Used And Kept

Nora's heart warmed. When was the last time she had been treated so kindly? Her hands shook and she lowered her head.

The staff misunderstood it as her fear. A warm hearted woman came forward and covered Nora's hands with hers.

"There, let me guide you." Nora nodded with her eyes glazing with unshed tears. As they collected her blood and wiped her other wounds. They all praised her for her bravery.

She felt embarrassed and scratched her cheeks as they all applauded for a foolish reason like taking the blood in the injection.

"Here, for your bravery." Nora looked at the small candy in the hand of a nurse who looked at Nora as if she was a child. Nora wanted to hide under her bed but as much as she was embarrassed, she took the candy and ate it instantly as if it was a rare delicacy.

Looking at the pure bliss and innocent smile on her face, the nurses could not help but smile warmly at her. Nora only wanted to leave a meek impression on them in the start so that she would be protected.

But she had never thought that it would go so well..

"Now you should rest. I will bring noodles for you. But do not tell Dr. Max about it. Alright?" the nurse who was scared before teased Nora. 

Then they slowly left the room when the emergency bell rang. Nora shook her head as she looked at the wrapper in her hands. Suddenly she felt a chill on her neck and turned to see Alric standing at the door.

She was not sure when he had come, but looking at his cold face, she had a feeling that he didn't fall for his trap. His face was always so blank or covered with that sneering smirk that she was not sure what was going through his mind.

So, she decided to go with the role she was playing already. 

"I.. I did not mean to cause trouble." she trembled with fear looking at the man. "I am afraid of needles." her voice lowered and she bit her lips. The scene would have earned pity again. 

But Alric only looked at her with bored eyes. 

"You have said that already. Max is already convinced. Why are you still acting?" 

"....." tilting his head, he walked closer to her. Suddenly the room felt tiny, she felt tiny by his cold gaze looming over her.

"I did not." Before she could make a proper excuse, he pulled her hands up and rubbed her skin. "Others might not notice, but I as a doctor know well if the patient had been poked with needles or not. Yet I do not see a single mark in your hands." she gulped and pulled her hands away from his grip.

It was easier than she had thought. But they way his eyes looked at her. She felt like a prey caught by a predator.

No! She would never let herself be a predator again.

"I never said that I have been pierced by a needle in my hands." her voice falling. "It is my legs." she stood up slowly when his eyes flickered and raised her gown a bit.

Her pale and supple skin gleaming in the dim light shone. Her thin legs are visible up to her upper thighs. It could create a thunderstorm in the heart of any man.

 Alric's gaze darkened too. He was going to look away when she pointed at her left thighs and his eyes narrowed. There were many random marks of a needle being pierced. They did not look like it had been a few minutes ago. But they were fresh enough to not be a day old.

His gaze was so dark and unfathomable that aira around them felt scarce. Breathing felt effortful. She instantly let her gown go and it hid all the marks she had been showing.

"Can you please not mention them again?" she fidgeted with her hands. "It was already bad that I had to show them once. I.. I feel violated by your dark gaze." the man stopped looking at her legs at once.

His eyes widened. It was only for a second, but she saw shock and guilt in his eyes. Her eyes lowered and a lone tear fell on her face.

"Please, I know that I am being a burden. I will leave as soon as i will say my goodbye to Dr. Max. he had done so much for me. I do not want to look like an ingrate by leaving without informing him." she folded her hands in front of him with a pleading gaze making his eyes widening again.

"What made you think that..'' I was going to throw you out. He wanted to say but his words were cut off by a slam on the door.

"Ha! So you are scaring the girl now behind my back." Alric froze for a second before turning to look at the most talented doctor of their hospital. They have been good friends at the start, but recently they have been at odds with each other because of different principles and thinking toward their life. 

Max entered with a red face. He looked like he had run all the way here. Nora felt guilty. Alric was looking at her but her eyes were on the door. She had seen a shadow looming on the door and knew someone was listening to them. She had intentionally cried and said those words. 

But she had never thought it would be Max. She had already used him enough for this lifetime and did not want him to be hurt by her. But it was already too late. 

"....." silence filled the room but the unsaid words flew in the air as Max glared at the owner of the hospital without a hint of fear in his eyes. "If you want to throw him out, I will submit my resignation letter too. I am sure a few other hospitals would take both of us in."