Silent Strings

Chapter 7

Jackson couldn’t remember the last time he felt this restless—and he’d been through some pretty intense surgeries that demanded endless focus and energy. But this anticipation? This strange mix of nervous excitement? It was different, and it was all because of her.

The moment his last surgery for the day ended, Jackson stepped out of the operating room, his mind already wandering to dinner plans. He pulled off his surgical cap and mask, running a hand through his tousled hair. His gaze darted to the clock on the wall. Four hours. Four hours until he could sit across from Ines without the confines of their professional roles and maybe, just maybe, have a conversation that wasn’t interrupted by hospital duties or the occasional meddling nurse.

He sighed, shaking his head at himself. “Get it together, Huáng,” he muttered under his breath. “It’s just dinner.”

But no matter how much he tried to downplay it, he couldn’t suppress the grin tugging at his lips. Dinner with Ines after three long years. How could he not feel a little on edge?

Making his way back to his office, Jackson’s thoughts were rudely interrupted when he spotted a familiar figure leaning casually against his doorframe. Kassian Callisto Vasileiou, his best friend and partner-in-crime, raised a brow at him with that signature smirk that usually meant trouble.

“Well, well,” Kassian drawled, his Greek accent slipping in just enough to make his tone sound even more mocking. “Look who’s finally emerged from the OR. Let me guess, you’ve been lurking in the oncology department again?”

Jackson groaned, already sensing where this was heading. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

Kassian straightened, crossing his arms as Jackson approached. “Can you blame me? You’ve been strutting around here like a peacock ever since you spotted her.”

Jackson sighed, running a hand down his face. “Kassian, you’re lucky you’re my best friend because I’m two seconds away from strangling you. Why the hell didn’t you tell me Ines was working here?”

Kassian chuckled, clearly unbothered by Jackson’s frustration. “Oh, you mean the same Ines who has you acting like a lovesick teenager?”

“Kassian.” Jackson’s voice was a low growl, but his friend merely shrugged, feigning innocence.

“Fine, fine,” Kassian said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “The truth is, I knew this would happen. You’d ditch your office, spend half your day haunting the oncology ward, and neglect your packed schedule of surgeries just to catch a glimpse of her. And let’s be honest—I’m not wrong, am I?”

Jackson opened his mouth to protest but quickly closed it. He hated that Kassian’s words held a kernel of truth. Maybe more than a kernel.

“You could’ve given me a heads-up,” Jackson finally said, his tone begrudging.

Kassian smirked again, clearly enjoying his moment of triumph. “And ruin the surprise? Come on, Jackson. Admit it—you liked being caught off guard. Makes everything feel a bit more... authentic, doesn’t it?”

Jackson rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like a curse.

Kassian clapped him on the shoulder, the teasing glint in his eyes softening just a bit. “Look, I get it. You’ve been through a lot these past few years. And seeing her again? It’s probably the best thing that’s happened to you in a while. But just remember—you’ve got a job to do. Don’t let your feelings get in the way of being the brilliant Dr. Huáng everyone looks up to.”

Jackson nodded, appreciating the rare moment of sincerity from his best friend. “Thanks, Kass. Really.”

“Anytime,” Kassian said, flashing one last grin before heading down the hallway. “Oh, and Jackson?”

“Yeah?”

Kassian glanced over his shoulder. “Good luck tonight. You’re going to need it.”

Jackson shook his head, laughing despite himself. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, man.”

As Kassian’s footsteps faded, Jackson took a deep breath, leaning against the doorframe of his office. Dinner was still a few hours away, but he could already feel the weight of anticipation settling in his chest. For the first time in years, he felt like something real was within reach. And he wasn’t about to let it slip through his fingers.

The day at Huang Medical Center wound down in its usual buzz of end-of-shift activity, but there was something distinctly unusual about Dr. Jackson Huáng. He was smiling. Not the quick, confident smirk he usually threw around like spare change—this was a real, unfiltered, almost childlike grin.

The sight stopped several staff members in their tracks.

“Is he okay?” whispered a junior nurse to her colleague as they passed by, glancing over their shoulders.

Another nurse squinted skeptically. “Did someone finally confess their undying love to him, or what?”

Athanasia, standing beside her brother and thoroughly unimpressed, crossed her arms. “Ahia,” she said, snapping her fingers directly in his line of sight. “Why are you smiling like an i***t?”

Jackson turned to her, still grinning, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. “Your brother,” he began dramatically, gesturing to himself, “has been blessed from above today.”

