MY ART IS LOVING YOU

INVADING MY DREAMS

Lucia

He is an i***t, a cocky, irritable little rich boy. They are all the same. How dare he reprimand me over some stupid nonsense and then smile at the ogre. I should’ve punched that sexy, arrogant smile off his face. See if he ever smiles at another woman again.

“Fighting with yourself?" asks Santiago, “Who is at the opposite corner of the ring?”

“How do you know I am having an internal argument?”

“I don’t know, I just do. Care to explain to me why you were in such a foul mood at the meeting? Even the cavemen were on to your sarcasm.”

“So what else is new? They always hate my remarks.”

“Well yeah, but this time you did it in front of the golden goose, who you were quite impressed with,” he said, with a sly grin on his face.

“Stop talking nonsense, I am impressed with his ego and his ‘I am the rich almighty and you all have to follow my orders’ attitude, he is unbearable.”

“Sure, cause his eyes have nothing to do with your ‘I want to eat you a la mode’ expression on your face,” he teases.

“I did not have that expression on my face. Besides, I am not a big fan of ice cream, stop talking nonsense”, I nudged him with the side of my shoulder, and he laughed while we were walking home.

“We must admit, he made the Ogre smile. It is the first time I’ve seen her acting so friendly.”

“That’s true, if she hadn’t been trying so hard to make a good impression with the rich boy, I’d be transferring a patient as we speak. I will still be punished for that tomorrow, though.”

“No doubt about it, you will pay for that little scene you made, especially when you made the pretty-faced lady look like an abusive, lying boss who exploits her staff.”

“It wasn’t me; it was Letty. Besides, do you think they even get my sarcasm?” I ask sarcastically and we chuckle. “At least I get to rest now. Tomorrow I’ll have to pay the consequences of my bad temper and lack of sleep.”

I entered my building, bidding goodbye to Santi. The thought of the dreadful day awaiting me tomorrow, along with the Ogre and the charming yet irritable Gabriel, filled my mind.

“Hi honey, you are late,” I hear that voice that brightens my day. My sweet and fun mother.

“Difficult shift? Looks like you haven’t slept in days,” she asks, concerned.

“Hi mom, you know I haven’t,” I reply wearily. The scent of food wafting through the air makes me realize I haven’t eaten all day.

“From the look on your face I can tell you haven’t had anything to eat either,” she observed.

“No, it’s been an incredibly hectic day and tomorrow doesn’t seem any better,” I explain, while greeting her with a quick peck in the cheek before collapsing into the couch.

“I can only imagine,” she sympathizes. It’s quite late now, get off that couch, before you cover it in bacteria. Go take a shower, come, and eat, then head straight to bed. You know you shouldn’t exceed yourself. “

I do as she says before she starts with her ‘watch your health’ speech.

“I’m up, the couch is bacteria-free, it won’t get an infection.”

“Very funny.”

I go into my room, and I just want to fall on my bed, but I decide to take a shower.

Before stepping in the shower, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I look worse than Sayona, the curse of La Llorona and a zombie combined.

“Oh god,” I mutter. “No wonder this man kept staring at me, he was convinced I was out to get his soul or something.” I look like a ghost or worse. This is horrible! Why did I have to meet him looking like this? He probably thinks I am a crazy, messy, and rude person. Ughh, but who cares what he thinks of me? You will never see him again, right? “Seriously, stop this nonsense. Stop thinking about him.”, I scolded myself while staring at my reflection. Besides, I highly doubt he would want to return to the hospital. He was probably afraid of being harmed, robbed or God knows what. No wonder he had so many bodyguards. Stupid arrogant rich boy.

I try to forget the last couple of hours and focus on other matters. I caught up with my mother, sharing details of our lives during the forty-eight hours we hadn’t seen each other. She ensured I took my medication and checked if I was feeling well.

“You take better care of me than yourself. Honey, you can’t skip your meals, or you will not be able to help your patients,” she reminds me with concern.

“You are right mom; I will never skip a meal again.”

“Yeah right, you always say the same thing and nothing. You are just like your late father. He said one thing and did another.”

My father passed away when I was just a little girl. He suffered a cardiac arrest at work one day. My mother always believed that if she had pushed him harder to listen to the doctor and not stress so much about work, he might still be here with us today.

“Hey mom, guess what?” I say, trying to change the subject.

