Chapter 39
Oscar’s at work, so he can’t drink too much. I didn’t force him, just chatting with him.
He said, “Irene, I still have eight hundred dollars left from the two thousand dollars you lent me last time.. Let me pay you back that first. I’ll gradually earn the remaining $1,200 and return it to you. I’ll start my internship next semester. Once I land a good company, I should be able to save up fast.”
“You’re starting an internship?” I asked, surprised.
“Yeah. I’m graduating next June. Bonnie will also be in her senior year,” Oscar sighed. “Time sure flies.”
I fell silent. It felt like just yesterday when I bumped into Neil in school, but now I’m already nearly thirty.
Just then, three guys walked up to us. I spotted Russel right away. What are he, Mitch and Cooper doing in this bar?
I was speechless at this coincidence.
“Oscar, you should get back to work,” I hastily said to Oscar.
“Okay, Irene. Call me anytime if you need me,” Oscar got up and left.
Russel’s gaze followed Oscar as he left. After a while, he turned his attention back to me.
Mitch didn’t know how to address me when he saw me. Him and Cooper exchanged glances.
They don’t know Oscar, so they probably thought I was ordering drinks from a waiter.
Russel took a seat beside me. His long legs were casually crossed, his eyes keenly focused on me.
“Russel, let’s sit over there?” Mitch seemed a bit uneasy. He didn’t dare to sit with me, given that he was Neil’s wingman in courting other women.
“You guys go ahead. I’ll join you in a bit,” Russel responded nonchalantly.
“Alright.” Mitch and Cooper quickly picked a spot far thest from me.
I found it amusing. Did they think I would do something outrageous to them?
“Another coincidence?” Russel broke the silence. I knew he was referring to me sitting with Oscar just now.
“Indeed, quite a coincidence,” I didn’t lie.
“Where’s Neil?” Russel looked around, “Didn’t you leave with him?”
I shrugged, “I happened to see him and his new flame at the hotel, felt a bit down, so I got off his car to get a drink. Then I bumped into her boyfriend here. Now isn’t that a
coincidence?”
Russel’s eyes flickered, “That girl Bonnie is at the Orchid Hotel?”
I flashed a standard smile, “Yes. Are you interested in her?”
“Heh,” Russel scoffed, “I’m not interested in her. You’re overthinking.”
I wondered when he would finally show interest in her. I was growing impatient.
But I did have something to discuss with Russel. I got him a drink, thinking about how to start, “Russel, could you not tell anyone, especially Neil, that I know Bonnie and Oscar?”
I forgot to remind him seriously last time. Neil’s call last night really got me on edge.
It’s not time to show my hand yet. I didn’t want things to spiral out of control.
“What should I say if he asks why we’re so close?” Russel clearly anticipated this question. He knew Neil quite well.
“You’re a doctor, right? What’s your specialty?” I asked.
“Cardiology,” Russel replied.
“Ah! Dr. Russel, my stomach hurts so bad! I might have gastritis. Can you treat me from now on?” I clutched my stomach, putting on an exaggerated performance.
Then I saw a hint of annoyance on Russel’s cold face.
He said irritably, “Your illness is not within my area of expertise.”
“When Oscar was hospitalized, it wasn’t because of a heart condition either. But you covered for him, didn’t you?” I argued, “Doctors should be ready to save lives at all times, why pick and choose patients? You’re unprofessional.”
“Irene, are you stu pid?” Russel was speechless.
“How else would you explain it to Neil? Fine, if you can’t treat stomach problems, just tell him I have arrhythmia and you’ve treated me before. Isn’t that enough? You’re an adult, can’t you tell a white lie?” I was a bit annoyed. Russel obviously didn’t want to help me.
Mitch and Cooper kept glancing over at us. I was tipsy, so I got up and sat really close to Russel, then wrapped my arm around his, “If you don’t help me, I’ll sit on your lap right now, believe it or not? Since you can’t explain anyway, might as well make it completely unexplainable.”
“Irene, watch it!” Russel, annoyed, shook off my hand and stood up.
Just tell him we have a thing going on. Wouldn’t that explain why we’re so close?” I was blushing. I started to talk nonsense, “No professional ethics, no brains…”
Russel, blushing and irritated, glared at me for a moment, then turned and walked towards Mitch and the others.
I collapsed onto the seat. My head was spinning.
I thought Russel would ignore me. But he came back after a minute, grabbed my arm, helped me up and walked towards the exit.
Unfortunately, my blurry eyes couldn’t see Mitch and the others’ reaction. I guess they must’ve reacted the same way as Stella when she saw me getting off Neil’s car.
“Russel… I gotta tell you…” In the car, images from my past life flashed through my mind as I mumbled, “Bonnie ain’t all that. There are outstanding women everywhere, why are you so fixated on her? Look at me! I’ve moved on…”
These were the words I wanted to tell him on my deathbed in my past life. It’s not worth it for Bonnie.
He’s not Neil. He’s always been a pure and innocent man. He shouldn’t have ended up like that because of an ordinary woman. What’s more, he lost to Neil
Russel glanced at me, his eyes a myriad of emotions, while I dozed off mid-sentence.
1/2
11:02
Chapter 39
Unexpectedly, Russel didn’t drop me back at Sterling Estates. Instead, he took me to a hotel and got me my own room. I didn’t discover this until I woke up the next day.
I found a WhatsApp friend request from Russel on my phone. We had been communicating by calls before this.
With a slight headache, I hit “accept” with one hand.
Russel said, “When you wake up, make an appointment at the cardiology department of the hospital. Choose me as your attending physician.”
I was puzzled, then it hit me. Was he agreeing to cover for me with Neil? And was he planning to do it so flawlessly?
I immediately replied, “Got it. I’m on my way!”
I hustled to the hospital and got a number for Russel.
