Kate Horton tries to comfort a depressed patient with suicidal tendencies to make herself look good. However, all she does is aggravate the patient so much that he jumps off the building. Kate cries and says, "I only wanted him to know how much his mother loved him…" To help her get away with it, my boyfriend and professor conspire to make me her scapegoat. I'm cyberbullied, fired, and betrayed by everyone I know. In the end, the patient's family even push me off the balcony. When I open my eyes again, I'm back to the day when Kate tries to save the patient. I'm going to stop her—she's the one who deserves to die, not innocent others!
View More"Naya pulang!" Suara toa tersebut berasal dari arah pintu masuk.
Seorang lelaki separuh baya berusia 71 tahun yang sedang duduk di sofa ruang tengah, sambil membaca koran tampak terkejut sebelum menoleh kearah pintu.
Di sana, Tomi menemukan cucunya. Yang tersenyum ceria menenteng begitu banyak paper bag berisi belanjaan di kedua tangannya. Gadis berusia 19 tahun itu, lagi-lagi baru pulang dari kebiasaan sehari-harinya, yakni belanja. Tomi menggelengkan kepala melihat itu.
"Berapa banyak uang belanja yang kamu habiskan kali ini, Naya?" tanya Tomi, merujuk kepada kebiasaan shopping cucunya.
Naya mengecup sebelah pipi Tomi Sutedja setelah meletakkan seluruh barang belanjaannya terlebih dahulu ke atas sofa, lalu memeluk tubuh tua kakeknya itu dari arah samping dan duduk. Dengan sengaja, Naya menempelkan salah satu telinganya di dada sang kakek, mencuri dengar suara detak jantung kakeknya yang telah lanjut usia itu
Menyadari tingkah laku cucunya itu, Tomi hanya mendengkus.
"Syukurlah. Jantung kakek masih berdetak dengan normal."
Naya langsung merangkul satu lengan kakeknya, dan menyandarkan kepalanya di bahu lelaki tua tersebut.
"Kakek tenang aja, Naya gak akan bikin kakek bangkrut, kok."
Tomi menghela napas, sementara Naya langsung mendongak, menatap wajah kakeknya itu.
"Memang gak akan bikin kakek bangkrut. Tapi, kakek gak suka lihat kamu hambur-hamburin uang begitu. Kamu tahu, diluar sana, banyak orang yang hidupnya serba kekurangan. Mereka harus bekerja keras demi mendapatkan sepeser uang ...."
"Kakek ... hidup itu cuma sekali. Untuk apa peduli kehidupan orang lain. Cukup kita nikmati hidup ini. Toh, kita gak merugikan orang lain kan. Justru kek, aku sedang membantu toko-toko yang menjual barang branded itu secara tidak langsung. Karena berkat aku, barang-barang yang mereka jual itu laku."
Tomi memijit pelan pelipisnya. Sepertinya dia tidak akan menang jika harus berdebat dengan cucu kesayangannya itu.
"Kakek, sakit?"
Tomi menggeleng pelan. Mengulas senyum. Diusapnya lembut rambut panjang Naya sebelum kemudian meraih remote untuk mematikan televisi.
"Kakek sehat, Naya. Hanya saja, kesehatan kakek akhir-akhir ini mulai menurun. Mungkin ajal kakek sudah semakin dekat."
Naya menatap kakeknya dengan protes.
"Kakek jangan bicara begitu. Maut itu rahasia Tuhan. Lagi pula, memangnya kakek mau meninggalkan Naya sendirian di muka bumi ini. Gak kan?"Tomi tentu saja segera menggeleng.
"Maut memang rahasia Tuhan. Siapa yang tahu jika bisa saja nanti tuhan akan mengambil nyawa kakek keesokan harinya. Dan karena alasan itulah kakek telah mencarikanmu jodoh yang bisa menggantikan kakek dalam menjagamu jika kakek telah tiada nanti Naya."Naya mulai tidak nyaman dengan topik yang akan mereka bahas kali ini.
"Jika kakek ingin membahas masalah perjodohan itu lagi. Naya gak mau."
