DIP: Tainted Blood [stop - TO BE EDIT]

Chapter 4

Marian Ibarra was indeed a beauty that Vanessa couldn’t compare into anything since she never saw such a goddess-like beauty before her life - except this very moment of encounter. Marian has her crimson red wavy hair that was tied in a high ponytail. Her eyes were like Asians’ but the color was definitely like the moon from being grey. She has a fair nose, visible jawline and those pinkish red lips were really inviting like it was seducing anyone whoever stared at it. Those lips also stand out from her pale-white skin features but what more caught Vanessa’s attention was Marian’s very well-maintained body figure like she’s been working out. Marian might be wearing her doctor’s coat but to Vanessa’s, she could see them thoroughly which she didn’t understand how her mind even thought about it in that way.

“...as they took you into the ER, we immediately tended to you to stop the bleeding on your abdomen from the car crash you’ve come from. When we were performing the surgery, we also noticed that some of your rib cages were being damaged which led to some internal bleeding as well. We had to stop it before proceeding on stitching you back up. Honestly Miss Santos, we almost lost you when your heart began to shut down on us. I - we had to bring you back and it’s good to have you back and fully awake from that coma.” Marian kept explaining to Vanessa which some of it she didn’t hear since she was staring at her but more on checking her out.

“How come I fall into a coma?” Vanessa managed to ask her doctor who was standing next to her bed.

“Your brain suddenly became lacking air because of the concussion and your breathing as well was very low. We decided to put tubes on you to help you breath and let you get stable before transferring you here.” Marian answered while her eyes looked all over her patient’s well-being. She was like examining her.

“Okay...do I need to take some medicine?” She asked as she relaxed her back on the inclined bed.

“Yes, it's just a pain reliever for the concussion. You would feel them from time to time.” Marian replied to her patient.

“Ah, that’s why when I woke up and tried to remember something, my head began to ache.” She nodded in understanding why she suddenly felt a headache when she woke up.

“Yes and I told the nurse that was watching you to give you one dosage if it's just mild but two if it's unbearable anymore.” Marian smiled at her before checking at her dextrose.

“So, I will be taking them till when?” She asked as she watched her doctor to what she was doing.

“Well, it depends on how your body finally recovers from that concussion and we will undergo some check ups for your wounds and for your head. Just for the precaution then we’ll see if the results let you discharge from the hospital’s bed.” Marian answered before meeting her patient’s while smiling.

“Oh gosh, I want my bed’s comfort.” She almost sounded like she was whining like a kid which didn’t escape from her doctor next to her bed.

“Soon, Miss Santos.” Marian chuckled to her patient’s childish behavior.

“Just call me Vanessa. It feels like I know you from somewhere but I couldn’t remember well.” She honestly told her doctor who looked seriously at her like she was checking if her patient really hit her head that hard from that incident.

“Oh I see, it's the after effect of your concussion but then if your mind decides for you to remember you have to decide whether to be reminded about it or let it remind you unrecalled.” Marian said blankly which made Vanessa jolted uneasily but immediately covered them with curiosity.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“Some memories can be brought back but sometimes, mostly due to trauma, the brain didn’t let any memories resurface again. It was like the brain formed a defense mechanism so the person won’t be dealing in such painful experience again or it's better to be forgotten since the life of a person keeps evolving if it chooses too.” Marian explained though her tone was having a mixed tone of sorrow from hearing that.

“That’s being unfair for those who knew the person…” She sighs defeated for those who encounter the same situation she’s having right now.

“It does, but it’s the person’s brain that kept its body safe. But at the same time, it allows the person to reset or rewrite something that happened badly to the person.” Marian agreed at the same time explained to her what she could do if her patient chooses to forget things from the past.

“Like making new memories?” She guessed as she played with her hands on her lap since she was thinking about her promotion.

“Exactly. Make new memories from old faces that you recall or keep them forgotten and put them just in arms’ length. It’s always the person’s choice but make sure to make a choice that makes you happy and comfortable with.” Marian answered with a half smile that Vanessa’s heart reacted to.

“I see. Thank you. When do I start the check-ups?” She asked as she ignored the ache inside her chest when she saw that smile from her doctor.

“Excited to get out of the hospital’s grip? Well, if you’re already ready, take them at 10, then I will make some arrangements for you.” Marian chuckled on Vanessa’s bored tone.

