Would You Be Mine?

Chad just woke up. He knew he was still high on drugs after his thoracotomy. He felt stiff and swollen in different places. A nurse came by after a few minutes and changed the dressings of his wound. Well, cut. It was a big cut on his chest. He may have not seen it yet but he has a pretty good idea of how long his cut was. It was not a part of him, a battle scar of sorts. Amelia just literally broke his heart. Chad knew that it was coming but he was still unprepared for it. But how can he fight what’s meant to be? Amelia was for Jake and Jake was for Amelia. As cliche as it may sound, it was destined. The moment that he met Jake, when he knew him, he was certain that the two were meant for each other. But when Amelia finally dropped the bomb, even after earning a bullet in his chest during Amelia’s rescue, he still felt devastated. He tried to fight the longingness in his heart. He literally just had another operation, this time on his heart. He should not be putting strain on his heart as much as possible, literally and figuratively. He was about to try to sit on his bed when the nurse came in together with his doctor. It was the first time that Chad was meeting his savior. He was surprised to see her. He had no idea how beautiful his doctor was. Theresa Reed was a sight to behold. She had long wavy hair that goes all the way down her waist. Although her hair was always tied up in a bun during her rounds, her other features gave the men a second look, even the women. Chad’s mouth was slightly opened, surprised by the angel in front of him. If hearts skipped beating, then his heart just did a few seconds ago. “Good morning Mr. Alberty, how are you feeling today?” Theresa asked. “Better I guess,” Chad replied looking at those thick long eyelashes of Theresa while she was busy writing down notes on his chart. “So, do you want me to explain what caused your emergency operation?” She asked. “No need for that, but my Dad might want to know a few details. As long as you can assure me that I am all fixed up, it’s fine with me.” He replied. “Well, you are still under observation and will be strictly monitored for any complications or infections but looking at your chart, we can say that you are recovering very well.” “You have no idea,” Chad whispered to himself. “So, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask for me from any of the nurses here, I still have to do my rounds with my other patients,” Theresa said while jotting down a few more notes on Chad’s chart. She looked at him after and smiled. “It was nice meeting you Mr. Alberty and I hope you feel much better soon.” She offered her hand, Chad took it. “I’ll see you again tomorrow,” she added. Theresa was already walking towards that door when Chad called for her, “Doctor!” She looked back a little too abruptly causing her bun to fall down, exposing her long luscious brown locks. Time froze for a few seconds. Chad’s throat felt dry and it was hard to say whatever he was supposed to say to his doctor. With her white lab gown and her hair falling perfectly in all directions, Chad only had to see a pair of wings and a halo to confirm that she was indeed an angel. “Thank you,” Chad managed to say, in the most sincere way he could. “Thank you for giving me back my life,” he added. Theresa smiled back, slightly blushed, either with Chad’s sincere face looking intently with her or because her hair fell down like she was starring in some sort of shampoo commercial. “Feel better.” She said before turning her back again, walking away from Chad’s room. Theresa had to excuse herself and went inside the nearest supply room. She looked around to make sure that it was empty. When she realized that no one was inside, she leaned her back to the wall and placed her hands over her chest. Her pulse was rising fast. Her cheeks felt hot. She counted from one to twenty while slowly inhaling and exhaling. She had to compose herself. After a few minutes, she gave out a huge “hah” and shook her hands and shoulders. She bent her neck left to right and began fixing her hair. She pulled her lab gown by the neck, straightening it, and went out of the supply room with her poker face on. Chad was sitting, slightly inclined on the hospital bed with a book in hand. He had been trying to read to entertain himself. He didn’t want to think about Amelia for now. He promised that he would be happy for her. He didn’t want to ponder on the confusing feelings he had for Dr. Reed. He thought he was simply feeling grateful for the person who happened to save his life. However, he had a hard time concentrating on the book. He tried hard not to replay Theresa’s image as she was leaving his room earlier. The world suddenly went into slow motion as she turned around, her brown locks everywhere but managed to perfectly land on her shoulders. He was about to throw the book on his feet when the door opened. It was Amelia. “Hi,” she said. Chad felt a little bit too excited, but he remembered who he should be right now in Amelia’s life. “Hey”, he replied. Amelia walked towards her, wearing her usual t-shirt and jeans getup. Her hair was tied in a bun. He remembered Dr. Reed again shook off the thought. “Looks like you’re finally leaving this place,” he asked Amelia who was now sitting beside his bed. “Yeah, I just got discharged earlier,” she informed him. “Mom is just fixing up my things so I decided to come over to check on you.” “I am doing better. Heart all fixed.” He didn’t want to insulate anything but what he said definitely had a deeper meaning. Amelia held his hand. “You are still my friend right, you’re special to me, you know that right.” She asked. “Of course. I don’t want us to be awkward or anything. I want you in my life,” he said. “Me too,” Amelia reassured him. The hospital door opened again. It was Dr. Reed. Theresa could not help but take a step back when she saw Amelia sitting beside Chad’s bedside. She was holding his hand while Chad was looking intently at her. It was pretty obvious that emotions were everywhere. She suddenly felt out of place