A Rare Kiss Volume 1

Philippines, January 11, 2018 Nadia King stood behind on her patient, hanging with stethoscope on her shoulder and holding the patient’s daily record. She stared at the patient, sleeping on the narrow bed fronting on the window. Biting her nails as her gestures when she has nothing to do. This gestures, is in born, she usually do it during on her childhood time and up until now. Many who advise her to stop it because she look childish on it but she never listen even on her friends Kylie, Erica and Luke. But Luke is the genuine friend of her because he is always with Nadia even they are from afar. Luke still find ways to meet each other. Nadia remember on her childhood time. Her father was assassinated inside the hospital during nighttime and was not able to go home and miss his family. Some reasons, because of unsuccessful operation by the one patient who is in critical condition and her father was not able to perform a surgery. And others said that her father is not a good doctor that’s why it was assassinated by the anonymous suspect. Time on her birthday, the death of her father. It doesn’t give at least a moment to kiss and hug her. A nightmare for her. And it will never repeat again. All their good memories turns into lies. And that made her grandmother died because of a cardiac arrest. Nadia, was told by her father before it died. Nadia should be a good doctor. “Papa, you don’t need to leave us!” Nadia sobbing on her papa’s waist while hugging it. This was the time when her papa’s need to go in the hospital. “You’ll be find Nadia. Promise me, you will take care of your mother.” He kiss on Nadia’s forehead and hugged for his wife. Eight years past, when she turned twenty-five years old, they still never know who killed on her father. But Nadia, strive hard to find an answer on it. Until, she became a doctor and fulfill the dream of her father. A painful feelings like she was shoot by gun that time. That’s a moment that she can’t forget, and want to have some revenge. But, how she can do it? If she don’t really know who’s the suspect? But she never let it pass away, she always find ways to know the suspect. She had a sleepless night. Double-time. She had to work as a doctor. In fact, she’s afraid to have some failure as doctor. Maybe, as what happened to her father might happen to her as well. Her protection is enough, but just a self-defense on her. “Nadia, you need to hide.” Kylie shouted to her. It was eight years ago. When they are running, and Luke trying to catch them. They run around the village, and hide on the high-thick wall, near at the abandoned house which no one’s live. A childhood’s days, and was not able to recognize themselves, still childish, wearing a blemish look, and excrement faces, sucking lollipop. “Get out from there! I don’t want to play now.” Luke shouted who’s behind on the wall were they’re hiding. A sticky moist on Nadia’s nose came out. Yuck. Disgusting to imagine, but as a child, it’s normal. Kylie, laughed at her and she punch it out. And it made, Luke found them. He laughed at them, who are grabbing themselves on the garbage with an unexplainable outlook. He laughed while pointing at them. Luke can’t get over on what he saw between the two. Nadia get irritated and can’t stop herself to attack Luke and punched it. Remember, a child is not too strong to fight back. They’re fighting while having fun on it. When they went home, a sad news who surprised them. Her father’s died. They having fun each other, a while ago but in the end they will suffered. Happiness turn to saddest feelings. Nadia, cried and continue on sobbing on her mother’s dress while her mother hugging her father’s picture on the frame. “What happen, mama?” she wiped her mother’s tears on its face. Since, she’s still a child, she doesn’t know everything and still innocent. Someone’s disturb her outside. Kylie, her friend and her assistant nurse who approach him. She was disturb, imagining her memories from the past. And it made the patient woke up. Since, Kylie is beside on her. She punch it, due of disturbing. Kylie, turn angles on her face, like she get hurt on Nadia’s punch. She caress on it. With a crying face but she never cried. “You made her wake up.” Since her patient is a girl, a ten years old. Who has a cancer, stage four. Since, Nadia was known by many that she is a good doctor like on her father. She was recommended by the luxury family to take care their child as their child’s doctor, and two weeks remain she will going perform a surgery on it. And she need to prepare on it. And hoping it will be successful. Nadia, almost save a hundreds of life who’s involve from different illnesses. “Please, help my daughter. I’m going to pay how much you want.” A woman cried, kneeling in front of her and begging her to save her daughter’s life. And people around them are watching as what the woman’s doing. Nadia, feels her conscience. Though, the woman aggravating her so much but she still agreed on it. So, she agree to have a surgery on her daughter, who has a cancer on the liver. The operation, takes four hours. And everyone’s worried and especially the families of the child. Some are crying, and praying inside the confession’s room. Fortunately, it was successful. When Nadia, went out from the Operating Room, her co-nurse, doctor and people outside are applauding as a greetings for the