Her, His, & Roses

HER - Chapter 3: I Don’t Need Anybody Else (1 of 2)

Ryan and I didn’t have idea that the girl he’s in love with would bring a man with her, but because I already agreed to him that I’ll distract the friend to give them some time alone, I got no choice but to befriend her male friend.

“I’m Jun Oh.” reaching out his hand to me the moment Ryan and I joined their table.

“I’m Ryan Lewis.” shaking his hand on my behalf. “She’s Hera Nevaeh.”

“Thank you, Ryan, but I can introduce myself.” leaning over to him to whisper. “You shouldn’t protect me while impressing your girl, Ryan.”

“I see you two are close too, like me and Jun.” Joanna putting her arm around Jun’s shoulders, and Ryan’s reaction somewhat change.

“Hahaha, Joanna, you shouldn’t be doing this in front of your man.” Jun taking Joanna’s arm off his shoulders. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Ryan and I do the same thing and it’s normal so we don’t mind at all.” tapping Ryan’s shoulder as I stand up. “I’ll go and get us something to eat, what do you guys want?”

“You know what I want.” Ryan replied.

“I’ll come with you; I know what Jo wants too.” Jun accompanying me.

“Sure, wait for us here.” walking with Jun towards the food court.

“Are you a med student from YU too?” trying to make a conversation with me as we walk together.

“I’m a nursing graduate from YU, what about you?”

“2nd year med student in KU like Jo, we’re actually classmates.” he replied as he keeps glancing at me.

“I see, I wanted to be a doctor before too but I’ve got too many defects to be one, so I get contented being a nurse.”

“Aside from your sight what else do you got?” pertaining to my glasses.

“I got a bad memory and doctor’s need a lot of memorization to do so I gave up from being one. I can’t tell you the others but that’s the main reason I can’t be a doctor.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, maybe you can be a great doctor but you gave up before you start to make your dream come true.”

“You don’t need to console me; I know what I’m capable of and I know I’m not cut out to be a doctor. Besides I already got Ryan so I’m alright with him doing my dream for me.” looking at the stalls.

“You’re just friends with him, right?” looking at me with anticipation.

“Yes, that’s why I’m here for him. He brought me to distract the friend and we thought you’re a girl so I agreed without thinking twice.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not a girl.” he chuckles. “But I must admit that you succeeded with your mission, I’m completely distracted right now.” ogling at me. “I scolded Jo when she told me what she done with Ryan so I come here with her to know the guy more but I think I leave it up to her, we’re all adults here anyway.”

“So, Joanna told you everything too, huh?” chuckles as I fall in line to the stall. “Ryan did the same too even the censored thing.”

“Hahaha, so they’re both kiss and tell, huh?” falling in line with me.

“Are you going to buy here too or you’re just accompanying me?”

“Both, Jo basically eat everything, she’s not a picky eater, as for me, I enjoy eating spicy foods.” he replied as he looks at the front line.

“I see, then will you stay here and order 2 sets for me, I’ll go and buy our drinks, it’s more efficient if we do it separately.”

“You’re not getting rid of me and just being efficient, right?” looking at me suspiciously.

“Of course not, how can I get rid of you if we’re eating at the same table later anyway?” leaving him in the line.

Befriending anyone is easy for me but I know how to draw a line when I can see right through them their intention to me.

I wasn’t born yesterday so I know that he’s flirting with me and even though he’s quite handsome, I don’t need romance in my life.

“They’re in their own world now.” Jun told me as we watch the love birds being intimate with each other. “Do you want to skate with me?” pointing at the skating rink.

“Let’s get out of here.” I followed him to the roller skates rack “But I don’t know how to skate.” looking at the people skating on the rink.

Ryan even sit beside Joanna when I arrived at our table so I ate with Jun on my side the whole time and now, he totally forgets about me.

“It’s alright.” Jun picked up the pairs of roller skates. “Your shoe size is 245mm, right?” giving me the white pair of roller skate he chose.

“How did you know the exact size of my shoe?!” surprised with his right guess. “Did you take measurement just by looking at people?”

“You can say that.” putting on his roller skates. “Do you want me to put that on you?” attempting to assist me with my roller skates.

“No, I can manage, good thing I have my socks on and these roller skates seems clean.” putting on the roller skates on my own. “Now, how will I go there?” looking at the rink. “I’m not even sure if I can stand straight with these things on.” trying to stand up. “Ooh, ooh, ooh” about to fall down as I couldn’t balance myself easily.

“I got you.” he caught me in his arms. “Hold onto me, better follow me towards.” reaching out his hands to me. “Come on, don’t be shy to a handsome man.” smiling at me arrogantly.

