With You Until Tomorrow

A patient sees a very interesting man in the hospital garden. He looked popular and friendly because a lot of other patients were hurdling around him, giving him smiles and greeting him good morning.

They all looked like they were having a good time. And she’d be lying if she says she doesn’t want to know what was going on.

It was her first time seeing him though. Through her stay at the hospital, she’s never seen him and it’s unlikely to see someone very approachable to almost all of the people at the hospital. There was something fishy about the guy, and she didn’t like it.

That is until the man raised his head and locked eyes with her. She stiffened, her eyes widened when his eyes met hers. But it didn’t end there, the surprisingly-handsome man stretched out his lips and smiled at her, showing his pearly whites. Her fragile heart began to beat loud and quick.

Now her face is completely red.

She averted her eyes, quickly turned around and then walked away. Fast.

“Are you crazy, Sydney? What’s wrong with you?” She mutters to herself while patting her cheeks gently with her palms.

Rushing to a bench to calm herself down, she sat and leaned back to look up at the sky. What a gloomy weather. It was full of dark and thick clouds and she hated it because it meant that she’ll be spending most of her day inside the hospital because of the upcoming rain.

Sighing, she then sat straight to look at the view, but the view had other plans for her. Her eyes widened once more.

There, not too far away, was the intriguing man from earlier. He was standing with both of his hands on his pockets, looking back at her with a small dashing smile.

Feeling the heat rise up her cheeks again, she once again looked away.

‘Please don’t come this way, please don’t come this way, please don’t come this way.’ She repeatedly prayed inside her mind, hoping that the man doesn’t approach her.

“Hi.”

Dammit.

Breathing deeply and mustering up her courage, she then turned her head towards the man and looked up at him, “Hi.” Huzzah! She was able to reply!

The man smiled while showing the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, “Is this seat taken?” He asked.

She doesn’t want him to sit beside her but it would be very mean and rude of her to do so. So she shook her head and replied, “No. No, it’s not.”

His head tilted to the side, “Do you mind if I sit?”

Yes.

“No.” What is wrong with your decisions today, Sydney?

“Thank you.” He said and sat down beside her, leaving just the right amount of little space between them. The man leaned back and made himself comfortable, while she, on the other hand, was stiff.

Please don’t ask any questions. Please don’t ask any questions—

“What’s your name?” He suddenly asks and it surprised her.

“Huh? Oh… Oh— uh… My mom said not to talk to strangers…” She shyly replied as she curls her back, very uncomfortable.

“Oh, that’s right. My bad…” The man scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I’m sorry, I should’ve introduced first. Uhm… I’m Caelum.” He then reaches out his hand.

Her eyes landed on the man’s open hand. If there is something she hated, it was leaving someone on air.

So she had no choice. Her head hangs down, “I’m… Sydney. My name is Sydney.” She did her best to introduce herself in the most natural way and shook his hand.

Caelum smiled and tilted his head down a little to see the girl’s face, “Sydney… what a very nice name. It’s nice to meet you.”

With her head still hanging low, she rolled up her eyes and looked at him, “It’s nice to meet you, too.” She shyly replies and then pulls her hand from his. Now that he’s this close to her, she couldn't deny how handsome the man is.

He has light brown orbs and his eyes were round but have sharp corners, especially when he smiles. His nose was fairly pointy, and his lips were very sculptured and plump. Caelum’s cheekbones were high and sharp, and his brown chestnut hair would fall just above it. The man is undeniably gorgeous... and he looks like--

“Hello~? Earth to Sydney~?” He waved his hand in front of her face, causing her to come back to reality.

“Huh? What?” Her head shook once she’s back to her senses, “I’m sorry, were you saying something?”

Caelum flashed his pearly whites as he lightly chuckles, amused, “What were you thinking?”

“Uh…” Her cute plumpy lips opened as she looked away to find answers, “…trees?”

The man snorted. He knew she was lying. I mean, you could see how her face is so flushed tomato right now. It wouldn’t make sense if a tree made her blush, right?

He leaned forward, rested his elbows on both of his knees before turning his head to look up at her with his charming grin, “Anyway, I wanted to ask how old are you.”

Sydney stayed the same, with her clasped hands and stiff sitting position, she replied, “I’m 18.”

His brows raised, “18?” He said with surprise, “You’re too young compared to your looks.” Caelum chuckled.

“Hey, that’s rude.” Sydney pouts out her lower lip and turned her head away.

He kept on laughing silently, holding his stomach, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” He apologized while wiping the tears on his eyes, “I shouldn’t have said that. Pardon me.”

She looked at him at the corner of her eye, “Well… I do get that a lot.” She presses her lips, “Guess we can do nothing about how we look like.” She raised her shoulders and faced him. “But how about you? How old are you, Mister?”

“Me?” He points to himself and she nodded. “I’m 33 years old, my dear…”

Sydney blinks in confusion, thinking that the man looked young for his age. But she won’t forgive him with his joke earlier, “Well, you do look the part.”

And they both laughed.

“How long have you been here in the hospital, Sydney?” This Mr. Caelum is very curious.

But Sydney felt comfortable answering his questions now, “Hmm… I think a month?”

“Oh…” His lips shaped into a circle as he nodded his head up and down. “Why are you here? You look very healthy yourself.” He complimented.

She smiled, “Yeah, I think so too but I don’t know. Maybe I’m here for a vacation or something.” Her shoulders shrugged.

“I see…”

“How about you, Mr. Caelum? Why are you here? You don’t look like a patient, nor a doctor either… so why are you here in this boring place?” Sydney asks.

Caelum gave a small smile, looking into her eyes sincerely before shaking his head, “This place is not boring at all…” He calmly replies, “In fact, the reason why I’m here is because it’s very fun!”

“Huh?” Sydney couldn’t get it. How can a hospital be fun? It’s not fun for her at all. “What do you mean it’s very fun?”

“Oh Sydney… Sydney, Sydney, Sydney…” Her name slips off his lips like butter, and it made her feel something inside her stomach that she doesn’t know how to explain. “Do you know why a lot of patients were around me just earlier?” He asked.

Her brows furrowed and she shook her head, “I don’t know.”

Caelum then leaned his face slightly close to her, “Do you want to know?”

Sydney was hesitant, but the curiosity inside her wants to know! So she nodded, “Yes, I want to know.”

He smiles at her and replies, “It’s because they love my stories.”

Now that sounded very exciting. Sydney’s eyes widened in excitement, she loves stories! She couldn’t keep in her eagerness and wanted to know, “Oh do tell me your stories, please!”

Caelum was taken aback, but he was happy to see the girl’s reaction. “Really? You really want to hear my stories?”

Sydney nods her head like there’s no tomorrow.

The man chuckled in amusement before nodding his head, “Alright, alright… I’ll tell you my stories.”