"Mom…Dad, I'm sorry but I don't want you to be apart of my work anymore. In fact, I don't want you to be apart of anything anymore." Mia sat at the side while Mika sat with a strong head facing his parents head on. Mia was overjoyed to see he had taken her advice. Mr and Mrs Hu faces turned a sharp red, they were like a ticking time bomb.
"You can't be serious, how mentally ill are you! You want to estrange from us after everything we've done!" Mika looked away shamefully. Mia met eyes with him and shook her head. This was their manipulation, Mia had warned him about this scenario. They were looking to guilt trip him, but Mia wasn't going to let them.
"You've taken control over my whole life. My work, my relationships, myself. I want to be my own person." Mika didn't mispronounce a single word or let his voice shake, Mia had taught him that if words were unsure then so was the mind. If he told them exactly what was going on inside of his head, then maybe he would release all of this anguish inside of him.
"If you weren't so incompetent then we wouldn't have to run your life you damn brat. Everything you have achieved is because of us!" Mika averted his eyes, Mia repositioned herself to reassure him. Mika gave her a nod, like tagging her in.
"No, everything he feels right now is because of you. You've taken over his life because you want control of his profit, you both never achieved your own dreams, so you forced him to do that for you. It would be like me saying I should take credit for someone's murder by drawing the plans. Mika worked hard to please you both and as a reward you pushed him until he couldn't take anymore." Mr and Mrs Hu looked at her with such hatred the room fell into darkness.
"What I'm saying Mr and Mrs Hu is that you both lost your way and Mika has suffered for your own misfortune. I think calling yourselves parents is quite shameful. You lacked in nurture, kindness, praise and therefore causing psychological damage. I don't hide thing from my patients or their families, if I have something to say. I will say it if it's best for my patient. I think your both very toxic for him right now as well as manipulative. Would you kindly listen to your son for once?" Mika felt like the earth had just lifted off his shoulders. Mia wasn't just speaking exactly what was on his mind but putting her own feelings into each word.
"How dare you! We have done nothing but help that boy, you have no right to say we are the cause of his problems. You think because you've treated my son for five days you know him. Pah! Don't make me laugh." Mia gripped her notes tightly trying to bite her tongue. Already she was unstable after everything that happened, these imbecilic were unhinging her more.
"Actually, she does know me better. It just proves how helpful someone can be in such little time. Doctor James has taught me more about myself and been more of a parental figure than you both. Please, don't ridicule her, everything she has said is true." Mr and Mrs Hu faces dropped. Mia was also wide eyed, he was defending her?
"Do you want to be in here the rest of your life you brat. I'll make sure you'll never get out." Mia felt a sudden bout of anger flush over her and her jaw ached trying to conceal her words.
"That's not your jurisdiction. Legally I am the one to decide if he is discharged or not. Your threats are emptier than that head of yours. How shameful could you be! Your son has a name, it's not brat and its not boy! You are so shallow it makes me want to beat you to a pulp, you've put him through enough. If you don't let him go now you will destroy him and all of the effort you take credit for will be for nothing!" Mika almost fell off his chair. Mr and Mrs Hu had their jaws wide open. Mia was shaking from head to toe and covered her mouth with her hand. She felt her heart breaking, she had really done it now. Speaking like that to anyone in this business was enough to get you fired.
Mia hated herself, she knew she wasn't stable enough to handle the work ethic and stayed anyway. Mika felt something for the first time in a while…he felt happy? Mia had gotten angry for him and even lost her head, he was happy that someone was finally standing up for him. Mia couldn't speak the lump in her throat was restricting her airflow.
"Meeting is adjourned for now. If you would excuse me…" Mia said it quietly then practically ran from the room bumping into Hao on the way. Immediately he could see she was in distress and breathing heavily.
"Hao show Mr and Mrs Hu out please. I need a second." Hao was stunned he's never seen her like that before. Mia ran into the staff room her hand still over her mouth. Thankfully, no-one was on break. Mia felt all this overwhelming emotion hit her like a hammer in the side of her head. The corner of her eyes burned from fighting her tears.
Mia was crying because she related to Mika in a lot of ways. Sam had forced her to do something she didn't want too…just like Mika except no-one was there to save him. At least Mia had Aiden. Bottling up what you are feeling never leads to good things, when a bottle is overfilled it had the capacity to explode hurting others in the process. Mia had ignored her own training and exploded. Silently, she sat in the corner with her knees up to her chin, her head buried in-between them. Mia tried to cry as silently as she could, clenching her jaw to stop her voice from being heard. Soon enough Hao strolled in to check on her.
Mia stood up and quickly wiped her tears away, she was a superior her staff couldn't see her like this. Hao watched her eyes puff up and swell with redness, it was clear she was really struggling with something.
