Her, His, & Roses

HER - Chapter 5: Anytime That I Like (1 of 2)

Sunday afternoon, I’m supposed to be having a date with Hera but I’m lying at the hospital bed, getting check by different nurses every hour.

It’s not like, my condition is too serious that they need to go to my room and ask me what I need or want every time.

I only have an ankle injury and that’s all, I’m not someone who need medical attention most of the time.

“Jun!” Joanna opened the door and rushed towards me to give me a hug. “You poor thing! What have they done to you??! I heard you got mobbed by teenage girls yesterday. I’m glad you’re still alive.”

“I’m not gonna die because of that, however I’m scheduled for operation on Wednesday.” looking at Ryan standing by the door. “Is Hera with you??” trying to see if she’s standing outside.

“Sorry but it’s just us.” Ryan replied. “It’s her day off so she won’t be in a hospital, she tends to stay away from her workplace when she’s not in duty. You didn’t know?”

“No, but thank you for letting me know.” feeling dejected. “Does she know that I’m being hospitalized since last night?”

“Even if she does, she won’t come unless you’re in a brink of death or you’re someone who’s very important to her. I guess you’re not in that level yet, you need to work harder.” he said with a smile.

“Hey, I know you like Hera but I’m the one who’s here beside you right now!” Joanna squeezing my face. “I’m your best friend before you know her, aren’t you happy that I’m here??”

“Of course, I’m happy that you’re here.” taking her hands off from my face. “Aren’t you two supposed to be in California right now??”

“Our flight got cancelled because of the storm surge, we’re still waiting for the rescheduled flight probably tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.” Joanna looking at Ryan. “Shall we just ask for refund and stay here instead, Ry? Jun is having a surgery and I can’t bear to leave him alone while we’re having fun in California.”

“Oh please, just go, don’t remind me here. You two should be thinking about yourselves and not anybody else. Besides I already asked my parents to make Hera my personal nurse so I’m not completely alone.”

“I think that’s not a good idea.” Ryan uttered. “It’s like you’re forcing Hera to take care of you, she’s more than willing to take care of a friend who’s in need and you didn’t have to put her up to it.”

“But I don’t think it’s that bad.” Joanna sharing her thoughts. “You’ll get to see her every day and have more time to spend with her, it’s also your chance to make a move.”

“Well Jojo got a point but I know Hera, she’s not going to like it.” Ryan shaking his head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I followed my desire instead of heeding Ryan’s advice and I wished I should’ve listened to him.

Hera come to me the next day after she heard that I’m her assignment and instead getting worried about my condition, she’s mad at me.

“I thought we’re friends, why are you doing this to me??!” not even glancing at me as she checks my medical records. “You’re making things difficult for me, Young Master Oh.”

“What do you mean??” looking at her in puzzlement.

“You think someone here in the VIP ward wants to get transferred at the emergency section?! Because of you I have to go back and forth to this room while I’m handling the patients at the trauma care center and receiving emergency patients. You’re an additional to my job.”

“But I asked for you to be my personal nurse so you should be attending only to me. How come you’re still assigned at your original post??!”

“We’ve got protocols here, Young Master Oh, I’m stuck at the emergency and trauma care center until I completed my 1-yr actual practice, in my case, I can only transfer to other ward by April.”

“I didn’t know about that. I thought you’re just going to aid me and I could give you some slack since I’m not that seriously ill.” rubbing my nape. “What can I do to make it up to you??” feeling sorry for her.

“Just be cooperative. You’re my patient now so I’m going to take care of you. You’re scheduled for ankle surgery the day after tomorrow so do me a favor, don’t get out from bed unless necessary. That would trigger the alarm and when it does, I need to go up here and leave my work at the 1st floor.” putting the device on her pocket.

“Yes, nurse. I promise to be a cooperative patient to you, sorry if I put you up to this. I didn’t mean to give you additional job because I know how exhausting your work at your original post.” staring at her.

“Let’s see if you can really do that promise. I’ll have lunch with you here later so I’ll be back to check on you in the afternoon.” calming down after nagging at me. “I’m willing to visit you every day after my shift, you didn’t have to tell me what to do, but because you’ve done it already, it’s like you’re forcing me to care for you.” walks off from my room without looking back at me.

“I’m going to listen to Ryan next time.” talking to myself. “I’ve been waiting to give this book to you since Valentine’s Day but I guessed I already missed the opportunity.” looking at the Juliette book on the top of my bedside table.

