6

Gin was sitting on the garden lounger in her patio, her mind on that sensational kiss she had shared with Kin Arvis in the office. How could she have been so stupid? Why did she do it? Why did she not resist him? It was her that had actually initiated that kiss. She was the one, to pull his head towards her mouth. I am an idiot! Though Gin could not deny, she had enjoyed that kiss tremendously. That kiss had been right up there with the two other most significant moments in her life; her night of passion with Kin Arvis and giving birth to Vin. Getting her degree in University should have been up there as well, but it paled in comparison, when compared to Kin Arvis and Vin. Gin stilled uncomfortably when her mum sat down on the lounger next to her. Gin drew in her breath very slowly. She smiled at her mum. "Gin, you okay?" her mum reached out and touched her wrist. "Yeah," Gin forced a bright smile. Her mother continued to look at her with concern. Gin groaned silently. "In recent weeks, you seem ___ unduly preoccupied," her mum spoke softly. You mean since Kin Arvis came back to South Africa. "I haven't seen you this way, since you fell pregnant with Vin," her mum continued. Gin remained quiet. She lifted her glass of lemon and lime and sipped from it. What could Gin say? A mother knows her child, sometimes better than a child knows itself. Didn't she know every emotion, every expression that registered on Vin's face? "I'm okay mum," Gin offered uncomfortably. "Are we in financial trouble? I still have all that money your daddy bequeathed me__." Gin breathed a sigh of relief. "Mum no! We do not have financial problems at all." Gin was in a comfortable financial position. Her car was paid off. She had no debt, other than the bond on their three bed room home. She and Dean were not born into wealth. Her parents had been working class people. They had lived in a rented home. Gin and her Dean had not known any luxury. When her father had passed away, he'd had a life insurance policy. Gin and Dean had insisted their mother keep that money for herself. They were young and determined to make their way in the world. Her mum reached out and hugged her, "you'll do well in your exams next month," she patted Gin's back consolingly. "You always pass with distinctions," her mum smiled proudly and stood up to leave. "Thanks mum." Gin cringed silently. Her exams were the last thing on her mind, Gin thought guiltily and she should have been giving attention to her preparation for it. "Gin," she turned around and smiled at her daughter. "Yes, mum, " Gin answered guardedly. "I am very, very proud of you," she smiled, her eyes filled with admiration. "Thank you, Mum," Gin smiled back. In the weeks that followed at work, Gin was conflictingly pleased and disappointed that she did not see much of Kin Arvis. She hoped to catch a glimpse of him in the lift or car park, but never did. His vehicle was already in the car park when she got to work and when she left in the afternoon, Kin Arvis was still busy at work. When Kin Arvis visited the pediatrics ward, it was her superior that Kin Arvis engaged with. He did not do any patient consultations. Some mornings her heart would beat excitedly, when she saw from a patient's file, that Kin Arvis had admitted a patient in the night. She hoped that would mean she would see him in the ward, but he seemed to be keeping a low profile. He attended to patients in the Outpatients Department and conveniently passed the responsibility to Head of Pediatrics. It was torture knowing Kin Arvis was near, yet so far. He was up there in the executive wing of the hospital. As chief of staff, administrative duties took up much of his time in the day. The day before her exam, Gin was a bundle of nerves. Added to that she had an insatiable craving for Kin Arvis to just hold her in his arms and wish her luck or just look into her eyes and tell her _____. It was unfortunate then for the two concerned that she just happened to overhear some whisperings in the corridor. "Jennifer said Dr. Ra was such a stud," Nurse Julia, the ward gossip monger murmured conspirationally. "Oh, he is so damn good looking. What I'd give for just one night with him," the other nurse gushed. "Apparently," Julia whispered in an even softer tone. "Dr. Ra told Jennifer, she was the best ___." "Don't you ladies have work to do?" Gin shoved the door opened and glared at the two staff nurses. "We were just ____." "Gossiping?" Gin questioned Julia. "Dr. Mikhayla, we did not mean ___." "You know Nurse Julia, unless you have witnessed something with your own two eyes, perhaps you should refrain from your bigotry comments," Gin spat out, not sure why she was fuming on Kin Arvis's behalf. The man was big enough to fight his own battles, if he cared to! "I'm sorry," Nurse Julia was red-faced. "It's not me you need to apologize to and in future focus on your work and not the private life of your employer!" With that Gin stormed away. It's nerves. It's my exams tomorrow. I am not normally so paranoid or ____ protective. "I don't see why we have to drive together," Gin moaned as she slid into the passenger seat of Alice's sports car. "Hey, we're going to the same exam hall. We're both leaving from the hospital. Why not?" Alice turned the ignition on. "We had the day off. What are we doing at work?" Gin laughed. "We are care givers. We care about our patients," Alice pointed out to Gin. "I have a six month old baby boy with a lung infection," Gin murmured sadly. "And as his doctor, I know the little guy is going to pull through," Alice assured her. "I don't like it when babies have to suffer so," Gin spoke softly. "Hey look on the bright side of life," Alice laughed. "It's a beautiful day. The sun is shining and I have the sexiest doctor for company," he winked. "We're on our way to write our exams!" Gin reminded him, her eyes were trained on the fancy imported car in Kin Arvis's parking bay. "Finally," Alice sighed. "We qualify in our specialist fields." "Is that a Ferrari?" Gin questioned curiously. "Trust him to pollute the environment!" Alice followed her eyes in his rear view mirror and laughed. "That baby," Alice drooled, "is a Tesla Roadster Sport. Battery Electrically powered, lithium battery, 185 kW horse power, carbon fiber interior___." "Can you speak English?" If I have to speak English we might as well talk Shakespeare!" Alice groaned. "All you need to know is that baby is more eco friendly than your Prius." 'really!" Gin continued to look into the rear view mirror, admiring the apple green, sporty look of Kin Arvis's baby. She was not jealous. She was not coveting his eco- friendly car. It probably costs a fortune. Such a waste! "The Tesla's code name is "Dark Star," Alice murmured, turning out of the car park. Suits its owner! How fitting! "So how did the exam go?" "Dr. Ra!" Gin clutched her chest. She looked around. Strangely the corridor was empty, just the two janitors, engrossed in the job of mopping away the floor. Her eyes returned to Kin Arvis. She swallowed nervously. The last time she'd seen him, was the day she'd kissed him, ravished him, more precisely. "Why did you spring up on me?" She accused. "You almost gave me a ____ heart attack." Kin Arvis laughed, that delightful, enthralling sound so sweet to her ears. "Lucky thing, I'm a cardiologist then," he murmured. "Very funny," she sneered and began walking away, but Kin Arvis easily kept up with her strides. "I'm going on lunch," she meant to dismiss him. "You haven't answered my question," he ignored her dismissal, holding the cafeteria door for her. Gin was instantly alert to the sudden lull in the conversations in the cafeteria. Every pair of eyes was focused on her and Kin Arvis. He seemed oblivious to the point of indifference. Gin was suddenly uncomfortable. Maybe she must just get a take out and go back to her office. "Gin?" Kin Arvis grinned. "Was it that bad?" "What?" "Your exam?" "Oh ____. I passed," she answered matter of fact, even though she had not yet received her results. Kin Arvis threw his head back and laughed. "Such admirable confidence." She blushed uncomfortably. "I studied and prepared well." "I believe you. I've seen your previous results on your CV," he picked up a tray and handed one to her. She wanted to look into his eyes, but he was focused on selecting his lunch. Absent mindedly she put a bottle of fruit juice onto her tray and a turkey salad. "Broccoli!" Kin Arvis groaned softly. "What?" Gin laughed softly. "The fish looks delicious, but it's served with broccoli topped with a cheese sauce. I hate broccoli," he murmured too close to her ear. She