successful operation and doing great. “Thank you so much! You really keep my daughter alive.” A woman’s hugging and sobbing on her doctor’s suit. “Your welcome!” a simple reply from her, and she went into her office without emotions. She never mind all of it, and everyone’s are upset as what she did. There, she take a rest. And fall asleep. She help her patient to sleep back. She covered it with a thin color white blanket. And arrange all the medicine on the table. And turning off the light before they were leaving. Its seven o’clock in the evening and Nadia can’t went home because she need to research and study about her patient’s record. Isn’t she can handle it? Nadia, was alone on her room. She need to have an overnight and she should not be afraid since Kylie is with her always. She wear off his duster and hang it back on the chair. Folding her stethoscope and put in her drawer. Her room, is out of mess and she wasn’t able to clean it because of being busy. And she will find time to clean. The surrounding is really quiet, she never heard some noise around, only footsteps but not quite outside. She opened the thin white curtain on the window. Her shadow reflected on the wall when she was lighted by the moon. A perfect shape of moon, this night. She caress her skin, when she feel cold. She’s wearing a thin pajama’s, and curling her hairs and tied it up. She take a thorough breath. Especially she was expose whole day working on her patient. She is a kind of woman, whatever burdened of her works. She still look fresh and gorgeous. That is why someone’s falling in love with her. But she just ignore it. She don’t have time for it. And important for her it to follow and work her task. There will be right time for it. Should everyone’s wait? After, she feel exhausted and sleepy and was not able to function her body properly. She feel, crackling on her bones, and around on her neck. She feel the pain on her back, and stretching it out to relax. She’s like a skeleton while crackling her own bones. When she tried to sleep, her phone ringing, and that’s Luke who’s calling. She think, either to answer it or not. But she don’t have any choice but to answer it since Luke is his friend. “You kinda— As their calling sign. Luke, is an irritated guy that Nadia’s ever meet. He’s always shouted, even their facing. But Luke’s is fun rather than Kylie. She always laughed to it, even a non-sense jokes. And only Luke’s can help her to relieve her stress and pain. “What? I’m busy and I want to sleep.” She pretend. She yawned deeply. “I heard you save another life. Is that true?” an interesting voice from the other lines. Luke is a doctor as well, but he’s working on the private hospital from afar. So often time they meet each other. But Luke, is kind of guy who us sweet to his friends. When they meet, Luke treated them. He buy everything what Kylie and Nadia’s want. Money is not a big deal for him, since he will find it if he will work hard. He is handsome, he has a girlfriend but now they are complicated. He give space for their relations because he want to focus on his work and on his friends. They are almost three years of their relationship, but to compare to his relationship of his friends, it almost ten years. Love can keep us alive, but friends is more than. He said, when he was drunk in the bar. He drunk because he is brokenhearted. He drunk because he is fool. And all of the reason is on him. So, he doesn’t know what to do but to drunk himself. “Yeah! As usual!” Nadia’s said. Laying on her narrow small bed, raising her knee and crossing it. Together with a deep yawn. “You’re going to sleep. But give me time to talk to you. Since, I can’t go there tomorrow. I’m busy as well.” He said, and coughing too hard. Almost to forgot, Luke has an illness he always bring since he was ten years old. He has a cancer on his heart but not complicated. He hide it because he don’t want that everyone will know and suffered. Even on his friend, he keep it as a secret. Though, he is doctor and free to cure himself but he just let it. Even though, he give attention on himself. But still it goes complicated. But he maintain to his medicine, as the same time. He try find ways to tell it into his friends, before it’s too late. “Are you alright? What happened to you?” Nadia curiously asked. “I’m okay….you don’t have to worry!” Luke replied with a simple voice. “Are you sure? Or else we need to cure it. Just tell me.” Nadia offered. Her face look worried. Yes, Nadia as well is sweet. She always mind her friends, and take care of it. “I’m okay, I’m pretty sure!” “You should check it up! I’m going there in your house tomorrow. Make sure, you’re available.” A tune of voice of Nadia, which shows that she is concern with her friend. Everything will be alright except Nadia, if she didn’t check Luke either okay or not. She’s worried so much about his condition. As a doctor, Nadia predict everything on how that person have especially if that person has an illness or what? She put her phone on her table and stared at the perfect shape of moon. There, she can imagine on how she and her friends having fun under the moon. But it will not happen anymore, since they are not child, but as an adult now. “Luke, see that moon!” Nadia said, while pointing on the moon. They have their camp, among of them ten years ago. While laying on the ground, they watch the moon