His Precious Lies

08

Monday morning, when routine services resume. Smiling, Lara got out of the car.

“We just kissed?” she asked herself in a whisper.

She smiled like a child as she entered the hospital. Hugo didn't pick her up because he told her yesterday that he had a meeting on the upcoming project, Miss Universe, for which he is the photographer.

I couldn't help but feel the thrill. I still remember his lips on my lips.

Smiling, she caresses her lip as she walks into the hospital. She twisted the car key with her finger while there were still smiles on her lips. She lost her smile when she saw her fellow nurses struggling to take care of the patient. Furthermore, she's immediately rushing to help with them. Even though she couldn't put on a uniform, she doesn't care at all.

“This is an urgent patient. Get the MRI ready right away!” Doc Javy commands her, who is now pushing the stroller with the lying, bloody patient.

“Got it!” she answered quickly.

That night, the number of patients kept increasing. Patients in the ER come in and out. Sporadically, the patient survives, but often not.

I think this is life. Life is about turning down different roads. Whether you work for it or not, you must face the reality that is placed in front of you. All of us are destined to die. Death is our forever, whether we like it or not; that's the reality. She sighed loudly as the surroundings became quiet.

It's sad and painful to think that when a patient dies in our hospital, it is as if we have lost our loved ones. Everyone who is a doctor probably feels frustrated when a patient dies. And it's nature for us.

Eight o'clock in the evening. She is currently squeezing her nape while waiting for her replacement. She didn't even bother to eat dinner because Hugo would pick her up tonight for their dinner date. Furthermore, she smiled again when she remembered the two of them kissing. It was perfect, like him. His perfectly perfect. No words can explain how happy I am.

“Lara, Lara....”

She was waking up when someone called her name.

“s**t! What time is it? Where have you been?” she repeatedly asked her.

“It's already past eleven, girl! I told you I would be late; don't tell me you didn't read my text?” Jessie asked her as she now took off the jacket she was wearing and placed it on top of her chair.

“You're so late! You're supposed to be in at nine p.m.!” she scolded her friend.

“I'm sorry, okay? I had a good conversation with my d---.” Jessie couldn't continue what she was going to say because Lara ran out of the hospital to the parking lot.

“Where the hell is he?” she asked herself as she searched for where Hugo was.

She toured almost every corner of the parking lot. She was restless as she searched for Hugo's car. From her small shoulder bag, she immediately picked up the cellphone to call him.

“Come on!”

She walked to the end of the corner in the parking lot again; this was her only hope. She was stunned and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Hugo, standing outside his car, asleep, waiting for her. Furthermore, she hurries to come near him to catch his head. Reason for Hugo to be awake.

“I'm sorry, I've been waiting for you every ---” She didn't finish what she was going to say when he suddenly kissed her.

She bit her lips at what he did to her.

“I won't accept any explanations; I accept the date.” Then he left her and opened the door for her. She frowned as he got into the car as well.

“I told you, don't do that,” he rebuked her, then closed the car door.

“I'm genuinely sorry; I fell asleep waiting for Jessie,” she explains to him.

“I told you, I don't need your explanation, babe,” he says, smiling while driving out of the parking lot.

“Are you mad?”

“Nah! I'm too lazy for that!” was his enthusiastic response to her.

She stared at him intently, estimating whether he was telling the truth. She looked at him again, and she was so amazed at his gentle face. Be with his neat hair. It looks like he smells neat and nice.

“Stop staring; I'm not mad,” he smiles.

“All right,” she said while still looking at him, intently.

“You're cute,” he said to her, causing her to feel the thrill again.

I know this is not new to his flowery words, but when they come from him, it feels different. It gives me a lot of hope. It was as if every word that came out of his mouth was new to my ears. He is the man who can give me that feeling. Well, what else can I expect? He was the only one who became my boyfriend.

He took her to a romantic place. Not too many people. An intimate place, where Lara and Hugo were only there.

“You made a reservation?” she asked curiously.

“Yes, babe. I want a night with you,”

Babe...

Babe...

Babe...

It plays repeatedly in her mind. I wonder when I will be able to say that word to him again.

