“Dr. Esteves, we are glad you are here! Dr. John is ...” the nurse continued to brief Dr. Kyle Esteves as they both hurried to the operating room, all prepared and ready for the battle they are about to fight. Kyle is a surgeon by profession, and it is very common for him to work a double shift; and because he is the best in the field.
“heart rate is stable,”
“Good job, everyone,”
Kyle leaves the operating room, tired but poised. He is the epitome of grace and competence.
“Hey, Kyle!” Someone from his back called his attention. It was not a doctor; it is a tall, handsome man, probably around his early thirties, with Parisian looks wearing casual attire that will be hard to miss as expensive. Kyle was confused for a second and then narrowed his eyes while saying, “What are you doing here?”
“As usual, errands.” The man answered while walking towards Kyle, who was standing in front of the surgery room. He put his hands on Kyle’s shouldered and whispered,
“Let’s start walking. You are starting to look like an idiot standing there,”
Kyle pushed his hands away and said, “You mere presence, for me, is like a plague-you know that, right?” The man just chuckled as they walk towards Dr. Esteves’ office. Once they are there, Kyle directly asks the man a question after closing the glass door of his office.
“Now, why are you here?”
“You are such a rude brat; you don’t even offer me anything. I am still a visitor here, Dr.” The man teased Kyle.
“You are an unwelcomed Visitor,”
“Still, I am a visitor,” The man chuckled.
Kyle put out a box of cookies and lightly throw it on his table, where he is sitting. The man is seated on the office couch that has a minimalist design inside Kyle’s office.
“Get one, help yourself,” Kyle said in an irritated tone.
The man grinned and said, “You know why I am here, don’t you? I am sure you already received a call before I was sent here.”
Kyle responded by saying, “They know I am gay, right?”
“You know I am not buying that, right? It takes one to recognize one, and I know you are not.” The man walked towards Kyle and put his face close to his that their nose almost touched.
“Do you want to die?” Kyle said while looking at the man straight in the eyes.
“See, this is how I know,” And the man laughed.
“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me, Kyle,” while walking three steps back.
“So, what’s the use? As long as my parents believe it is it as good as a fact, Steven,”
“ I won’t be too sure if I were you, remember, secrets meant to be discovered at the end.” Kyle was silent.
“Anyway, this is the reason why I am here,” Steven layout a photo of a beautiful girl on Kyle’s office table. Kyle looked at it uninterestingly.
“5 foot 6 inches tall, a well-known doctor, just like yourself and the most important detail – The only daughter of Sansung Electronics,” Steven says all of these while pointing at the picture of a beautiful girl. “ A worthy opponent, right Kyle?” He added.
“What is the point in all of these? I already told them I am gay.” Kyle turned his seat back at the table and not facing his office wall made of glass. The sun now peaking on the sky that is slowly turning to orange from black.
Steven, still leaning at the edge of Kyle’s office table, let out a sigh.
“You know it doesn’t matter, right? The only thing that matters is publicity, financial standing, and connections. Everything comes with a price.”
Kyle repeated the last words that Steven said, “Everything comes, with, a price.” As his sad eyes observe the subtle changes that the sky is making.
“9 AM tomorrow. I will send you an email about the reservation,” Steve says while heading out the office door.
“I never said I will go,” Kyle retorted without taking his face off the sky that he is looking at.
“You know you should. It is not like you have a choice,” Steven said, smiling in a serious tone.
Steven smiled, closed the office door, and went off his way.
“Some people are very talented in running someone’s night,” Kyle said while looking at the sky that is now turning blue from orange. He can’t help to admire the sky and its ability to change as it like. He also noticed the busy crowd far from where he is, people who struggle day to day, active as a bee “ At least you have the right to choose; you will never know what you have until it is taken away from you, “ Kyle whispers.
Once Kyle heard the door shut, he slowly walked toward a small corner in his office where he sleeps. Tired on both body and mind, Kyle removed his lab coat first and headed to take a shower. Kyle is a very masculine man; you will never get a hint that he is gay unless he tells you. Standing at six foot six inches tall, with broad shoulders, fair skin, almond eyes, and a pointed nose and heavy lower lips, he obviously has the looks that women will fall for.
“I deserve this,” Kyle said after a warm bath while preparing to sleep at 8 in the morning. Anyone who has just undergone all the physical, mental, and emotional stress he just had right now would have slept quickly once their head hit the pillow, but it is the same for Kyle. The first thing he said right after cuddling his pillow a little and closing his eyes for a good ten seconds is, “Who the hell is that F*ck*ng new player? He rolled around his bed, there is a lot on his mind, but amidst all these, he still managed to message Angel, “Hey stupid! Eat your breakfast. Don’t sleep until it’s already 1:00 PM!” though the message sounds rough, he is smiling while typing it-Message sent, closed his eyes, and let his body and mind take a little rest.