Naya langsung berdiri, melangkah untuk memunguti paper bag berisi barang-barang belanjaannya sejenak untuk ia bawa masuk kedalam kamarnya sendiri.
"Kakek butuh cicit."
Naya terdiam kaku, langkah kedua kakinya mendadak terasa berat setelah mendengar kalimat itu.
"Kakek butuh penerus yang bisa mengurus perusahaan keluarga kita, sayang. Dan hanya kamulah satu-satunya harapan kakek."
Tomi berdiri, tentu saja dengan bantuan tongkat kayu. Meski sebenarnya, lelaki separuh baya itu masih cukup mampu berjalan dengan normal tanpa bantuan tongkat kayu, migrain yang akhir-akhir ini kerap kali menyerangnya membuat Tomi mau tak mau harus menggunakan bantuan tongkat kayu dengan alasan takut jika sewaktu-waktu tubuhnya oleng lagi.
Sebab, Tomi sempat beberapa kali hampir terjatuh.
Naya masih diam membeku ditempatnya berdiri. Sementara Tomi Sutedja sudah berdiri tepat dihadapan cucu perempuannya itu.
"Jika tidak dengan menikah, maka kamulah yang harus mengambil alih posisi itu. Meneruskan perusahaan keluarga."
Naya tentu saja tidak mau. Bukannya apa. Tapi jujur saja, Naya itu bodoh. Dia hanya menyelesaikan pendidikan hingga SMA. Dan memimpin perusahaan sebesar Sutedja Company merupakan hal yang terdengar sangat mustahil.
Naya tidak mau perusahaan turun temurun itu jatuh bangkrut nanti hanya karena dirinya yang tidak becus. Namun, Naya juga enggan menerima perjodohan itu. Meski jujur saja di hati kecilnya yang paling dalam, gadis itu terenyuh dan tidak tega melihat kakeknya yang terlihat kian rapuh. Termakan usia masih harus memimpin perusahaan sebesar itu.
Naya benar-benar dilema dengan situasi yang menjeratnya saat ini.
"Kasihanilah kakek, Naya."
Tomi berlalu pergi. Meninggalkan Naya seorang diri di ruang tengah dengan ekspresi raut wajah kaku. Setelah kakeknya menghilang dari pandangannya, saat itulah Naya langsung jatuh duduk lemas di sofa. Kepalanya sakit. Lebih sakit lagi, melihat kakeknya putus asa seperti itu tadi.
***
Mabuk adalah jalan keluar paling basi ketika seseorang mengalami frustasi. Namun, Naya tidak punya pilihan lain daripada harus mengurung diri di dalam kamar lalu menangis seharian seperti gadis lemah saja. Naya juga tidak mau menyiksa diri dengan acara mogok makan.
Jadi, disinilah gadis itu terdampar saat ini.
Duduk disalah satu meja bar, dengan kepala yang sudah ia tidurkan di atas meja karena kepalanya mulai pening. Padahal Naya baru menghabiskan dua gelas alkohol dengan kadar rendah. Mungkin, karena Naya baru pertama kali mabuk-mabukan seperti ini.
"Mau kuberitahu satu solusi."
Naya mengangkat wajahnya, memandang kearah Celine, salah seorang teman yang biasa menemaninya shoping ataupun jalan-jalan. Naya memang tidak datang sendirian ke tempat laknat ini. Dia sengaja mengajak Celine, karena memang kebetulan hanya gadis itu yang memiliki waktu luang.
Celine meletakkan gelas ditangannya hingga menimbulkan suara bantingan yang cukup keras terdengar. Namun suaranya tentu tidak mampu mengalahkan musik yang tengah diputar DJ. Ditambah lagi semakin malam, club malam yang saat ini mereka berdua datangi akan semakin ramai dan penuh. Seperti sekarang ini, contohnya.
"Apa?"
Meskipun kepalanya mulai pening, Naya masih bisa merespon dan menangkap omongan seseorang yang mengajaknya bicara.
