The Winter Clock

CHAPTER 32 – DON’T TALK TO ME

Ryther’s finger slowly rummaged from Reina’s shoulder down to her slim hand and slid down to her fingers that she did not notice bleeding heavily. The red fluid already stained her white gown. Reina probably got it from Vander’s ID when she pushed him a while ago. Reina flinched when she felt Ryther’s soft lips on her bleeding finger and his wet tongue covering it slowly. She wanted to pull her finger out, but Ryther tightened his grip. “T-Thorn-“She stopped, and her toes curled up when Ryther licked her wound. As soon as the blood stopped, Ryther slowly let go of her finger.

He then slowly leaned closer to Reina until his breath tingled her lips. Reina felt her fingers turn cold as she silently trembled. First, Vander and now, Ryther. What the hell is going with these two?!

Ryther slowly closed his eyes and leaned closer until his lips felt Reina’s soft, smooth lips. But instead of a warm feeling, he felt cold. He then stopped and opened his eyes. It was not Reina’s lips at all. It was her palm. Reina’s eyes narrowed as she covered Ryther’s lips and clenched his jaw.

“You two…” She whispered coldly. “Don’t you two dare to talk to me unless it is related to saving lives.” Ryther’s eyes widened with Reina’s words as she pushed Ryther away from her and quickly made her way to the door, leaving Ryther flabbergasted. She quickened her pace and tried to calm her racing heart. Her head was spinning now, not only because she did not take any rest after a hectic day but because of Vander and Ryther’s unusual behavior. They were close with each other, yes, but not up to that point. None of them must cross the boundary.

Reina frowned upon seeing Vander a few meters away from her with a pleading look plastered on his face.

“Dr. Rein”

“Silver”

Reina sighed deeply and shook her head firmly when the two held her two hands, pulling her to the opposite sides. She quickly shook it off and hid it in her pockets. “Let me make things clear here, guys. None of you will talk to me unless it is about saving lives.” She uttered with a warning tone and left as fast as she could. She went to the Doctor’s quarter, fished for her things, and went out. As soon as she was out, a firm hand grabbed her wrist. Seeing it was Vander, Reina rolled her eyes and snatched her hand away. Vander sighed deeply and ruffled his hair angrily.

Reina stepped out of the lift through the parking lot, still trying to calm her boiling blood. But as soon as she stepped out, Ryther blocked her way.

“Silver-“

Reina briskly walked and bumped her shoulder with Ryther’s shoulder, making him take a step back. He wanted to grab her and put her on the ground, but he knew that would only worsen the situation. When Ryther looked to where Reina was, she stepped on the as and drove with the wind.

“Arrghh!” Reina slapped her steering wheel angrily and ruffled her hair frustratedly. Her phone rang, and when she checked it, it was Ryther. She hissed and rejected the call. Another call came. It was Vander. She sighed deeply and rejected the call. Multiple calls came in, and all came from the same persons. “For earth’s sake.”

Reina looked at her watch, and the day was about to start, yet she did not even sleep a wink. She raised her palm and covered the light. Seeing her wounder finger, she remembered what Ryther did. “You’re disgusting.” She murmured and shuddered. For the nth time, her phone rang, making her boiling blood reach its peak as she stood up from her bed and reached for her phone.

“What?!” She shouted angrily, and her voice almost broke the other person’s eardrum.

“What on earth happened to you, Silver Rose?!”

Hearing the voice, Reina felt her throat dry. Oops, wrong person. She slowly looked at the caller’s ID and gulped. She gaped but closed her mouth after. “M-Mr. A?” She asked slowly as her voice faltered. She wanted to strangle herself.

“Yes.” Mr. A answered sarcastically. “You’re rude. Are you having your period or something?”

“I’m… sorry” Reina paused as she apologized. She held her head that spins for a while now. “Why did you call?” She asked and scratched the bridge of her nose in embarrassment. She heard Mr. A sigh deeply on the other line and rummaged some papers on his table.

“A press conference will be held, and the three of you are requested to be interviewed since your fame has been rising since Natalie’s death.” Mr. A explained swiftly. “It will be held tomorrow. Are you free?” He added. But instead of being encouraged, Reina’s mood dimmed.

“No, I’m not.”

Mr. A stopped. “What? I think I heard you wrong.” Reina shook her head though he could not see it.

“You heard me right, Mr. A. You said it yourself, our fame’s rising. That means the number of our patients is rising as well, and I don’t want to waste my time sitting still and answering scripted-ly.” She retorted, emphasizing her last self-made word.

“But-“

“Besides, I’m an Anesthesiologist. Tell the two to respond to the interview since they were the ones who actually operate.” She blurted out sheepishly and rolled on the other side of her bed.

“Well, you’re the one who pursues the operation. You know the people’s-“He stopped, realizing Reina could not tell the press that she could see people’s death time.

“See? It’s useless. So, I don’t want to waste my time with it. Goodnight.” With that, Reina ended the call, put her phone in flight mode, and tried to sleep fitfully.

“Brat!” Mr. A shouted and threw his phone on the settee a few meters away from him. He tried to call Reina multiple times after she ended the call, but he could not reach her. Ryther and Vander, who were sitting at the two edges of the settee, sighed depressingly. Ryther rests his head on the upper part of the settee, and Vander rests on the armrest. Both wore an unexplainable expression. Mr. A scowled.

“What on earth… did the two of you do to her?” He asked with a sharp tone. Ryther and Vander lifted their head and looked at each other. Both sighed profoundly and rolled their eyes in unison, looking away from each other with a slumped body. Mr. A shook his head helplessly.

“Yeah, yeah. No words needed, you jerks.” Mr. A slammed his body on his chair and rested his two legs on top of his table, not minding the scattered paperwork. “Now what?”

~ Don’t rush things out. You may regret the result in the end. ~