My Sweet Escape

Taffy

Candy’s POV

A week has passed since that incident but to me it felt like a year. Too many things happened in a daze and my whole life is completely slipping through my fingers. I used up almost all of my savings to pay a lawyer. He advised me to settle the case with the husband of my patient. We paid him a big amount for damages but he still filed the case against me saying that the money is not for settlement but only for moral damages and for the loss lives.

I only have a few hundred bucks in my savings and I am completely jobless. The hospital refused to stand by me saying that I was on duty but went home at that time. Which makes me liable. I don’t know how much longer I can last. I can’t bear to see how people in the hospital treat me. I just want to get away from all this. My guilt is killing me. How long should I pay for this mistake? How much more should I pay to wash away this guilt in me? I need to escape this situation.

I found myself walking endlessly. Forgetting where I am really heading. Until I bumped into a motorbike parking in front of the bank. I just remembered that I was going there to check on my assets.

“Are you crazy or are you killing yourself?” Said that man on the motorbike. He took off his helmet as he looked at me with wide, angry eyes.

“I’m sorry.” I said softly and walked away. He didn’t say anything else. But I can’t help but notice how gorgeous the guy is. He is tall and fit. His eyes are charming and even if they look dismayed, they look kind and caring. I can’t help but look back at his direction as I see him still looking at me.

I entered the bank and spoke to the manager, whom I called for an appointment earlier.

“Hello, Sir.” I greeted.

“Hi, Candy.” He said. He used to call me doctor. Maybe he thinks that I will no longer be one which I think is a bad sign.

“I would like to check on my assets. How long do I still need to pay my car and my house?” I asked.

“There is still 1 year remaining to settle your car loan and 3 years for your house.”

“I am planning to leave the city. I want to sell them both. Can you help me?”

“You can’t sell them if they are still unpaid but I may be able to find away. You just need to keep your expectations low because it may not be easy and the selling rate will not be as much as you are expecting.”

“Okay, just give me a call.” I stood up and saw the motorbike guy enter the manager’s office after me.  He looks more stunning as he wipe away some drops of sweat from his forehead. His chiseled nose, cheek bones and jaw perfected his profile. His eyes were so charming. They were a pair of smiling eyes that are filled with too much emotions. I’ve never felt attracted to a stranger before. But he is such a head-turner. He also smelled exquisite as he left his scent when he passed by me.

“Hey brother, long time no see. Glad you came. How are the wedding preparations?”

I heard the manager said as I was walking away. “Oh, he’s getting married. Sigh.”

Dave’s POV

“Shsss!!! Somebody might hear you and get a wrong impression.” I cautioned Mark. He is the bank manager and my classmate in high school. We’ve been great friends since then and he’s been managing my personal finances. I came to this bank to check my accounts before I leave for Russia in a couple of weeks. But I was surprised to see Candy at the parking lot this earlier and in this bank. Wow! I think I’ve been bumping into her so many times in the past week. I’m not sure if we are fated to meet or have we been regularly bumping into each other in the past and we were just both unaware of our existence.

“My gosh, bro. I can’t believe you. Is there someone here who you are trying to impress? Are you with somebody?” Mark stood up and tried to look around to check if I was with someone.

“No! She just left, I think.” I said in full honesty.

“Who? Why didn’t you introduce her to me? I know from the start that Lisa is just for show. She’s really not your kind of girl.” Mark curiously asked.

He had no idea who I am interested in. But I have a great idea.

“Oh, by the way…I’m looking for a new investment. I want to give it to Alex before I leave…just a small bonus for his loyalty.”

“What are you looking for?

“I want to buy a car and an apartment. Not brand new though…maybe a used one will do…”I was describing the typical car and house of Candy. I want to help her anonymously. It’s the only gesture that I can do for her.

Mark took out a list of properties to be sold and auctioned and offered them to me. There were some photos, too.

“Well those are nice but seemed too expensive. I like the ones that are not in that list. There may have been many people who already visited those and I don’t like that. It’s for privacy concerns, you know. Don’t you have new ones that are just up for sale today?”

“Oh, yeah. I remember!  My client who just left is selling her car and apartment. I can call her so you can go ahead and take a look.”

Wait, Mark has her number? I excitedly thought…I am so close to getting her number but I should not let Mark get the hint that I am just helping her and is interested in her. So, I just let him do his thing. He searched for Candy’s number and called her. She placed the call on loudspeaker so I could hear. Darn! I got more excited like a kid upon hearing her voice.

“Hello, Mark? What’s up? She said.

“Hi! Well, about your plan of selling your apartment and car, I have a potential buyer with me now. Can you come back so you can talk to him?”

I panicked and signaled Mark not to do it. I don’t want her to know that I am the one who bumped into her and shouted at her. It just seemed so weird. So coincidental.

“Oh, sorry but I have a meeting with my lawyer in 10 minutes. Can I just get his number?

My, god! I can’t believe what I’m hearing. She will get my number. I am so thrilled about the idea of talking directly to her but I’m not sure…so I butted in to the convo.

“Mark, I will just let my assistant contact her and they could just meet and do the transactions.” I said in a cold and pretentious voice.

“Oh, that would be better, I will just wait for your update, Thanks!” Candy said.

Mark wrote Candy’s number on a piece of paper and I pretended to be uninterested to it but deep inside, I want to grab it at that instance and make sure that I save it on my contacts and memorize it as well. He handed the piece of paper to me which I just placed carelessly in my pocket. Then Mark gave me the reports about my accounts. I was no longer listening to him because I am so eager to get out and send Candy a text.

“Okay, that sounds fine.  I’ll just take the print outs and let Alex remind me from time to time.” I hurriedly stood up and thanked Mark. I went out of his office and checked the paper in my pocket. It was crumpled so I flattened it and saved in my contacts right away.

Then I tried to compose a good and convincing text message. I decided to pretend to be Alex. I'm uneasy to tell her my name coz she might be intimidate if she finds out in the future that I am helping her. She might get the wrong impression. 

“Hi! I’m Alex and I’m interested in….” Oh my god, what am I doing…I edited the text… I need to sound formal and business-like.

“Good day! I want to see your unit and car. Can you tell me how much you are selling? Can you give a good rate if I take them both?”

“Buzzz, buzz” My phone sounded. I can see her name. She replied. I’m like a kid who is about to open a present. Why am I so excited? Why is her effect so strong to me?