“I hate guessing games, honey, and we don’t have much time. You need to sleep, so just tell me,” she replies.

“I met an irritable little rich boy today. He came by the hospital with an army of men in black, who were three meters tall only to protect his integrity. He came with an ‘I’m the king of the world and this hospital’ attitude. He looked down on us and had the audacity of getting me in trouble. And then, he had the nerve to call me rude just because I didn’t look at him when I said goodbye. Can you believe the nerve of this man?” I vented.

“Who is he? Is he young or old? Is he handsome?” My mom inquires, always interested in the juicy details.

“Mom! After everything I just told you, all you can ask is if he is handsome?” I exclaim, slightly exasperated. My mother, she will never change.

“I don’t know, I was just asking. A lot of rich men are handsome, especially those who believe they are the kings of the world,” she defends herself.

“He was young and average-looking, just like any other guy,” I reply, trying to downplay his appearance.

“You think they’re all average looking. We might need to change your glasses prescription. Maybe you’ll be able to see better then,” she teases.

“Yeah, that would be quite a big investment since there are plenty of glasses to change, and we can’t afford it. It is not my fault all men are so.... ordinary.”

“Honey, the man of your dreams doesn’t exist. Stop being so picky and enjoy life,” my mother advises.

“I already enjoy life to the fullest already. I don’t need a man to ruin it. All they do is make you fall in love with them and then they start with the demands, the jealousy, and once they get what they want, they betray you, leaving you just another notch on their belt,”

I express, my frustration evident.

“That is true, all men seek is that little bean of pleasure, the forbidden fruit, the holy water and then they discard you,“ my mother adds, her voice filled with cynicism.

“Oh my God, Mom! Where do you come up with these crazy ideas?” I ask, amused, and bewildered.

“It is not craziness, my dear. You are just so naive and inexperienced, I bet you fall for the first i***t who sweet-talks you.”

“Didn’t you just say I am too picky with men?” I inquire.

“Yes, and the ones you dream of are the worst kind because you like extremely handsome, smart, clever gentlemen, which are an endangered species, if not extinct already. And if there is one out there, he must be a womanizer,” she concluded, standing from the table, placing her hands over my head.” You are right, you are better off without a boyfriend. Now go to sleep.

She planted a kiss goodnight and returned to her soap opera. My mother may be the craziest, most spontaneous, and incoherent person I know, but I can’t imagine my life without her.

As I enter my room and my head touches my pillow, exhaustion takes over me. I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. All I can picture are those piercing blue eyes, like the deep blue sea.

“Mmm, you smell so good, and you taste so delicious. And your skin is so soft, but I must punish you for being so insolent before.”

“I am not insolent; I only say what I think. Besides, you are a cocky arrogant man, how dare you flirt so shamelessly with that ogre?”

“Jealous Doctor? “His big bright smile makes me bite my bottom lip with desire. ”Don’t worry, it is you that I like, let me prove it to you.”

He takes me in his big strong arms and his lips are so provocative. I don’t know what he is doing right now but my body vibrates with his touch, his kisses on my neck and it feels so good.

“You like that? This little rich boy who wants you badly.”

“Ahh! I feel his hands caress me all over while I’m intoxicated with his scent. “

His smile makes me burn with desire for a kiss, to taste those provocative lips, while his hands explore my body until they settle between my legs. I feel tickles all over, wanting more of what he is doing. I am lost in those piercing blue eyes.

“Oh God,” I have an odd sensation in my body.”

“I knew you liked me; you were only rude to captivate me.”

“That is not true. I only... oh God”, I feel his fingers move faster, but something is missing, something is not right here.

“Lucia, I can have you anytime I please.”

My lips come close to his, but he pulls back, teasing me while he is having fun with his fingers pleasuring me. My body is asking for more, I want to touch him, feel him, kiss him but he won’t allow me. He is just mocking my need to have him.

“You desire me, rude girl. I can see it, I can feel it,” he whispers in my ear.

His manly voice embraces me, I am trapped in his blue eyes, his scent makes me crazy, his hair provokes me, his body attracts me, and his fingers turn me on. I want and I need that man.

“More, I want more,” I confess.

He gives me a sly grin and when he is about to kiss me, a strange sensation takes over my body and suddenly....

“Oh Goooood!!!” I cry out.

As I wake up, everything is spinning. My mind is still foggy from that dream that shook me to the core. I find myself in my room, my hand between my legs, my body trembling with desire. I am hot and sweaty, and breathless. This has never happened to me before.

