Unluckily Fated With the Billionaire

Encounter 12: Truth.

“Pleasant evening, Doctor.” A devil greeted me while waving his hands as I got outside the clinic.

Murder is okay. Your feelings matter, Zairiel Celeste.

Before I could even delve into such bad thoughts, my eyebrows had started furrowing and the tone of my voice turned into something that wasn’t certainly nice.

“What are you doing here, Mr. Mirren? I was certain I'd told you earlier that I can go to the hospital myself.” I sassed at him, but he didn’t even falter one bit. Rather, he seemed much more amused than he was earlier.

“I’m already sick of repeating it, but alright. You’re the key to all of my troubles, right?” He rebutted. Why does he make that sound romantic? Or is it just me?

Oh God, I still must be sick, or maybe I really am sick in the head. I need to have that scan now.

“And how does that concern with accompanying me to have an MRI scan?” I replied back. What’s his logic?

“Ah, really. I’ve said this already but your logic is bad for a very well-known psychologist.”

HA, now he dares attack my way of thinking and profession?

“Doctor. If only you weren’t engaged and treated me more kindly, I would’ve already thought that you’re only acting clueless to lengthen our conversation because you want to hear my voice.” He teased, a smirk fit for a devil incarnate flashing from him.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name—

I immediately took off my heels then threateningly aimed it at him, making him shriek.

“F*ck, alright, alright! Why are you so feisty!” He panicked as he tried to shield himself if I ever tried to seriously throw my weapon at him. “It’s like this. If I accompany you to get the scan, I’ll be able to know what really happened to you. If I do, I’ll be able to open up to you, hopefully, fix my issues in the future, and unravel whatever mystery is behind you. Win-win, right? Now, please, let’s go. It’s cold, I’ve been waiting here for almost an hour already.” He said in one breath. He looked like he had just run a marathon after he spoke. And why was him waiting here for so long my fault?

“Unravel whatever mystery is behind me?” I said, repeating what he said earlier in an attempt to clarify what he meant. Does he think I’m a crime scene to solve while he acts as detective?

F*ck you, Sherlock Holmes-wannabe.

“I actually have a hunch about you, and I can only confirm it once you take the scan. Please?” He said, his tone sounding like he had just given up. Does he think I’ll fall for his trick, begging like that?

“Ugh. To the hospital where you brought me last time.” I said and immediately turned my back at him as I headed for my own car. I even heard him mutter a ‘what?’ before he recovered and opened his own car.

As we drove, his car just in front of mine, I could see many heads of drivers and passersby turn just to look at his car. I mean, who wouldn’t look if you’re driving a blindingly shiny Mercedes Maybach S-Class?

What a show-off. But considering he’s a billionaire with a good reputation and business skills, then it might make up for all that. I’m really just judgmental. I thought as I shook my head, trying to erase the thoughts. Based on what I’ve heard and seen on the internet, he’s famous not only for his surname and looks, but also because he’s highly respected in the business world for having such skills at such a young age.

When we arrived at the hospital, I felt my heart beating wildly, not because I was scared of the procedure, but because I was scared of what we might find out. On the opposite, Liam looks very relieved. Should I feel special that I’m somehow the reason for that?

Oh God, I really need that scan now. I think my head’s broken.

As we walked in the seemingly endless white hallway, I finally asked the question I’d been meaning to ask earlier.

“You have another reason for accompanying me here, don’t you?” I asked, and he paused at the question. Got him.

“You psychologists just know everything, don’t you?” He sighed. I didn’t reply, but inside, I was grinning wildly at the not-so-compliment. “I wanted to take you out for dinner.”

“WHAT?” I exclaimed, dramatically coming into a halt.

“What the— don’t panic, doctor, I swear! I have innocent reasons!” He exclaimed, both of his hands raised in the air. I didn’t reply and just raised an eyebrow at him. “Based on how you treat me with such hostility, I’m aware I’ve been such a jerk to you. Also, remember the hotline chaos we had on the first times we talked with each other? I know I’ve already apologized for that—“

“Huh? When did you?” I asked, cutting whatever he was saying.

“—yeah, that. So, as compensation and apology… I wanted to treat you to something nice.” He said, ducking his head shyly after he realized what his impromptu speech just meant.

“Oh come on, you’re a billionaire, you can do better than that! Buy me a house and lot or give me millions of money, you know?” I teased, trying to celebrate the fact that I saw the ever mischievous Liam Mirren get shy.

“Hmm, yeah? Since I’m a mighty rich, sexy, and handsome billionaire, should I do that?” He teased back, but I’m sure he wasn’t only teasing at all. He’s bragging! I’ll never win with him in this game, seriously.

“Ugh, that gave me chills. Just treat me to dinner instead.”

"Dinner it is."

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The time had dreadingly come.

