This was the first time that this had happened. Was that really a memory from the past? Was that the man who had saved my life from the murderers of my family years ago?
My fingers ran through my hair as I gathered it up into a ponytail. A sigh has escaped through my lips as my eyes scan this big hospital. Riley has left for something; that's what he told me. I got up and returned to my office. I must have suppressed my memories of the massacre that took place when I was little, and now they are coming back to me. Although there was no surprise there, it was too traumatic, and my mind had done the right thing to keep me sane. If not, I must be turning heads here and there, feeling that there could be someone out there that is going to kill me, as I have survived their heinous crime and they are coming back for me.
A knock came on the door, which made me jump from my seat. Riley's head popped out from the outside with a smile. I gestured for him to come in; he had a paper bag in his hands as he sat on the chair that was across from my desk. He started unpacking, and it seemed that he had brought me some food. My face flushed; he did not have to do this, but I am thankful.
"You must have been exhausted, is what I thought, and that was why you almost lost your balance to keep yourself up and running." He carefully took off the lids and put them in front of me. "Don't worry, I bought some for me as well. You're not going to eat all of these on your own." That made me giggle as the chopsticks clicked and split into two. Riley gave it to me and said, "This was the only restaurant that I could find nearby; I am hoping you like Chinese cuisine."
Truth be told, I was surprised. I did not expect him to be this way towards anyone, not to mention a girl that he barely knows. Although we met six years ago, we are still practically strangers. We had not exchanged words that night, and I did not think I was worthy enough of his attention. He must have treated his girlfriends the same way, and they must have been happy. Wait.
"Riley," I called as he raised his head. "You don't have a girlfriend, don't you?"
He smirked. "What, would you like us to date?" I nearly spilled the soup that was in front of me, making him chuckle as he handed me a tissue. I wiped off my arm; thankfully, the soup wasn't too hot. "I was joking, but why are you asking?"
"Well, of course, I would ask! This is not how you should be treating me, you know, especially if you've got a girlfriend. I do not like getting into trouble."
Riley smiled, taking the now-wet tissue from my hand and disposing of it in the trash can. "There is no need for you to worry; I am not seeing anyone. Although I am quite interested in this doctor..." I coughed. He got behind me and gently patted me on the back after passing me the bottled water. "I heard a lot about you, Dr. Do. Apparently, you had been asked out by many, but you turned them all down."
"Were they all talking about me?" I screamed, and Riley laughed. He shook his head.
"I don't think so. But when I passed by two men, who were also doctors, I suppose, they were saying how you were one of the most beautiful women in this hospital, and yet you aren't dating anyone."
I sigh in disbelief. "I can't believe that men are now talking ill about the girl they confessed to after getting rejected properly."
"I don't see anything bad about what they said; if anything, they were praising you. As for me, you are the only female doctor that I know in this building; therefore, you are the most beautiful woman in here."
The blood rushed to my face as I prayed for him not to notice. "Can you stop spouting nonsense? Is this what you've become after the band disbanded? I am utterly disappointed."
"No, I am serious." His voice was low, and it changed the mood in the room. I looked into his eyes as he continued, "Why aren't you dating anyone, Dr. Do? Do you have someone that you like?" I turned my head away in embarrassment. There is no way that I can tell him that the person I like is in front of me; ever since then, it has always been him.
"There is no one that I like," I firmly announced. "Dating, for me, is a huge pain in the behind. I have no time for something like that. I do not do office romance."
"Will you consider me, though?" My pupils dilated. "Would you like to date me, Katarina?"
I got off work by one o'clock, and yet the words that I received from Riley are still stuck in my head. Is he being serious? We just met, and he is asking me out; he barely knew anything about me. Does he really want to date someone who was his fan before?
The light turned green, and I crossed the street. Riley was someone that I had adored and admired for years. I can remember that I put up so many of their posters in my room. I was that crazy about him and the band. That night, when they offered me a ride to my home, I thought that I had gotten too lucky, but today he has asked me out. I never once dared to imagine that this would happen. There must be something wrong inside his head; he might just be confused. I should probably give him a quick check-up tomorrow and observe him thoroughly.
I bumped into someone while walking, and I dropped my purse. "I'm sorry; I was not looking where I was going." He helped pick up the purse and handed it back to me. "Thank you."
"No problem; just be careful next time."
I smiled. "Of course; I apologize."
"You never know that the person that is in front of you might be the one that you should look out for."
I did not get to see the face of the man who whispered those words. Before I could raise my head, he was already gone. But why would he say those words to me? Were those really directed towards me, or is he really just one of those weird dudes that you find on the streets?
"The person in front of me might be the one that I should look out for, huh? What, are those people really going to come back for me? Have they found out about me?"