Ath's pov
"Hey, sleepyhead! Wake up!"
My eyes flew open as I recognized the voice. I turned, and there she was Keturah, looking at me like she already knew something was up. And I thank God it wasn't that stranger.
I covered my face and groaned. "Keturah... please don't start."
"Oh, I won't. But you better start talking. Because that glow on your face? That is not just from a good nap."
I blushed instantly. There was no way I could hide it now.
"What are you doing here?" I asked as I let out a yawn. After my shower earlier, I decided to get some sleep because I still felt drained.
"I came to check on you! When I woke up, I was already at Prince's condo. I asked him if you had gone home, and he said he did not know. He told me when he left you were no longer in the VIP room. I got worried! You were drunk and I could not remember anything after our drinking session. So I came straight here to make sure you're okay." Keturah explained, pouting like a worried mom. Okay, fine, she's sweet sometimes.
"Kee, are you serious? You don't remember anything from last night?" I asked, raising a brow.
She shook her head quickly. "Nothing! Oh my God, Ath, don't tell me I did something embarrassing?! If I did, please don't tell me, I don't think I can handle it!"
I rolled my eyes at her drama. "You didn't. But… because of a dare you made, I ended up losing my virginity."
Her jaw dropped. "You what?! What do you mean?!"
"I'm not a virgin anymore," I said, sitting up straight. "Remember last night? I told you I wanted to have a baby? You were so drunk, you dragged me to the dance floor and said we should find a guy to get me pregnant. I was hesitant at first, but then you stopped in front of VIP Room 92 and said, 'Whoever walks out of that room, that's your baby daddy.'"
"Oh my God..." she whispered, wide-eyed.
"I agreed to it. We waited for someone to come out, but no one did. Then suddenly, this hot guy came walking up and entered the room. I followed him in, and… well, things happened. That's when the chug-chugan began."
Keturah's eyes went even wider, and her mouth formed a big O. "No way! You really did it?! And with a total stranger?! Oh my God, Ath! Did you at least ask for his name?"
"Nope," I answered casually. "I did not care. I just wanted his sperm. I even left him a thank-you note this morning."
Keturah clutched her head dramatically. "Girl! You had a one-night stand and dipped! What if you don't even get pregnant?"
"I will. I know I will. We did it several times. No protection. I once read that it only takes one time, then boom, pregnancy happens."
She stared at me like I had grown beyond what she knew. "Seriously, what the heck, Ath. You need to go get checked just to be sure."
I gave her a deadpan look. "Keturah, it just happened last night. The sperm's probably still swimming. There's no baby yet. Do not be dumb."
She slapped her forehead. "Oh God. You're insane."
I smirked. "Desperate, actually."
"How can I not feel stupid, Ath?!" Keturah groaned. "I was totally against your plan at first, then the moment I got drunk and lost control, I was the one who pushed you to find a baby daddy! Ugh, I hate myself for that! What if that guy had HIV, huh?!"
I rolled my eyes. "Girl, I made that choice. Not you. If anything happens to me, I'll take the blame. And if I end up getting HIV, then damn it, lesson learned. But if I get a baby from it? Then thanks!"
Keturah was still stressed. "Ath, promise me you'll get checked. And wait, what if you bump into him again?"
"Then I'll smile and say hi. That's it. And if I do end up pregnant, I am not telling him. This baby will be mine and mine alone."
"That's insane, Ath! You're already in trouble and you're making it worse!"
Ring! Ring!! Ring!!!
We both looked at my phone ringing on the table. "Kee, hand me that," I said. She passed it over and I checked the screen.
Nurse Mae is calling… I answered immediately. "Hello, Ma'am?"
"Hi, Athilda , I'm so sorry for disturbing you. Can you come to the hospital right now? It's Yumi…"
My heart sank. "What happened?" I asked, already nervous.
"She's getting weaker, and she's been asking for you nonstop."
"Okay, I'll be there right away!" I stood up quickly, grabbing my wallet.
