Twenty two
"Don't fill my heart with lies. I will love you when you're blue."
–Norah Jones-
***
From: Mr. Johnson
Are you okay? I see you are so very pale.
I glanced at Andre from behind my eyelashes when Mr. Lawren told me to accompany him to another meeting as an assistant; I didn't know where his assistant was or why. This time, we discussed the financial report, which was delayed yesterday. Even though the room was a little dark with only the lights and projector screen on, I could see Andre's blue eyes not stopping looking at me.
This shouldn't be done during a meeting, but reading his text messages that were too concerned about people's personal affairs made me itchy. Didn't he get discouraged after I stepped on his feet with heels?
From: Ms. Khan
Don't try to care.
From: Mr. Johnson
I told you that I'm interested in you.
I glanced at him again; this time, his eyes looked sharp as if demanding an answer. Why would he bother approaching a girl who rejected him? Isn't there another woman he can bother as freely as possible? Or does he not choose a lover, so he casually gives high hopes that could be crushed at any time?
Choose to ignore the message rather than argue with the stubborn person. Arguing with Johnson would never end; even until the sun went down, he would still be willing to serve. I prefer to stare at the projector screen, listening to one of the company officials whose name I forgot explaining a graph of financial problems that don't seem to have found any light yet.
Is this company going to go bankrupt?
"It's like someone is trying to destroy the company quietly," whispered Mr. Lawrence. "I understand how software and electronic equipment are sold here, but...how is it possible if sales have dropped so drastically? Moreover, more and more complaints are coming in."
"Sabotage sales?" My voice made Mr. Lawren knitted his eyebrows. "It could be that Sir, someone out there is sabotaging this company, considering that competition in the technology sector is getting tighter. If you look at it, the sales results are almost the same as those in previous months. It's as if Mr. Mayer's reports copied the previous report."
"Wow," Mr. Lawren smiled crookedly, "Your thoughts are extreme, Miss Khan. If he is proven to have done that, Mr. Johnson will not hesitate to fire him and make this man difficult for the rest of his life. It's not wrong if Mr. Johnson thinks you are different."
"It means?"
I followed Mr. Lawren and gotcha! Our gaze met those ocean-blue eyes.
From: Mr. Johnson
Can you be quiet during the meeting? You look so engrossed in your manager that I wonder what you two discussed.
I sighed, then typed a reply message to him about the company's finances, saying someone was sabotaging him. After sending the message, I saw Andre's worried expression, hoping he wouldn't be offended. At least this is just my alibi, right?
"Mr. Mayer?" Andre said suddenly, making the beardless man's presentation stop. "Can I get direct reports from every distributor distributing our products?"
Mr Mayer froze; he didn't immediately answer but didn't act immediately; he just stood still in front of him, making people wonder what might happen.
Corruption!
"Please come to my room now, Mr. Mayer!" he ordered. "Meeting over!" He just walked away from the meeting room as angry as I could see.
####
When lunchtime came, I went out to go to the doctor for a while after sending a text message to the manager. Emilia picked me up because she happened to have two days off after three days of chasing news out of town. Then, she took us both in her car to the nearest hospital. This is because I have been menstruating for days but show no signs of stopping like the previous period. Even this morning before work, Emilia was shocked to find my face pale like a vampire.
There's no denying that my skin is pale, but is it true that three weeks of bleeding can make me look like a vampire?
Fortunately, I had made an appointment with a gynecologist, so I didn't have to spend much time waiting in line. I wouldn't say I like waiting too long and having to be confronted by many people, especially sitting for hours in the same place. Arriving at the hospital and registering Emilia and I entered the examination room.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Khan," said a woman wearing a doctor's uniform with a slightly fat body with freckles on both cheeks. He welcomed us so friendly. "So what's your complaint?"
"I've had quite heavy menstruation for almost three weeks, Doctor," I complained, "I'm dizzy and feel like I'm feeling dizzy."
"Is there menstrual pain during menstruation?"
I nodded. “Almost three days, and it's very annoying."
"Have you ever experienced something like this before?"
"Yes, when I was sixteen years old. If I were too stressed, I would experience this."
"What about complaints of anemia? Do you often experience this?"
I shook my head. "Not often, only sometimes, but I think this is the worst."
"What age did you have your first period?"
"Maybe... eleven years old," I answered, unsure because I had forgotten.
"Did you take any medication before? Like birth control pills?"
"I don't know, before when I experienced something like this, I took hormonal medication, and now... I take anti-depressant medication, which I take several times when I experience sudden attacks," I said in a low voice at the end of the sentence while glancing at Emy, who seemed surprised.
The doctor nodded as he wrote on the medical record paper, "Okay, I'll take your blood pressure first, Miss, then I'll take a blood sample to determine your hemoglobin level because you're so pale. If it's below normal and you get a transfusion, you'll have to be hospitalized for a while. Time while I want to do an ultrasound later."
