Here Comes Trouble!

Later that day, the rest of our group visited me. It became rather noisy with twelve boys in a room that a nurse had to come to shut us up.

"""Sorry."'" we all said in unison and bowed.

"We'll keep it down." said Kyle.

The nurse just nodded and closed the door. It was silent at first, probably because of the awkwardness, but we burst out chuckling afterwards.

"By the way," said Dean who was the first one to recover. "CEO Kim seem to be stressed about something. Something about our debut getting delayed?"

"Oh yeah, I heard CEO Kim arguing with someone on the phone this morning." agreed Coby.

"I'm sorry guys." I said with guilt. "This is my entire fault."

"What? Lei, don't say that." responded Xander. "How is this your fault?"

"If only I didn't get injured, we would've been on schedule."

I was suddenly bopped in the head. I looked up and saw Kyle.

"Idiot, no one's blaming you." everyone voiced out their agreement. "If you hadn't dislocated your foot and shoulder, you would've collapsed because of your waist. And it would've been too late."

"Kyle-ge." I called; ge is an endearment in Chinese. It means older brother. "Everyone, xie xie."

The next day, Leo and Xander visited and they both looked frantic.

"What's wrong with you two?"

"CEO Kim just gave us a month's worth of vacation." Xander answered in a frantic tone. "Not just us but all the trainees under MM Entertainment was given a vacation."

"Ha?"

"Xander's right. This morning, he told us about it. Everyone was very surprised."

My mind drifted to Artemis no, Doctor Hunter, because she was the one insistent with us – me in particular – to have rest.

The door opened and our youngest member, Seth, came in.

"You will not believe this."

"Good morning to you too Seth." I greeted with sarcasm.

"Oh annyeong haseyo Lei-hyung." he bowed. "Anyway, you would not believe what just happened."

""What?""

"So, I played around on my computer a while ago and found out how that lady doctor persuaded CEO Kim into giving us vacation." I could already imagine his eyes sparkling.

"How?"

"She just bought 25% of MME's share."

We were all agape to respond. I knew her and the Artemis I knew were similar to an extent, but I wasn't expecting that one. But then again, we never really had corporate and conglomerate systems in Agymista.

"Twenty-five percent?" Xander questioned.

"Wouldn't that mean she has become MME's major shareholder?" Leo said in realization.

"Why would she buy 25% of MME's shares in the first place?"

"I didn't buy it." said a very familiar voice. We all turned to the door and saw Doctor Hunter and a nurse. "I just asked my father to ask a few of his friends to transfer their shares of the company in my name and in return, I'll give them tidbits of my shares in Lesfar Industries, Celestine Group and Chrishni Group."

The room was wrapped in silence.

"I'm here to check on you." she strode inside and went to my side. "Does your waist still hurt?"

"A bit."

"Give him some painkillers." she said to the nurse. "A specialist will arrive later to discuss about the therapy on your waist. You better be attentive or it'll be a waste that I acquired 25% of MME's shares just to convince CEO Kim."

"Why did you do that?" I asked.

"Your father, no, even my father and your brother asked me to take care of you when they found out about this. And I'm doing just that."

"Wait, aren't you a doctor? Why do you have company shares?"

"Is there something wrong with that? I even have shares in your family's wealth you know." she turned to the nurse. "You can leave now."

We stared at each other for a few seconds before Seth interrupted us.

"Uhm, do you two perhaps, know each other?"

""No."" we answered at the same time.

"Then why are you doing all this?" asked Xander.

"Well, even if we're total strangers, we would've been married if he didn't cancel the engagement." she answered nonchalantly. "Now that I think about it, we never really formally introduced each other."

That time, I really wanted to find a hole and just hide there, but my friends' expressions were more interesting. If jaws could drop to the floor, theirs were probably down there already.

"Guys, flies might get in."

Leo was the first one to recover.

"You two were engaged?" he exclaimed.

"Since I was nine, I think. But he called it off a few months ago, so not anymore."

"You wanted to call it off as well!" I defended. That was what happened!

"Well, I told dad that if you agreed we would proceed with the marriage, but if you decided to call it off, then I would call it off as well. He didn't say that?"

"He never mentioned anything."

"Guys! You two used to be engaged?!" our da ge (eldest brother) was still not over it.