"Kamu harus mencari lelaki yang mau menyumbangkan benihnya untukmu. Jika kamu hamil, maka perjodohan itu otomatis akan batal karena keluarga calon suamimu pasti tidak mau punya menantu yang hamil diluar nikah. Dan bayi itu ...."
Celine meminum kembali alkohol yang baru saja diisi oleh bartender.
"... yang akan meneruskan perusahaan keluargamu. Kakekmu dapat cicit, kamu tidak perlu menikah, dan masalah selesai," jelas Celine tanpa dosa.
Naya melongo, menjatuhkan kembali kepalanya diatas meja dan tersenyum.
"Boleh juga."***
Naya bangkit dari duduknya dengan tubuh sempoyongan. Seperti ada bintang yang berputar putar di atas kepalanya saat ini. Seperti yang Celine katakan, Naya harus mencari seseorang yang mau menyumbangkan benihnya untuk Naya. Dan untuk mendapatkan itu, Naya tentu harus mencari lelaki kaya ... Ah tidak! Yang terpenting tampan. Karena Naya butuh bibit unggul dari lelaki tampan bukan lelaki kaya.
Karena itulah.
Alih-alih mencari lelaki dengan setelan jas mahal dan rapi yang bertebaran di sana malam itu, Naya justru malah menggoda seorang laki-laki asing, duduk seorang diri, mengenakan kaos hitam polos lengan pendek sehingga memperlihatkan otot kekar lengan atasnya.
Meski sempat tersandung beberapa kali, akhirnya Naya tiba di dekat kursi tempat duduk lelaki itu.
"Boleh aku duduk?" Naya bertanya.
Namun belum sempat lelaki itu buka mulut, Naya sudah menjatuhkan lebih dulu tubuhnya, tanpa mau menunggu jawaban dari si lelaki. Dan dengan tidak tahu malunya, bukannya duduk di kursi, Naya malah duduk di atas pangkuan lelaki yang tidak dikenalnya itu.
Lelaki itu, jelas saja sangat terkejut, tubuhnya tampak bergerak tidak nyaman, berusaha menyingkirkan dan mendorong paksa tubuh Naya agar segera bangkit dari atas pangkuannya. Sayangnya, Naya malah mengalungkan kedua lengannya dileher lelaki itu dan langsung menjatuhkan keningnya di bahu sebelah kirinya. Aroma musk yang tercium dari tubuh itu menguar, membuat Naya menghirup aromanya dengan rakus. Sementara jemari tangannya mulai menggerayangi tubuh proposional lelaki yang tubuhnya sudah menegang kaku. Naya tersenyum tanpa sadar.
Oh! Naya tidak bodoh. Dia memang sedang mabuk. Tapi, Naya masih bisa menilai mana lelaki tampan dan mana yang bukan. Dan lelaki yang tengah ia duduki saat ini, lebih dari sekedar tampan. Dan tubuhnya ... Naya meremas lengan atas lelaki itu yang kekar.
"Hei kamu ...."
Naya mendekatkan bibirnya di daun telinga lelaki itu. "Hamili aku."