"Can she get pregnant if her condition is like this, doc?" Emy said, making me pinch her thigh.
The doctor smiled, "Yes, but I haven't confirmed the medical diagnosis even though I suspect your friend has Abnormal Uterine Bleeding." Then she turned her gaze to me. “I'm going to take your blood pressure. Could you roll up your sleeves?”
I nodded, then rolled up the sleeve of my fitting shirt. The doctor put her blood pressure monitor on my arm and started pumping. It took a while until the doctor said,
"Your blood pressure is 70/60, miss, very low. Don't you take supplements?"
"Yes, doc, even though I drank it if I remember."
"Doc, how did Ms. Khan's bleeding happen?" Emilia asked, becoming more enthusiastic when the doctor prepared the equipment to take blood samples.
"Can you be quiet for a moment, Emilia?" I snorted.
"I just want to know. Why have you never told me about it before," Emilia snapped irritably.
"Okay, I will take a blood sample from you, Miss; please lie on the bed," said the doctor.
I lay down on the examination bed, and a nurse with a shortcut looked deft at taking thick blood fluid, which felt painful when the tip of the needle pierced the skin. "Does it hurt?"
"A little."
"We will wait for the results for about thirty minutes, Miss," said the doctor, "while we wait, I will do a physical examination and ultrasound."
Then, a physical examination was carried out by the nurse, especially on my neck and lower abdomen, while the doctor prepared the ultrasound equipment. It didn't take much time; the nurse then covered me up to my lower stomach, then opened my shirt so that my stomach was visible, and then the doctor moved the ultrasound tool that had been given gel. I was looking at the screen in front of me with many questions, even though I didn't understand the grainy black-and-white image there.
"Your endometrium has thickened, Ms. Khan. It can be seen at the end here," said the doctor, pointing his cursor at the mound-like image on the screen in front of me. "Your ovaries are fine. There are no other abnormalities in your reproductive system."
"Could this be something bad?"
The doctor cleaned my gel-covered stomach with a tissue, "Not if it's just ovulation dysfunction; you just need hormone medication, and we'll re-evaluate a month later." Then, she packed up the ultrasound equipment.
The two of us sat back down at the place where Emy was waiting anxiously.
"How?" she whispered to me
"I'm fine," I answered.
"While waiting for the blood results, I will explain to you that you are experiencing Abnormal Utery Bleeding type O, where your bleeding is heavy and lasts a long time. This is due to thickening of the endometrium or uterine wall. If that happens, your menstrual cycle will become slower. Shorter than usual."
"Is this also due to the influence of hormones? As far as I remember, the doctor in Florida said I had a hormonal disorder."
"We will see it based on blood tests, but I suspect no hormonal abnormalities according to the physical examination. Stress factors, thyroid hormone factors, and other diseases can cause conditions like yours. If I conclude, you are experiencing this bleeding because of stress, right?"
I nodded. "But... I... could get pregnant, right, later?"
"Do you want to get pregnant now?" asked Emy.
"As I said, you can still get pregnant," answered the doctor, then took the prescription paper and wrote down the medicine. "I will give you small doses of hormone therapy, tablets to stop bleeding, and blood-boosting vitamins. Ensure you eat well because your body is thin, don't stress too much, and get enough sleep."
###
The cell phone ringing shocked me beyond belief; I hastily turned off the call. Unfortunately, my heartbeat suddenly became abnormal just by looking at the contact number on the cellphone screen. I have asked permission from Mr. Lawren, a brilliant but often sick employee forced to be hospitalized. At first, I didn't want to, but the doctor told me that my hemoglobin level was 6.2, which was below average. Emilia was even more stunned; at that moment, she changed into 'chatty mother' mode and told her daughter to get help.
My cell phone rings again, and this is the sixth time. Biting my lower lip so hesitantly, I pressed the answer button with trembling hands.
"Where are you!" he exclaimed in a reasonably high tone.
"I... none of your business!" I snapped. "Besides, I already have permission from my superiors."
"I'm your boss's boss, Ms. Khan!" he said. He didn't want to lose. "Okay, if you don't want to say it, I can find you my way."
Click! The phone line was cut off one-sidedly, making me blink my eyes in confusion. Johnson is no stranger than Emilia; they both like to get angry, even though I'm fine.
A few seconds later, my cell phone rang again, showing an unknown number. I frowned. Did Andre call another number? Without thinking, I answered the call.
"Hello?"
There was no sound on the other end, making me look back at the cell phone screen to ensure the call was still connected. There was still no answer from there despite repeatedly saying hello.
Annoyed, I hung up the phone.
A few minutes later, the phone rang again; I answered quickly, "Hello?"
No answer.
"Sorry, sir, if you don't need anything, don't call at a time like this," I snorted irritably.
Before my thumb pressed the red icon to end the call, the faint sound of a man's chuckle made me put the phone back to my right ear. I don't know why I feel so familiar with his voice.
"Hey, little girl, remember me?"