but she was definitely not turning back from the room. “Hello Dr. Reed, you came back?” Chad saw her and immediately acknowledged her presence. “Yes Mr. Alberty, I was just about to check up on you before I leave.” She looked at Amelia. “I’ll come back later if you..” Amelia interrupted her. “No, please stay,” Amelia told her, now standing beside Chad’s bed. “How was his operation?” Theresa stood in front of Amelia explaining his recent operation. Chad barely understood what they were talking about because his eyes were focused on the two ladies in front of him. One was clearly different from the other. Theresa looked strong, wise beyond her years. Eloquent, but had a tint of sadness in her eyes. Amelia was fierce, but there was a softness in her features. Her beauty was classic. Before Amelia regained her memory, when she was still Daisy, Chad saw his future with Amelia. He would imagine coming home to the smell of casserole, with Amelia cooking dinner with a lovely apron on her dress. Now, looking at the two, he could not imagine Amelia in the same way. He tried to, but the memory of his thoughts about a possible future with her is now blurred. However, looking at his doctor right now triggered feelings that he initially thought was reserved for Amelia alone. Whenever he would look at Theresa’s face, he would imagine him looking back at her, hair flowing down to her shoulders. He was confused, to say the least. However, he was somehow hopeful. Although his heart still aches for losing the change with Amelia, seeing Theresa gave him a different light, a light that could possibly pull him out of whatever circumstance he is in right now. Chad’s attention was caught by a knock on the door. It was Jake. Amelia saw him standing at the door. Chad saw how Amelia’s eyes glittered at the sight of Jake. Amelia never looked at him that way even back when she still didn’t have her memory. Even when they kissed, he didn’t see her eyes light up like this before. That look was only reserved for Jake. She will never look at him the way he looked at Jake. Jake entered the room while Amelia excused herself from Theresa and walked towards Jake. Theresa saw how Chad’s eyes moved towards where Amelia was going. She saw the sadness in it. She even caught Chad look away when Jake kissed Amelia on the cheeks. Jake walked towards Chad, followed by Amelia. “How are you brother?” Jake asked Chad. Jake has been calling him brother ever since they decided to work together to get Amelia back from Thomas. He genuinely felt that he was a brother to him. He never showed any ill feelings even though he was fully aware of what he and Amelia had back when she still didn't have her memory. In fact, Jake was grateful. He could not express how much he was thankful to him after taking care of Amelia. “Much better,” he offered his hand to Jake, which he took with both hands. After a few seconds, Amelia’s mom also arrived at Chad’s room. She came inside and kissed Chad on the cheek, promising to visit him the next day. The three left Chad and Theresa inside the room. Chad looked at Theresa. “Thank you for taking the time to check up on me again.” Theresa looked at him, blushed a little, and smiled. She discussed a few things with Chad. She was talking about his lab results, the current condition of his heart, how he was recovering very fast, and the other test that she would be requiring to see if everything else is doing well in terms of his health. Chad was hardly listening. He was looking at how Theresa’s expression changes while trying to dumb down all the medical terminologies that she was telling him. After what seems to be hours of Theresa talking, Chad was surprised by her next sentences. “Are you a good person Mr. Alberty?” Theresa asked him. Chad answered cockily, “I guess so. And you can call me Chad if you’re going to ask me questions like that Dr. Reed.” “Theresa, call me Theresa.” She said. “And was that the woman you took a bullet for? The one with that good-looking guy?” She asked. “Yes. I did. But it goes beyond that reason why I consider myself a good person.” Chad had no idea where this conversation was going. “Well, I guess taking a bullet for someone who clearly loves someone else is so noble it automatically makes you a good, better, or I guess one of the best people there is.” Theresa was clearly using her doctor's voice at him right now. “I could not comprehend whether that was a compliment or not,” he told Theresa. “A compliment, a very sincere one,” Theresa said. “I don’t know where this conversation is going.” Chad finally had to get a better understanding of what Theresa had in mind. “Nothing, I was just wondering what drives people to offer something as precious as their lives to someone else.” She said. Chad smiled. “You do such things for people not because you love them but because it is the right thing to do.” He said. Theresa smiled at him. “So, I guess I’ll leave you to rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She walked towards the door but hesitated, then walked towards Chad’s bedside. “Mr. Alberty, can you be my boyfriend?” She blurted out. Chad was surprised but he was more surprised by his response, “Sure, how could I say no.” “You are not asking me why?” Theresa, confused but relieved of his positive response asked. “You wouldn’t want to know if I am a good person? Or don’t you think I am a little cuckoo for asking a complete stranger to be my boyfriend?” “For one, you are a good person. You are saving lives. Two, you do not seem to be a cuckoo, to say the least, and three, I respect whatever your reasons are. You’ll probably let me know when you feel like I deserve to know your reasons.” Chad explained. “So why are you saying yes?” Theresa asked. “Because I can’t bear to give you a no,” Chad answered, smiling. Theresa gave out her hand to shake Chad’s “So, it’s a deal?” She asked. Chad took her hand but instead of shaking it, he kissed it instead and placed it on top of his chest, where his heart is. “A deal sealed with a kiss, my love,” Chad said, smiling with sparkling eyes.