Bernice Wang was on a wheelchair, being transported out of the emergency department when Jarvis Li barged into the swinging doors.
"Bernard Wang!" he called out to stop them from moving further away.
Bernice Wang shuddered. 'Why is he here?!'
Then she remembered her breasts just underneath the patient gown, with no protection and no disguise. 'If he sees me like this, I'm better off dead!'
She immediately pulled the blanket covering her lap up to her chest area and slouched a bit on the wheelchair.
Jarvis Li located 'him' right after and rushed towards 'him'.
"Are...are you gonna be alright? Why are you in a patient's gown? And on a wheelchair..." His voice was full of worry.
The health personnel who were intrigued by Bernice Wang's look as a man was even drooling with the appearance of Jarvis Li.
However, this scene made them think twice.
'Is this handsome man swaying the other way? Is he the boss this woman was pretending for?' she thought.
The nurse who was taking the patient to the room politely replied, "Sir, the patient needs to be admitted for observation in a ward. CT scan was also advised."
"What? He needs a scan?! How serious is it? And why are you not having the scan right now, but instead you just want to observe him in a ward?" Jarvis Li raised his overbearing tone.
The nurse was frightened and shocked. She did not know what to say.
"Uhm...sir, I...the scan...I can't afford..."
Before Bernice Wang could finish her statement, she was glared upon by her boss.
"The company will pay since you were injured in our premises." he declared.
He turned to the nurse. "Get him the scan and admit him to a private room."
Bernice Wang had wide eyes. How can she forget that if he goes with her all the way to the ward that he will figure out that she is a woman?
It was a blessing that he ordered her transfer to a private room.
Upon Jarvis Li's orders, Bernice Wang was able to get a scan which turned out to be unremarkable.
The attending physician explained the details as he did his rounds as soon as the results are out.
"It looks like the pain is due to soft tissue--abdominal muscles and fat--injury because of the trauma. I advise to at least stay in the hospital for a couple more days, just for further monitoring. You can notify our nurses if you feel too much pain, if you are vomiting, or for other concerns."
Bernice Wang nodded with a polite smile.
"Thank you, Doctor." Jarvis Li gestured for a handshake, which the doctor was obliged to take, acting like the patient's next-of-kin.
The doctor, after turning towards the adjacent ward, stopped on his tracks to ask the nurse who accompanied him during rounds, "That patient is really a female?"
He was still astonished as Bernice Wang's voice modulation was superb. She really sounded like a young man when the doctor talked to her in front of Jarvis Li.
"S-so...the man with him..."
"Uhm...I think...he is his, I mean her...boyfriend."
The doctor could not help but gasp. The situation was too complicated. What if the man find out the patient's biological sex? Will he be mad enough to hit her?
He cleared his throat. "Please check on her every four hours, even if she doesn't have any complaint."
"Yes, Doctor." The nurse was worried as well.
...
Back in the private room...
"Hey..." Jarvis Li stood up when he saw 'him' trying to get off the bed. "Restroom? You need help?" His face was full of worry and his arms instinctively reached out towards 'him'.
"No!" Bernice Wang had a little slip. She bit her lower lip, praying that her boss did not notice the sudden change in her pitch.
She was caught off-guard. She would never let him help her to the restroom.
Jarvis Li frowned. His concern was too great to even notice the higher voice pitch.
"I...I can do it...alone." Bernice Wang remembered to modulate her voice.
"But these contraptions..." Jarvis Li waved his arm to gesture towards the IV line hooked up in a metal stand.
Bernice Wang narrowed her eyes, then she started pulling the stand, with its wheels unsteadily going about.
Jarvis Li hurried towards 'him' and reached for the stand, wanting to make it steady. "Let me help you!"
Bernice Wang had wide eyes as her boss held her knuckle, which was holding the metal stand.
After a couple of seconds, they became aware of it and both of them let go of the stand.
"Uh...sorry." Jarvis Li blurted out.
Bernice Wang sighed and pressed the call button for the nurse station.
Shortly after that, a female nurse with prominent curves knocked and entered the room.
Bernice Wang gave a polite smile to her. "Can...can you help me to the restroom?"
"Oh...okay..." The nurse eyed Jarvis Li with a meaningful look before attending to the patient.
"Wait!" Jarvis Li's face looked terrible. He himself is confused of his feelings. "You'd rather ask a girl to go with you to the restroom?!"
Bernice Wang was taken aback. Of course she would rather have a female accompany her to the restroom! However, she could never say that! Jarvis Li would think that 'he' is a pervert.
The nurse cleared her throat. "Sir, with all due respect, I am a medical professional. I do not choose patients to care for. In my profession, I had seen both inside and outside of human beings. It will not be a big deal." Then she gave Jarvis Li a provocative smile.
Bernice Wang closed her eyes for a second. She was saved!
"But, wouldn't it be better if I..."
"Sir..." Bernice Wang interrupted him with a firm voice. "...if you go with me, it will be awkward for us both."
And so, she rests her case and the female nurse accompanied Bernice Wang into the restroom.
Jarvis Li was left standing, stunned by what he heard.
In his head, he was scolding hinself for his stupidity.