Thorns and Roses

"Thank you, Doctor." 

"You're welcome, Mrs Jones. Just make sure you take the drugs as I prescribed and please, take lots of rest. You're fully recovered but complications might arise if you stress yourself." 

"I completely understand, Doctor Dante. Thank you so much." 

"You're welcome." 

Dante turned his head to little Rachel in her mother's arms.

He patted her head, a bright smile on his face, "mummy is okay now, Rachel. She can go home now." 

"Mummy is not sick anymore?" 

Dante nodded, "yes, she's alright now. But you have to let mummy rest at home, okay? Don't disturb or stress her out." 

"Okay." 

Dante stretched out his pinky finger, "Promise?" 

Rachel nodded, intertwining their fingers, "I promise."

"Atta girl." 

Dante saw the mother and daughter to the gate before he went back into the hospital. He shook his head when he saw Julie, his colleague, wiggling her brows teasingly at him from afar. 

"Atta girl." She mimicked, "one would think you have a kid." 

"What makes you think I don't?" 

Julie gasped dramatically, "am I a good girl, daddy?" 

"Eww, Julie, not in front of the patients."

"I just wanna know if I've been a good girl." Julie pouted, clutching tightly to Dante's arm like a little girl begging for ice cream. Dante pushed her off him and quickened his steps. He still has patients to attend to and if he stays with Julie, that might not be possible.

Dante Yolando is a twenty-five years old resident doctor in Saint Hok's hospital. He's in his last year of residency in general medicine. Though just a resident, he's the most popular doctor in the hospital. Besides his lovable handsome face, he has a kind personality that steals the heart of his patients, both young and old. Even the hospital are hoping he would stay after his residency years because they don't want to lose a rear gem like him. 

"Oh my! My grandson-in-law is here." 

Dante smiled at the old woman as he approached her, "hey, grandma." 

That is Mrs Collins, or as people call her, grandma. She's the lovely old woman that everyone adores, especially by Dante. Grandma jokingly addresses Dante as her grandson-in-law because she promised to give Dante her granddaughter in return for his kindness to her. 

"How are we feeling today?" 

"Perfectly okay. Look, my daughter brought me new clothes." 

Grandma twirled around, showcasing her new gown. Dante clapped delightfully, "you look beautiful." 

"Of course I do." She said smugly, "I swept men off their feet back in my days." She boasted, making Dante to laugh. 

"No doubt about that. You almost swept me off my feet too." 

"Right?" 

"Here, I brought you lunch." Dante made grandma sit. He placed the lunch he brought for her on the table. 

"Your favorite. Spicy grilled pork." 

"You never disappoint. Too bad you won't marry my granddaughter." Grandma pouted. 

Dante held her shoulders tenderly, "grandma, your granddaughter is just eighteen." 

"So? Age is just a number!" 

"And jail is just a place. I'm twenty-five. The age difference is a great deal." 

Grandma flicked her grey hair back. She folded her arms and narrowed her eyes at Dante, "you think my granddaughter isn't beautiful? She's not your type?" 

Dante laughed. He found grandma's accusations absurd. "Kelly is a beautiful girl, grandma but...

"Whatever." She hissed. "It's your loss." 

Dante laughed again. This woman never ceases to amuse him. 

===

"You clocking out?" 

"Yeah." Dante replied as he hung his bag across his shoulder. 

"How about you take my shift, hm?" 

"No, Henry, not today! I have something important I need to do at home." 

Henry arched his brow. He sat up from the bed, "your boyfriend's visiting?" He teased. 

"I haven't had a boyfriend in..." Dante trailed off, counting his fingers, "I can't even remember the last time I had one." 

"I can be yours." 

Dante shuddered, "thanks but no, thank you. You're just...not my type." 

"Right back at ya." 

Dante chuckled. He bid Henry goodbye and left. He branched at the grocery store on his way home. He lives very close to the hospital. When he got to a turn, he heard some noisy rustling in a nearby bush. 