"It was in the past, and I do care for my patients you know. If I could do something to make them better, I will."

I couldn't help but smile. Sure I would compare her with Artemis sometimes, but Doctor Hunter was amazing on her own way. And I think for the first time since I was born in this world, I finally had a crush on someone.

"Thank you." I gave her a sweet smile.

***

After a month of vacation (for my friends) and therapy (for me), I was finally going back to the company to continue my training.

I was in Doctor Hunter's office and I was waiting for her to arrive. While waiting, I looked around. I saw photographs of her and a lot of other people, some I know or at least in my past life.

There was a photo of her on her graduation day, a photo of her and her family, another one was of her and her younger brother Niccolo.

'I wonder how he's doing.'

I was quite close with the Niccolo in my previous life.

I was surprised to see a photo of her and Lucas, her stepbrother, though.

'That bast-'

I composed myself. I did remember how he tortured Tim and me just to make Artemis agree to marry him, although he seemed like a nice guy in the photo. All of a sudden, I noticed a very strange photo…

"Found something interesting?"

I turned around and saw Doctor Hunter.

"I studied some form of martial arts when I was young, so my body and senses are trained, but I could neither feel nor hear you enter." I stated.

"Quite blunt you are, Mister Zhang. Well, I did as well, but I guess we trained in different types. Anyway, please take a seat. I wouldn't advice you getting back to practice immediately. A few days rest could do or maybe you could go back to China and recuperate for another month." I was about to retort, but she beat me to it. "But I know you wouldn't agree to that, so the only thing I can tell you is that to never miss your monthly check-up, okay?"

"Thanks doc."

"A patient should listen to his doctor but you're just one stubborn individual."

"I should say the same thing to you. You even went as far as buy 25% of MME's shares just to persuade CEO Kim to give us a vacation." I retorted with a smirk.

"Psh. It wasn't like that at all. I also wanted to know how to handle shares from an entertainment company! And besides, that guy's a total to- Ehem! Anyway I shall see you on the twenty-seventh of every month okay?"

"I thought you're a general surgeon though and a resident."

"Just shut up and say yes."

"Yes doc."

I arrived at the dorm that night and found a surprise party waiting for me.

""Welcome back!"" they all greeted.

I could only smile as we partied 'til midnight.

Once the party was over, everyone went to sleep, but not me. I was in the balcony and watched the busy streets of Seoul, South Korea.

"You're not going to sleep yet?" said another person who wasn't asleep yet either, Kyle. He sat next to me. "I heard from Manager-ge that our debut will be pushed back to June instead of April. And don't say sorry, it's not your fault."

"Xie xie ge." but then I remembered something. "Hey Kyle-ge, how are you related to Doctor Hunter?"

He went still for a minute before looking up to the starry sky.

"How did you know I was connected to her? Did she tell you?"

"No, I saw a picture of you two in her office."

Yeah. The strange picture that caught my attention was of Kyle and Doctor Hunter. The two of them seemed really happy and close in the picture.

"Why didn't you just ask her?"

I was the one who went still. If I considered Doctor Hunter's straightforward attitude she would've told me. Getting answers from an enigmatic tree like Kyle was bleak.

"No need to think about it too much. I will tell you." he took a deep breath. "Artemis and I are siblings. She's my half-sister to be exact."

"Huh? Aren't Leo and Blake the ones who are supposed to be related to her? Why is it Kyle?" I mumbled, but I noticed the strange look he was giving me. "But then again, this is a parallel world, so things re bound to be different."

"You're being strange again, you do realize that?" he commented.

"Please forget about what just happened."

He was silent, but then he nodded.

"Anyway, Artemis and I have the same mother, but her father doesn't know about me, I think. Imagine the chaos that will happen if he finds out." he said in a joking manner. "My father's family, the Hongs, is a competition of Uncle Victor's business here in Asia. And considering the dark side of their family, he's only tolerating us because we have ties with your family, the Zhangs."

"Knowing Uncle Victor? He probably knew already and is just not doing anything because of Artemis. Or he doesn't know yet, but he'll find out about it soon."

"Probably, but imagining it could actually happen. It's scary."

I didn't know why, but after he said all that, I actually let out a sigh of relief.