"Doctor James, would you like to talk? Maybe I can offer some support." Mia glared at him, he was using her own approach against her.
"I'm fine Hao, return to your station." She said bluntly facing away from him.
"You don't look fine. Listen, I'm not here to criticise or chastise you I want to help, you've been struggling all day." Mia slowly spun around and sat down clenching her hands together.
"I don't want to talk about it right now. When I'm slightly more stable then perhaps talking would be good. I really appreciate your concern Hao, but I'd like to be alone." Mia used her training to spin his approach around, he couldn't really contend with her words. In this profession not, everyone can be reached so easily, it takes time and tolerance. Hao was slightly frustrated he couldn't help.
"Okay. Let me know if your ready to talk. I'd happily led you an ear." Mia forced a smile as Hao left the room. Mia sat for a while tears flowing down her face, she couldn't even say the words. It was like a giant stone in her chest weighing her body down. It was painful…
"Um Doctor James…" Mia jumped and looked up to see Mika, he also had red eyes as if he'd been crying. Mia jumped into work mode and wiped away her tears, she felt so embarrassed a patients seeing her so vulnerable.
"I'm sorry I know I shouldn't be in here but I wanted to see uf you were okay. I also wanted to thank you, my parets agreed to it. I talked to them after you left, it looks like you really got rhough to them." Mika had a beaming smile on his face for the first time.
"I'm happy it turned out right. Don't worry about me I'm fine." Mika sat down on the bench looking at her with sympathy, his big brown eyes piercing her soul.
"You can talk to me, you've helped me so much. I'd really like to help you too…" Mia clenched her fists, she didn't want to tell anyone she was the superior. But the way Mika talked to her she felt comfortable, he was sweet and kind.
"I had a really rough night last night that's all." Mia gave him a brief explanation trying not to go into detail. Mika didn't say anything and waiting for her to elaborate.
"I was having dinner with my boyfriend…I got up to go to the bathroom then…" She cut herself off and began shaking like a leaf remembering the events.
"Did your boyfriend hurt you?" Mika all of a sudden seemed angry, Mia shook her head frantically. Aiden would never do such a thing.
"I've had a stalker since I was in high school, he's my cousin. Since the first day he met me he tried to force me into marriage. Thankfully, I had understanding parents and they refused his proposal…Unfortunately, that didn't stop him…" Mia stood up and shook her head, she shouldn't be telling anyone this especially not her own patient.
"Forgive me Mika but I've said too much, you can go back to your room now. It's almost the end of my shift." Mia's breath stuttered in shock as Mika quickly walked over and wrapped his arms around her.
"I don't want to go back yet, I want to make sure your alright. Your really helpful to me, I couldn't have done this without you. I like you Mia…" Mia froze up, how could he possibly know her name, better yet what did he mean by like?
"Mika, really I'm fine you can let me go now." Mia pulled her hands up to his chest and tried to pull away, but he held her tighter, however she wasn't afraid one bit. If anything, she felt strangely calm in his grasp. Mia what's are you thinking, if you don't push him away, you'll lead him on! You have Aiden what are you doing! Mia took a deep breath and pulled away.
"You're my patient, this contact is in breach of my procedure. I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Mia bit her lip and closed her eyes, the guilt she felt for pushing him away made her chest burn.
"Mia, I'm not a patient anymore…I um discharged myself." Mia looked at him in shock, that's right Mia made sure of he wanted to leave at any time he could expect now she was regretting that quite a bit. That meant…
"You're not my doctor anymore but I'd really like it if I could see you while I'm getting used to the world again."
"But aren't you?"
"I'm a lot better than I was, thanks to you. Now I'm not being controlled I feel like I could be a my own person, I don't have to rely on my roles any longer." Mika smiled at her with happiness, Mia always loved moments like this usually. The moment when her patients recovered and gave her gratitude for her work yet all she could feel was sadness. Mika would be leaving…who would she cheer up on the ward anymore?
"I still need you though, so I've applied for home visits instead of sectioning. Is that okay?" Mia brightened up slightly, he was being considerate of her as if Mika could red her mind.
"I would like that a lot…" she said quietly. Mika put his hand on her face catching her off guard.
"You really have helped me Mia. I would like it a lot if we could be friends. I'll always find time for you, like you did me. You don't have to tell me what's on your mind right now, maybe another day." Mia blushed and shied her face away. What the hell was going on, he was making her all flustered.
"Okay." Mika packed his things and left soon after, his manager practically thanked her to death on his knees, Mia waved him off and finished the last of her shift. All memories of Sam went away after her talk with him, and to her annoyance every time she thought of his hand on her face…it would make her heart beat faster.