"Must be a squirrel." He thought, proceeding to leave but he paused. What if it's not a squirrel? He approached the bush slowly, looking around for anyone nearby. 

"Hello?"

Dante got no reply. He crutched down and parted the bush with his hands. 

"Holy shit!" 

He flinched back in fear. He rubbed his eyes to be sure of what he saw. He parted the bush again and looked at the groaning man on the ground. 

"A person!" 

Without thinking, his doctor instincts took over. He quickly rushed to the groaning man. He applied pressure on the man's bleeding abdomen. 

"Can you stand up?" 

The man was in too much pain to talk. He simply nodded. Dante hanged the man's arm around his shoulder and stood up with him. Thankfully, Dante's house was near to where they were so they got home in a short time. He placed the man gently on the couch and rushed to get the things he needed for first-aid. 

He switched on the light. That was when he got a good look on the man's face. He was shocked. The man lying in pain on his couch right now is Sebastian Javernick, the famous millionaire, rumoured to be a Mafia boss. 

"How did you get shot?" 

Dante thought that question was inappropriate, given the situation, so he proceeded to treating him. He'll ask questions later. He examined the wound. He sighed in relief when he realized the bullet didn't hit any organs or blood vessels. 

"This is gonna hurt." He warned Sebastian beforehand. 

"Just...do it." Sebastian strained out. Dante poured clean water over the wound. Seb groaned out, gripping tightly to Dante's arm. 

"What the heck did you do?" He exclaimed.

"I told you it was gonna hurt!" Dante fired back.

He quickly took his words back when he realized he just shouted at a patient. "oh my...I'm sorry." 

"I'll take out the bullet now." 

He took out the metal out gently, trying his best not to hurt Sebastian. He dressed the wound nicely after taking out the bullet. 

"See? Done." 

Sebastian's breathing was now steady. He had his eyes glued to his savior as he bandaged his wound. 

"Are you a doctor?" He asked.

Dante raised his head to look at him, "yes." He placed his hand on Sebastian's forehead, trying to feel his temperature. 

"Thankfully, you don't have a fever. Stay here, I'll get you new clothes to change into." 

Dante took out a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants for Seb. He stared at the clothes doubtfully. He isn't sure they would be Sebastian's size. He helped Sebastian up and took off his clothes. He wore him the new cloths and as he predicted, they were small on him. 

"You'll just have to manage." 

Sebastian didn't like the cloths but he isn't in the best position to protest. Dante helped Sebastian up and led him to the bed. Sebastian let out a groan as he lied down.

"Um...I'm gonna go out now to get you some drugs. You'll be okay on you own, right?" 

Sebastian nodded. Dante picked up his wallet and quickly exited. Sebastian looked down at the hoodie he's wearing. "What a bad taste of clothes." He thought to himself. Fifteen minutes later, Dante came back. He was breathing heavily when he came in, which made Sebastian wonder if he ran to and fro. 

"Can you feed yourself?" 

"I don't think so." 

Dante sighed. He helped Sebastian seat up. 

"I bought you porridge. Since you can't feed yourself, I'll have to feed you. Is that okay?" 

Sebastian didn't have any other choice so..."yeah" he replied. 

Dante fed Sebastian till he was full. He made him use the drugs after eating. Dante tucked Sebastian in after he fell asleep. 

"Gosh, he's like a big baby." Dante thought while admiring sleeping Sebastian. He decided to sleep on the couch so as to not discomfort Sebastian. 

The next morning when Dante woke up, he couldn't find Sebastian on the bed. He checked the bathroom and he wasn't there either. Dante panicked. Sebastian shouldn't be walking around in his state. He rushed to check him outside. Dante sighed in relief when he saw Sebastian in the balcony, resting on the railings. 

Sebastian turned to him. "You're up?" 

Dante was stunned. The man he saw as a big baby the night before is towering above him, looking like the definition of "daddy". Sebastian's broad shoulders and chest made Dante feel like an ant. 

"You okay?" Sebastian asked dazed Dante. 

