"Alright. Let's get you treated." Edgar pat my arms in consolation before calling for the nurse through the call button by the bedside. He then asked for a doctor to attend to my injury.
Today is a very tiring day. I cried so much I'm starting to feel dehydrated.
The raging chihuahua demon on the other side of the room has been calmed by Greg. So the room was back to its serene atmosphere. Leaving only the voices of the doctor and me drifting in the air.
"You might have fractured your metacarpal bone. We'll need to perform an X-ray to confirm. Any other place you're feeling uncomfortable?" The doctor asked.
"Oh. Yeah. my left shoulder kind of hurt too." I tried to move it at the same time and winced from the pain.
"Mind taking off your clothes so I can take a look?"
I gave the room a once-over before speaking in a small voice. "Can we do this somewhere private? There are too many people here."
I don't understand why Edgar insists on making the doctor come over instead of letting me walk myself to the ER. Now that I have to take my clothes off, I feel kind of awkward. I am, after all, a lady inside despite my gender right now.
"It's alright. We're all men here." I suddenly heard Edgar's comforting voice.
Ugh! I'm shy, okay?! A woman doesn't flash her boobs around!
I'm a man. I no longer have my C-cup boobs. Being topless in public is normal.
Chanting the words repeatedly, I slowly unzip my hoodie with shaking hands.
An obvious bruise and swelling can be seen on my left shoulder. It only took the doctor a glance before deducing that I might have dislocated my shoulder too.
A fractured hand and a dislocated shoulder. Hehe.
"When did you get this?" Edgar suddenly asked.
"Oh. It was when you yanked at me back at the graveyard. I didn't realize it was this bad." I answered absentmindedly. I'm amazed I managed to not feel any pain this whole time. Now that I'm aware of it, I start to feel the pain too.
He was silent for a while before asking another question while eyeing the gauze patch on my right rib. "What's up with that?"
"...It was before I woke up."
Understanding what I'm trying to imply, Edgar no longer asks me questions. He instead switched his attention to the doctor and ordered him to run a full body check-up on me immediately.
Just like that, I was escorted out of the room and was subjected to various tests both physically and mentally.
ಥ_ಥ
*****
I was pushed back into Edgar's room once I was done with the check-up. More tests can only be done tomorrow. So, I have to stay the night in the hospital.
Upon entering, I found another empty bed in the room and a portion of hot porridge on the dining table. There was only Edgar in the room. Devon and Greg might have gone home already considering the late hours.
Right now, Edgar was sitting at the dining table with a tablet in hand. It was probably work-related. Noticing my arrival, he places his tablet to the side and beckoned me to the dining table.
"Eat. You must be hungry." He said.
Oh! God! Yes! This lady is famished!
"Yeah. Thank you." I flashed a sincere smile to Edgar while calmly taking the seat facing him on the table. The splinted hand is a little hard to move, but nothing will stop me from having a fulfilling meal!
As I was about to reach for the spoon, a hand suddenly snatched it away. It was Edgar's.
"I'm sorry for hurting you. Let me atone by feeding you." Edgar gave me an apologetic smile.
Sigh. Even when bruised, he still looks attractive. What kind of cheat is this?
"Thanks." I nodded. "I'm sorry for hitting you too."
"It's alright. I deserved it." He scoops the porridge with the spoon and gives it a couple of blows before sending it to my mouth. And I, of course, naturally opens my mouth to receive it.
These actions repeat themselves very naturally.
"Boss...don't you feel...weird?"
Let's be honest, guys. Edgar is taking my change too calmly. Even in my current appearance, a man almost as tall as him with a slightly slender figure, he could still feed me with a straight face and act like nothing is out of the ordinary.
"What is there to be weirded about? Aren't you Dakota?" Edgar asked while raising an eyebrow.
"I am."
"Then, that's it."
It took me a few seconds before asking the next big question, "Why did you help me?"
Edgar pushed the empty bowl aside. He then focuses his gaze on me. "Well, aren't we friends?"
Me, "I thought I'm just your subordinate?"
Edgar, "...Is that how you've been labeling our relationship all this time? You don't even consider me as a friend?"
...
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What kind of friends only see each other for the business meetings? We don't even have any other exchange apart from anything related to Gobble Up. Our relationship has always been purely professional. Partnership in contract, superior-subordinate (self-proclaimed) in reality. How would I dare to call myself your friend?
Sir, that was called being acquainted. Friends need more interaction than that.
And what's up with that sour tone of yours? I can't help but let out a good laugh.
"Alright. From now on, we'll be good bros!"
Pointing at myself with my thumb, I continued wittily with a serious expression, "This bro is the kind that once you pick him up, there's no way of returning him. But, don't worry. This bro will definitely dedicate the rest of his life to repay you. So, hey, man. Nice to meet you. I'm Aaron."
Edgar gave a light chuckle. He then extends his fist towards me, to which I responded by bumping our fists together. "I'm Edgar."
"So, what're your plans?" With a smile still lingering on the corners of his mouth, he asks.
"Hmm. I honestly haven't thought of that. I woke up in the hospital and I know very little of my current self right now. The first place I went to after being discharged was my family's grave. Then, I got myself here. Haha."
I then proceeded to explain the whole fiasco of me calling for help while bleeding in the hotel room and the issue of Aaron's sponsor. A little frown appeared on Edgar's face when I mentioned how I found the whole thing fishy. He nodded, seemingly agreeing. "What about education then? You mentioned Aaron was some kind of a genius?"
"I don't think I could attend the school anymore. Aaron got in with a full scholarship. After the news of his suicide, I'm pretty sure the scholarship is now revoked. Plus, I don't really feel like going to study anymore." I answered honestly while shrugging my uninjured right shoulder.
Seriously. I've had my fair share of pulling all-nighters and assignments. I don't think I can handle another experience of that.
Edgar nodded, "Do you have anywhere to go? Do you know where Aaron stayed?"
I shook my head, "I have a few keys with me but I don't know what they're for."
Edgar once again nodded, "I'll have someone investigate."
He then stood up and flash a blindingly bright smile towards me. "I've decided. You'll be my personal assistant from now on. As for your accommodation, you can just crash with me. It'll be easier that way."
At first, I was blinded by the smile. After, I was dumbfounded by the words.
"I don't think that's a good idea for you. I mean, I was all over the news, with me being gay and rejected by my sponsor. If I hover around you at this time, you might be caught in something messy."
Ignoring my apprehension, Edgar headed towards the bed. With his back on me, he said, "We'll figure it out. Let's sleep. It's late."
"..."
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