on how it rotate and covered by the clouds and gazing some shooting stars. But still, they didn’t gaze some star. And Nadia’s nodded. She wake up by her alarm clock. Quickly change her clothes, wearing her doctor’s suit. She didn’t even take a shower because she will be going late if she will do it. She keep on running, ignoring someone’s who are watching her. She just want to get into her patient. While Kylie, following her bringing the patient’s daily record because Nadia forget it on her room. There, she checked the patient pulse, and temperature. She get the patient’s record from Kylie, and she commanded her to get some dextrose. No, nothing’s happen with the patient. She just checked it if the patient will be fine and then she need to change the dextrose since it goes empty. “You have to take your breakfast. I’m going to asked Kylie to be with you this time.” Nadia said, while writing on the patient’s record. She write the patient’s Blood pressure, temperature, and pulse rate. And then Kylie is coming bringing some breakfast of the patient. “Where are you going?” weakly said by her patient. Nadia, hold her hands and caress her hairs. “I’ll be back after, it will not takes time.” She said, and kiss on the patient forehead. She wear off her doctor’s suit and giving it to Kylie. She tied her hair. And checked herself on the mirror if she looks fine. “Kylie, you need to take care of her. I’ll be back after!” she said, and going on her patient’s room. There, she directly went to the elevator. Get her car from the parking lot. And start driving. While driving, she keeps on calling Luke but he doesn’t answer it. It almost twenty missed calls, and Nadia get irritated, she doesn’t call it anymore. Going to Luke’s house will take a long time of travel maybe one hour and thirty minutes or above on that. She forgot to eat her breakfast, and she heard some burbling on her stomach. She stopped with the restaurants, and buy some take over foods and eat it while driving. She just order a Hawaiian Chili Burger with cheese toppings, and a cappuccino. Because, she don’t have time to eat in the restaurant, since she had her many works and she don’t want to waste her time. Nadia, wear her favorite suit from her father. With a black skinny tattered jeans, and a heavenly shirt color white while showing her navel and three inches heels. Not a big deal since she has a perfect body and color. Her eyes is color brown and pinkish lips and a red blush on and a blonde curly hair. That’s why she need to tied it up because it goes messy when exposing too much in a wind. Nadia, is fashionate enough, and everyone’s staring at her so badly, maybe they are jealous. She take a shortcut on the way that is not usually passing by car. Because it a hard traffic on the main highway, early in the morning. She don’t choice but to pass on it. Especially she need to be facile on her time because it is limited only since she has her work after. “Geez, how can I went to Luke’s house if it will be the situation?” Nadia murmuring on her driving seat, clutching it when someone’s passing in front of her car. Gosh, how can I be facile on my time? She drive too fast, so she can get into Luke’s house as fast. Not a big deal for her, since there’s no excessive car that are passing. On the street we’re usually have an accident. She accidentally bumped her car to a car from the south, where she came from the west. She forgot to have a break. Her car was dragging by another car to the thick wall. Unfortunately, her car was destroyed and it face cannot be explained. At the same time, they are surrounded by the crowd. Some are calling an ambulance and a police. Only Nadia’s car has a too much damaged than to a car that dragging her car through a thick wall that make her car more damaged. Kurt Joaquin was the one who dumped into Nadia’s car. Fortunately, for him because he is a prosecutor and he can easily fill some cases against the accident. That time, during the accident. He was from his house, and going to his office. But an accident happened, he was not able to go there. Kurt is a guy who is handsome as usual. From a complicated relationship. Proving hundreds of innocent in the court. He is an intelligent guy, which everyone can’t fooled him. But, Prosecutor Lee is person that he can’t defeat, because of a strong power he has on her job as a prosecutor. Kurt is on the hospital, with the three cops. He want to arrest Nadia, having contradictory on the law of traffic and the accident happened. Nadia, is on critical. So she need to rest for a while, though she can speak and move already but due to her physical condition she need to rest. But, Kurt didn’t listen. He get inside to Nadia’s room, and it startled her. “What are you doing from here?” Nadia asked, roaming her eyes to the four guy who is Kurt and the three cops. “We’re here to arrest you!” Kurt said, showing some warrant of arrest. Nadia, blink her eyes. She doesn’t know what they are doing. Are they insane? She held her hand to get the warrant of arrest. She is just curious why they will going to arrest her. Especially, she didn’t do murdered things or having criminal’s record. “You have to cooperate! We’re arrested you!” Kurt said. Fortunately for Nadia’s situation because there are doctor who defend her. “You can’t arrest her, unless she will be fine.” A doctor said, and trying to push Kurt and three