PEACE AND PROTEST

CONNOR

It was one of those evenings after a hectic work day.

I wasn't supposed to do the night shift today, but I didn't want to go home, and stay the night alone.

I thought I was doing fine just being by myself, as a bachelor, and would always look forward to going home from the hospital, but since after I returned from the Langford's in-house event, my own house had felt ridiculously empty to stay in.

I didn't want to think about the reason being Lola, but still, sometimes, I knew very much to tell myself the truth.

The telephone rang suddenly, the sharp continuous dingle breaking through my chain of thoughts and reminding me that being at the hospital through the night meant more work despite how much I had already done during the day.

I didn't want to answer the call, but by a reflex stemmed from an intensive familiarity, my fingers naturally pushed the answer button and guided the receiver to my ears.

I shut my eyes painfully and listened.

"Doctor Connor?"

"Hello?"

"Speak," I commanded, confirming that I was truly paying attention to the other end of the line.

"First and foremost..."

My heart did a huge downward leap, and I started to reconsider actually staying the night.

I love my job, and the service I render to humanity by virtue of it, but I also knew when I was trying to push beyond my limit. It was like nothing made sense, and absolutely nothing would ever do.

"Uuhm, yeah. The ward three 8AM is showing a truly remarkable recovery pattern. If you ask me, it is happening too fast. So, I suggest we, maybe, take a look. Just to make sure we aren't running into a ditch here."

I sighed.

"Why do you think we have to check?"

I had asked that question, not because I was curious about the young nurse's concern, but because my bones were too weak to do a ward run at the moment, but the young nurse took my question for sincere concern.

She went ahead to narrate the medical history of the patient as confirmed by her preliminary tests, what connected to what and when, then, reasons why she required extra attention.

By the time she was done, I already had my head on my office table, questioning the bed decision of not picking up my car keys earlier.

I didn't know what else to say, so I just asked her to proceed with the other reasons for which she had called.

"Of course, Doctor. Mr. Langford Eddison has been waiting at the reception for the past couple of minutes to see you."

My head lagged for a second, before finally processing what she had just said at a ridiculously fast speed.

Immediately sitting upright in my chair, my shoulders squaring to defence mode. I gripped the phone tighter, pressing it harder into my ears.

"What did you say?" I asked again, just to be sure.

"Mr. Langford has been waiting."

"Why? I was on seat. Why didn't the reception usher him in immediately?"

"I'm sorry. I gave the directives to not allow anyone bother you especially since you had just gotten off work. I figured you'd need an uninterrupted moment to rest and prepare for the night. "

I sighed, rubbing hard on my forehead.

"Let him in," I said simply, just before jamming the telephone against its box, my mind calculating rapidly.

I counted the second that went by just before I heard the knob of my door click open, and the unmistakable energy of Eddison Langford filled the room — mysterious, authority, business-minded.

Discomfort arose from deep down my stomach, but I bit down on my fear, trying my best to not let it show.

"Welcome to the hospital, Eddy."

"Thank you so much. And I must say, so much had changed since the last time I was here," Eddy spoke, his eyes roaming around like he was actually looking for something.

I couldn't see what he was talking about, but I nodded regardless, hoping he could skip to the real reason he was here.

"Have you been working too hard lately?" he asked, his eyes searching mine like he could get the answer through them.

I raised a brow, not sure of where he was heading to.

"You look pale. Like you could use some sleep right now."

"I'm fine," I dismissed him immediately, completely uninterested in whatever he was trying to achieve.

"I'm not sure what I owe this visit to, but I want to apologize on behalf of the reception for causing you to wait. It won't happen again."

I saw a small smile cross his lips, then he nodded, causing me to continue.

"You are most welcome. Would you like tea or a light snack plate for the evening?" I blotted out.

"No. Skip those. If I needed to eat, I'd definitely not come to a hospital."

"Right," I responded. That was more like Eddy Langford.

"I'm just surprised to see you here by this time of the day," I continued, still pushing for him to hit the nail on the head.

"Yes, I thought I should do this today, hence, we get too swamped with work and it'd be difficult to sit face to face like this."

I let out a large exhale, adjusting my position on my office chair, staring at him intently like it would make him speak faster, fighting the urge to ask if Lola was truly okay.

"Nothing much. I just wanted to specially extend my gratitude for finding time to join in my family function this year."

My heart dipped with relief, my fingers loosening from themselves.

"Eddy, you didn't have to come all the way. I was just doing my best as a family friend," I replied, my voice incredibly controlled, nothing like the storm that brewed in my thoughts before he actually said something.

Still, I knew it was too early to conclude. Eddy couldn't have come all the way for that single purpose.

"Well, thank you. One more thing...,"

I listened.

"Let's set our differences aside. I'm sorry if I ever did anything that made you question if we were truly friends. Can we just go back to being best buddies?"

My ears tingled to the words Eddy had just spoken. It sounded foreign and unbelievable. I was almost sure he had a hidden agenda, but I thought not to push it.

Exhaling, I stretched out my hand towards him for a handshake.

He stalled for a moment before finally grabbing my hand firmly.

Seizing the opportunity, I decided to bring it up to him.

"Maybe Lola should be allowed to work. Staying at home like that wouldn't do her future or her health any good."

I was still holding him in a handshake, but I felt his blood grow warm and turbulent against my words.

I looked up at him, at the shock that glistened through his eyes.

I wasn't afraid of him retracting the words he had just spoken. I waited for a reply.