This is your typical love story, a guy met a girl, guy courts the girl, and girl likes the guy. But between these two souls, their story is not so conventional.
Patrick met Eloise in a café, on her way on the line for her afternoon coffee fix; in her mind she can almost smell the scent of roasted coffee bean which always lightens her spirits. Patrick bumped into Eloise’s because he’s in a hurry to take his late lunch after he scrubbed in a major operation.
“Sorry!” Eloise said in a sarcastic tone.
“Oh, I’m so sorry too! I thought you need to be awaken cause you looked like you’re in a mild trance.” Patrick said. Then he smirked.
“How rude! Thank God not all guys are like you, I bet you’re still single!” Eloise replied.
Patrick wondered how she knew he’s still single. Then he looked at his ring finger. Then he said… “Sorry”
There were few people in that café that afternoon. 3 students seem to be cramming probably for their exam the following day. There’s a couple sitting next to each other canoodling at the corner of the café, Patrick noticed how the girl giggles while the guy whispers something on her ear. He also observes a group of old men chatting about the news earlier that day. Patrick always does this, maybe as a physician he’s trained in observing people, their mannerisms, he sometimes guesses the age and thinking if these people has a medical complain. Then lastly he noticed the lady in a green dress, the lady he bumped into a little earlier, the lady that he failed to notice of how pretty she is.
“Bummer…” Patrick whispered to himself.
He watched her how she sips her coffee. How she stares outside the window, faint sunlight hitting her pretty face. He noticed how the lady smiled when the kids passed by outside the café.
For awhile Patrick lost track of time. He needs to go back to the hospital. He takes his coffee with him, and hurriedly went out of the café. For the last time he looked at the lady. Then he smiled.
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“Patient Number 73” the lady in the intercom said.
The patient with the number went to the front desk, and she was directed to proceed to the 2nd door on her right. Written on the wall beside that door was.
Patrick G. Cruz MD, FPCS
The patient gently knocked on the door. And as she got inside, she almost screamed… “YOU!?!”
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