Unluckily Fated With the Billionaire

Encounter 10: Goodbye, Dignity

“Babe, are you alright? You looked like you were having a very bad dream.” Lucas worriedly said as he was observing me. “I think so, but I don’t remember the dream anymore,” I told him, but it wasn’t the truth. I don’t know, but there was something telling me not to inform him of what I'd dreamt about even though it wasn’t that bad nor concerning. He was just staring at me until many notification bells came ringing on his phone.

“Lucas, I think you have something urgent going on,” I said as I ushered him to get his phone which still hadn’t stopped ringing.

“Let it be, it’s not that important.” He said, completely ignoring the annoying phone. He excused himself to get water for me, not until a call came from his phone.

“Babe, seriously. Just answer it.” He hesitated for a little while before he eventually gave in and answered his phone. He whispered an ‘office, excuse me' to my direction before he went out of my room.

It’s only been three minutes when he came back. I couldn’t seem to read what was going on in his mind and his expressions when he came back. Did something bad happen?

“What is it? You seem very wary, Lucas.”

“A-ah, there was a little delay on the project we were working on, and it’s now becoming quite a hassle. But we’ll be fine, nothing big to worry about.” He reassured me, but my knowledge of human behavior wasn’t buying it. There definitely was something wrong.

I was trying to observe him subtly as he was scrolling on his phone when I suddenly remembered something.

“Did you and Charlotte fix that fight between the two of you last time at the homecoming?” I asked out of the blue, and I definitely saw him flinch as his body went rigid. He wasn’t able to answer for a few seconds.

He and Charlotte had the same reaction when I saw them fighting at the university. Although I’ve done my best to try to convince them to tell me what happened between them, they wouldn’t tell and told me that it was something that concerned only the two of them, and they wouldn’t want me to get dragged into their mess. I actually got hurt a little by that since the three of us had been together and trusted each other ever since college, but wouldn’t even tell me their problems.

I just let it go and let them fix it themselves after that as it seemed that there was no chance they were going to tell me.

“Yeah, it wasn’t really that deep, just a petty fight about things, you know?” He said and flashed his bright smile towards me.

Lie.

Sometimes I really don’t know if I should be thankful for my knowledge of how human behavior works or not. It certainly has benefits, like knowing when a person is lying or not, but knowing so hurts me sometimes. Like now.

I think Lucas is forgetting the fact that I’m a psychologist.

But, I decided not to pry anymore. If he won’t tell me, then I’ll do the right, rational thing.

Investigate it myself.

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It’s been two days since that encounter with Liam at the clinic, meaning it’s already been two days that my head throbs every now and then because of those words he said. After I dreamt of that girl when I fainted, I kept on seeing her on my mind, but her face just becomes blurry anytime, as if they don’t like me to remember who she is.

As expected, Liam came to the clinic today. Opposite to his glum expression the last time, the cocky vibe surrounding him had come back. He was smiling mischievously when he entered, as if he hadn’t just ruined my two days.

“Good afternoon, doctor.” He said, flashing his signature grin. “Nothing’s good in the afternoon. Please, sit down Mr. Mirren.” I greeted back.

“You seem to be in a bad mood.” His eyebrows furrowed, but there was no doubt, he was definitely looking amused. Have I done something very bad in my past life that the Gods gave me this person to meet?

“Thanks, Captain Obvious,” I said, trying my best to stop rolling my eyes. “So, would you like to share something with me today about your condition?”

“Doctor, have I forgotten to tell you?” He said, creases appearing on his forehead. Well, they really weren’t that noticeable. This man doesn’t look like he’s 30 nor does he look like he’s aging.

“About what?”

“I told you, you’re the only one with direct involvement in what has happened. You’re the key to all of these.” Here we go again with that somehow cryptic statement of his again. “I can only open and clear things up once you’ve done it yourself. I gave you the keywords last time, didn’t I?” At what he said, my head started throbbing again, his words repeating in my head as the girl kept on appearing again and again. Worry and alertness started showing on his face when I held my head tightly and closed my eyes shut. I tried not to show it in front of him, a patient and my enemy, but I couldn’t stop it.