cops to go out. “We will be back if she is alright. And arrest her!” Kurt said. And the doctor lock the door so it won’t get in again and disturb Nadia. “What happen?” a blank page reaction of Nadia. “A warrant of arrest? What it does it mean?” she added, reading on the warrant of arrest. “They are in a wrong person. Just never mind this! Take your rest, so you’ll be alright.” The doctor help Nadia to lay on the narrow bed, covering her a blanket. “I’ll be calling Kylie, to assist you here.” The doctor said, and open the curtain on the window and the light will be able to get inside the room. Nadia’s room is overlooking on the building. She can see outside the hospital, on how every car passing and having visitors. The doctor’s went out, while Nadia still stared outside, she can’t sleep of what happened to her. “Papa, I’m sick!” Nadia cried on her father when she was sick. She remember on how her father care for her when she was sick that time. But now, she’s alone. No one’s who ever care for her, except her mother because it was not around. She told everyone’s not to tell her mother on what happened to her because another problem will happened. Nadia, shed her tears on her face. She can’t stopped her emotions since she is a kind of woman who is smooth inside it mean she get easily hurt. The doors opened widely, and Kylie revealed herself, bringing some equipment’s and first aid materials for Nadia. Kylie, checked on Nadia’s temperature. Kylie shocked when Nadia’s temperature is not normal. She doesn’t know what to do but to call the doctor, and Kylie panic so much. Nadia was fainted on her bed, with a pale lips and hard breathe. What happened to her? Some doctor’s trying to perform CPR to turn Nadia’s pulse and breathing. Because they feel that Nadia is not breathing anymore and her pulse stop its beats. They are worried about Nadia’s situation, they thought that she will die. They perform everything just turn back Nadia’s life. “Thirty degree please…..clear…..clear…” they are shouting. “……sixty degree…clear….clear…” continue on shouting, everyone inside are panic. They take almost one hour performing CPR for her. Fortunately, everything’s goes normal. Her heart and pulse beats normally. Everyone, take their deep sighed, shedding their sweats. And Kylie, was on the corner crying for Nadia’s situation. As a friend, she can’t get over this if something bad will happen to Nadia. “Hold on, Nadia. Don’t leave us!” Kylie’s crying, her eyes become bubbly when she come closer to Nadia. Since, it is not allowed to touch her, she wasn’t able to hug her. Three days past, Nadia’s condition becomes normal. She is now on her consciousness. But, visiting hours is limited. Every two hours in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening with restricted personnel and two persons only can visit her. Nadia, was on her wheel-chair fronting the window since it is an overlooking view. She is bliss watching the birds that are flying and chirping. She heard on how the bird called her. While she is peeling piece of orange fruit. She’s alone on her room, and feel lonely. The doors opened, and here again Prosecutor Kurt. With a mad face staring at Nadia, and putting his both hand into his pocket. A good-looking guy, can ever catch every woman’s eye. She is an apple of her eye. “I heard you are in a critical condition.” Kurt said. “Are you here again to arrest me?” “Yes! And why not?” Kurt strictly replied. What an ashamed? He even get some Nadia’s fruit in the basket that was in the table and eat some piece. “You can’t—Kurt stop on eating when Nadia replied. He stared at Nadia too badly like he want to pinch her. “You can’t run from me, since I’m bringing this to you.” while showing the handcuff. Nadia, still remain calm. She didn’t afraid, especially bringing a handcuff. Not a big deal. Since, Nadia is sitting on the wheelchair. She stand up, and fronting Kurt so badly. She stared at him back so badly. And rolled her eyes out from him. “Uh..you’re now alright. I am free to arrest you now.” Kurt spit the fruit he’s eating and trying to put the handcuff on Nadia’s wrist. “You can’t do this to me.” she slapped on Kurt face. And here is Kurt he feel hurt on his face. “If you can prove that I did mistake. Let’s meet in the court. Here I can briefly explain my side.” She rejected. “Geez— Kurt did not react on Nadia’s mandatory. He is like a dog commanded to sit down and follow whatever instruction given. His eyes becomes mumbling, and he just nodded. “Let’s meet in the court. When do you want?” Nadia crossing her arms. “You didn’t know me yet!” Kurt show his identification card as a prosecutor. But Nadia didn’t even surprised seeing it. Still a normal reaction. “Not a big deal. What kind of personnel you are? I don’t want to let myself arrested by you.” almost Nadia spit her saliva on Kurt face because she nodded it near to him. “All of due respect. Leave here now or shall I call some guard to push you out.” She kick Kurt’s knee and it groaning going out. Kurt stopped when Nadia is fainted down the floor. Lucky, for Nadia because Kurt was the one who saw and help her. Kurt carried her back to the bed, and covered with blanket. He checked her pulse but it’s normal. Nothing to call the doctor. “Geez, thanks to me because I help you.” Kurt said, leaving out. Kurt, went to a bar where he can expressed his stress whole day because