He leads her to a small table in a quiet restaurant. It's a late hour for dinner, and most of the tables are empty. He pulls out her chair. She sits. He sits across from her. The only light is from a few well-placed candles.

A waiter approaches and, without saying a word, pours them wine and leaves the bottle. No menus. He has ordered them in advance. There will be no interruptions from wait staff aside from the bringing and clearing of the courses.

He watches as she sips the wine. She notices. Blushes. A shy smile slips out. He loves watching her. A voyeur looking into a secret world, he smiles warmly back, as if to comfort her. It does. She begins to enjoy his gaze. Soak it in. Feeling his eyes move over her. From her eyes to her nose, cheeks, and lips. The curve of her neck. Slope of her shoulders. Her chest. The tiny bit of cleavage just peeking out from her dress. Again, she blushes. This time, so does he. Back to sipping wine.

They lock eyes across the table. Everything around them fades away. They are in a universe all their own. Lost in the depths of each other's eyes. She can feel his desire; he feels hers. But it is not lustful. Calm, gentle, and controlled. With a sense of longing to escape forever into the universe around them.

They barely notice the waiter as he places the first course between them. A simple plate of fruit and cheese, he watches her as she eats. Calmly bringing each morsel to her lips. He marvels at the pleasure she takes from each bite. Her face is amazingly expressive. Every bite was as if she were tasting it for the first time.

She gazes at him over her glass as she sips her wine. She knows he is watching her. Furthermore, she slips a grape between her lips. Smiles coyly as her teeth crush the skin, exploding the juices into her mouth. She reaches for a strawberry. He deliberately snatches it just as her fingertip touches the ripened fruit. He grins as he takes a large bite. She offers him the most convincing pout. He smiles affectionately and feeds her the rest. Her eyes smiled back at him.

They continue. Refilling their wine glasses and eating slowly. Just enough to keep the wine from going to their heads. They do not speak. Time stands still. Stopping just for them. An eternity to enjoy each other's company. He is watching her. She watches him too. Anyone could see the energy between them. It can be felt. Something surreal is happening at that table. To them, it is completely natural to exist at that moment in their universe.

“You look tired, but you don't look happy either,” he said to her.

“I'm tired because of work, but you're my home, though,” she said directly, which made him stare at her.

“Oh, what's that? Are you nervous? Am I sweet?” she asked him with a smile.

“Yes. You're the only one who made me fall in love with you. I should be the one who gives you those feelings because I'm the man.” his resentment towards her.

“There's no gender when it comes to thrills. To be fair, please thrill me as well. Hit me with your cheesy pickup lines!” she said, enthusiastically.

“I don't want to; you just love to laugh at me,” he said, frowning at her.

“Stop that frown!” she scolded Hugo.

“Why? Will you kiss me?” he asked, smiling.

“No,” she answered directly to him.

“Then why?”

“It doesn't suit you anyway. It made you look gay! You're a man! You're my man!” she said, and for a few seconds she paused. Because she realizes what she said.

She saw the tension in his chin because of what she said.

“Shut that! Mosquitoes might come in!” She rebuked him again.

Instead of answering, he laughed and just bowed.

The dinner plates arrive. They share each other's meals. He was rich and heavy. Hers is lighter, bolder. They eat slowly but heartily. Sipping wine throughout. Savoring the unique yet complimentary flavors, they eat in silence. Feasting off each other's forks until hardly anything is left, their meals are devoured. Their bellies were growing heavy. Their appetites were nearly satiated.

A single dessert to share. A single spoon. He gives her a small bite. Creamy and rich. She can't help but smile with pleasure at the sweetness. Her innocent pleasure makes its way across the tiny table, straight into his heart. How can she help but love him? He takes a large bite with the enthusiasm of a child. She laughs quietly at his playfulness.

Another bite for her was larger than the first. Some are left on her lips. He planned that, of course. She knows it. He reaches for her before she can raise her table napkin. But his reach is not for her lips. He puts his hand softly on her cheek and leans toward her. She leans toward him. He kisses her softly. Tasting the sweetness of the dessert mixed with the sweetness of hers.

Everything around them fades away. They are in their own universe. Locked in a kiss. Time stands still. The permanent one.