Jarvis Li floored the highway. Still it took them half an hour to arrive at the hospital.
He unfastened his seatbelt.
However, Bernice Wang stopped him. "It's alright, Sir. I...I'll go by myself. Thank you for taking me to the hospital...and for saving me." She gave him a weak smile.
Her body still hurt. She needed to go inside the emergency department quick before she collapses before him.
She bowed and hurriedly went away.
Jarvis Li was puzzled by himself. 'He is right. Why did I even think that I needed to go with him?' It was like his instinct was dictating his actions. 'He' was only an assistant, and on 'his' first day at that.
He shrugged off his thoughts and drove back to the company.
At the hospital, Bernice Wang arrived at the emergency department looking weak. A male nurse immediately supported her from the side and helped her onto the bed.
"Sir, what's your name? What happened to you?"
She weakly pointed on her abdominal area.
The nurse intended to undress her, when she realized what he was doing.
"I...I want a female nurse..."
"Are you a pervert?" The male nurse could not believe that this man could have such a ridiculous request when he clearly needs immediate help.
Bernice Wang realized that she was still using her male voice. She frowned at the nurse and snapped in her natural voice, "Get me a female nurse!"
Upon closer inspection, the male nurse saw through her disguise and her probable figure beneath the suit.
He scrambled to get a female colleague and whispered. "The patient on Bed 3 is a woman!"
The female nurse was shocked. Everyone was actually staring at the handsome man when Bernice Wang just entered the emergency department. However, all the female nurses knew that the patient will be attended by a male nurse to ease moving the patient.
Usually, doctors can be of any gender, but nurses usually help patients in going to the restroom or cleaning them up, so the same gender is prefered.
The female nurse hurried to attend to the new patient.
Bernice Wang had removed her coat. She was trying to remove her dress shirt.
She was already feeling hot. Her fever made her want to remove the bandages she put on to hide her breasts.
The new nurse's jaw almost dropped because of this scene. She saw the bosoms, but she began to question her sexuality.
The look on Bernice Wang's face was unintentionally erotic. Her feverish face was flushed and she looked helpless. Her gaping mouth and fast breathing completed to seduction to anyone who comes beyond the curtain covering her bed.
The female nurse gulped. "Uh, Sir...uhm, I mean, Ma'am...can you tell us your name?" She at least found her sanity and remembered to jot down on her clipboard.
Bernice Wang successfully removed the bandages and heaved a deep breath. Then she answered, "Ber-bernice...Bernice Wang..."
"Your age?"
And so the nurse successfully filled out the information for the patient, including her chief complaint.
The nurse promised to bring back materials to cleanse and dress her wounds and to refer her case to the on-duty physician.
Bernice Wang politely agreed and closed her eyes as she lied on the bed.
Few minutes later, she was given pain killers and her wounds were dressed. The nurse also helped her put on a patient's gown since her clothes were soaked with sweat. Someone also came in to draw some blood samples from her.
The doctor examined her abdomen and noted guarding on her mid section.
"I think we need to be sure that your injury did not cause a vessel rupture in your abdomen. Otherwise, a portion of your bowels might stop getting blood and die. That would be dangerous for you. At least, get a CT scan."
Bernice Wang felt cold sweat on her forehead. She was only on her first day of work. Where would she get the money? Her previous health insurance had been when she was still working for their company and managed to cut her benefits when they heard of the bankruptcy.
"Can...can I just be under observation for awhile? I...I still need to contact my relatives..."
The doctor seemed to understand her panic. "We can admit you in the women's ward for observation within 48 hours. However, it would still be best to rule out if there is any injury to your internal organs as soon as possible."
"I...can you promise me one thing first?" Bernice Wang had a lot on her mind, but this might be its priority at the moment. "Can you keep it a secret that I'm a woman?"
"What, are you a secret agent of some sort? You're not a fugitive, are you?" The doctor became skeptical.
"No! Of course not! I gave you my real identity. I just...I really need this job, and I need to stay as a man in front of my boss. Please, just this once. I'm not telling you guys to lie. I just need you not to tell him if he somehow visits."
The doctor and nurses nodded to each other.
"As long as this is not obstruction of justice, we can cooperate. I don't think he'll be dashing in to ask if you're a man, anyway." the doctor reassured.
"Thank you."
"Well, we'll go on with the paperworks for your admission. Are the pain killers kicking in, feeling better?"
"Yes, thanks again."
.
Meanwhile, Jarvis Li kept driving, but his mind was wandering in some memories.
He remembered the eyes that looked up at him as he held an arm from the second floor of the building.
'I know those eyes...' he thought.
As he was searching in his memories, he remembered being sent to the infirmary himself on his first year of senior high.
He landed with an outstretched hand while playing lawn tennis. Someone brought him to the infirmary. It was a girl, and she answered questions the nurse asked. He was in too much pain so he only lied on the bed, clutching his wrist, almost in tears.
Then it hit him. 'What if he was too sick to even give information? What if he cannot even give consent for treatment?'
With that, he made a swift 180 degree turn, screeching his tires against the pavement, and drove back to the hospital.