Loan And Interest

Elaine's POV

Several days flew by.

I was busy with work and I was happy that I was busy. It kept me distracted. Engaged. On my toes.

Dr. Rayleigh provided a nurse uniform for me even though I was a doctor and a healer there.

The quarters provided for me and Jean were safe and tidy. Jean was in his isolation ward. I was in my accommodation, praying to the Goddess everyday to reunite me with my baby.

*Knock knock!*

I shut the books softly, went to answer the door that was just five steps away.

"Dr. Rayleigh," I welcomed him inside. His eyes darted around every nook and corner like a surgeon observing the body, and he smiled.

"You make a modest home out of anything, Ms. Elaine." He said. The blush crept on my face like fire. Made my cheeks warm and chest warmer.

"P-Please sit down. It makes me feel like I'm punishing you like in school." I said, offering him my chair. My options were the study chair or the bed.

"I was wondering if you'd help me out at my place tomorrow evening before sunset, Ms. Elaine..." he asked softly. My eyes widened.

"Of course, Dr. Rayleigh!" I chirped, back straightened with a posture similar to a flamingo.

But it seemed my enthusiasm to work with him for his house took him aback.

"You...are not gonna ask me for what I need your help?" He asked, his arm rising to his head, his hand softly playing with the back of his hair.

There was something magnetic about this man. Ever since he's been my son's doctor, hes become a god in front of my eyes. But even gods are admired for their beauty.

His arms were the perfect width, texture and color for a man. Slightly wheatish, olive toned, great view of veins that made me think he was a favorite among nurses...

Oh...what was I thinking?

"Well...?" Dr. Rayleigh urged, his head ducking down softly to engage my view which was stuck to my lap.

"I...ahem! Well, what are we working on, Dr. Rayleigh?" I asked and suddenly a smile spread on his face.

That smile...

Little fangs hung out of his top row of teeth. They looked so enthralling on him.

Peeking slightly under shiny, pinkish red plump lips that stretched on his face for a genuine, eye wrinkling smile. He was perfection.

"We. Well, we will be working on arranging a few medical files I've kept for measure but...they're too old now. I wanna surrender them to hospital records again. And, I wanna give you some of my books to read from." He smiled again.

"Oh...that's very kind of you, sir but—"

"I'm done reading them, Elaine. You may have them." Not one letter was pronounced assertively. It was heard as a...suggestion.

But I was lost in my thoughts when he called me by my name...without any prefixes...

It rolled so smoothly off his tongue that I was enchanted already.

"I-I will, thank you, Dr. Rayleigh."

"I'll be on my way now. Gotta check up on a case." Waving me off at the door, he closed it behind himself and joined the corridor.

I was fantasizing about my son's doctor, wasn't I? Who wouldn't if it was Dr. Rayleigh?

The next day, after my shift, I asked a nurse to take me to Dr. Rayleigh. He was in his cabin, peacefully turning pages over with a pair of spectacles sitting lightly on his perfect nose.

"You paged me?" I asked, showing the pager device.

"Yes, Ms. Elaine. I was wondering if you were still busy."

I smiled softly, "I got done with my shift thirteen minutes ago, Dr. Rayleigh." I said.

"Hmm," his brows furrowed yet lips smiled as he hummed leaning over the desk.

"We've gotta leave after thirteen minutes now." He said. I chuckled.

"Why thirteen, doctor?"

The man simply shrugged, "Just so."

I didn't take him to be superstitious. Doctors are often not superstitious, but Dr. Rayleigh was different. He was breaking one and more stereotypes I had about...many things.

I always thought men were unemotional. Men were the leaders at everything. Men hated anything cheerful. And that...men were never superstitious.

Dr. Rayleigh broke all of them.

He displayed the perfect amount of emotions each time, was working under a female doctor and respected her dutifully. His phone wallpaper is a smiley emoji zoomed in, and the lockscreen was a very, very old dad joke.

Admittedly, I always believed the human doctor treating my son was a hard-core tough guy who hated showing emotions. Guess I was wrong.

"Thirteen minutes passed, Dr. Rayleigh."

"So we go~"

We reached his house. The car was impressive itself. I could only imagine how luxurious his house could've been but...

It was the most modest, simple villa with amenities of a family house. In fact, it gave a sweet old couple home vibe.

"I know this is strange," He started, placing his coat to the hanger and leaving the door open. It was serene neighborhood too. Just what a doctor of his cadre needed.

"What is strange, doctor?" I turned around, as I was about to place my coat on the hanger, he took it from my hands and did that himself. Impressive. Doesn't have toxic masculinity either. Ah...he's awesome!

"My car doesn't match the vibe of my house. I wanna put some car paper on it now." He said. I chuckled.

"Let's get done with the files, then let's move to the recoloring, doc."

"Perfect."

And so, he walked me into the spacious study of his little villa. Made me some tea and kept it quiet and peaceful. I had nothing much to do than arrange patient files alphabetically.

However, when it came to 'L', one name stood out.

'Leah Fenris.'

What...?

File date: 12/12/23

That was the day I got to know Jean contracted...AIDS.