3rd Kiss

I've officially started working at my job. I never expected to be accepted, honestly. I confronted Chito about possibly pulling some strings to help me get into this hospital, but he denied it and claimed he wasn't crazy enough to do that. He even mentioned he was afraid that my condition might worsen instead of improving under his influence. Sweet, isn't it? Note the sarcasm.

And so, here I am, walking down the hospital corridor. I miss this place. I've just finished administering medication to my patients. If you're wondering why I continue working despite my illness, it's because I want to. Even if I were to lose my eyesight, I'd still take pride in having contributed to others' well-being.

My steps slowed as I spotted Aries, tidying up his things. I walked hesitantly, my hand accidentally knocking against the table as I passed. He shot me an irritated look, making me feel a pang of guilt.

"Hey, Aries!" I called out to him. He ignored me, engrossed in his task. I approached him and gently touched his arm. "I'm sorry."

He paused in his actions and glared at me. He took a step closer, and instinctively, I moved back. It was as if he wanted to strangle me.

"You're infuriating! Do you honestly think I could forgive you for what you did?" he snapped. I felt my back press against the wall behind me.

"W-why are you so mad at me? I-I didn't do anything wrong! I never told Chito to follow me without telling you!" I explained, my voice wavering.

"Tsk!" he scoffed, then returned to what he was doing.

"Does that 'tsk' mean you're not mad anymore?" I asked, trying to understand.

"Do you really think I'm not mad? What do you see in my face?" he retorted. I scrutinized him.

"Uh! A gay who looks constipated while trying to suppress a smile?" I replied, and to my surprise, he burst into laughter. Yes, he laughed. Aries might have gone crazy already.

"You're such an annoying woman, yet you manage to amuse me. You're still foolish and dense!" he said, chuckling. I scowled at him and punched his arm hard.

"You're infuriating! You've always been so mean to me," I muttered.

"Ouch! That hurt! For someone so petite as you, you have quite a punch. You look like an elementary student who's just starting to develop breasts, yet you hit like a heavyweight," he said. I glanced down at my chest. Aries was just mean!

"Fine. Hmp! You don't have to rub it in that I have no breasts," I retorted.

"Good thing you know. I wonder if when you and Joseph were together, did he ever grab onto those?" Aries teased. I covered my ears. Aries was just impossible.

"Lalala... I'm not listening. I'm not listening," I sang. He laughed again, and at that moment, I knew we were back to being okay.

"When it comes to breasts, you really can't stay mad at me, can you? Alright, I admit, they're just about the size of cherry tomatoes." I told him.

"What are you talking about, comparing that to tomatoes? You might as well say they're the size of a boil!" he exclaimed.

"Aries!" I pouted when I said that. Calling them boils was going too far. My chest wasn't that small!

"Hey, Aries!" Both of us turned at the sound of the voice, and I was taken aback to see Nina.

"Nina?! Are you pregnant?" I asked in surprise when I saw the big bump in her stomach.

"Hey, Arianne! So, the rumors about your return are true," she said.

"Wait a second. Is Eugene the father of your baby?" I questioned. I noticed Aries nodding and making a face as if he were about to vomit. My jaw dropped when I understood. Eugene's peculiarity was no secret to anyone. His singular aim was always to secure the top position. Back in college, he and Joseph were in a perpetual contest. Eugene's dedication to academics was so extreme that he would go days without even bothering to shower, all in the name of studying harder. His college years were dominated by his unwavering commitment to his studies, leaving little room for other desires. It was a widely recognized fact that he hailed from a well-respected family background.

Meanwhile, Nina had always been candid about her aspiration to marry a well-to-do doctor. Her career choice, nursing, had been driven primarily by this objective—to eventually become the spouse of a wealthy physician. One might say it was a fitting match: Nina, radiating beauty but perhaps not as intellectually inclined, and Eugene, whose intellect was undeniable yet not necessarily graced with physical allure.

Their contrasting qualities were indeed intriguing. Nina's charm and elegance were her calling cards, though her academic prowess wasn't her strongest suit. In contrast, Eugene was an embodiment of intellect, his mind working tirelessly to conquer academic challenges. Despite his intellectual prowess, the handsomeness often associated with charm wasn't a label one would readily assign to him.

It was these divergent traits that lent an air of fascination to their relationship dynamics. As Nina's aspirations for an affluent life intertwined with Eugene's academic pursuits, their distinct strengths and weaknesses formed a union that, while unconventional, seemed to strike a curious balance.

"Hold on! Aren't you feeling nauseous about marrying Eugene? Then again, she did achieve her dream of marrying a doctor. So, I guess it's all right," Aries commented.

"You're impossible, Aries!" I retorted.

"I do love Eugene, you know! And besides... my husband is handsome, isn't he, Arianne?" Nina said, flashing a grin. I winced at her words. She caught my attempt to avoid her gaze. "Hey, answer me! Eugene is handsome, right?"

"It might just be a pregnancy effect," Aries interjected softly. The two of us shared a laugh.

"What did you say?" Nina inquired.

"What's happening here?" I stood up straight as soon as I heard that voice.

"Oh no, you two got caught by the monster!" Nina whispered to us.

"It's your fault, you know," Aries replied to me. He gave me a nudge, pushing me to face Joseph. I swallowed hard.

"Hi, Doc! I just need to check the vital signs of the patients in room 205. Join me, Nina? You said you'd come with me, right?" Aries said. I saw Nina's eyes narrow at him.

"Uh, yes! Yes! I'll come with you, Aries," Nina said. I was gaping now. Traitors! They conspired against me.

"Fine, Doc. I'll leave now," I mumbled softly. I was about to pass him when he suddenly held onto my arm. I quickly withdrew my arm, feeling the tingling electricity that seemed to pass through his touch.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. His tone wasn't angry. It was almost casual, like he was just making small talk.

"I-I'm working," I stammered. Ugh, Arianne, can't you speak properly? I scolded myself internally.

"Really? In your condition, you can't function properly. You're ill. Shouldn't you be resting?" he stated. I was irritated by what he said. Did he think I was disabled? Why was he interfering in my life?

"I can handle it, and besides, Chito and the others—"

"Chito? What can Chito do for your condition? He's just a nurse," he remarked. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. So, what if Chito was just a nurse?

"At least Chito takes care of me. Can you please stop meddling?" I snapped, my frustration showing. "Last I checked, I'm your patient. We're merely coworkers. We're not related anymore because we're divorced. So, you have no right to interfere in my life!" I stated, my irritation boiling over.

He chuckled lightly at my words. "Did you think I'm telling you this because I have feelings for you?" He grinned at me. "You've got the wrong idea. I'm advising you because you're my patient. I don't like to see my patients overexert themselves, especially in your condition. So, don't overthink things. After all, we're 'divorced,' right?"

He walked past me after saying that. It hit me hard. Fool! Fool, Arianne! He doesn't care about you at all. He's doing this because you're his patient, but it hurts. I didn't understand why his words hurt me so much.

Before I realized it, tears were streaming down my face. I felt someone wrapping their arms around me. I didn't need to turn to know who it was. It was Chito.

"Arianne, what's wrong? Are you in pain?" he asked, concerned. I nodded and pointed at my chest.

"Is your chest hurting? Wait, let's go to the ER," he suggested. I think he misunderstood what I meant. Yes, my chest did hurt, but not because of any physical pain. It hurt because I had hoped, hoped that maybe Joseph missed me too, but I was wrong. He had moved on. Maybe I was the only one who couldn't move on