I'm not wearing them." Wang Shi heard Suyin reply, shocking him. The cut-throat denial and the determination in her voice didn't go unnoticed. But along with it, he sensed pain…. the same pain he felt when she rejected to take over Mingyu's aunt's case.
"This is a hospital. Other than patient and doctor's clothing, you won't get any. And you know how patient's clothes are," He reminded her. She has seen it already; patient's clothes are open from the back, tied by strings to make the examination and medical procedures convenient to carry on.
"I know! I've washed my clothes…. ACHOOO….…. Let them dry,… ACHOOOO… I'll come out wearing them but won't wear scrubs." Her voice came shaking, with heavy breaths and chattering of teeth. His brows furrowed deep. Cold!
"This way you'll catch a fever. Let me get you some other clothes if you don't want to wear scrubs," He didn't wait for her to answer and left. Forcing or trying to convince her was futile. If she could go to the extent of staying in the bathroom for two hours just to avoid wearing scrubs, there must be a strong reason behind it.
In the room, he opened the cupboard and was welcomed by the sight of his and Honey's clothes. Honey's clothes are out of the question, but his!!!???? Don't know if she would accept it or not but he can't let her stay there for the entire day.
After a short while, he returned and hung the cloth at the doorknob. "I've found something else for you to wear. Hope you won't mind." He paused for a few seconds and added, "If you didn't come out within the next two minutes, I'll call nurse Miya and let her enter with a master key…. Be prepared. She has two decades of experience of handling stubborn patients."
"NOOOOO…. Give me two minutes,"
He smiled, "I'm in the lounge. Will come back after two minutes,"
He made deliberate sounds while walking towards the lounge but stopped at the threshold of the door and looked back.
With a click sound, the door opened and a slender white hand came out as it patted around to get the cloth and pull it inside.
*******
Inside, Suyin was sitting at the edge of the bathtub, barely in undergarments with a white towel wrapped around her which she hugged for warmth. On the towel-stand was hanging her black 'uniform'. Washed. Waiting to get dried.
SCRUBS!?
It's been years she last wore them. And when she last stripped out of it, she had sworn to never let it touch her body again.
She won't!
Never!
Once done was done! Now she even hates the thought of getting into it again.
It's her past!
"WHATTTTTTTT!?" Her chin dropped to the floor. Her brain formulated nothing as she looked at the cloth arranged by the man. It was his SHIRT! SHIRT! So intimate!
Baby-blue color! Cute! Do men really wear this color? She cannot help but imagine Wang Shi wearing it and looked as dapper as ever. Feeling giddy, she took a deep sniff only to scrunch her nose when it smelled of fabric softener.
Was she expecting it to smell like him!?
Dream on!
When done, she peeked like a sneaky little cat, stepping out by padding her foot as she tugged the hem of the shirt, pulling it down.
It rested at her mid-thighs, showing this much flesh was not good!
"Finally you are out," she jumped as if someone has attached a live wire to each of her nerves, her head snapped at the couch where the man was buried in a mountain of books. "Wear slippers first,"
She looked down and found a pair of slippers waiting outside the bathroom.
"I-I…."
"Don't keep standing. Come here and have some hot tea,"
Her gaze shifted to the direction where a pot of steaming hot lemon tea was brewing at the table while a blanket was kept on the couch along with some magazines to kill time. Furthermore, he kept the temperature in the room warm.
Was it all for her?
In her moment of emotional dumbfoundness, she realized she didn't have the words to adequately express her emotions. The scene was unbelievable, yet sweet. She looked away, then looked back to see if he was still there. He was!
"Thank you for the clothes," She sat down on the couch, and hear him nod making hm sound. She first opened the blanket to cover her exposed legs, peeked if Wang Shi looked, but once a gentleman always a gentleman. He kept his gaze on the book.
"Have tea." He uncrossed his legs and passed a cup of hot tea. "First-aid box is to your left, I suggest you take medicine for fever. The city is traffic jammed because of rain, you won't be able to go out. I've arranged magazines for you to kill time. You can use my desktop as well. Nurse Miya informed me about your phone. If you want to inform someone of your whereabouts, use the landline,"
She accepted the cup.
"Thank you for everything. And sorry too," She pulled her lips in, waiting for him to question her unreasonable behavior. Her eyes met with his, but she looked away and opened the first-aid box to take medicine, praying he won't make things difficult for her. The panic in her heart could grow and fade depending on how he would react.
However, time passed, but she didn't hear a word from him and forced herself to look up. There gaze met. "You don't have to be sorry. I'm sure you've your own reasons; don't explain yourself to anyone," His eyes showed the kind gentleness and maturity only her mother has, stroking every chord of her heart which brought a warm smile to her lips.
She looked at him in a trance that brings a butterfly to nectar. He was the correct blend of gentleness, understanding, sweet, caring, and shy. She was right. HE, undoubtedly, was the kindest and reliable man she ever met.
'What fate does that woman holding who would get you as her life partner? Lucky one! I wish my destiny could...' She sighed, putting a full stop to her thoughts that have no meaning.
"Thank you, Dr. Wang," was all she could say, taking a sip of tea.
"I think we should drop the formalities between us." Something on her face must have felt funny because he chuckled, "Don't look at me with these wide eyes. Call me Wang Shi,"
She hit her forehead, smiling along with him, "Suyin it is, Dr…. Um… W-Wang Shi,"
"Suyin," He called. Her name from his lips was a sweet melody to her ears; something so soothing that wrapped her soul, and she blushed. "Why your face looks red? Let me see…."
Her focus scattered, dancing in all directions when his large palm touched her forehead. "Hmm… not warm. Good!" He retrieved back to his seat.
Suyin "…"
'This is bullying. Someone tell him the consequences of his action.' She huffed in annoyance.
*******