knew that only too well. Gin clutched her tray tightly. His warm breath was doing something to her adrenalin level. Like father like son. Vin hates broccoli too! "Give Dr. Ra the fish with a green salad, minus the broccoli," Gin told the assistant with a smile. The assistant's eyes widened a fraction before he nodded and quickly carried out Gin's instructions. "Thank you," Kin Arvis flashed her a smile. "I did not want to seem ungracious." "You're paying," she smiled back. "Might as well pay for what you want to eat." Kin Arvis smiled and removed some bank notes from his wallet to pay for both their meals. "Umm ___ I'm paying for mine," she quickly shoved her money towards the cashier. Kin Arvis laced her with an angry scowl, which Gin ignored. She collected her change and walked to a table hoping Kin Arvis would find a seat of his own, considering all the curious glances they were attracting. Gin could just imagine the corridor gossip by the afternoon. Truth be told, Gin was not all that disappointed when Kin Arvis took the chair opposite hers at her table. He watched her with amusement in her eyes. She was vigorously cleaning her knife and fork before she could use the cutlery. "What are you staring at?" She snapped, her eyes narrowed annoyingly. Doesn't he know everybody's eyes were trained on them? "You must be a doctor," he quipped. "Your humour escapes me," Gin began tucking into her salad. She watched Kin Arvis admiringly as he skilfully cut into his fish and put a mouthful through his lips. His eyes continued to focus on her flatteringly. Gin could hardly make the hand to mouth coordination to do justice to her meal. "How's your fish?" She asked to break the deafening silence. "Rather delicious," he chewed lazily as he answered. "Your turkey not good?" He seemed to enjoy seeing her in a state of nervousness. "It's fine," she supplied, forcing herself to another forkful of her lunch. "Gin?" "Yes?" "What were you doing in that pub, when you were under twenty one?" Why the hell was he thinking about that? Gin did not look up, instead she toyed with her food. At the corner of her eye, she could see Kin Arvis had stopped eating. He was patiently waiting for her to answer him. "Dean owns the pub," she murmured, putting down her cutlery. "Dean?" Kin Arvis questioned with a trace of anger. She looked up and found his eyes darkened stormily. "My brother," she hissed. "Dean is my brother." Gin was speechless, when she heard Kin Arvis swear under his breath. "Your brother used you to lure patrons ____." "No!" Gin hissed with barely controlled rage. How the hell could Kin Arvis not know, he was the first man she'd been with? He had to know she was a virgin that night! "Dean was out that night. He did not know I was ____ entertaining anybody." The disbelief was clearly evident in his mocking eyes. How could he be so brutal? Gin pushed her plate away. "My brother is very protective," she clenched her teeth angrily. "Clearly!" Kin Arvis echoed sarcastically, his eyebrows raised deridingly. "Perhaps you should mind your own business, Dr. Ra!" Gin stood up. "You haven't finished your lunch," Kin Arvis pointed out unfazed, as he continued eating. "I'm not hungry anymore," she hissed and was relieved when her cell phone rang. "Good day, Dr. Mikhayla speaking," she answered courteously into the phone. "Good morning, Dr. Mikhayla," the school principal greeted formally. "Could you please come to the school, Vin has been in a fight with another learner." Gin sat down suddenly. "What!" She spoke softly into the phone. How can that be? Vin was no fighter. He was a sweet young boy. "Is something the matter Gin?" Gin's cheeks coloured profusely. She had not even realized Kin Arvis had left his seat and was at her side. Worse his arms were on her shoulders. Everybody was staring at her rather inquisitively. Gin looked up, shock etched on her face. "I___I have to go to Vin's school. He's ___ he's been in a fight!" "You don't look okay to drive," he stated. "Let me take you." "No! I ___ I mean, I'm fine." "Let's go Gin," he lifted her gently to her feet. "You are in no position to drive. You're in shock for some reason, your pupils are dilated. Can you direct me to the school?" Gin nodded. Kin Arvis picked up her cell phone and handbag from the table and led her to the car park.