“Gosh, Ryan was right about you.” I remembered what Ryan’s 1st impression to him. “You’re a s**t player.” I mumbled.

“What was that? Did you say something?” he leads me to the rink. “Here we go, be careful on your steps there’s a slope.” supporting me to walk over the ice.

“I don’t know why I’m doing this; I should be resting at home right now.” holding onto his hands tightly. “I feel like a baby learning to walk for the first time.”

“Hahaha, you just have to balance yourself to keep you safe.” taking care of me while skating backwards. “You’ll get the hang of it.”

His hands are warm and I feel safe with him as he guide me through so I tried not to think too much of his intention for a moment.

“I think I’m getting into it.” balancing myself. “I think you can let go of my hands now, I can stand on my own now you don’t have to pull me anymore.” released my hold to his hand but he’s still holding me tightly. “Do you like holding my hands that much?”

“Yes, I do.” he said without hesitation. “Why do you have to be a quick learner?!” let go and turned around to face me again to watch.

“Nice and slow.” trying to skate on my own. “Thank you for teaching me to skate.” sliding her feet forward. “But I don’t think I can be faster.”

“Here, put your hands on my waist.” turn his back on me “Follow my lead, we’ll go slow to fast, it’s alright you can touch my sexy body.”

“Geez, Ahaha.” put my hands on his waist as I follow him in every step. “Oh, I think we’re about to go home now.” noticed Ryan waving at me.

“I’ll give you a ride home. You don’t want to watch them at the back seat, right?” giving me a look that I shouldn’t meddle with the two as we go out from the skating rink to take our roller blades off from our feet. “So, do we have an accord?”

“It’s alright, I’ll just get on a cab, you already taught me to skate I don’t want to trouble you anymore.” declining his offer politely.

“You’re no trouble, besides it’s my pleasure to spend time with a beautiful girl like you.” staring straight into my eyes as if he’s telling me something telepathically. “Please, I do really insist.”

“Nah, I resist.” walks off to tell Ryan and Joanna that I’m not going with them and take a cab instead to give them time alone.

I don’t want to be their audience at the back seat of his car and I don’t want to go with a man I just met, so I chose to be alone instead.

“Why isn’t there no single cab passing by?” standing for 36 minutes at the corner of the street. “I have work tomorrow early morning but I’m still here waiting for a cab to get home.” getting tired and annoyed of waiting for too long.

“I told you, I’ll give you a ride.” Jun on his Harley stopped by in front of me. “Don’t worry you’re safe with me, I’m not a reckless driver.” giving me a helmet as he gestures to ride with him.

“You’ve been watching me this whole time?” looking at him anxiously.

“You’re a girl, waiting here all by yourself at this time of night and I’m a boy worried about your safety, trust me I’m not a bad guy.” smiling handsomely at me. “Do you want to wait here longer, it’s getting late?” looking at the night sky.

“Fine, just take me to Jong Hyun Medical Centre.” took his helmet from his hand “I forgot something in there anyway” hopped on at the back.

“That’s a familiar place.” young man starts the engine. “Put your arms around my waist, I don’t mind if you hug me tight, also I like it better if you do.” turned his head slightly.

“Do you always do this to every girl you just met?” holding on to his waist. “You shouldn’t take advantage of your good looks that much.”

“No, you’re the first.” going down at the backstreet. “I’m not what you think I am.” looking at my reflection on the side mirror.

“With the looks of it, you’re not just a simple college student. You’re probably the only one student in this country who have this kind of ride. You’re a young master of a well-known family, am I right?”

“I’m from a family of doctors so you could say that they are well known in the field of medicine.” he replied. “I got this Harley last year when I turned 20, my western age.”

“So, you’re following the Gregorian calendar too, huh? By the way, you should be calling me noona, my western age is 23.”

“But you don’t look older than me even if you told me your age. Also, I only called one girl noona and that’s my older sister. I was born and raised in US and I only stayed here for almost 6 years now, so I’m more American cultured than Korean even if my last name is Oh.”

“You mean you never called anyone hyung or noona before? How do you call people older than you, then?” holding him tight as we go uphill.

“Ms. or Mr. along with their last name. Some told me to call them in their first name instead as they think I’m being too formal. I actually attended SFHS when I transferred on high school so it’s not a big deal at all since everyone mostly call anyone in their first name or last.”

“I’m a graduate in SFHS too!” loosening my hold to his body as we go in a straight road. “But when you transferred there, I’m already a freshman in YU.”

