His Memories of Her

48th

“Did you hear that Dr. Altman brought his son? He is so cute!” One of the nurse in pediatric said.

“Really? Is that true Dr. Karev?” Another nurse said to Dr. Karev who is doing early rounds for Dr. Stevens with one of her baby patient.

“Yeah. It is true.” Karev said.

Is what I heard while I stand on the entrance of the NICU. It made me smile as to how does that guy become her son when the truth is he is her nephew.

“Good morning Dr. Altman.” Another nurse said who is also about to enter the NICU.

“Good morning.” I said smiling to her before I completely step in, but more like forced to because now the gossiping ground of people is looking towards me with an awkward gaze on them towards me.

“Good morning Dr. Altman.” Dr. Karev said.

“Good morning Dr. Karev.” I said back as I walk towards him as it is also one of my patients. An eight months old baby who has problem with heart and had liquid in brain as one of the preterm complications.

“Why did you not correct them?” I added while looking at the chart of the kid.

“Correct them? Why?” he said that made me wonder.

“That, that kid is her nephew and not son.” I said back.

Dr. Karev look at me, stare at me for a moment before he said “We both know that there are a lot of men aiming for her, the fewer knows that she is single the better.” Dr. Karev said which I think made sense, well only half as I am sure when time passes by and no father shows up, a lot of opinion about her will change.

“Well, that is for the both of us.” He added that surprised me and made me look at him as he pack his things and leaves, leaving me speechless about what I just heard.

“He is also aiming for her? But she is his boss.” I said to myself and feeling there would be possible outcome for him.

But then again, thinking that they spent more time together than anybody else could make things go smoother than I thought between them.

I suddenly felt the urge of not wanting to lose this battle and said to myself “Well that is something I will not let happen.” Before I remove him from my sight be turning towards to Noah, the baby we have.

“Uncle Henry!” a voice called out to me, seems like a kid's voice and by that I could already guess who is calling me on my way to lunch after finishing my morning rounds and consults just like every morning when there is no emergency surgery to do.

I look back and see Ryu running towards me after letting go of Catherine’s hand. My eyes went wide as it surprised me and said “Do not run! You might get hurt!” and runs towards him as well so I could meet him closer to Catherine who is also trying to catch up to these unbelievably fast runner kid.

Thankfully I am a tall person, the normal two steps of a normal person take half of mine that I caught him just after steps away from Catherine making me doubt if it is because of my legs or his, which are short making him take small steps.

“Sorry about that.” Catherine said as she caught up to us.

I took Ryu into my arm and said “It is nothing.” Before turning to the giggling Ryu in my arm and said “Do not do that again. What if a bad man came in the middle and just take you away?” I said.

He looks at me and pout making me feel the urge that I was not able to control, my hand reaching his cheek that became bumps as he pouts inhaling some air first and said “This is a hospital, there are only sick people and good doctors.” In defense.

I look at Catherine who is sighing to the simple thought this little human have in mind. I smile and said “We do not know that. And even if that is true, what if you bump into something? All of the things in here are dangerous being sharp or heavy. Have you thought of that? What if you hurt your head that is most likely to happen?” looking at him and waiting for his answer.

“Then you will have to fix me. You are the best so I am sure you will do great.” He said that made me speechless and happy.

I look at Catherine behind him who also look so surprise with her eyes wide open. I chuckle a bit and before I said “That is not that simple. You will make everyone worry about you. Your father and mother and yeah mommy Cath. I am so sure that they would cry in worry. Do you want that? They would be worry sick even if I can fix you.”

Ryu who look at me surprise from what he just heard suddenly change his expression to being sorry. Which he turn his head and said to his mommy Cath and said “I am so sorry. I will never do it again.”

“You have said that the first time you came here and went running away, making me to suddenly take a sudden tour in this hospital on my first day.” Catherine said with her stern voice that somehow made Ryu stiffen a little bit. “But I am not mad since it seems like this time you finally understand the danger that could happen to you.” She added and tip toed to kiss Ryu on his cheek.

“I do. That is why I will not do it again. I am so sorry too Uncle Henry.” He said softly before giving me a kiss on my cheek.

I am not sure why this young man is acting like this to me, like we did not just met today, like he have known me for a long time, enough to give me kisses.

“And as peace offering, I would like to invite you to lunch. Although I do not have money.” He suddenly blurted out pulling out the only pocket he has, the one on his shirt on his chest before he shakes his hands.