Mia finished her shift and reassured Hao she was fine, he was really persistent which surprised her. It seemed like no matter what she did hiding how she truly felt around him was neon impossible, he was really good at his job. Aiden was having drinks with Chu and Mia text him to say she was fine and was going home to rest after having very little the night before. Aiden reluctantly agreed so Mia text Yu asking if she wanted to come over for a while. Yu jumped ta the chance to see where Mia had been living this whole time and practically beat every light in the district to get there.
"Mia…this place is beautiful." Mia laughed, this was the first time Yu had been speechless.
"Don't just stand their idiot you'll catch cold. I'll make some tea just have a wander." Yu giggled excitedly and walked inside. It was so free, and nature based, the way the windows surround every space made you feel like you were outdoors at all time. It was captivating. Mia brought Yu some tea and sat down watching a nature documentary like the good old times.
"Where's Aiden? Working late?" Yu kept looking around nervously, Mia watched her movements. Yu still seemed on edge, she was only asking for Aiden in-case they needed protection.
"I told him and Chu to have a drink together, it gives me some peace too." Yu looked at her suspiciously.
"What?"
"That's odd, I remember what he was like Aiden never went out with the guys unless you went along." Mia looked away back at the Tv not really acknowledging her question.
"Who knows maybe he'd tired of me?" Mia was lying, Aiden would never be tired of her even if she begged him to be but anything to distract the fact that she had caused him trouble. Enough trouble that he needed a drink to help him with it.
"Are you joking! That guy would never get bored of you. What's gotten into you?" Yu looked at Mia intensely for a while, she knew her better than anyone something was difefernt about her today. It was like she was a ticking time bomb. Mia felt her eyes well up again but tilted her head back so they wouldn't escape.
"I'm a lot of trouble for him… His family hates him because of me, he spends all day thinking about me and I can't even forgive him for something that wasn't even his fault. I mean he came back from Japan just for me, I'm an awful person for putting him through all of that." Mia laughed trying to overrule her despair, but Yu saw straight through her like glass. Yu waltzed over and gave her a heartfelt hug. Mia couldn't take it anymore and started sniffling like a child before bawling her eyes out covering her face. Yu's heart broke for her.
"I swear to god I'll murder him for making you feel this way, you've got nothing to make him feel bad about Mia."
"That's not true…" Mia pushed Yu away and tried to swallow the lump that was in her throat. If she kept last nights events in any longer, she would explode.
"Sam got to me last night and he kissed me and touched me, I tried to fight him off, but I was too weak. Aiden managed to get him away from me, but he hurt his hands really badly." Yu jaw dropped wide open. Mia looked up, Yu eyes were streaming.
"Mia, he got away with bloody knuckles why are you worrying about him! It's you who should be of worry right now, he assaulted you!" Mia shook her head and buried her face in her lap.
"It's not that simple Yu, I cause trouble for everyone! If I'd never of met Aiden my father would still be here and my mother wouldn't be in that place. It's my fault! Don't try to tell me that it's not." Yu didn't know what to do she'd never seen Mia this upset in her life. While Mia was sobbing she heard her cellphone start ringing off the hook. Taking a deep breath she answered it.
"Mia, it's Chu. I'm sorry for asking so late but could you come and get Aiden, he's a mess right now. I'm too drunk to drive him home or I would have." Mia gripped the phone tightly, so he really was struggling after all.
"Where are you I'll be there in ten minutes."
"Red light district outside of the Mystic Fox. Thanks, I owe you one."
"Damn right you do! You should have been watching him you idiot." Mia hung up and threw her cell phone across the room.
"Go home Yu, I need to go pick Aiden up." Yu sat in awe, Mia wasn't just sad she was pissed off.
"I could come with you—"
"I'll be fine." Mia was blunt, she didn't want to talk anymore. Mia got on her coat and shoes and ran out of the door leaving it wide open. Yu stood at the door shouting after her, but Mia didn't listen. Yu could see she wasn't in a good frame of mind and was worried sick, Mia never acted like this. Sam must have really hurt her and caused her to think of all kinds of wild ideals which weren't true. Love was painful but none of this was Mia's fault. Yu was sitting inside of the house unsure what to do when Mia's phone rang again. Seeing the caller ID was Chu she answered in-case something bad had happened.
"Mia, change of plan don't come! Aiden ran into Lang Hai when he was out and they started fighting, if you turn up things will only get worse." Yu froze on the spot.
"Chu, it's Yu she already left. What do I do?" Yu and Chu also knew each other, they would often be the third wheel together when Aiden and Mia dated in high school, so they had a good relationship.
"F*ck! I don't know. The Police are on their way, I tried to hold them off, but it was no use. This could get messy."