There are times that I want to get out from bed and do some stretching since only my left ankle is injured and my whole body is completely fine but I have to bore myself watching TV and eating in my bed like I’ve got nowhere else to go.

“I’m sorry, I need to go to the bathroom.” looking at Hera who’s catching her breath as she enters my room. “I can actually do this on my own and you don’t have to come here.” getting in to the bathroom.

“I need to assist you for your daily living here in the hospital, that’s part of my job as your nurse so you can’t tell me that I don’t need to come.” following me inside the bathroom. “It’s better for you if you pee while sitting, you can maintain your balance sitting on the toilet bowl rather than standing.”

“You’re kidding right?” looking at her in disbelief. “I’m a man, and a man pee in standing position not in sitting position.”

“Think of it like you’re taking a dump, I’m pretty sure you’re not dumping while standing, right?” persuading me to sit down.

“I’ll think about it next time but I really have to pee right now.” pulling down my pants and trying not to make a mess. “I know you’ve got no malice but please don’t look, I don’t want you to watch me peeing at my current state, you’re making me feel uncomfortable.” covering up.

“You need to drink more water and not stop drinking cola, the color of your urine indicates that you’ve been …”

“Yeah, I know … I know.” cutting her off. “I’ll drink more water from now on, you may take all the colas I have and replace them with bottled water. Will you stop looking??” getting anxious with her stares at my private part. “I can show it to you if you want me to but not like this.”

“Why are you getting shy when you should be proud of what you have?” teasing me. “Are you done?” handing me my clutch after I pull up my pants immediately right after I took a leak.

“Ye-Yes.” stuttering because of what she told me. “But Hera, this is not so cool, you’re just seeing me as a patient now and not someone special, I want to impress you. I shouldn’t have requested you to be my nurse.” regretting my decision.

“What else can I see you? now, you’re obviously a patient. Also, you’re going to become a doctor this kind of situation shouldn’t bother you.” she said coldly. “Since we’re already here, take off your clothes.”

“Huh??! Hera?” looking at her anxiously. “What are you going to do with me? Why do you want to see me naked??” wild thoughts running in my head as I never expect her to be so bold.

“With the look on your face, you’re imagining things on your own, aren’t you?” smiling at me. “Young Master Oh wants to have a full bath every day and half bath every night. That’s what written in your hygiene notes and it’s my job to assist you in your daily living activities.”

“Look, I appreciate the thought but I can take a bath on my own, I took a bath myself yesterday and I don’t need anybody’s help.” telling her off. “I’m fine, I’m not paralyzed and I can move on my own, this is my request as your VVIP patient. Don’t make me feel embarrass as I already am.” washing my hands thoroughly while looking at her reflection through the mirror. “Also leave the device, I don’t want you running around to get here whenever I get out from bed. You only need to come here to have 3 meals a day with me, other than that there’s nothing else I want you to do for me as my nurse.”

“That’s kind of you. Well, you really don’t need assistance with your injury but because you’re a VVIP, I have to do it. Though I want to agree with 3 meals a day to repay your kindness, I can only promise lunch.” staring at my reflection. “Now you’re acting as my friend.”

“So, you don’t despise me anymore??” turning to face her directly.

“I don’t despise you; I was just angry at you earlier. If there’s nothing else I can do for you, I’m going back to my post now.” about to walk out from the bathroom.

“Hera, if you’re exhausted, come here at my room. You can take a rest here, just use me as an excuse.” staring at her beautiful face.

“You know, I can’t do that. But I’ll consider your offer if there’s a chance for me to slack off.” smiling at me. “See you later.” walks off.

“I should be the one taking care of you and not the other way around.” mumbling as I watch her leave from my room.

Hera came to me at lunch and spend her break with me as she also gives me my medication.

I want her to stay a little bit longer with me but there’s other patients who needed her assistance more than I am so I had to let her go, because she’s a nurse and a passionate one on her job.

Wednesday morning, I’m lying on the operating table for my surgery.

Both my parents are in charge of my operation so I’m not that scared with my surgery, specially that Hera is the last person I see before they put me to sleep for me not to feel the pain of opening me up.

The moment I opened my eyes, the 1st person I see is the person I’ve been dreaming of while I’m passed out.

“Hera.” calling out her name even if I feel my throat being dry.

“Water?” pouring water on a glass. “I’ll help you up.” sitting me up to let me drink the water. “How are you feeling?”

“Never better, you’re the first one I see when I opened my eyes so I feel like I’m all healed up.” smiling at her.

“Yeah, I think you’re fine.” smiling back at me as she wipes my mouth. “I’m going to call Dr. Oh.” about to walk off but I grabbed her hand.

