowed to get through the rest of this lunch without completely losing her composure.

But deep down, she knew he’d already won this round.

A week has passed and the rhythm of the shift hasn’t faltered. The hospital’s overhead speaker crackled to life, cutting through the soft hum of daily activity. “Code Blue, Oncology Ward, Room 302. Code Blue.”

Ines froze for half a second, the weight of the announcement sinking in before her training kicked in. She bolted toward the room, her sneakers squeaking against the polished floor.

When she arrived, the room was already in chaos. An elderly man lay unconscious on the bed, his thin frame almost swallowed by the sea of machines surrounding him. A junior resident was attempting compressions, his technique hurried and uneven, while a nurse prepped the defibrillator with trembling hands.

“Cycle one of compressions initiated,” the nurse stammered. “Pulse is absent. BP’s dropping fast.”

“Let me take over compressions,” Ines said, stepping forward and swiftly replacing the resident. Her hands pressed against the patient’s chest in steady, rhythmic movements. “One, two, three…” she counted, her voice calm despite the tension crackling in the air.

Before she could complete the cycle, the door swung open, and Jackson walked in.

The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. His presence was commanding, his expression sharp and focused. He wasn’t just another doctor walking in to observe—he was here to take control.

“What’s the situation?” Jackson asked, his voice calm but firm as he snapped on a pair of gloves.

Ines didn’t falter in her compressions as she answered. “Seventy-three-year-old male, post-chemotherapy. He lost his pulse about a

minute ago. Cycle one of compressions underway.”

Jackson nodded, his eyes darting to the monitor. “What’s his rhythm?”

“Asystole,” the nurse replied nervously.

“Epinephrine administered?”

“Not yet.”

“Do it now,” Jackson instructed, his voice leaving no room for hesitation.

The nurse hurried to comply as Jackson moved to Ines’s side. “You’re doing great,” he said, his tone softer but still authoritative. “Let me take over. Prepare the defibrillator.”

Ines stepped back, watching as Jackson began compressions with precise, almost mechanical efficiency. His movements were smooth, his hands pressing down on the patient’s chest with just the right amount of force. Even in the high-pressure environment, he exuded an air of calm competence that steadied everyone in the room.

“Charging to 200,” the nurse announced, her voice less shaky now under Jackson’s lead.

“Clear!” Jackson called, stepping back just as the patient’s body jolted from the shock. Everyone held their breath, but the monitor remained flat.

“Still asystole,” the nurse said, her tone heavy with worry.

Jackson didn’t miss a beat. “Resume compressions. Push another dose of epi. Ines, take over while I assess his airway.”

She stepped forward again, her hands falling into the familiar rhythm. Her eyes flicked to Jackson, who was already intubating the patient with practiced ease, his movements quick and precise.

“He’s incredible,” she thought, unable to stop herself.

“Tube is secure,” Jackson said. “Bag him. Let’s get some oxygen moving.”

Ines handed off compressions to another resident, her focus now on bagging the patient while Jackson checked the monitor.

“Charging to 300,” the nurse said.

Jackson nodded. “Clear!”

This time, a faint blip appeared on the monitor, followed by another, then another. The room collectively exhaled as the beeping of a heartbeat filled the air.

“Sinus rhythm,” the nurse said, relief evident in her voice.

Jackson stepped back, pulling off his gloves. “Good work, everyone,” he said, his tone steady but firm. His eyes landed on the junior resident. “Next time, make sure your compressions are deep and consistent. It’s not about speed—it’s about quality. Understand?”

The resident nodded quickly, looking both chastened and grateful for the feedback.

As the team began to disperse, Jackson turned to Ines. “You did well,” he said, his expression softening for the first time since he’d entered the room.

Ines felt her cheeks warm under his gaze. “Thanks,” she said, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “You didn’t do so bad yourself.”

He smirked, clearly amused. “Didn’t do so bad? You wound me, Ines.”

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips.

Before she could walk away, he stepped closer, his voice dropping low enough that only she could hear. “What are you doing tonight?”

The question caught her off guard. “Tonight?”

“Dinner,” he said simply, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. “Just you and me. No interruptions.”

She blinked, momentarily stunned. “You sure you’re not just trying to show off again?”

Jackson chuckled, the sound warm and rich. “Maybe. But mostly, I just want to catch up. So, what do you say?”

Ines hesitated, her mind racing. This felt… dangerous. But the way he was looking at her made it impossible to say no.

“Fine,” she said, trying to sound casual. “But don’t expect me to be impressed.”

Jackson’s grin widened. “Challenge accepted. After your shift, I’ll get you later.”

As he walked away, the weight of his presence lingered, leaving Ines wondering just what she had gotten herself into.