Athanasia gave him an unimpressed look. “Blessed? You look less blessed and more like you’ve been hit in the head. Should I call neuro?”

Jackson ignored her jab, flipping his car keys in the air and catching them effortlessly. “You wouldn’t understand, little sister. Today is… monumental.”

Athanasia rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t get stuck. “Monumental? Did you invent a new surgery technique or something?”

“Better,” Jackson said, his grin widening.

“Better than a groundbreaking medical achievement?” she deadpanned. “You’ve lost it. Completely.”

“I won’t be able to give you a ride home tonight,” Jackson added, completely brushing off her sarcasm. “Important matters to attend to.”

“That’s fine. I drove myself today. My car’s in the parking lot,” Athanasia replied, her expression still wary, as if her brother had truly lost his mind. “But I’m serious, you’re acting really weird. What’s gotten into you?”

Jackson’s smirk deepened. “You’ll understand one day, Athy. One day.”

“I doubt that.” She waved him off, clearly done with his antics. “Good luck with… whatever this is.”

“See ya, sis!” Jackson called, already halfway to the elevator, his excitement barely contained.

Jackson had been waiting near the hospital entrance, his car idling quietly, for what felt like an eternity. When Ines finally emerged, her scrub suit slightly rumpled from the long shift, he felt an almost childlike giddiness rise within him.

There she was—poised, graceful, and entirely unaware of how easily she commanded his attention. She held her handbag over one shoulder and clutched her tumbler in the other, walking with that same no-nonsense air she always had. Yet to him, she might as well have been strutting down a red carpet.

Grinning, Jackson pulled his car forward and stopped directly in front of her. The smooth purr of his engine caught her attention—and everyone else’s within earshot.

Ines froze for a moment, staring at the car and then at him as he got out, his dark brown hair slightly tousled, his tailored shirt open at the collar like he wasn’t just effortlessly handsome but also smugly aware of it.

As if the gesture wasn’t dramatic enough, Jackson made a show of circling the car and opening the passenger door for her with a flourish.

The gasps from the nurses and staff still loitering nearby were almost comical.

“Wait, is Dr. Huáng opening the door for someone?”

“Who is she?”

“Oh my god, they’re totally dating.”

Ines let out a slow sigh, feeling the heat creep up her neck as the murmurs grew louder. “Jackson, what are you doing?” she muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing at him.

“Being a gentleman,” he replied smoothly, giving her a disarming grin before gesturing for her to step inside.

But just as she moved to sit, he stopped her with a hand on the doorframe. “Hold up.”

Before she could protest, Jackson leaned down and grabbed the seatbelt. With practiced ease, he buckled her in, his fingers brushing lightly against her shoulder as he did. The gesture was so absurdly unnecessary, so blatantly over the top, that she couldn’t help but gape at him.

“What—why are you—”

“There,” he said, straightening up and giving her an exaggerated nod of satisfaction. “Safe and sound. Can’t let you get into any accidents while you’re with me.”

“Jackson...” she said, her tone a mix of exasperation and disbelief.

But he wasn’t paying attention. Instead, he turned to the small crowd of hospital staff who were blatantly watching, their whispers louder now. He winked at them, throwing in a smug smile for good measure.

The curly-haired nurse actually squealed.

Jackson jogged to the driver’s side, his grin widening as he caught Ines’s unimpressed expression through the windshield. He slid into his seat, shutting the door with a soft thud before glancing at her.

“What?” he said innocently, his dimples deepening.

“You’re insufferable,” she replied, her voice flat but her lips twitching.

“And yet, you keep hanging out with me,” he shot back, starting the car and pulling smoothly out of the parking lot.

Ines shook her head, leaning back against the seat as if to block out the sheer absurdity of the situation. “Seriously, though. Did you really have to wink at them?”

“Of course,” he said, looking straight ahead but grinning like a fool. “What’s the point of doing something awesome if no one notices?”

She sighed, but there was no hiding the tiny smile tugging at her lips. “You’re impossible.”

“Impossible to resist?” he offered, raising an eyebrow at her.

“More like impossible to deal with.”

His laughter filled the car, warm and unrestrained, and Ines found herself shaking her head again, her cheeks still warm from his earlier antics.

“Just drive, Jackson,” she muttered, finally looking out the window.

But as they left the hospital behind, she couldn’t help but feel like, somehow, being around him was its own kind of adventure—one she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to escape from.