It has been 45 minutes since I got inside the MRI machine, and now, I sit beside Liam as we wait for the doctor to bring the results. I’ve been silent the whole wait because I was truly nervous, and thankfully, Liam seemed to have gotten the message and didn’t bother me for a bit as he also silently sat down. It took a few more minutes before he finally spoke.

“Doctor. If we ever find out something in your test that would help with my condition, will you really help me?” He hesitantly asked me.

“To be honest with you? I’m actually scared of what I’ll find out. But if it would help ease another person, then why not? It’s literally my job.” I answered.

“That’s the psychologist speaking. What about Zairiel Mendez herself only?” He asked. My eyes grew wide at what he just said. That was the first time he’s ever called my name, not ‘doctor’ or ‘Dr. Mendez.’ I found myself not able to speak for a few moments, and Liam seemed quite downcast after not hearing an answer from me.

“I’d still help you. It’s not like the psychologist in me is a split persona, you know? I help people as a psychologist because I myself, as a person, as Zairiel Mendez, would like to.” I finally said. Liam’s eyes went wide when I finally spoke, and I could see a smile, a genuine smile slowly emanating from him. His smile captured my attention and I couldn’t help but helplessly stare at him as I felt butterflies.

I was only able to snap out of it when the doctor let out a small cough to get our attention. He guided us inside his office and ushered us to sit down.

The wild beating of my heart just got stronger as the doctor organized the files on his desk. When I came to observe the doctor’s reaction from when we were outside up ‘til now, it looked like he had something very serious to say. Curse me and this heightened empathy of mine.

“It’s nice to see you again, Dr. Mendez. I see you’re here with Mr. Mirren again. If only you saw the panic on his face when he brought you he—“

“Doctor!” Liam whined before the doctor could even finish his sentence. The two of them seemed quite close with the way the doctor comfortably teases and talks with him and the way Liam whines like a kid in front of him.

He… panicked when I fainted? The newfound information made me snicker… and blush?

FOCUS, ZAIRIEL CELESTE!

“Anyway, Doctor Mendez, may I ask you something?” The doctor started the questioning. Here it goes.

“Ask away, doc,”

“Did you have any serious accident or injury back then?” He asked. I felt my head throb a little at what he said as I prepared to answer him.

“Yes. My car collided with a tree when I was on my way to university five years ago. But the doctors said that it was lucky I didn’t have any serious problems and injuries except for some bruises on my head, but they said it was all external.” I explained. The doctor’s eyebrows furrowed at what I said and the same goes for Liam. They looked very confused.

Now I feel something very bad coming.

“What hospital did you get admitted to?”

“If I remember it right, I think it was in Capitol Medical Center,” I said, racking my memories of the past. Liam’s aura definitely felt different now, and the frown on his eyebrows started getting worse. Is he trying to connect the dots now?

“Doctor Mendez, are you really sure that’s all they told you? You’re not getting your memories wrong?” He asked, trying to make sure what I was saying was all correct, which they are.

“Yes. That was what the doctors there and my friends told me.” I assured.

“Can you elaborate on how you felt when you woke up after that incident?”

“Uh… I think I felt very dizzy that time when I opened my eyes, and my boyfriend and a friend of mine, Lucas and Charlotte, were the first people I saw. At first, I wasn’t able to recognize who they were, but a little later, I finally did. Everything went normal after that.” I elaborated. I still remember the shock on their faces when I asked them “who are you?” when I saw them. Charlotte nearly murdered me out of relief when I finally recognized them.

“Did you feel any throbbing pain in your head after that?”

“No, I didn’t. The first time I experienced such was several days ago when Mr. Mirren here told me some cursed words or chants. Then I got admitted here yesterday when I fainted because of the throbbing pain like my head was being split in half. The same thing happened the last day when I was at home.” I said and glared at Liam, but he didn’t even budge. He had a very serious look on his face and I was already getting intimidated and scared.

“What did you tell her, Mr. Mirren?” The doctor turned his direction at Liam.

“Ligaya Drive, 5 years ago, a 2015 Subaru Impreza,” Liam said, the words ringing in my head. The doctor’s eyes went wide at what he said and he looked like he had formulated something.

“That’s all he told you? And you faint after that? Are there no other factors that could've contributed to your head throbbing and fainting?”

“None, I’m sure of it. Before I faint, those words would repeat in my head like a broken record and then a blurred image of a girl would appear, then it’s all black.” I said, and Liam gasped beside me.

F*ck, the anxiety and nervousness inside me were becoming too much. The atmosphere was too tense.

“Listen, Doctor Mendez. I don’t know the full events of what happened back then nor what the Capitol Medical Center was doing, but what they told you was all false.” The doctor said seriously. Oh, God.

“Doctor, I think you’re suffering from retrograde amnesia.”