I arrived at the hospital, and the second I stepped in, I had eyes following me and mouths that were running whenever they pleased. I wanted to float away like smoke and disappear, as I already knew what was going on here. Hunter must have spread a weird rumor about me and Riley—that blabbermouth. I should really teach him a lesson once I see him.
"Have you heard? Dr. Do's boyfriend was apparently a famous singer back in the day!"
"That could be why she always turns down the men who ask her out—she already has a boyfriend—a singer and handsome at that! Who could ever compete with that, right?"
"I always thought she was into women."
This is ridiculous. Everyone actually thinks that Riley is my boyfriend! Hunter is the only one who could be behind this false rumor; I must go and find him.
"Hi!" I jumped when someone blocked my way, causing me to trip on myself and fall down the white tiled ground. "Katarina!" Riley exclaimed as he crouched down and gently helped me get up. "I'm so sorry; I did not mean to frighten you. Are you okay?"
My left hand formed the gesture "okay" in sign language, and I nodded my head. "What are you doing here?" I whispered.
"Well, I wondered where you ran off to. You left me all alone in your house; it is only natural that I'd worry. Last night, you—" I slapped his face, and he groaned in pain. My hand rested over his pink lips, and Riley stared at me with a concerned gaze.
"We need to talk—ow!" I yelped after taking a step forward. Talk about bad timing... I must have sprained my foot when I tripped and fell. Riley pushed away my hand that was over his mouth and kneeled down on the ground to inspect my foot. I begged him to stand back up. "Riley! I'm fine! Go home!"
"What are you saying? I can't leave you alone in this condition! It was my fault that you hurt yourself!" He grabbed my hands, which surprised the life out of me; I could barely breathe. But then he put them over his wide shoulders. "You could fall if you stay like that; hold onto me."
My heart was raging in my ribcage; it was pounding loud and hard, and I believe that my face was flushed. My eyes scanned around the place, and I wanted to hide myself so badly because everyone who was in the hospital was staring at the two of us. This is so embarrassing... I don't think I can ever talk to any of them like normal after this.
Riley stood up, taking my hand, and he linked my arm around his. He smiled down at me, and I blushed. He knew, and he liked it—I could tell. He knew that everyone was watching, and he liked the idea that they were thinking of him as my boyfriend.
"Let's get you to a doctor, and definitely not Hunter; he does not know what to do with sprains."
"I can go by myself!" I pulled my arm away, and I could see that it shocked Riley. "I mean, it's not like I cannot walk, you know? I can go there myself; don't need to worry about me. Go ahead and do your thing." Riley's lips pressed together as he sighed. His next move had me gasping because he got down on one knee.
"Don't be stubborn, Katarina. It is my fault that you've sprained your foot. Now come on and get on my back. I will not get up unless you get on, I promise."
I had no other choice. I swallowed my pride and closed my eyes, imagining that no one was present at the moment but me and Riley. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he gently pulled my legs; Riley got up on his feet quickly. He made it seem as though I was very light, although I really hope so because he would not need to suffer and break his back.
Riley was silent as he carried me all the way to the other building, where I could get my foot checked by another doctor. I buried my face on his shoulder; public attention is the last thing that I want in this world. More importantly, it was Riley Martins who was carrying me. I truly wish that my face would never make it on the internet; I'd rather die than become viral.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, and it snapped me out of my train of thought. "I shouldn't have really told Hunter that you had been with me since last night. It was just that I could not think of a better excuse, as he had called you on the phone, and I picked it up. I don't want to lie to him and make him believe that you were with another man. I don't want anyone to think of you in any bad way possible, Kat."
My heart was touched, and it was the first time today that I smiled. It made me happy that he was thinking of me, not to mention he apologized to me. "Thank you. To be honest, I thought this was all just for fun for you, but I can see now that it is not; I am happy about that."
"But my feelings for you are real, Katarina." My heartbeat went fast and abnormal again. "I am really hoping that you will accept them. I was not fooling around when I said that I like you."
We reached the doctor's office and treated my sprained foot, while Riley had to wait for me outside. I could not stop thinking about what he said. I really have no idea what it is that he has seen in me, but it honestly appears that he was being sincere.
"You have fallen badly and your foot has received quite a huge shock. I recommend that you rest up to four weeks for a full recovery. You may also want to reduce walking and running, as those could worsen your foot's condition."
"Four weeks?" The doctor nodded his head with a smile. "Um, I'm a psychiatrist. I don't think that I can do that; I still need to work."
"If that is the case, then take these with you." He grabbed the crutches from the side and handed them over to me. "I'm going to have to ask you to come back here after four weeks so I can give your foot another checkup and see if it has healed properly."
"Yes, thank you very much. I really appreciate all of your help."
I exited his office and found Riley nowhere in sight. He must have left, or there could be something that he needed to do, and he could not wait for me to come out. I shook my head. I need to get back to work. I also need to give Hunter a good scolding for spreading false rumors about me and Riley.
"Katarina!" I froze when I heard his voice calling my name. I thought he'd already left. "What are you doing? You should have waited for me to return. I had only bought you lunch."
"Lunch?"
"Yeah," he smiled, and he told me to watch my every step. "You know, there is something that I have to do, so I wanted to buy you some food before I go. But I'll be sure to come back quickly!"
"Oh, no! It's fine! I can't keep you doing all these things for me, Riley. You also have your own life to live. You can go."
"But you can't leave the hospital without me, you hear me? I'm afraid that you'd get into more accidents if you were to get home by yourself with these crutches." I laughed.
"It is not like I am a kid."
"Come on, let the man that you like do this for you," he replied with pleading eyes, while my own went big and wide. What in the world did he say? The man I like?
'I've always had a crush on you. The reason I am not dating anyone is because of you. I just can't seem to forget you.'
My face flushed as I looked back at Riley, who was now wearing a cheeky smile. I gave him the crutches, and he took them without hesitation; his eyes remained locked on mine. But then I started hopping with only one foot, desperate to get out of that place and hide.
I am an idiot—an idiot drunkard!
"Hey, Katarina! Wait up! You could hurt yourself!"
"Leave me alone!"
I heard laughter from behind me, and I knew it was him. "Oh, Katarina Do is being shy! You cutie pie! Come here, babe!"