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

Dante's peaceful sleep was disrupted by a itch on his forehead. It felt as if a fly was walking on his forehead. He opened his eyes, pissed. He scratched his head but didn't find any fly. It was just his hair. A sharp pain hit his head as he sat up. His head throbbed so painfully that he groaned, supporting his head with his palm. He looked around, finally noticing the unfamiliar surrounding. "What the hell?" He looked down at himself. He is clad in an oversized shirt and a pair of briefs. He instantly panicked. He had no idea how he got here and why. In the course of rushing out of the bed, he fell face flat on the ground. He had no idea the bedframe was high. "Ouch!" He groaned, rubbing his hurting nose. He got off the floor and proceeded to the door. Wherever this place is, he needs to get out if it. He exited the room and searched a way out but he ended up going in circles. He got lost in the fortress. Dante is getting irritated. He came across almost five kitchens on his futi

"Um...what brought you guys here?" Dante has been asking the two men this question for the last ten minutes. He invited them in, offered them tea but they've refused to talk. They've been glaring daggers at each other since they got in. Not even the world's sharpest knife can cut through the thick tension in the air right now. "How do you know Dante?" Sebastian asked Keane. "Non of your business. How do you know him?" Dante is getting frustrated. He pulled out a chair and sat beside Sebastian. "Um...we won't make any progress here if you don't tell me what you guys want and..." He turned to Keane with a glare, "you! How do you know my house?" Keane shrugged, "I have my ways, darling." Dante grimaced. "Eww, don't call me that." He turned to Sebastian. "What about you? Did...did I forget something at your place?" Keane's jaw dropped in surprise. He was astounded by Dante's sudden change of tone. When Dante spoke to him, he sounded like a tiger ready to pounce on its prey but spea

They had spent about half and hour traveling in complete silence. Dante faced the window throughout the drive. He found watching the trees and sky peaceful. The driver, who later introduced himself as John, turned on the stereo to clear off the boredom in the air.Despite that, it was the longest thirty minutes of Dante's life. He had no idea where he was being taken to whatever was waiting for him there. About twenty minutes later, the car got to a stop. Dante looked outside the window and was speechless. They were stopped before a tall gold gate. The type of gate you'd find in modern royal films. Where are we? He wondered. Some moments later, the large gate opened for them to go in. A long tiled road came into view. It was such a beautiful setting. At each side of the road, beautiful flowers and tress were planted. They were still in Saint Hok but Dante felt like he entered another world entirely. They passed through a vineyard and an orchard. The apples on the apple fruits looked

"I'm simply going to work to check out what's going on. I'll come back later in afternoon then we go somewhere together. You stay at home or do you wanna go somewhere?" "Nah, I'm not using one of my visiting days now." That wasn't what I meant, Sebastian thought. He nodded and bid Dante goodbye. Dante watched as Sebastian's car left the compound. The moment he left, he dashed out of his room. He almost bumped into one bodyguard on his way. "Oh...I'm sorry." Dante apologized. The bodyguard helped him stand well on his feet. He's been hearing from his colleagues that the new doctor is cute and now that he's seeing Dante's face, he can tell that cute is an understatement. "It's fine. Are you on your way somewhere? Out? I can drive you, if you don't mind." "No, don't worry yourself" Dante politely turned him down. "I was just on my way to find something doing. I'm quite less busy." "Really? Then follow me." "Where?" "You'll see." Dante narrowed his eyes. There was somethi