“Then why are you inviting him if you do not have any money to pay for his share?” Catherine said trying to hold back his giggles just like how I am trying my best to hold my laughter, saying in stern voice.

“Well, you can treat him and me, you have cards in your wallet. And if that is also no good, then I guess I have no other choice but to call daddy so he could send some money to you.” Ryu said full of seriousness in his voice like it is a big deal of a problem if he could not treat me to lunch.

Hearing him said that, I finally lost control of my emotions as my laughter came out, although I suppress the volume of it since we are in the hospital, still I laugh so hard that I did not notice that Catherine look so red and pale in just a span of one second. She looks at him with disbelief and sigh in defeat.

I continue laughing and when I finally calm down, I said “Should I lend you my phone so that you could call your daddy?” letting out the clever thought I have in mind and it seems successful as Catherine shifted his gaze on me, turning the disbelief eyes into glares.

“Let’s do that!” Ryu said in agreement, punching the air like he won something.

“But do you have his number?” I said testing until when thing young man could continue this thing he started.

He looks at me, straight into my eyes for a good amount of time before he turned and look at his auntie and did the same thing before he shake his head and said “No, no, no, she would not give me.” That I needed to hold my mouth as I feel like another laugh will come out. It is just that, the way he looked at Catherine, testing or should I say weighing something in his mind, the yes or no that Catherine would say, and the way he finally found his conclusion which is no she would not. It is a sight that I never thought I would see.

“But that is not a problem since I prepared for times like this, when I have no one to rely on but myself.” He said that the chuckles of mine started to emerge while looking at Catherine who seems to be disbelieving so many things with her nephew. “So I memorize my parents' numbers.” He added which surprised me.

“How about mine?” Catherine’s voice suddenly came out sounding like a sulking kid, testing her intuition.

“No.” Ryu simply said while looking at me. He stayed quiet while Catherine also did the same thing while looking so pained. “No, of course I would not forget yours.” He added in teasing tone while turning his head looking towards his aunt who suddenly changed, her expression suddenly lighten up like celebrating that her intuition is true after all.

I smile to the sight of them and most of all this side of Catherine that I have never known until this moment. The cute side of her. Well, she has been cute for me, but it is just that, seems like I am the only one seeing those cute side and cute things in her. Which is so different right now, she looks so cute that I know whoever is seeing her us right now would think that she is no doubt cute.

“Looking at us?!” I exclaimed in my mind and started looking around and is shock seeing that everyone, even the passing ones are murmuring to each other and I could feel that another gossip has been born.

“Why do we not hurry? I will just pay this time and when you come visit with your parents, you can treat me then?” I said as I feel like we have taken enough attention from everyone.

“Great idea!” Ryu said to which I nod and look at Catherine whom surprisingly nods as well in agreement.

I know that our voices were low but I am not so sure if no one heard us, heard enough to understand of what we were talking about.

“Uncle Henry, do you have a girlfriend?” Ryu suddenly said, a question that is out of nowhere as we walk out of the hospital heading to the restaurant that is the nearest from the hospital since we are still in our scrubs, both of us, me and Catherine.

“Why do you suddenly ask?” I said smiling to him. Keeping him safe in my arm which is already getting numb.

Ryu is a chubby kid which made him so cute in each and every expression his face his making because of those bumpy cheeks and pouty pink lips. But he seems to be healthy as I could feel his heartbeat that is in normal rate, his pupils that looks great to me.

“Nothing, I am just wondering. You are a famous surgeon, handsome and kind. So, I know there are a lot of girls going crazy about you.” He said back making me frown from what I just heard from him.

“How can you say that I am famous?” I said, saying outlook the thing that made me frown.

“I saw you in four different health magazines.” He said that surprised me.

“Where?” I said getting more curious.

“In mommy Cath's room back in Japan.” He said that shocked me and I could tell also Catherine as she suddenly look at us with wide eyes and questions in her gaze.

“Is that so? So she has been reading about me?” I said in teasing tone making Catherine’s gaze turn into me.

“That was when I was still in neuro. I was just interested in your studies. And since I wanted to learn, I read them all.” She said, blurted out in defense in a little high voice.

Ryu and I look at her. While I look at her with smile, Ryu looked at her giggling, covering his mouth.

“I do not have a girlfriend but I have someone I am interested.” I said making them both turn silent.

“Is she a great woman?” Ryu said after a couple of minutes.

“We will talk about that later. For now let’s eat first.” I said while smirking a little as the expression Catherine have made me feel like to.