Chapter 96 The Breakfast Incident

In the health center, sunlight poured through the windows, giving the place a cozy vibe. Emily had just finished tidying up and let out a sigh of relief as she plopped down at the desk. Her eyes landed on the clear food container in front of her.

She popped it open, and the smell of delicious food hit her nose. Just as she was about to dig in, Abigail suddenly showed up at the door.

"Dr. Johnson, did your boyfriend make you that breakfast?" she asked, her eyes zeroing in on the container.

Abigail's curiosity was piqued. Emily had been working here for two years and never brought her own breakfast. She usually ate at home, grabbed something from the cafeteria if she was running late, or picked up breakfast from outside. This was definitely a first.

Emily was caught off guard, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks.

She stammered, "Oh, come on, it's just a regular breakfast."

But Abigail wasn't buying it. She leaned in closer to check out the food—a neatly made sandwich, perfectly arranged fruit, and yogurt with a cute straw.

"This doesn't look like just any breakfast, Dr. Johnson. Spill the beans, do you have a boyfriend?" Abigail asked, eyes twinkling with curiosity.

Emily gave her a helpless look. "There's really no one. Stop guessing."

Abigail wasn't convinced. She rested her chin on her hands, eyes full of curiosity. "Dr. Johnson, you can't fool me. This looks like someone put a lot of thought into it. Who's the lucky guy?"

Emily didn't know what to say, so she started eating, hoping to dodge the questions.

Abigail's curiosity only grew as she noticed Emily's silence. She started guessing out loud, suggesting it might be a teacher with a crush on Emily or a secret admirer.

Emily was getting a bit annoyed. She put down her breakfast, cleared her throat, and said, "Enough with the guessing. Did you come here early just to tease me?"

Abigail waved her hand, grinning. "Of course not, Dr. Johnson. I came to update you on the student who had a cold on Friday. He's much better now, but there's a missing signature from you on Friday's record."

Emily nodded, took the record sheet, quickly signed it, and handed it back. "Alright, keep an eye on him and let me know if there are any issues."

Abigail took the sheet, but her eyes drifted back to the container. "Dr. Johnson, that breakfast looks amazing. Who's the thoughtful one?"

Emily sighed. "I told you, stop asking. Go do your work."

Seeing Emily getting a bit upset, Abigail left the clinic.

When Sophia reached the front desk of the health center with the record sheet, she found the nurses gossiping. She handed the sheet to the nurse in charge and casually asked, "What's the buzz?"

Abigail's eyes lit up. "Dr. Brown, it's nothing. Just that Dr. Johnson brought her own breakfast today, which is a first." She lowered her voice, adding a touch of mystery. "We're all guessing if it's from a secret boyfriend!"

Sophia was a bit surprised but then laughed. "You guys are always jumping to conclusions. Just because Dr. Johnson brought breakfast doesn't mean it's from a boyfriend."

The nurses giggled, and one of them quickly added, "Dr. Brown, the breakfast is in this super fancy container. It looks really special. So, we all think there's something going on."

Listening to the nurses, Sophia felt a weird twinge in her heart. She tried to brush it off, telling herself not to read too much into it.

"Alright, don't gossip too much. Be careful, Dr. Johnson might come after you if she hears," she reminded them with a smile.

Her words were a mix of jest and warning. She knew the nurses were curious but wanted to remind them to be mindful. Her smile was gentle, but her eyes had a touch of seriousness, making the nurses realize they should drop the topic.

"Got it, Dr. Brown, we won't talk about it anymore." The nurses stuck out their tongues and quickly got back to work.

"Alright, I'll get back to work too." Watching the nurses disperse, Sophia also turned and headed to her therapy room. As she passed Emily's office, her steps slowed. A thought crossed her mind: she wondered what the 'boyfriend-made breakfast' looked like.

She hesitated for a moment but eventually walked towards Emily's office, a playful glint in her eyes, eager to see if the breakfast was as special as the nurses said.

She knew her curiosity might make Emily uncomfortable, but she couldn't help herself. So she lightly knocked on the door and walked in as naturally as possible. Emily was sitting at her desk, focused on her breakfast. Seeing Sophia, she looked up and smiled.

"Dr. Johnson, sorry to interrupt, I have a question for you," Sophia said as she walked towards Emily's desk, her eyes casually falling on the container.

Emily nodded, indicating for her to sit down. "Of course, Dr. Brown, ask away."

Sophia then sat in the chair opposite Emily, her gaze lingering on the container for a moment before turning to Emily. "I heard your breakfast is quite special today. The nurses are all talking about it, and I'm curious too."

Emily looked up, a bit surprised, then blushed slightly. "Don't listen to them. It's just a regular breakfast."

Sophia found her flustered look amusing and continued to tease, "A regular breakfast in such a delicate container? Doesn't seem so regular."

Emily smiled helplessly. "I mean it, it's nothing special, just a sandwich."

Sophia nodded, not pressing further, and smiled. "It does look delicious. Your friend has good skills."

Emily then looked up and smiled at her, not saying anything more, just continuing to enjoy her breakfast. Sophia didn't say more either, knowing Emily might not want to discuss personal matters at work.

Then Sophia stood up, ready to leave.

"Alright, I won't disturb your breakfast. Enjoy yourself," she said with a smile and left.

After Sophia left, Emily picked up her breakfast again but had lost her appetite. However, thinking about how Joseph had worked hard to prepare it and her habit of not wasting food, she quickly finished the sandwich and drank the yogurt. As for the fruit, she couldn't eat anymore, so she covered it and set it aside, planning to eat it at noon.

After tidying up, she sat back at her desk. Abigail's words echoed in her mind, and she found herself thinking about Joseph, the thoughtful and caring man. But she quickly shook her head, telling herself not to overthink.