I'm in Love with My Doctor

First Meeting

"Hello, Melissa. What is it?" just before starting her car, she received a call from her secretary, Melissa, a few years younger than her but a very hardworking young lady.

"Doc, Mr. Joshua Miran called again and asked for an appointment with a patient named Ethan Villafuerte, you know the Ethan from the..." she wasn't able to finish her statement because Aleli cut her off.

" Melissa, I know and I already talked to him. Did you manage to squeeze him in my schedule?" she can't help but to smile and roll her eyes at the talkative young lady on the other line. She can imagine how round her eyes become when she shares some news from the tv or magazine about prominent people.

"Actually this is what I was about to ask you because you are full with eight clients per day. Remember, part of your time is sending little Andi to school and visiting your company." she explained over the phone.

"I know... Okay, tomorrow I won't be going with Atty. Ian. He will take care of everything so my 1pm is cleared. Tell him to come 1pm sharp." she said while starting the car.

"Okay, consider it done, Doc!"

Aleli's day starts early. At 5 am she prepares Andi's breakfast, snacks, and lunch later at school. Andi is four years old. Although she has a Nanny, Aleli wants to personally prepare her daughter's food. She also personally drove her to school while the bodyguard was tailing them in another car. Later when class ends, they will go home on their own using her husband's designated car for Andi's sevice.

At 6 am, she wakes Andi up and bathes her and puts on her kindergarten uniform. Then she prepares herself before heading down the dining area.

" You know, mommy, I saw your picture when you're young and Grandma was right, we're like twins! But of course, I am prettier because I got Dad's genes too!" she blurted out while they were walking down the stairs.

" Of course! You are the prettiest, baby! And Mommy loves you so much!" she said lovingly to her daughter.

"Mom, I am not a baby anymore!" she said while holding her skirts as if showing her mommy that she was already a grown child.

"Okay, whatever you say, Andrea!" she chuckled.

After sending Andi to school, she proceeded immediately to her clinic.

She asked Melissa for the list of names of the clients scheduled for this morning and quickly browse their records. Sessions usually lasted 30 - 45 minutes. She made sure to have a 15 or more minutes interval for the notes and decompressing. She has to take care of her own mental health also. Unlike medical doctors that could cater as many patients as they could, psychologists have to take a little interval between clients.

At lunch time, Melissa delivered her lunch. She had chicken nuggets and a vegetable salad with a mayonnaise and olive oil dressing. She prepares her lunch everyday because take outs from restaurants are usually oily.

Few minutes after 1 in the afternoon, Melissa knocks in her counseling room with a record in her hand.

" Mr. Ethan is here. He is with the Joshua Miran that called us yesterday. They are both very handsome, Doc but..." Melissa stopped talking because Aleli looked at her with a warning in her eyes.

" Melissa, enough with the chatters. Send him in." she chuckled at Melissa's talkativeness.

Knock! Knock!

" Please come in." She said inviting the client to come inside.

Ethan went inside the room. It's an spacious room with ivory walls with very minimalist look. There is a cream couch set on the left side with sage green and dusty blue pillows. There are also plants in the corner. The room is indeed very calming and relaxing.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Villafuerte. Have a seat, please." Aleli summoned him to sit on the couch while she sits on the other side, making him facing her.

Ethan frowned.

" I am sorry, Miss. But is the doctor here? I mean Dr. Aleli Cruz?" Ethan asked the lady infront of him while scanning the whole room looking for Dr. Cruz.

"Yes, Mister. She is here and she is right in front of you." Aleli smiled. She got that a lot. Why do people assumes that psychologist are old, with glasses, and hair is in a bun?

Ethan blushed. He immediately apologized.

"I am so sorry, Miss. I mean Dr. Cruz. It's just that I am expecting Dr. Cruz to be a middle aged woman. Please excuse my rudeness." He said pleadingly.

"No worries, Mr. Villafuerte. Don't worry, I will be a middle aged woman years from now." She replied and smiled to Ethan to lighten the mood.

As a psychologist, she is very attentive to the appearance, aura, mannerism, and how the client talks, and l, of course, the eyes.

Observing Ethan, she noticed that he lost weight and aged few years from the last time she saw him on the television announcing the engagement between him and his girlfriend. A few months passed, and this is the Ethan Villafuerte now, deep tired eyes, stubbles and beard has grown, long untrimmed hair.

But despite this changes, no doubt that this man is really good looking with his thin pointed nose and a well defined jaw that is more prominent now that he lost some weight. He definitely aged but still, he is the handsome Ethan Villafuerte.

"Well, like what I have said, I am Dr. Aleli Cruz and it's nice to meet you, Mr. Villafuerte. Can I call you, Ethan?" Aleli smiled warmly. It is very important to establish rapport during the first session.

"Okay." Ethan shrugged his shoulders.

"You are here in our counseling room. Don't you worry, whatever we discuss in here is fully confidential. I cannot disclose anything to anybody unless with your permission or if it may cause you eminent danger. Are you okay with that?" She explained the nature of counseling. Only a court order can force a psychologist to disclose information from the session. But in cases that the client disclosed that he is in danger whether by harming himself or by other people, only then the therapist may diaclose relative information to authorities to prevent harm from happening.

"I know. thanks." He responded.

" How are you feeling these days, Ethan? What brought you here?" In a very friendly and calm manner, Aleli asked. Ethan needs to feel relaxed and not in a forced interview setting.

"Well..." Ethan looked briefly into Aleli's direction then bow down his head uneasy, unable to form words from his mouth. There was a few minutes of silence.

"Have you been sleeping well?" After a while, Aleli asked another question.

" Honestly, As much as I wanted to sleep so I can forget and rest my mind, I couldn't. I just can't." silence, long silence. Aleli is anticipating for additional answer. Then he added,

" Well, maybe a little everytime I got drunk." then he sighed.

" Can you tell me what's bothering you so you cannot get a proper sleep?" she asked again leading to the most important part of the story why a certain Ethan Villafuerte is suffering right now.

"Don't you know, really? It's all over news!" Ethan's voice suddenly rise. But Aleli is anticipating it. It's a normal reaction. Actually, all reaction from a wounded and unwell person is valid. That is why they need therapy to process those emotions, grief, trauma, depression, etc. underlying such emotion.

"Are you not comfortable talking about it? How about tell me about who is Ethan Villafuerte, six months ago." Aleli changed her question and leaned a little to convey interest in their conversation.