Chapter 13 Bursted
Friday came faster than I expected, it was as though time no longer let me bask in it, it just hastened its step like it really had somewhere important to be.
I stayed late at the hospital that night, although not intentionally. Work just pulled me deep into it, and then I didn't have so much of a choice than to finish up.
All the other doctors I shared my space with, had gone, so it was just me, the files and maybe the nurses and other people who had to be here for the night.
So I was just at the lab, alone.
I hadn't even noticed that I'd moved the stool to stand over the counter, until I heard footsteps at the door.
“You should sit down, you know.”
I knew that voice.
Dr. Korran.
I turned around, and my gaze met him. His white coat was gone, just the black shirt, slightly rolled over his hand.
“I'm sitting.” I said, not sparing him a glance.
“Of course, I can see that.” He chuckled. “You've been standing at that counter for the last forty minutes.
I looked down and realized that the stool was behind me, and I drifted without fully realizing. I pulled out back and sat down without arguing.
He came in, and set his folder on the opposite counter, leaning against it.
“So… how was your first week?”he asked.
“Fine.” I replied.
“Fine, meaning good, or you won't elaborate?” He laughed.
“Both.”
He nodded like that, answered something, and picked his folder back up.
"The team had questions about your blood call from Monday." He said. "I told them to bring it to review next week if they want to challenge it."
"They won't." I said, clearly sure about that.
Something moved at the corner of his mouth. Not quite a smile. "I love confidence.”
Was I really confident or was he just being flattery?
“I'm not even trying to flatter you, you surprised the senior doctors on your first day.” He said, dragging his necktie down. “You figured out what the entire research team failed to do, and they're planning to question it, because they didn't see this coming.”
“If you say so.” A laugh escaped my lips, and I was sure my face was like tomato paste already.
Silence settled between us, just the comfortable kind of silence that didn't demand anything at all, talk less of too much.
His eyes held something I couldn't quite figure out, but I knew he wanted to say something.
“You're almost done with what you're doing!” He asked, and I shook my head.
“The results aren't adding up, and it's starting to get frustrating.” I mumbled, showing him all the reports from the lab earlier.
He scanned them and for a moment I thought he was going to say I wasn't understanding because I didn't want to, instead he just kept going over them.
“We need to review our lab staff.” He finally said. “Thanks for the observation, Liana.”
Oh so we're on the first name basis now huh?
“Dr Whitmore.” He corrected himself almost immediately.
I didn't say that out loud, so how did he hear it? Or did my eyes decide to speak louder volumes today again?
“It's getting late, you should prepare to leave now.” He added. “You'd go over the results tomorrow, working late isn't good for your condition.”
My head suddenly grew heavy. “W..what condition sir?”
He glanced weirdly at me, then shrugged. “You're pregnant, or aren't you?”
My stomach tightened slightly, and my hands found its way to hold it protectively. “Yes”
Was it that obvious already?
“I'll adjust your rotation then,” he continued. “You don't have to stand for extended periods, or have any night shifts past the second trimester.”
I opened my mouth.
“It's not a special treatment.” He said before I could. “It tz basic sense.”
I closed my mouth back.
He picked up his folder and moved toward the door, and suddenly paused after placing one hand on the frame.
“Go home, Dr. Whitmore, the files will still be here tomorrow.”
I shook my head. “The weekend starts tomorrow, and I don't work on weekends.”
He nodded. “Then the files should wait until Monday, your safety and wellness comes before any document here.”
Then with that, he walked out.
He didn't turn back or try to see my facial reaction when he was gone, he just left.
Unlike Ethan who usually left rooms like he was loudly making a statement, I used to stand in the empty corridor after he'd walked out of them, feeling the weight of his words.
Just the way he wanted.
But then… Aiden's exit was very different, and sweet in a way I didn't know what to do about.
I packed the files slowly, straightened the counter and reached for my bag, placing them inside. I was missing something, a piece of the puzzle.
Saturday and Sunday should reveal it to me, plus in case of extra help, Dr. Lane was the perfect person for the job.
Despite how much I tried to take my mind away from it, it kept going back there.
If Dr Aiden, whose working space I've shared for less than a week, could figure out I was pregnant with so much ease, what about Dr. Lane?
Does she already know, and is waiting for me to tell her, or she doesn't even know?
How would she react when I tell her?
Would she be mad if I hid it from her the whole time? Or she's going to understand?
This is the exact same reason why I never wanted to think about it in the first place, my mind’s creativity especially when it comes to overthinking is top-notch.
I'm definitely telling her about it soon, although I don't know how she's going to react, I do know that it can't be that bad…