Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

Spending a fun night with friends meant a lot to Andre, who was busy every day. Lara’s issue would certainly be his priority. Andre even exchanged schedules with another doctor to be with Riko for Lara!

“Come on, stop pouting. Enjoy tonight and be happy, Bro!” Riko said, raising his glass. Andre just smiled wryly and ordered soda. “I have surgery scheduled for tomorrow, Bro! Can’t afford to get drunk!”

“Ah! No fun!” Riko grumbled, but he still clinked his vodka glass with his friend’s. “YOLO!”

The atmosphere at the club was indeed lively, Andre admitted. The urge to drink alcohol was strong, but he had to be wise. Getting drunk with Riko would only cause trouble at work. Andre didn’t know when he would be able to relax without worrying about his work schedule.

“Hey, how’s your sister? Haven’t heard from her lately?” Riko started a conversation. Andre just smiled, remembering her.

“She just got married. Probably still on her honeymoon,” he replied casually.

“Holy shit! One less goddess we can feast our eyes on!” Riko cursed. Andre grimaced. “Don’t even try it!”

“Haha! Sorry!”

Riko couldn’t control his comments about women. But Andre’s sister was indeed very beautiful. The Caucasian features on her face were more dominant than Andre’s. Beautiful brown hair and sapphire green eyes complemented her appearance. Any man would fall in love at the sight of her beauty.

“Where’s she from, Bro?” Riko asked, curious. His face still showed deep regret for losing a potential future wife.

“She married a rich widower.”

“What! Why not me!”

“Does she even want you, Bro?”

“At least I’m still single! No kids from a previous marriage or ex-mother-in-law who would nag her!”

Andre laughed. “Who knows, Bro! It’s not my business! Love can’t be forced, even with a widow….” Andre’s gaze wandered among the twinkling lights of the club’s ceiling.

Andre thought about Riko’s response to Lara. After all, Lara was also a widow. Suddenly, Riko coughed and realized his words. “Hah! Right! I mean, whether it’s a widow or a widower, if it’s love, what can you do, right?” Riko corrected himself.

“Yeah, that’s it!” Andre chuckled. Riko laughed along with him. It seemed like he was already drunk too. Riko felt sleepy. “Hey! Let’s go home!” Andre suggested after seeing Riko resting his head on the table.

“You go ahead, lah! Still have a lot to do here,” Riko said, waving his hand dismissively.

The two girls who were previously driven away returned. They then served Riko and played with the bachelor until morning.

Andre just shook his head. He needed to go home and rest so he could work peacefully tomorrow. However, a phone call from the hospital surprised him. “Doctor! Patient Lara has regained consciousness!”

***

Andre abandoned his intention to return home. Currently, he was back at the hospital to see Lara.

“Where’s patient Lara?” Andre asked quickly.

“She’s in her room, Doc. Where else?” the nurse replied with a small laugh. For a moment, Andre ran his hand through his hair. He was even too panicked to think quickly and went straight to Lara’s room.

For some reason, even considering that Lara had been moved to the main recovery room alone, he couldn’t. Andre felt really embarrassed and awkward about his behavior.

“Lara?” Andre greeted when he opened Lara’s hospital room door.

His facial expression changed from nervous to warm upon seeing his friend who had just recovered from a lengthy surgery. Lara still looked weak, but her eyes began to narrow when she saw Andre enter.

“Hey, Andre,” she greeted softly, sounding like a whisper full of care. Andre smiled and sat by Lara’s bedside.

“How are you feeling, Lara? Are you feeling better?” Andre asked, trying to provide warmth and support. Lara nodded slowly, a thin smile forming on her lips.

“Did you perform my surgery?” she asked curiously. Andre nodded affirmatively with a smile.

“The surgery went well although you still need to rest for recovery. Thank you for waking up, Lara,” Andre explained carefully about the patient’s condition.

“Thank God. Thank you for helping me, Andre. I still feel dizzy,” Lara said, furrowing her brows. She was not fully healthy and in top condition yet. However, Lara’s condition was much better than when she first entered with injuries.

Who knows what would have happened to Lara and Mahya if the doctor’s assistance hadn’t arrived promptly. Perhaps by now, Lara and Mahya would have tragically perished.

“How’s Mahya, Andre? Where is she?” Lara suddenly remembered her friend. She should have suffered more severe injuries than her. Lara was very worried about her.

“You’ve been through something big, Lara. No need to worry about Mahya. She’s being treated by a team of experts,” Andre tried to explain with confidence, but Lara still didn’t believe it.

“I have to see her, Andre! I’m very worried!”

“Calm down, Lara! Everything is being taken care of. You can’t visit her. The doctors will surely forbid it!”

“Why?”

“Because… it’ll be complicated, Lara. There are two police officers guarding there.”

“Wwhat? Police?”

“Yes. The situation is very complicated. Mahya is accused of driving under the influence. There’s no evidence to clear her of the charge. There’s no CCTV footage. Blood samples are being tested. But, you know… it can be tampered with. That’s why I’m handling it.”

“Really? How, Andre? Oh no! This is serious!” Lara looked at Andre with a worried expression.

Andre just smiled wryly while gently stroking Lara’s head. This made Lara’s face blush like a pomegranate.

“Calm down, Lara. Everything will be okay. Remember Riko?” Andre referred to their friend back in Canada.

Lara shook her head slowly. She didn’t remember her childhood too much. Lara’s brain worked hard to erase memories of her childhood, more precisely. Her heart felt pain every time she remembered that her family fell apart when she lived in Canada.

“The chubby boy with bangs you used to tease, remember!”

Andre tried to jog Lara’s memory. This was important so that Lara wouldn’t suspect him.

“Hm….” Lara tried to remember. She focused her mind on the moments when they played together, when they were kids. Slowly, Lara began to remember the new neighbor with the characteristics Andre mentioned.

“Oh! That kid! I haven’t seen him in ages.”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

“Although he goes to the same campus as you.”

“Oh, really? Well, our campus is very big. I can’t just know strangers like that.”

Andre nodded understandingly. “The point is, his father is a Police General. So, we’ll handle this matter calmly. You don’t need to worry, Lara. It seems like someone is playing dirty behind the scenes. We’ll deal with them the same way.”

Lara looked at Andre with an unbelieving look. Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes without warning. Lara thought she was always alone in this world. Lara never expected Andre to willingly help her.

“Thank you, Ndre. You’re always there for me. I feel so lucky to have a friend and a caring doctor like you.”

Andre’s heart felt like it was pricked by an invisible needle, seeing Lara cry. Andre really wanted to hug her and warm her body, which had become thinner over time. But Andre had to be strong. He didn’t want to be seen as a scumbag taking advantage of her vulnerability.

“Here,” Andre handed her a tissue. Lara accepted it gladly.

“Can I stay by your side, Lara?”