“Yeah, I know, the Nevaeh history is quite known to everyone because of the media and all the 3rd generation in your family are on the list of notable alumni in SFS so it’s not news for me, young miss Nevaeh.”

“Please don’t call me that, Hera is fine with me, do you want me to call you young master Oh?” getting back at him.

“You can call me whatever you want, I don’t mind if you call me luv, honey, sweetheart, or husband, it’s all up to you.”

“What the hell are you talking about?!” pulling away from him. “Mr. Oh, I don’t think that it would be appropriate to call you with such endearment as we only just met tonight.”

“Mr. Oh??!” he chuckles. “If you call me like that, should I call you Mrs. Oh, because I think you’re going to be my wife in the future.”

“Uh-huh! Where did this overconfidence coming from??! Look, Jun, not because we talked for a while and you’re giving me a back ride right now means we’re close. You’re barely even a friend to me, we’re only acquaintance to each other and nothing more.” holding onto his leather jacket instead as I keep my distance from him.

“Well I’m not starting to pursue you anyway so I won’t take that as a rejection, I’m being too fast and straight forward, my bad. But I always know what I want, I’m certain that I want you, Hera.”

He hit the break that made me bumped onto him and he put my hands back to his tummy. “Hold tight, I don’t want anything happen to you.”

“This would be the last time I’m going to ride your Harley.” gritting my teeth as I hold onto his body.

After 20 minutes ride, we arrived at the hospital, I thanked him after I got off from his Harley but he followed me inside.

“Why are you following me?” starting to get annoyed with his persistence. “Don’t you have anything else to do or anywhere to go?”

“I’m not following you.” defended himself “Since I’m already here, might as well check on my parents in their office.” walking with me. “What department do you belong to anyway, I haven’t seen you this …”

“Uh-huh, let me get this straight.” walked past by him and turned to face him again. “Look I’m grateful for what you did for me tonight but let’s end it here, I’m not interested even if you’re the most handsome and have the best body of all the guys who tried to impress me, we don’t even know each other so it’ll be easy for you to move on, trust me I’m no good for you, it’s better for you to find another girl, so please, please leave me alone!”

“But I’m telling the truth, I’m not following you and if you’re mad that I’m asking about you, then I’m sorry.” taken aback when he saw me angry at him. “I’m just curious that’s all.”

“Jun Oh!” man’s voice coming behind me. “Your parents are still in their office.” stand beside me. “Nurse Hera, what are you still doing here? I thought you already went home earlier.” looking at me and Jun. “You two know each other?”

“Dr. Haggerty.” bowing at him. “We just met each other.” looking at him and Jun. “If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I’ve got something to do.”

“Professor Macklemore.” Jun greeted Dr. Haggerty. “She must be the new nurse, that you told me earlier. So, she’s under you, huh?” looking at me with a smile on his face as he obtained the information, he wanted to extract from me but he didn’t get.

He’s the man every woman in the hospital wanted to see every day and not just on Mondays but since we met that night, he comes to the hospital before he goes to class.

“What could possibly be the reason that Young Master Oh is visiting the hospital every day?” Nurse Noh having lunch with me and Nurse So in the hospital’s cafeteria. “Is he doing it for you?” pointing at me.

“Senior Nurse Noh, Nurse Nevaeh already have a man, Nurse Ko and I saw them hugged each other with our own eyes. The reason she’s never interested to any other man, Ryan is quite good looking too.”

“I told you Ryan is just my friend, beside he already got himself a girl so these kind of rumors about us won’t do any good for him and I.”

“What??! He dumped you for another girl?!” Nurse So reacted loudly that made everyone look at our table.

“What’s wrong with you??! Why are you making things worse?” frowning at her. “Ryan is not my lover so it’s impossible for me to get dumped.”

“Don’t worry, Nurse Nevaeh, you’ll forget that jerk.” Nurse Noh consoling me. “You’re still hurting that’s why you’re in denial.”

“You too, Senior Nurse Noh??!” getting devastated. “You’re not going to believe me no matter what I said, so what’s the point of explaining myself to you girls?” sighing as I shake my head.

Well I can’t blame them, a man and a woman hugging together in public would really be a misunderstanding for everyone.

On my 1st week the rumor that I’m in a relationship with Ryan already spread and now on my 2nd week about me getting dumped by him also become a news to everyone.

“Is it just me or every staff is glaring at me, right now?” Ryan visited me in the hospital on the 2nd day after the rumor of our breakup.

“Don’t mind them.” walking along with him towards the exit door. “What are you doing here anyway? You’re not in trouble with Joanna, are you?” looking at him suspiciously. “You didn’t snap at her, right?”

... To be continued ...