“I am.” She answered immediately which made Marian smile genuinely.

Seeing that from her doctor, Vanessa didn’t understand well why she suddenly felt her stomach just flipped and her heart began to squeeze. She couldn't breathe like what she used to. It was like there was something was about to get out from her chest and it was burning. She suddenly felt the heat crawling under her skin which made her pant a little and she didn’t let it show to her doctor.

“Alright. I’ll make the arrangements and let your nurse take you to each facility you have to go through.” Marian said while smiling at her patient.

“I’ll be waiting then.” She answered as she tried to get hold of her panting but failing at the end of her tone. She wished that Marian didn’t hear it.

“Great. I’ll see you again after, I’ve got the results so I could explain them to you and we might talk as well about your discharge if the results were totally clear.” Marian explained which made Vanessa nod while smiling.

“Then I’ll pray for it to be clear.” She said which made Marian chuckle.

Vanessa’s heart seriously, reacting to Marian’s smile or laugh which she doesn’t get much since she knew that this was their first meeting but her heart was telling her the other way around. It was confusing her which led to some headache.

“Alright. See you around, Miss S - I mean, Vanessa.” Marian said which cut her from her thoughts and just nodded as her sign replied. She doesn't trust her mouth right now since she was having an internal battle that she doesn’t want her doctor to notice.

Marian nodded and about to head out to the door when Vanessa’s heart rate began to rise up and her breathing started to shorten which also made her head begin to ache intensely. Vanessa almost whimpered as watched Marian, her doctor open the door in a slow pace and she didn’t like her to leave her alone. Her heart wanted to break free which made her screamed softly and she closed her eyes since it was too painful. She was crying from it then she heard a sudden close of her door which she thought her doctor already left the room but no.

“Look at me, Vanessa. Open your eyes, please. Look at me.” Marian pleaded which made her heart break as she didn’t want to hear it from her.

Slowly, even her head and her heart was breaking, she still managed to open her eyes for her doctor. Vanessa’s tired eyes still managed to see the care and longing from her doctor’s eyes which did not help her heart rate. It was indeed beating intensely as her body felt hot which was really crawling under her skin up to her left eyes. It felt like it was burning which made Vanessa whimpered even more.

“I am here.” Marian told her in a hush tone which almost sounded like a whisper to Vanessa’s ear.

“Don’t look...my eye…” She said as she turned her head away from her doctor.

“I know...it’s bloodshot.” Marian said as she cupped her left cheek with her right hand before pulling it to face her.

“Y-you’re n-not a-afraid?” She asked weakly as her tears began to flow down her right cheek.

“Why would I? Just calm yourself down. Breath in and breathe out slowly. Try to relax. I’m not gonna leave you. Just calm yourself. Breath.” Marian smiled calmly at her while Vanessa’s right hand was being put to her doctor’s chest. There’s a faint but hard heartbeat which made Vanessa calm down.

“How did you do that?” She asked cautiously like she knew something but she needed more evidence if her guess was right.

“You’re panicking.” Marian said while looking carefully at her. Vanessa knew that her left eye was still in that color since she still could feel the heat radiating around it.

“But my left eye...it's not ordinary. I saw it last night… and I felt like there was something in me that was changing. I don’t completely understand or even remember how I survived the crash...but I know there was a shadow that always kept me watched and safe. It's not life threatening but more care and longing...like what your eyes had when I suddenly was in pain. Tell me, are you the one who's been shadowing me? Well, I don’t mind if it's you...I just felt like I have to know...but whatever...” She said what was her mind thinking to what her doctor just did since no doctor would do exactly what she did to me.

“...but thank you for caring…” She continued as she studied her doctor’s blank face though her hands were still on hers.

“You’re indeed a detective. You have sharp eyes and senses.” Marian said while looking at Vanessa’s hand entwined with hers.

“I love my job.” She only said but her eyes were glued on Marian.

“So am I…” Marian agreed before their eyes met.

“So tell me the truth…” She started but Marian just smiled at her and kissed her forehead before letting her hands go.

“Soon. gather more intel and I might tell you or better, show you my world.” Marian said while smiling then went back to the door and left her alone in her thoughts.

Vanessa was a little taken back when she heard Marian mentioned the word “my world” which sounded familiar to her.

‘One day, I’ll show you my world.’

“Arian…” She whispered to herself as she recalled some of her flashing memories when she woke up from her long sleep.