I can’t believe it; this man is haunting my dreams, and he is even making me touch myself. I am going to hell because of this cocky bastard.

He is an i***t, and I am an even bigger one dreaming about him and his beautiful eyes when he is probably with some brainless supermodel rich girl. I try to shake these thoughts away, and head to the bathroom to freshen up. As I gulp down a glass of water, I contemplate how complicated and monotonous my life is. I glance at the clock and realize I slept for six hours. At least that’s something. I check on my mother, ensure she is still breathing, and retreat back to my room, determined not to let that rich boy occupy my mind any longer.

The next day, at the hospital, I’m met with my first punishment. I spent the entire morning buried in charts at the ER and wasn't supposed to get help from any of my friends, which didn’t happen because Daina and Hannah came to my rescue. Just when I finished the charts, I was given the task of transferring two patients to a different hospital. The whole process took about four hours, including my lunch break. And to top it all off, the Ogre forced me to stay in her area until 9 p.m.

Everyone was shocked, since they are all aware of the dangers lurking outside in the neighborhood at night, filled with drug dealers and homeless people. I had to walk more than one block to get to the nearest subway station, which is why Santiago decided to stay with me. However, Ricardo, my Chief Resident, managed to pull some strings and let me out a little earlier, so we ended up leaving at 7:30 p.m.

“I hope that rich boy gets a taste of karma, like a bad case of food poisoning or something,” says Santiago. “Look at what he did.”

“It is not entirely his fault. I must admit my behavior was way out of line as well. I should have kept my thoughts to myself.” I respond, reflecting on my own actions.

“You may have spoken what everybody thinks, but the fact that you accepted your punishments today shows that you had a goodnight sleep. At least you are in a better mood today,” Santiago observes.

“I did manage to get some sleep,” I assure him, even though those piercing blue eyes still haunt me from time to time. “Let’s pick up the pace. The train will be here in 15 minutes, and we don’t want to encounter anyone shady on the way.”

“I got your back”, Santiago assures me.

“Hey you guys!” We hear Ricardo’s voice calling out to me. “Hop in. I’ll drop you off at the station.”

“You can’t leave your post, Ricardo. You are on duty,” I remind him.

“I offered to buy dinner for the guards, and it’s quiet in there today. I can spare a few minutes to drop you off. No problem,” Ricardo explains.

“Thanks bro,” Santiago expresses his gratitude. “I was already practicing my Saya Yin moves just in case.” We all laugh.

The day didn’t turn out to be as bad as yesterday, it was actually worse. Exhaustion weighs heavily on me, and I struggle to contain my anger. Now I have a pounding headache and I am starving.

“Thanks for the ride, Ricardo,” I express my gratitude.

“I would have taken you all the way home if I could, but I can’t be away for too long,” Ricardo responds.

“Don’t worry bro, you did more than enough by bringing us here. you didn’t have to bother,” Santiago assures him.

“It doesn’t bother me. You guys are my friends. Plus, I could use a break from listening to the nurses and the entire female staff talk about the men from the bank,” Ricardo chuckles.

The topic of the day seems to revolve around him. Everyone can’t stop talking about how attractive he is, his bodyguards and then how attractive he is again. It’s frustrating. I am desperately trying to get him out of my head but everywhere I go, I hear his name. It’s like a never-ending curse.

“Lucia, you are the only person who hasn’t said anything about that man who visited the hospital yesterday, even though he is the reason you are here at this hour.”, Ricardo remarks.

“There is nothing more to say. I’ve already said everything I needed to say yesterday. I don’t like him, he is a cocky rich boy who we’ll never see again,” I reply, trying to dismiss the topic.

“I’ll see you on Friday,” Ricardo bids farewell.

We step out of the car and make our way to the subway. Thankfully, we don’t have to wait long.

“My godmother must be worried you are not home yet.”, says Santiago.

“No, actually she will be surprised I am getting home now, I told her I’d be leaving the hospital at 9 pm,” I explain.

“She must be a nervous wreck right now,” Santiago remarks with concern.

“Go home before it gets too late”, I tell Santiago.

“All right, take care and get some rest,” Santiago says before heading off.

I certainly hope so. I can’t handle another night dreaming about this man. It is a punishment, worse than dealing with the Ogre and her cavemen.