of his burdened task. He want to drunk himself, so he wasn’t able to remember his tiredness day. He drink five bottles of alcohol. As usual, he mumbling his mouth and can’t talk normally. Like a special child who can’t talk. He stopped when he remember the woman last time who is Nadia. “You girl, how dare you to kick me like that.” Kurt pointing somewhere inside the bar. Because he was too drunk, he can’t see clearly around him, and it’s blurred. He fall on the floor, and doesn’t know what happened after that incidents. He wake up on her own room now. He feel the pain around on his head and on his back. He stretch it out and take a deep yawn. A disgusting look he is not. He did not wear some shirt, so you can see clearly his abs and muscle. And he just wearing brief-short or boxer. With a messy hair and face. And also a messy room and bed he has. He get made some coffee and drink it on the balcony. His house is too big, but he live only with his pet. He has his sitter but only two, and it was not able to clean all surround his house for just one day because is too big. Except his room, he doesn’t allow someone who get inside, just to clean or to get something because it’s private. What happened to me last night? After he take his bath, he’s know driving through his office. Wearing a formal attire, like a prosecutor. His office is the same with his room, messy. “Sir, someone’s give you this documents.” His secretary said and give a piece of documents that is put inside the envelope. “I was not able to give it to you yesterday because you are not around. And I do not know where are you going.” It added. He sitting on his swivel chair, hanging and crossing his foots under his table. “Did you read it?” he asked, biting the head of his ball-pen. What a disgusting? “No. Because it’s private. And it’s confidential. And it is better you’re the one will read It.” It replied. His secretary is Erica, Luke complicated girlfriend. Why it become complicated? Because Erica fall in love with Kurt and she doesn’t even tell it to Luke that she fall in love with another man. As well as Kurt doesn’t know about it. So as usual, he ignore everything nonsense around him. “Confidential?” simply replied, fold his skin especially on the forehead. Curious. He open the envelope and three piece of paper that is inside. He read it only on his eyes: December 31, 2017 A murdered happened at Fort Santiago beside the bridges. A woman died for two reasons; being r**e and being tortured. The family of the victim, try to fill some cases against on it. And want to get justice after killing their daughter. The victim is twenty five years old. Prosecutor Kurt, recommended to be the one will responsibility on it as requested by the family of the victim. And testified these two following suspect; Edgar Ignacio and Patrick Lara. As what pointed out by the family of the victim and possible who made this crime. There, you ask you to give them a justice and investigate more for it. Thank you! He dropped the paper after reading on it. “What happened? Are you okay?” his secretary asked. “Assistant Yap, I want you to prepare some documents. We have an important matter to be investigate. Make sure you bring the following that are needed. Because another crime being happened.” Kurt said, getting his tuxedo being hanging on the chair. Assistant Yap, drive for him. While he is trying to contact the family of the victim. “We’re are going, sir?” Assistant Yap asked. “In the Amour Hospital!” he replied. Amour Hospital, is the hospital that is known here in the Philippines. And where Nadia’s working as the Professor in this hospital. They will be get some evidence during the autopsy on the victim. They need to go there before they will be late. Kurt remember on how he was summoned by his father, of being against on his father wants for him. “Father, I want to be a prosecutor.” He shouted at his father front. It was happened five years ago when he was in college. This was the time when he was beat by his father. “I want you to be a doctor like me. Since, I’m too old. I want to you to sit on my position as a professor.” He was punch by his father on his face three times. And it made it to leave in their house, and live alone and work hard and studied hard to be successful prosecutor without the support of his family. And now, he accomplish his dream. But he don’t want to take some revenge on his father especially his father suffered a complicated illness. Don’t worry, dad. Even though you punch me three times. I will still love you. I will find ways to bring you in the hospital. Because I don’t want to lose you. They get in the hospital around thirty minutes. They directly went to the ICU for the autopsy. Well, the autopsy will not start if without him. When he is now in the ICU, he was surprised when he meet Professor Nadia, who’s wearing with a doctor’s suit, face mask, hair net, and plastic gloves. HE recognize Nadia, since she didn’t wear her face mask. “Are you a doctor?” he frightened. “Obviously! We’re waiting for you. And we’re not here to talk, instead. You want to have an autopsy the victim, right?” she strictly replied. She wear her mask as well as Kurt wearing hand gloves and a hair net. While Assistant Yap, taking a video recording. She is a doctor? I didn’t recognized her that time. Kurt said on himself, while staring at Nadia, performing an autopsy.