His question struck me. “You are worried about me, are you?”
Am I?
I don’t think so.
“I’m not,” I replied.
He sighed, “I apologize that you have to meet my family at this time.”
“Oh, it is fine.” I lied, ‘It’s really fine.”
Silence fell and he pointed at the sliced fruits placed on a plate just on the bedside.
“Can you feed that to me?”
“No, your feet were the injured ones, not your hands.”
He sighed,” Come on, can’t you at least treat me like a patient, Z?”
The way he talks feels like he didn’t even get on a life-threatening experience. A. mini-stroke or whatever.
I sighed, giving in to his request, and fed him the oranges.
“ooh, who gave these oranges? It’s sweet.”
“I don’t know, I just got here,” I answered and we got silent. it seems that he was thinking deeply as he has this serious expression on his face.
“You know I have been thinking..” I suddenly started...
“About what?”
“You are a world-renowned doctor. A famous one who published famous articles on blogs, published books, and performed surgeries. So why did you decide to stay in this small town, teaching? You could be at Harvard, Stanford..and other big universities?” I finally dared to ask him the billion-dollar question I had in mind.
I wanted to ask how he end up like this…being in a wheelchair….
I was too scared of his response, but his expression gave it away. He was smiling. or at least pretending to be happy.
“Oh? Are you that curious about me now? Did you google me and my credentials?”
I rolled my eyes, “I am serious, sir.” I emphasized the word sir as I knew that would trigger him.
But instead, he suddenly turned serious and responded, “It's obvious that you are curious why I got into this wheelchair, am I right?”
I nodded.
“Alright, it's time I tell you now. Brace yourself.” He then paused and continued, “ It was at that time when my brother Theon, was forced to study and graduate as a pharmacy student. Father wanted us to study in the med field, while Matheo did not like to be a doctor so I let him chase his passion in painting, while I studied hard to be a doctor even when I did not like it. I was at the peak of my profession. Everyone loved me, everyone looked up at me. I graduated at the top of my Harvard class, topped the residency..and eventually became one of the top surgeons. I published articles, made my med book for students, and did everything. Except when I faced the scariest thing.”
His voice suddenly become strained, and I waited for him to continue. This must be a trip down to a bad memory and it must be hard trying to recollect the things that he was burying. I am sensing something bad happened.
“oh, you can ignore my question now. pretend I never asked if you are not comfortable.”
“I am ready to tell you everything do not worry.” He said, smiling bitterly at me. “ Graduating as a young doctor and topping the boards was not very helpful. I gained friends, but I made enemies. And my ego was inflamed, I was a bull, unsnappable of what I wanted to do. I accepted surgeries here and there, trying to prove to my father that I can do it. I could lead and be the next heir of the company…but I forgot one thing. My sanity. I lost myself in the process. I had an impostor syndrome and thinks he was better than anyone. Heck, I thought I was closer to finding the cure for cancer. I become a workaholic arrogant doctor who thinks he is right all the time. And it took a dying cancer patient to wake me up.”
I gasped, not expecting this.
“I made a terrible mistake of letting my ego run. I did not listen to the second opinion of my co-surgeons who did not want to proceed with the surgery I planned. I ended up losing a patient for the first time in my life. And it affected my whole career and my license.”
My mouth widened now, couldn't believe everything.
“The family of the dead patient turned out to be wealthy too, much more wealthy than the Venesian corp at that time. So they had the power to step on me. Gone were all my hard work. Everyone lost faith in me. They made the media turn against me, made me kicked out of the hospital I work at, and ripped my license apart.”
“You know what’s worse? I chose that patient because I thought it was much more critical and needed more attention. My sister, who needed some savings, died before my eyes. Because his incompetent brother did not operate on him.”
I gasped, my tears. now falling at his story. that seems sad. “I got depressed and drunk myself to death. Drove me at full speed and thought ‘What if I end it all’ I hit a motor who was passing by and hit a tree, and woke up in a hospital with my leg all frozen up.”
“so…your knee…” I glanced at his whole leg covered up in a bandage.
“Yes, the pain is forever now. It might not have been that painful, but it's still there. the pain comes and goes.”
“And you were not taking your medicine these past few days?”
“do you remember what we talk about before you got here?”
“Not exactly. You see, my nerves sometimes got hit when this happens.”
“What? So this always happens? You're used to it?”
“Living in pain is normal for me. I got used to it.”
“I thought that it would have been better if I died. At least my family won't have to be ashamed of me.”
He said, “That is why Theon, who was not prepared for the heir role, was pushed to him. That is why he hated me….I think…and Matheo, hated me for wasting my talent like that. He has always been insecure and felt like the black sheep of the family.”
So that is why Matheo was warning me about him.
Knowing the truth now, I felt a bit regretful and at the same time happy that I know it.
“But you’ ’re still alive.”
“Yes, and. it's funny how I later found out…it wasn't an accident. it was purposely planned by the family of the dead patient. They seemed to have that grade on me to want me dead. My family is still tracking down that family…
“And guess who?”
“it’s your family. Uy Tech industries. Surprise.”
I halted, my brain suddenly stopped working. “What?”
“I purposely got closer to you so I could get my revenge. But you damn sly fox made me fall to you.”
I don't understand, “Rameo, you must be still in shock. Take a rest. Don’t play around with me like that ever again.”