"I should be asking you that question. You shouldn't be walking about in this condition." 

"Sorry, doctor." 

Dante swallowed. The close proximity of their body was suffocating. "Just...come here. Let me change your dressing." 

Dante took Sebastian hand and pulled him into the house. 

"Take off your clothes." Dante instructed. Like a servant obeying his master, Sebastian took off his hoodie. 

Once again, Dante was stunned. He suddenly forgot the sole purpose of telling Sebastian to take off his hoodie. He took his time in admiring the body before him. A body that could drive Olympus with envy. 

"Doctor?" Sebastian snapped Dante out of his lustful gaze. 

"Hm?" 

"My dressing?" 

"Oh...yeah." 

Sebastian kept an expressionless face but he was smiling internally. This is not the first time he's getting this kind of reaction to his body but it's the first time he's found it cute. 

"I'm done." 

Sebastian wore back his hoodie. "May I borrow your cellphone?" 

"Yeah." 

Dante picked up his phone from the lamp stand and stretched it to Sebastian. 

"It's unlocked." 

Sebastian dialed the number of Frank, his right-hand man. 

"Who is this?" 

"Frank, it's me." 

"Boss?" 

"Come pick me up. I'll text you the address." 

"Yes, boss."

"What's the address of this place?" 

"It's Helord's street, house 4." 

Sebastian sent Frank the address. He gave Dante back his phone. "Thanks." 

"Hm. Are you hungry? I can make you something. If..if you want." 

Dante has no idea why but he suddenly felt shy. Probably because of Sebastian's lingering stare at him or because the number one millionaire is sitting on his bed right now, putting on his hoodie. 

"Yes, I am." 

"Okay. I'll be right back." 

Once again, Dante rushed out. Throughout the time Dante used in the kitchen, Sebastian didn't come out. Dante prepared baked eggs with Swiss Chard and Green Olives. He wasn't sure Sebastian would like it. 

"Breakfast is ready." Dante announced as he set the table. 

"Sit there." Dante pointed to a chair and Seb sat on it. They both ate in silence until Sebastian broke it. 

"Thank you." 

Dante raised his head from his food. "hm?" 

"For the breakfast and yesterday, for taking care of me." 

Dante blushed. "You're welcome." 

Once again, silence reigned between them. The moment they finished eating, a car pulled up in front of Dante's house. Hearing the doorbell ring, Sebastian knew it would be Frank. 

"I'll go get it." Sebastian stopped Dante as he was about to stand. He opened the door. Frank had to look twice to be sure it was his boss standing in front of him. It was a shocking and unbelievable sight. His boss, in an pink hoodie and undersized sweatpants. 

"Boss?" Frank gawked in disbelief.

"What are you staring at?" 

"What happened to you!" He exclaimed. His eyes went to the pair of legs behind his boss. Dante peeked his head out from Sebastian's side. 

"Um...hi." Dante waved. Frank turned to Seb with questions in his eyes. 

"We'll talk about that later." 

Sebastian turned to Dante. "I'll be going now." 

"Oh. Um...make sure you dress your wound twice a day until it's fully healed." 

"Yes, doc." 

Dante smiled. "Bye now." 

Sebastian was almost entering the car when he realized something. 

"I don't know your name." 

"Oh, it's Dante. Dante Yolando." 

"Thanks, Dante." 

"You're welcome." 

"We have to leave, boss." 

Sebastian nodded. He waved goodbye before he got in the car. Dante kept waving until the car was out of sight. 

"What happened, boss?" 

Sebastian's mind wasn't in the car. Dante's smiling face was in his head. 

He smiled unconsciously. "Cute." 

Frank stared at Sebastian like he just grew two heads. Did he just hear his boss say cute with a huge smile? 

"Are you okay, boss?" 

Sebastian's smile soon erased and was replaced with an straight face. "Don't talk to me." He ordered. 

Dante Yolando, huh? Sebastian thought to himself. Guess we'll never meet again.