Just as I stepped onto the rooftop, the iron door behind me snapped shut with a loud click.A shiver ran down my spine. I looked back to see Luke and Mr. Preston looking at me sinisterly.In front of me, sitting casually by the railing, was Kate, her face alight with mockery. "I can't believe you really came."Smiling in triumph, she waved a stack of papers at me. "I have your file here, Amanda. Who would've thought that you had a family history of mental illness?"I stiffened, panic flickering on the inside. "That's private information," I said. "Besides, it hasn't affected my work.""Don't be nervous, Amanda," Luke said from behind me. "I know your history. If I didn't care about you, I would've made this public and forced you to resign. As you know, I've always been fond of you."I grimaced. "So, you put up this whole charade to lure me here and threaten me?""Hardly a threat, Dr. Seville." Mr. Preston strolled over and patted my shoulder.I shuddered.Seeing my unease, Kat
That evening, Luke called me.As soon as I answered the call, his cold, cutting voice came through, "How long are you planning to target Kate? Do you really need this case in your records that badly, or are you just jealous that she could use the case to publish a paper?"I've been mentoring you for seven years. Is this how you repay me?"I was cleaning up my apartment when he called. Brandon had trashed my apartment when moving out, probably in retaliation for humiliating him in front of the entire hospital staff.I had spent the last few sleepless nights with my patient in the hospital. When I finally returned home and saw my house in this state, I actually thought I had been robbed at first."I've known you for ten years. In that time, I've published 16 papers, all with your name on them," I told him impatiently as I pulled open the drawer of the overturned bedside table.Just as I expected, it was empty.I had spent two years collecting various case studies and follow-up int
From that day onward, Kate lost all credibility.Before this, as Mr. Preston's niece and Luke's youngest student, she was admired for her good looks and soft-spoken demeanor. Colleagues who rarely interacted with her often viewed her through rose-tinted glasses.However, after the incident that was witnessed by many firsthand, the truth was exposed. Soon, all the times she shirked responsibility to maintain her kind facade were soon exposed, too. Rumors began running rampant."She has a PhD? Even the nurses know the basic protocol for calming patients. How could she not know that?""She felt sorry for his mother… Ugh, gross! His mother is the reason why the patient is severely depressed. How could she say that? How cruel!""Oh, but she's so kind-hearted. You wouldn't understand."As the deputy head of the department, I should be trying to curb the gossip, but the rumors were largely true. Therefore, I didn't bother since it had nothing to do with me.Besides, I needed to focus o
"Damn! If Dr. Seville hadn't saved the patient, our hospital would be in huge trouble!""Kate Horton has a PhD, too, right? How could she not know the basics of patient care?""She got in by nepotism. She doesn't actually know anything, yet she still keeps stirring up trouble!"The murmurs around us grew louder and louder. Kate reddened with shame. Tears began spilling out of her eyes again.Luke couldn't take it anymore. Sternly, he said loudly, "What are you all talking about? Kate earned her PhD legitimately!"James scoffed. "You call this legitimate? This crap?"Luke, being a renowned guest professor at a famous medical school, had never been insulted like this before. "You're just a freeloading rich kid who got some fake credentials abroad. You have no right to question me!"I smiled and joined the fray. "Dr. Spencer, James graduated from Kalolin University in Ruiden."Kalolin University had one of the best medical programs in the world. I had spent a year there as an exch
"James?" Luke and Mr. Preston exclaimed at the same time.The newcomer was James Brennan, my junior, who had joined the hospital as an intern at the same time as Kate."James Brennan, is this how you speak to the dean?" Luke chided with a frown. "Has studying abroad made you forget your manners?"James had studied abroad and was one of the few doctors in this hospital that wasn't under Luke's mentorship. Because of this, Luke had never liked James. He always saw the latter as a privileged rich kid who managed to worm his way into a medical career overseas.James raised his eyebrow, his handsome face outlined with mockery. "You're not a doctor in this hospital, Luke Spencer, and I'm not one of your students. You have no right to tell me off. Is this how hospitals here work, then? Does being a mentor allow you to criticize anyone you want?"Luke turned pale as he choked on his anger.James ignored him and waved the tablet he was holding, showing us footage from the hospital room of
I had been expecting Mr. Preston to show favoritism, but I hadn't expected it to be so blatant. "So, you already know that people think of her as a joke?"Brandon couldn't take it anymore. He cut me off before I could continue, "Even though this is Kate's first time trying to reassure the patient, he's been under her care all this time. She was just too nervous and felt sorry for his mother, so she misspoke. "This was an accident. Dr. Seville used this to target Kate!"Before I could say anything, Luke added, "Kate was wrong. I can't deny that. As her mentor, I'll make sure to review her knowledge of patient care. "But Amanda tried to take Kate's patient away from her, making all her efforts for the past two months meaningless. That's just too much!"Hearing this, Mr. Preston's expression darkened. He turned to glare at me.He had specially assigned the patient to Kate because of the unique nature of his case. Kate would benefit greatly from it, as he would be an excellent reso
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