"Where are you going?" Keturah asked, worried.
"To the hospital. Emergency. Please lock the condo when you leave, okay? Talk later!" I kissed her cheek and hurried out.
****
Yumi was one of our regular patients. She's nine years old and has been battling leukemia for years. There were times she recovered, and other times it came back. But she fought like a warrior. We became really close, more than nurses and patients. She was like a little sister, a daughter, and a friend rolled into one. Her smile was contagious, and even when she was in pain, she would joke around and comfort me.
I was wearing black jogger pants and a plain white V-neck shirt. My body still felt a little sore from last night, but it was nothing compared to what Yumi must be going through.
When I got down from the third floor, I rushed outside to hail a taxi. Luckily, one stopped quickly. "St. Calisha Foundation Medical Center, please. Fast as you can," I told the driver.
The ride took about thirty minutes. As soon as we reached the hospital, I paid and rushed in. The guard greeted me, but I could only manage a small nod in return. My focus was on one thing, Yumi.
As I made my way to her room, I noticed a small crowd of nurses gathered near the hallway. Something felt different. My heart began to race.
I walked up to them, curious and anxious. "What's going on?" I asked one of the nurses.
She looked at me with sad eyes. " Athilda … Yumi's not responding well. Her vitals dropped earlier, but she's still hanging on. She's been asking for you over and over."
Without another word, I pushed past them and headed straight to Room 308.
"What's going on?" I asked Nurse Abby with a furrowed brow. Everyone looked too excited, and that made me even more curious.
"Oh, hi Ath! Go straight to Yumi's room. She's been waiting for you all morning," she replied with a smile.
"No, tell me first, what's happening here? Why are you all crowding like this? Is there a celebrity or something?" I asked again, raising my brow.
"It's Dr. Enzo Ezra Valemont!" Nurse Cath cut in with hearts basically floating in her eyes. "The exchange doctor from Paris. He finally arrived! Eeeek!"
"Where is he?" I asked, now mildly interested despite myself.
"They're touring him around the hospital. He's with the director right now," Abby added, clearly trying to keep her voice steady but failing.
"Ohh, so that's why." I nodded, then added, "Okay, I'm off to see Yumi." I gave them a quick smile and turned to walk away.
Honestly, I didn't care much. That doctor was already famous around the hospital even before he arrived. Everyone had been talking about how handsome he was and how he's supposedly one of the best surgeons in the world. Me? I was not impressed. I do not read celebrity magazines or follow hospital gossip. He's just another guy, right?
Apparently, our hospital was lucky to get him as the exchange doctor from Paris. Big deal. Sounds like too much hype if you ask me.
I was almost at the corner when a loud wave of gasps and giggles echoed behind me. The nurses suddenly screamed and squealed like fangirls at a concert.
"Oh gosh, how embarrassing," I muttered, shaking my head. Still, I turned out of instinct to see what the fuss was about.
The director had just entered the hallway and beside him, walking confidently in a tailored black coat and slacks, was a man with striking eyes, sharp jawline, and lips that…
My heart stopped. My knees almost gave out. No. Way. No. Freaking. Way.
I stared harder, my mouth slightly open as my brain tried to make sense of what I was seeing.
It was him. The man from last night. The stranger who took my virginity. The man I literally begged to get me pregnant.
"What the fuck!" I gasped, blinking like crazy. He looked different in full clothes, clean-cut, polished, and professional, but I would never forget those eyes. Or that body. Or that face.
Oh. My. God.
"WhAAAAA!" I shrieked under my breath, shaking my head and turning around so fast I nearly hit the wall. I did not care if anyone noticed, I had to get away.
I power-walked toward Yumi's room like my life depended on it. No. This cannot be happening. This is not happening. Why out of all people… out of all hospitals… Did he end up here?
Why did the man who I basically seduced in a drunken haze turn out to be the hottest, most famous doctor from Paris?!
God, kill me now. Or let me disappear. Or at least give me a time machine!