"Trust me," he says, staring deeply into her eyes. Ella calms down as she nods her head in agreement slowly and wraps her arms around his neck for support.
He slowly takes her towards the clinic at the end of the alley. The silence was awkward and deadly, unlike Ella's persona. She breaks the ice by saying, "Um, thanks for helping me," with her head still hung low as she hides her blushed cheeks. But the stranger knew she was shy after catching a glimpse of her scarlet ears. He doesn't say anything else besides "Hmm" as he pokes his inner cheeks with his tongue to suppress the rising smile on his lips.
Ella felt him smirking at her as she bobbed her head up to meet his gaze. The moment she raised her head, the male twisted his neck straight, looking ahead. Ella ponders deep questions to ask him until they reach the clinic. She asks in an astonished pout, "What's your name?"
Catching the male off guard as his eyebrows knit together at her words, causing an "O" to form on his lips. Ella seems to acknowledge his confusion as she chuckles before answering, "I mean, you have helped me twice, and now you are taking me to the clinic, so we have met more. So, I guess at least we should now know each other's names."
She blabbers out all her heart, unknowingly moving her feet in joy of her response, and a signature kiddo smile plays on her lips with a big pair of doe eyes. It did have an effect on the man's heart, as his breath hitched for a very unnoticeable time. He clears his throat as he looks away, saying slowly, "Adam, Adam Smith."
Ella smiles a little at his response as she says, in an encouraging tone, "Wow, nice name, myself-"
"Ella," the male speaks in the middle, and as her eyes widen, he looks at her bewildered state as he continues to evert his gaze. "Heard on the bakery that day."
"Oh" was all Ella could utter.
Both of us entered the clinic as the door swung open. "Good evening, how may I assist you?" asks the receptionist as she eyes the adorable duo in front of her.
"She fell on the road and has injured her knee as well as her ankle," Adam replied.
"Oh, this way, as the doctor is seated there. Fill this performa for further instructions," she says, pointing towards her right side and handing a performa in the couple's direction. Adam wasn't able to hold Performa as he was already holding Ella. He was about to say something when Ella extended her arm that was resting on his neck and held that pose.
"Okay, thanks for your time," says Ella hurriedly as the receptionist giggles at her reflex, while Adam, dumbfounded, stares at her side profile and carries her towards the doctor's cabin.
The receptionist sees the retreating figure as she mutters "cute" to herself before continuing her work.
Ella knocks on the door again by freeing her hand, and Adam can't help but bite his inner cheeks to suppress his smile at her cuteness.
"Come in," says a female voice as they enter the cabin.
"Doctor, here's the—" Adam says, but the doctor cuts him off, "It's alright, receptionist, send me your case. You may sit there" as she points at the stretcher behind them. "Also fill out this form with details so I can provide you medicine."
Adam made Ella sit on the stretcher and took her form by examining her. While he was reading the form, he decided to fill it out. The doctor in the mean time stood up and brought a "Tetnus injection," as she says, "You got a road injury, dear, so you have to get this injection first," causing Ella's eyes to widen in fear.
"No!" says Ella, panting hard and gaining Adam's attention as he gazes at her terrified state.
"Come on, dear, it will not hurt. Just trust me," the doctor ensures.
"No, medicine, please... I don't like injections. Please..." Ella pleads.
Doctor stood there comforting her. But she doesn't listen. Adam stood up as he stood besides her and slowly said, "It will not hurt, trust me," causing Ella to look at him. She gulps slowly and grazes his hand tightly, catching him off guard as she yells, closing her eyes, "Just make it quick, please!"
The doctor instantly injected the drug before passing a reassuring nod to Adam, who was busy staring at Ella. The doctor says, "It's done," causing Ella to open her eyes in amusement. She says this while staring deeply into Adam's eyes. "Wow, it really didn't hurt."
Causing him to get back to his senses as he nods a little with a faint smile on lips, "Yeah, I told you."
Ella sits there as the doctor covers her knee and ankle, while Adam fills out the form. "So, she is your girlfriend?" asks the doctor, causing both to say, "No!"
The doctor was shocked by their sudden outburst and looked to the other side, "Oh, sorry, I misunderstood."
"We are friends," Ella says in a mature tone, smiling at the end to lighten up the room's atmosphere. Adam smiles to himself at her attempt. They both accused the doctor as they got out of the clinic.
"Adam, please make me sit there," Ella says, pointing towards the bench near the clinic.
He made her sit there, handing her bag to her and sitting besides her. "What now?" he says in a monotonous voice.
"Nothing; you already helped me a lot. I don't want to burden you anymore," Ella says normally, causing Adam to stare at her for a while, observing her actions as she grabs her mobile phone from her bag. particularly dialing a number.
"Its-" Adam wanted to say something, probably feeling bad as he senses a hint of sadness in Ella's tone.
"Nah... I know I am disturbing you. But your courtesy is not letting you say anything. But I am not mean. I am calling Mom. She will pick me up," Ella says softly.
Adam just stood there watching herself as her persona changed suddenly, as that was the part Ella actually hides from everyone. The lower self-esteem and ignorant part of her is her ignorance of herself. The part that was limited to her dairy But his eyes widened as she switched personalities once her mom picked up the phone and said, "Oh hey Mom, Ella there. I was in the streets when I spilled on the road and injured my knee. But I am alright, as a friend helped me," she says, taking a glance at Adam and smiling softly. "I am here in front of the clinic near our house. Can you please pick me up?"
Ella plays with her dress for a while before responding, "Okay, I am waiting," and ending the call.
Diverting all her attention towards Adam, she says, "Mom will be there in a while."
"Oh, that's nice," says Adam in the same voice but rather softer than before.
"Um, wait," says Ella as she looks for something in her bag. Adam observes her in confusion. A minute later, she takes out a chocolate bar and hands it to Adam.
"Here, this is for you. Please accept it; it's the least I can do for my helping hand." She says with the same doe eyes and kiddo smile, causing Adam to hesitantly grab the chocolate from her hands with a small "Thanks," biting his inner cheeks as he lowers his face while hiding his blush.