"Hi," Shirley greeted Ebuka as she approached his bedside.
"I don't wanna talk to you," Ebuka responded, his expression downcast.
"I know you mean the opposite; I miss you too," Shirley replied softly.
"Why haven't you come since all this while?" Ebuka inquired.
"All which while?" Shirley feigned ignorance.
"I was looking for you a few hours ago," Ebuka persisted.
"I had a visitor," Shirley explained.
"Jayden?" Ebuka guessed.
"Yeah... How did you know?" Shirley asked, surprised.
"I... I overheard," Ebuka admitted.
Shirley cursed under her breath. "This place is hell, filled with gossipers!"
As Shirley felt her phone vibrating in her pocket, she realized Jay was calling. She answered with a wide smile.
"Hey," she greeted.
"I'm on my way to your hospital. Get ready!" Jay's voice echoed through the phone.
"Alright, I'll be ready," Shirley replied eagerly.
"Ok..." Jay trailed off before hanging up.
Shirley felt a rush of excitement as she prepared for her date with Jay.
"He must be really handsome and healthy," Ebuka remarked.
"Yeah..." Shirley replied absentmindedly. "Ebuka, take care of yourself."
"I will. Even if you don't take care of me, I can take care of myself," Ebuka assured her.
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. I'm off duty," Shirley said as she bid Ebuka goodnight.
*******************
Shirley donned a stunning dinner gown with subtle makeup, looking extremely beautiful.
"That dress is fabulous," Nurse Kate commented.
"Thank you," Shirley replied with a smile.
"Are you going to meet a hottie?" one of the nurses inquired.
"Yeah, such a hottie," Shirley replied coyly.
She signed out and headed outside, where she met Jay leaning against his Range Rover, wearing sunglasses.
"You look beautiful," Jay complimented.
"Thank you. I love your sunglasses," Shirley said, trying them on. "I hope they suit me."
"Perfectly!" Jay assured her, blowing her a kiss before opening the car door for her.
"Where are you taking me?" Shirley asked with excitement.
"You'll know when we get there," Jay replied mysteriously.
As they arrived at a rural area, Shirley's disappointment grew. She had dressed up for a romantic evening, but the surroundings were less than ideal.
"I'm sure you're disappointed," Jay acknowledged. "But I wanted you to know who I really am."
As Jay shared his past with Shirley, she listened intently, ignoring their surroundings and focusing on him.
"I am Philip. My code name is Jayden," he revealed. "This is where I grew up."
He recounted his childhood, his bond with Mr. Whip, and his tragic love story with Xue. Shirley felt a pang of sympathy for him.
"That's tragic," she murmured.
"Yeah," Jay sighed. "Now that you know about me, can we go to where you deserve?"
Shirley grinned. "What are you waiting for?" she exclaimed, jumping up and pulling him along.
They spent the evening visiting all the places Shirley had wanted to go. As they parted ways, Jay's somber announcement about leaving for China the next day cast a shadow over their joyful evening.