Kiss Me, Heal Me

Chapter 2

Reeva didn’t want to get out of her car. She was being eaten by her embarrassment. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. She needed to be professional.

Professional, huh? Why didn’t you think of that before you caused a ruckus? She wanted to scream. She wanted to shout at herself for being volatile.

She breathed deeply, trying to calm her nerves.

She flipped the sun visor of the car and looked at herself in the mirror that came with it. Reaching for her bag, she fished out her lip tint and started to put color on her lips. Dammit, she looked like a cadaver. She even pinched her cheek to make it look rosy.

She was hoping that she wouldn’t leave a negative impression on Dr. Pierce—the young one.

Once she was satisfied with her looks, she closed her bag and got out of the car. Her heart was beating so loudly when she started to walk toward the hospital. From there, she could see the right wing where the urgent care facility was located. It was huge. She almost drops her jaw at its size. Just how many patients can this hospital cater to in one day?

The structure was letter-U. The right and left wings were connected by a grand footbridge. At the center of the structure lies a park where she can see some of the patients and visitors.

She was headed to the left wing. It was where the non-critical or medical offices were found.

“Good morning,” Reeva greeted the receptionist. She was also greeted by a bright and welcoming smile. It felt like she was checking into a hotel. The place looks more like a hotel than a hospital, from the walls to the ceilings. A painting of an old man was on the wall. It wasn’t Doctor Larren. She creased her browse.

“It’s late Dr. Lewis Pierce, the founder,” the receptionist supplied. She didn’t know that. She made a mental note of the name for it might be questioned in the interview. “Is Doc Larren in?”

She saw the woman checking her iPad. “Doctor Clarke?” she asked her, confirming her identity. She nodded and smiled. “Yes, doc. He’s already expecting you. Just go to floor B, then turn right. You’ll see his office at the end of the hallway.”

“All right, thank you…?”

The receptionist seemed to be dumbfounded. “M-My name, doc?” she asked, sounding unsure. “It’s Joni.”

She smiled again. “Thank you, Joni.”

Joni smiled back softly, clearly appreciating that she asked for her name. She didn’t know if it was just her, but she wanted to address people by their names.

“You’re very much welcome, Doc Clarke.”

Reeva pressed the open button upon stepping in front of the elevator. She waited until it reached the ground floor, where she was. She stepped inside when it finally arrived. She fished out her phone to google Lewis Pierce but there was no signal, making her frown.

She patiently watched the digital screen as it changed from one to ten, floor A, then finally floor B.

Taking a deep breath, she quickly took a look at the entire floor B. The hallway was just regal. The lighting fixtures were also extravagant. She was now convinced. This is not a hospital. This is a five-star hotel. It was far from the ones where she was assigned before.

What makes the floor hospital-ish was the old medical pieces of equipment displayed on the wall. It was caged by glass; some had a year when it was used. It was making her feel like she was in a medical museum.

At the end of the lobby was the big frosted glass door where the hospital logo was printed. At the top of the door frame was a golden plate, with Larren Pierce embossed on it. She knocked. It didn’t make any sound because it was glass, so she softly pushed and took a peek.

A part of her was expecting Luxien but there was Doc Larren, already smiling at her.

“Come in,” Doc Larren Pierce said as he motioned to the chair in front of him. His face didn’t change. It was still the same as what she could remember.

Reeva smiled awkwardly as she strode inside. “Director…” she acknowledged him.

He, again, motioned to the chair in front. “Have a seat, Doctor Clarke. Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

She gulped. Her confidence is all gone. She practiced for this. She knew how to introduce herself, of course. She even studied some crucial cases just in case he’d ask something situational. “I… I’m Reeva—”

The old man raised his hand to stop her. Oh, no… did she mess up the interview already? “Reeva? I thought—”

“It’s Reena Valerie, sir—I mean, doc…” She gulped again. Dammit. “Director…” she added softly, which made the old man laugh. Why is she even stuttering?

“Are you nervous?” Dr. Pierce asked, waving his hand dismissively. “Don’t be. This is just a chitchat. I stopped you because your name, Reeva, rings a bell.”

Suddenly, she felt hope. Does he remember her? The doctor does, doesn’t he?

“Way back in 1996—”

“On the airplane, sir. I mean—director,” she replied. “Yes, it was me!” she confirmed, not letting him finish his words.

The old man laughed again. “I didn’t forget your name because it was unique. I thought you were saying river… and you got mad at me for not saying it correctly.”

She bit her lower lip. She remembers that. “I’m sorry about that… I was just a child back then.”

“A child who wanted to be a flight attendant to save lives,” he remarked, chuckling. He took a deep breath. “So… you really did become a doctor. How’s your dad?”

Reeva shook her head. “Three years ago, he suffered from his second stroke and kidney failure. We’ve been waiting for a donor, but…” A tear escaped her eyes. They’ve been in line waiting for a kidney, but her dad’s time isn’t that long. Her dad fought so hard but, in the end, he got nothing.

Dr. Larren nodded in understanding. “Is that why you wanted to be a surgeon?”

“Partly,” she admitted.

“So, when do you want to start?” he asked. “Your future patients are waiting for you.”

“Y-You mean…”

“Yes, of course. Your credentials scream competence, child.”

She jumped out with glee. She went to hug Dr. Larren. “Thank you, thank you—” She stopped midway and slowly distanced herself from him. She gulped and smiled awkwardly. She got carried away by her happiness. She forgot that the doctor had just seen her again after so many years, and maybe he wasn’t a hugger.

But just before she distances herself completely, Dr. Larren gently tapped her shoulder and gave her a brief hug. “It’s nothing, you were meant to serve people.” He was giving her a sense of comfort and warm support that she didn’t feel for years. Dang, it made her miss her father just more.

“Excuse me—oh,” a voice rang inside the office. Her eyes darted to the door as she distanced herself from Dr. Larren even more. It was the younger Pierce—Dr. Luxien. “Okay, I… I’ll just ask Marcus about—”

The old man waved his hand dismissively. “Send it to me,” the old man said. “By the way, this is Reeva. She’s gonna be our new resident.”

Luxien looks good in his polo earlier. But he looked better in his dark blue-colored scrubs. She blinked when he arched his eyebrows at her. What did she do? Is it about earlier? He pulled his mask down to his chin and smirked. She didn’t know if it was just her or if he really smirked. Or it was only intended for her to see because it was brief. She almost didn’t catch it. But because she ogled at him, she saw it. God, the guy was unbelievably handsome—from his messy ash hair to his fine-looking jaw—any woman would desire him. She couldn’t deny that, despite the fact that he was arrogant.

He strode forward and extended his hand. “Luxien Pierce—chief of surgery.” He made it sound so sexy and regal. He was like a king announcing his name and title. His mouth twitched slightly. Darn it. If he was doing this to intimidate the s**t out of her, he was very well succeeding.

Reeva was more nervous now than with the interview earlier. She reached for Luxien’s hand and shook it. It was a firm grip, and it was as if his hand was meant to hold hers. They fit.

She bit her lower lip. He’s going to be her attending. Her boss, her professor.