“Doctor? Hey, Dr. Mendez, are you alright?” He said as he held my arms to support me.

“F*ck. Were those words s-some kind of curse or chant? I’ve b-been like this for two days because of those, y-you know?” I weakly muttered even though I was trying my best not to get shaken up.

“I knew it.”

“ What the f*ck did you kno—“ I was in the middle of cursing him when I'd turned my face to his. When I got a look at his face, my head started hurting more as if it was getting split up, until―

Black.

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“Doctor, you’re finally awake!” I heard someone exclaim in a muffled voice. When my eyes finally got to adjust to the blinding white light, I realized that it was Ella, my secretary.

I was just about to sit up when I smelled something faint and had to run to the bathroom without falling on my knees.

Unfortunately, I did. F*ck. My dignity.

“DOCTOR!” Ella exclaimed when she saw what happened, then tried supporting me so that I could stand up. But before she could, the door opened loudly and Liam Mirren showed up.

“I heard some— what happened? Are you alright, doctor?” He said, then immediately went to take over Ella’s place then assisted me. Before tragedy could even happen, I quickly observed my surroundings and realized that I was in a hospital room. When I finally saw the bathroom, I mustered all my strength, then pushed Liam with all my might, then ran.

“What― HEY!” He exclaimed when he finally recovered from the shock. Before he could even follow me inside, I warned him.

“If you don’t wanna see something unsightly, I advise you to stay away from here,” I said before everything started spilling out. He must’ve got the message since everything went silent outside, and only the loud sound of me vomiting could be heard.

Quite shameless, right? But anyway.

When I finished, I heard some shuffling outside before the door of the bathroom opened, and Liam came to bring me water. Looks like he has a bad luck today since I still wasn’t able to clean up the mess I made.

I wasn’t supposed to laugh, but the way his face paled and the little gag that came out of him when he saw it made me snicker. Our pretty billionaire here’s quite sensitive, huh?

By the looks of him, he was trying not to look and made himself strong as he handed me the glass of water. When he did, he immediately got out.

“Doctor, what the f*ck, clean up your mess!” He shouted as he got out.

“F*ck you too, you’re the cause of all of this! And who told you to just barge in when you know someone just spilled their guts out?” I retorted. Yes, everything is his fault. No doubt.

“Uh, guys? The doctor’s here. And, uh… me too.” I heard someone awkwardly say, and I actually forgot that Ella was also present in the room!

Goodbye, my dignity. Goodbye, my reputation.

To not taint my dignity more, I silently cleaned up my mess and got out of the bathroom while I hung my head low. I could feel Liam’s piercing stares, but the shame I had right now was more important that I can’t give him any flying f*ck. After the doctor checked up on me, he said that I was alright but I needed to rest for a little more in the hospital.

“Doctor Mendez, we might be health professionals but we aren’t invincible humans, hmm?” The doctor told me. He must’ve seen my lab coat or saw me on TV. “I know that, doctor. Promise, I do. I take care of myself, but a particular someone cursed me that’s why I’m being like this for two days now.” I said as I subtly glared at that certain someone. He immediately diverted his gaze on the floor and I even heard him mutter something.

“What’s this? Floor? Interesting.”

This jerk, seriously.

“I believe you. Your tests have shown that you’re really healthy. But, later, would you mind taking further tests and an MRI scan?” He said. I furrowed my eyebrows for a little while but agreed. There must be something wrong with my head that I’m being like this, so taking tests might be much better.

But, the weird thing was the way Liam’s eyes widened and brightened up at the mention of me taking tests and an MRI scan, as if he’d benefit from it.

But, he may do. If he wasn’t bluffing with me earlier with his cryptic ‘you’re the only one with direct involvement in this case and everything would start with you,’ then, it might really be a good thing to help both of us.

“ZAI!” Three people shouted as the door opened widely, startling the heck out of us.

God. I don’t know these people, seriously. How much would my dignity get tarnished today?