"You seem relieved. You thought we were in some sort of romantic relationship or something?"

I shook my head frantically and faster than I intended to.

He just chuckled. "You're really obvious, you know that?"

"What do you mean obvious?"

"And dense too." I raised an eyebrow. "Lei, if you like my sister, I'll support you."

"What nonsense are you talking about? This is no time to be joking, Kyle-ge."

I kept ranting at him I didn't even notice I already switched language. Not Mandarin, but Rexon, my mother tongue in my previous life. When I did realize it, I clamped my mouth shut.

"You're acting really strange. You should get some sleep or it could worsen."

"Yeah. I'll go to sleep now."

Practice resumed and I had to say, I was better. My waist didn't hurt anymore while dancing and doing some routines.

For the next few months, I would always see Doctor Hunter and a therapist for my check-up. And every time the two of us see each other, she showed me different sides of her.

I didn't know when it exactly started, but by the time I realized it, I had already fallen deeper for her than I intended to.

One time, I visited her in the hospital. I entered her office and saw her staring at the computer monitor cutely. She was no longer a resident but a fellow, so she had her own office.

Our gazes suddenly locked at each other and she composed herself.

"Mister Zhang! What are you doing here? It's not the twenty-seventh yet."

"I know. I'm here for something else."

"Have a seat. What is it?"

"It's Seven's birthday in a few days and his family is holding a party."

"Seven? Lee Shin Woo. I heard his family is quite influential. His mother is a heart surgeon with some reputation while his father is an archaeologist and a part-time professor in S University."

"You're quite informed. Yes, I took some of his father's lectures. Anyway, I'm invited and I have a plus one. So, can you be uh… be my plus one… at the party?"

She just stared at me. I wanted to crawl in a hole and just die, but I gathered all my courage, or what was left of it, and stared right back at her.

"Okay."

"Well, I understand. I know you're very busy and – wait, did you just say 'okay'?" she nodded. "Really? Yes! Thank you!"

"You're welcome."

"I'll pick you up at eight in the evening on Wednesday."

"Okay. Should I wear something nice?"

"It'll be a formal party, so just wear anything that you think would fit the occasion."

"Okay then. See you on Wednesday."

You know that thing they called butterflies in the stomach? I was feeling that at that moment. I couldn't explain what it was that time though. I just felt excited and nervous at the same time. I felt like I was in frenzy or something.

I had never felt like that since Artemis (the one in my past life).

I was very happy and felt like I could fly before Wednesday. I was probably smiling like an idiot during our practices because Xander had to snap me out of trance.

On Wednesday night, I picked her up at her condo building. She texted me the address and just headed there. I waited in the lobby for a few minutes, but the wait was worth it because a beautiful lady akin to a goddess came up to me.

Artemis was simply dressed in a white knee-length dress that has sleeves that reached up to her elbows and a pair of white flat shoes. It hugged her body just right because it defined her curves, but it didn't make her look like seducing someone. She looked simple yet beautiful. Her hair was also down with a wavy curl and she only had light make-up on.

"Hey." she greeted, but I was very speechless that I only waved at her. "Did you bring a car?"

My face flushed immediately. "Uhm, that's the thing. I don't have a license so… Plus I'm not really Korean…"

"That's fine. Let's use one of mine."

We head to the condo building's underground parking lot and searched for her car. We stopped in the middle of two cars; one was a red Ferrari while the other one was a black Lamborghini.

"Pick one."

"You're kidding. They're yours?" she nodded. "Whoa!"

"Psh, Lucas has more cars than me."

"You're stepbrother?"

"Yeah. How did you know he's my stepbrother?"

"I was guessing."

"Okay."

In the end, we took the black Lamborghini. It was pretty embarrassing that she was the one who had to drive, but we really didn't have a choice since I don't have a license yet.

'How does she have one though? She's the same age as me. Heck she's still twenty but she's already on her fellowship!'

I then noticed that we were speeding up.

"Uhm, doc? Is something wrong?" she glanced at the side mirror then at the rear view mirror. "Doc? Artemis?"

"We're being followed." I gave her a confused look. "Damn it! Will they never leave me alone? But I guess that's a given."

"What are you talking about?"

"You better give Seven a call. We might not make it to his birthday party."

"What?!"