Would You Be Mine?

It Begins with a Kiss

Chad was smiling. He is reading the book Ravissant, an adventure-romance fictional book but his mind was somewhere else. He was wondering if Theresa had already received the flowers.

He imagined her smiling at the flowers. The thought that he somehow managed to make Theresa smile made him giggle.

Chad was smiling at himself when Amelia entered the room.

“Looks like someone is in a good mood right now.” Amelia could not help but blurt it out.

Jake entered the room a few seconds after Amelia. He was carrying a basket of fruits.

“What are you reading?” She took the book from Chad’s hands and went over the page where it was opened. “Looks like you're not smiling because of this,” She returned the book to Chad.

Chad looked at Amelia. “Ah, nothing, I just thought of someone.”

“Someone like your doctor maybe?” Jake teased. Amelia looked at Jake. Chad stared at Jake wide-eyed, warning him not to spill anything to Amelia about what he just said.

“Your doctor? What Doctor?” Amelia looked and Chad and Jake went back and forth. She felt that the two were hiding something from her.

Jake smiled while Chad had his poker face on. It made Amelia even more intrigued.

“Come on you two, spill it out.” She demanded although she was smiling.

Jake walked towards Amelia and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Let him be, he’ll let you know in time.”

Amelia rolled her eyes at Jake. “Fine.” She looked at Chad. “As long as you are smiling and happy.”

Amelia took some apples from the basket and headed to the bathroom to wash the fruits in the lavatory. Chad took the chance to talk with Jake, “Thanks for the save man.”

“I overheard the nurses talking about you sending flowers to Dr. Reed,” Jake murmured. “Amelia will eventually know and she won’t stop unless you tell her everything about it.” He added.

The two pretended they were talking about something else when they saw Amelia coming out of the bathroom.

“So where is Nathan right now?” Chad pretended to ask.

“He’s out of the country with Samantha, shopping in Paris maybe.” It was the truth. After Amelia was finally rescued, Nathan made sure that he would spend most of his time with Samantha.

“You two should be spending time in Paris too,” Chad suggested, as he took a bite from the sliced apple that Amelia offered him.

“And leave you here like that?” Amelia contradicted.

“I am fine, I’ll be out in less than a week, you two do not have to worry too much about me.” Chad insisted.

Amelia looked at Jake, she was waiting for what he had to say. “You decide, I just want to be where you are,” Jake told her.

Chad was somehow happy to realize that he can be genuinely happy for Amelia and Jake. He was thankful that they could all be friends. Chad was happy to realize that it didn’t hurt that much anymore.

Amelia looked at him, she was checking if he was serious about them leaving for Paris. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, you deserve to rest. After all that happened in the past few months, you deserve a break.” Chad assured her.

Amelia looked at Jake and then at Chad. “We’ll think about it.”

Visitors started to arrive one by one to check up on Chad. His friends from the restaurant owned by his family, friends from the farm as well as Old Benj and Lisa who came together with his Dad Nick.

Chad’s room became a happy place once again.

Amelia could not help but notice the nurses giggling when they made their rounds in Chad’s room. She didn't try to ask Chad. All she wanted is for him to be happy, genuinely happy.

She cared for Chad, she cared a lot. She felt that she had found a brother in him, a sibling. Although they had a short romantic encounter in the past, all those confusing feelings that she had for Chad were completely gone. The moment she remembered Jake, she realized that what she and Chad had was just a spur-of-the-moment feeling, nothing beyond that. Nothing compares to what she feels about Jake.

However, she knew that it was different for Chad. He deeply cared for her. He even took a bullet to save her life. Amelia vouched that she will be the very best friend Chad could ever have.

Amelia was also very thankful that Jake was so patient and understanding of the situation. He trusted her. Or maybe he knew how deeply in love she is with him, thus removing any doubts about her feelings for him and for Chad. Jake knew that those feelings are completely two different things and something he should never be worried about. Jake treated Chad like a brother.

Maybe she and Jake can talk about going to Paris, or somewhere else for them to relax. After all, Chad’s eyes are brighter now. He looks alive and happy. Whatever makes him happy doesn’t matter for now. The fact that Chad is in a better place right now is more than enough for Amelia.

Amelia and Jake left the hospital earlier than the rest of Chad’s visitors. After lunch, it was only Nick who was left with Chad in his room.

“How are you son?” Nick asked Chad when they were finally left alone. He sounded worried.

“I’m actually feeling fine Dad, even better I guess.” It was an honest answer from Chad.

“Aren’t you having a hard time seeing Jake and Amelia together?” His Dad was even more honest. He just wanted to get answers from him.

“You know that I am. I feel happy for them. And I am starting to feel happier for myself too.” It was true, Chad felt that he was in a better place right now.

“I guess this has something to do with the things I am hearing from the nurses outside?” Chad already had an idea that his father already heard something from the hospital nurses.

Chad replied, “I think so.”

“You are old enough son, but please, let your heart heal, before jumping into the next ship, if you know what I mean.”

Chad smiles. His father was just looking out after him.

Before the sunset, Chad was left alone in his room once more. He tried to focus on reading his book. He was halfway through the story and was starting to see himself in the lead character of the book, Levian.

As a child, he was really fascinated with fantasy-themed stories. However, with two brothers as his siblings, he mostly spent more time with the horses or running around the farm instead of reading a book.

“Do you want me to tell you the ending of that book?” Chad was so caught up with reading that he didn’t notice that Theresa was standing by the door. She walked towards him, smiling.

“You didn’t look like the type who would read young adult fiction stories.” Theresa took the book from Chad’s hands. He was smiling back at her.

“So define what type of guy I look like for you Dr. Reed?” He inquired.

Theresa browsed through the pages of the book. “You are like Fortem, protects people, cares about everyone else except for himself, someone who spends time making things happen, instead of imagining words come to life, just like in this book.”

“You forgot to say handsome, charming, loveable, respectable, and very much appealing,” Chad added, giving Theresa access to his adorable smile.

Theresa slightly held his breath looking at Chad. “How can a man be beautiful and ravishing at the same time?” She asked herself.

She sat on his bedside. “I wanted to see you the whole day but your room was always full with visitors. You’re well-loved, you know that?”

Chad bowed down. He was playing with his fingers. He does that when he’s excited and conscious at the same time. He looked back at Theresa. “I guess so,” he answered.

There was a moment of silence between the two.

Theresa was the first one to break the silence, “So, how are you feeling right now?”

“Better, especially now that you are here.” He smiled at her. “Did you like the flowers?”

“Yes, I think even the nurses liked the flowers, I keep hearing them talking about them, whispering how lucky I am to get your attention.” She narrated.

“Nah,” Chad interrupted. Then he quickly continued his sentence before Theresa could assume anything. “I am the one lucky to meet you, for you considering me to become your boyfriend.”

Theresa had to leave or else, she might end up kissing the guy. “I’ll have to go, I’ll come back to visit you after my rounds.” She excused herself and got up from Chad’s bedside.

However, Chad had something else in mind.

He pulled her hand and held her face. Chad kissed her quickly on the lips.

Theresa was caught surprised but ended up closing her eyes. She assumed that the kiss would be deeper, and would go longer than just a quick peck.

Chad realized that Theresa somehow expected more. He pulled her again, this time even closer. He held her face with both his hands and gave her a deep, lingering kiss.