“Fortunately, I do not think the coffee was still that hot when it got your legs so it only caused slight redness. Your cuts are not deep, as well, so you should not have scars once they’ve healed completely.” The smiling doctor informed Kayla when he was done applying treatment to her superficial injuries.

She smiled awkwardly to the doctor. Instead of being relieved, she wanted the floor to open up and gobble her up to save her from the embarrassment. I mean, who gets rushed to a hospital for such shallow wounds and not even a first degree burn?

She shifted her gaze to the man standing just behind the doctor. He was still looking at her but now with a blank expression. And it looks like he was not even bothered that he had rushed her to the hospital when her condition wasn’t even that serious. She could get this treated in their clinic, or by herself, no problem.

“She’s fine, Warren. You can loosen up a bit.” The doctor suddenly said, half-laughing.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The man, Warren as the doctor called him, frowned. So his name is Warren. “I have to make a call. Do your job.” He added before he turned and walked out of the room.

“But I’m done treating her!” the doctor shouted at the man who didn’t even stop or looked back at the doctor. “That, guy, really...” the doctor said to himself while shaking his head. He turned to Kayla. “How do you even tolerate him?” he suddenly asked.

“Tolerate him?” Kayla asked confused.

“Weren’t you his new girlfriend?”

“Me?” she asked, shocked. “Oh no! Of course not! I don’t even know his name until you’ve mentioned it.”

“You don’t know him?” he echoed, surprised as he points at the closed door. I nodded. “Hmm. Weird.” He added, but Kayla swore she saw a glimpse of a smile on the kind doctor’s face. “Anyway, I have other patients to attend to, will you be okay here alone?” he asked after a while.

“Oh yes. I’m fine. I can go home now, right?”

“Yup. Just wait for that man to come back. We don’t know how he’d react if you suddenly disappears.” Answered the young doctor.

“You know him, huh?” she dared ask.

“Been friends since high school although he never admits it.” He said, smiling. “Never seen him act like that though. Which is very interesting.”

“Acted what way?”

“Hmm…” was the only thing he said after staring at her for a few minutes. “Well, I really have to go now. Nice to meet you, Kayla. I hope to see you next time, but not in here, of course.” He smiled at her.

“Thanks, Doc.” She answered, disappointed of letting the man leave without having her answer. But what does she even care? She wasn’t even close with Warren.

Warren. Why does it feel a bit comforting to finally know the man’s name?

The doctor was about to reach for the door handle when the door opened and in came Warren.

“Finally! I’m finished treating her injuries. You can take her home now.” He informed Warren as soon as he entered the room.

“About time,” Warren answered without smiling.

“Hey, I did tell you I was done before you left the room!” the doctor insisted but didn’t get any reaction from the man so he ended up giving up. “Oh, nevermind. I’ll see you next time, Kayla.” He repeated, waving his hand at her.

“Not a chance,” Warren muttered. The doctor just laughed and tapped Warren’s shoulder.

“Loosen up, my friend.” The doctor said laughing and was about to go through the door when he appeared to have remembered something suddenly and turned to Warren again. “By the way, Hayley told me to remind you about your appointment this week.”

Warren’s face turned from being annoyed to being impassive. Who is this Hayley?

“Tell her I’m coming.” He answered before he turned towards her. “You ready to go?”

“Y-yeah.” She distractedly answered and jumped off the hospital bed. Yeah, how did she get a private room when it wasn’t even an emergency? She wasn’t exactly sure either. Maybe because Warren’s apparently friends with a doctor of the hospital? “Ah!” she moaned when she felt a bit of pain on her legs when she suddenly jumped. They may be shallow, but they sure still hurt.

Kayla didn’t even notice how but Warren was suddenly in front of her, worry written all over his face. Worry?

“Are you okay?” he asked. And he didn’t even wait for her answer when he suddenly turned towards the doctor. “Did you treat her wounds properly?” he frowned at the poor doctor.

“Of course!” the doctor answered, hands up as if to surrender. “And I’m a doctor, not a magician. Her wounds would still hurt, it’s normal, even after being treated, you know.” He added.

“I’m fine,” Kayla interjected, making Warren turn towards her again. “It’s my fault for jumping. Thanks, Doc.”

“No problem.”

“Come on. I’ll take you to the car.” Warren said, ignoring the doctor and tried to pick her up just like what he did earlier but she moved back, wide-eyed.

“Oh no, I can walk. I promise.” Kayla immediately said.

“But---“

“Come on, man. She’s said she’s fine.” The doctor butted, in a hint of laughter in his voice.

“I thought you’re busy?” Warren said to his friend. “Scram!”

“Fine, fine!” the doctor answered, now literally laughing. “Take care, people.” He said to both of them before he eventually exits.

“I’m sorry about him. He’s weird but nice.” He finally said to her after the doctor left.

“You sure he was the weird one?” Kayla courageously commented but he didn’t even react.

“You sure you can walk?” he inquired again as if he didn’t hear what she just said. Seriously, if ‘selective hearing’ is really a condition, this man is the living proof of it.

“I can walk. Thank you,” she answered. She had the sudden urge to pry on why he was so concerned about her or why he was so kind towards her when they didn’t even know each other but decided against it. Maybe he was just weird? Remember, he was even weirder the first time they met.

“Come on. I’ll take you home.”