“Stay here with me for a while, don’t go anywhere.” staring at her.

“But I need to call the doctor in charge once the patient gains consciousness, they have to check up on you.” glancing at me.

“5 minutes, call them after 5 minutes. I just want to be with you alone.”

“Fine, I’ll stay here with you for 5 minutes and let you stare at me as much as you want.” looking at her wrist watch that I gave to her.

“Sit here on my bed and don’t just stand there. I want to look at you closely.” pulling her closer to sit beside me.

We’ve been exchanging glances for a while and didn’t say a word to each other but her eyes make me lost in the moment.

I couldn’t help but to touch her face and look to her pouty lips, I must have lost my mind when I attempted to kiss her.

“AAHHHH! Hera, sorry! I won’t do it again, please spare me!” tapping her arm to stop her from twisting my hand that touched her face.

“Do it again and you’ll have hand surgery next time.” threatening me as she released my hand. “I’m going to call Dr. Oh.” getting out from my bed. “You think you’re still in dreamland, huh?”

“I just had a surgery; how could you twist my hand like you’re a thug?!” massaging my hand that she almost break.

“If I’m a thug then you’re a pervert.” walking out from my room.

“She looks delicate but she can surely be rough.” laughing at my silliness. “What am I thinking that she’ll just let me kiss her??”

My parents came in after a minute and told me that the surgery is successful but I have to stay at the hospital until I’m fully recovered.

I can’t believe that I’m having a vacation in the hospital instead of somewhere nice before I go back to school.

I got discharged during the Samiljeol but I had to stay at home for the rest of the week.

“Aren’t you supposed to stay at home?? What are you doing here?” Hera nagging at me while her hands on her waists as she looks at me standing on her front door on a Wednesday afternoon.

 “Aren’t you going to let me in??” trying to make my way into her place.

“Give me a minute.” she shut her door immediately and opened it again after a minute or two. “I don’t have a living room like resident doctors so I don’t have a couch here.”

“So, this is how your place looks like, huh?” looking around her room sized home. “Are you comfortable staying here??”

“This is way much better than my place before, here I got private bathroom and mini kitchen along with this dining area.” she replied. “You didn’t ride you Harley to come here, right?”

“My mom would kill me if I do. I took a cab to get here so don’t worry.”

“What do you want to drink? I got milk, coffee, juice, chocolate, cola and tea here.” standing at the counter.

“How about a smoothie?” noticed the smoothie on the side.

“Fine, I’ll make one for you too.” preparing the ingredients, she needs. “You’re not in pain, are you? You had to climbed the stairs to get here on the 3rd floor.” looking back at me.

“I need to exercise anyway so it’s no big deal.” Watching her do my smoothie. “May I take a look at the photos you’ve got here?”

“Go ahead.” she replied calmly.

“You like children?” holding the photo of children standing in front of a church. “Even your family photo you have here was taken when you’re a child. How old are you in this photo??”

“11. That was the 1st family photo we took when we 1st moved here in Seoul.” letting the blender do the work.

“What about this photo with your grandmother?” taking the photo next to her family picture.

“13. That was taken on New Year’s Day of ’66, 6 months before she died. It’s the last photo I’ve taken with Lola Gaea so it’s precious to me.” pouring the smoothie she made to a glass.

“Who’s this man with a little girl?” taking out another frame.

“Uncle Ocean, I was 7 that time and that was taken on Valentine’s Day of ’60. He’s my favorite uncle because he always gave us chocolates. Unfortunately, he died on a car accident 2 months after that photo taken, he sacrificed his life in order to save 2 children.”

“That’s a noble way to die.” browsing the other photos she has on the shelf. “This must be the latest photo you have.” looking at the photo on her bedside table. “Who’s this child with you? As far as I know your niece from your cousin Leto, isn’t at this age yet.”

“You mean Artemis, she just turned 2 last January, that angel is from the orphanage. Her name is He-…” she paused for a while. “Kwon Yuri, she’s turning 6 this August.”

“She must be your favorite as you put your photo with her on your bedside table.” putting the photo back. “Don’t you have a solo picture?”

“I do have a lot but it’s all in my bedroom at the South Mansion.” smiling at me. “Why are you asking?”

“I’m hoping to take one of your photos as a souvenir but all of your pictures here are with your family.” sighing as I take a sit on the chair to drink the smoothie, she prepared for me. “Is this the same smoothie that you were drinking?” pointing at her glass on the counter.

... To be continued ...