Do I look sick to you?

          Maria swallowed, her mind still reeling from the unexpected event, and tried to return focus to the conversation. She cleared her throat and spoke again, this time more confidently. "I can't leave yet," She asserted with a deep breath. "I promised myself, my boss, and your mother that I will do my best in making you feel better. You have to stop taking me as an enemy but as a friend. I am here to help you, Mr. Stan--"

"And who said I need any fucking help from white robe people like you?" He sliced in once again, anger creeping into every part of his voice and it was evident he was holding himself back from yelling at her.

Her mouth hung open in surprise. Her eyes lowered to the table, and she could see his fists clenching tight and his knuckles turning white. His whole body was tensed and his lips were pursed together, forming a thin line as if he was fighting to keep his emotions in check. "You don't want to be helped?" She questioned, her voice trembling as she struggled to hold back tears of frustration. "I--" She was at a loss for words and he was not interested in giving her a chance to speak.

"Save every damn thing and just get lost, woman!" He snapped, and the hostility oozing out of him made her take a step backward. He was losing it, she could sense it, and was already passing aggression on the papers getting squeezed between his fingers.

She bit her lip and shook her head slowly, her eyes glued to his clenched fist. "I know you are mad but please try to calm down and give me a chance--" She stopped talking when the man jumped from his seat and threw the squashed papers across the room with such force, they bounced off the walls and scattered around the floor.

"How dare you come here and tell me how to live my life?" He demanded, his voice reverberating throughout the room. "What gives you the right to meddle in my affairs? What makes you think you can just waltz in and decide I need help? Do I look sick to you?" He snarled, gesturing each word with his finger. "Do I seem like someone who needs your assistance? Am I suffering from some kind of illness that is affecting my brain?" He continued, his tone becoming increasingly heated. "I only want to be alone, why does every fucking person around me take that as an abnormality--?"

"That's exactly the problem, Mr. Stanley," she cut in softly, her eyes shuddering with concern. "You don't want to be helped because you think there is nothing wrong with you. I understand that, Mr. Stanley. I have seen patients like you and--"

"I am not a fucking patient, woman!" He roared over her imploring words, his voice finally thundering with unleashed emotions. "I am perfectly alright, so enough of the bullshit and get lost!"

His outburst left Maria speechless, her brows furrowing in confusion as she stared at him in disbelief. "But--" She tried to say something despite the stupor he had caused her, but Jayden interrupted with a loud banging sound against the coffee table.

"Shut up and get lost." He ordered, slamming once again on the glass furniture without minding its delicacy.

Maria stared at him, dumbfounded. How did things go so wrong in a matter of seconds? She felt like she was in some sort of a movie, where everything was happening too fast and there was nothing she could do to control it. Her main fear was the harm he might cause himself if he kept on raging like this. "Your migraine can get easily triggered by stress like--" She tried to make him reason but he was beyond caring for himself.

"It's none of your damn business, white robe!"

"Just calm down..." She breathlessly uttered, clasping her palms together.

"Stop standing there and just leave! Is that too difficult for you to understand? Are you that stupid?" He questioned, his raucous banging occupying the atmosphere and the table was beginning to crack beneath his fist.

"Mr--"

Jayden dropped two consecutive bangs, cutting her words once again. He wanted her out and did not need any medical care but only his peace. The doctor had come to him after all and if she was going to insist on interrupting his privacy, then he would be equally insistent about wanting her off the premises.

The doctor frowned her lips, visibly frustrated at his refusal to accept her help. That was all too much. No one had ever made her feel that worthless and it was just her first day of personal service. Now she could see why an extra salary was added as a bonus offer.

The agitated man stepped forward, one hand clenched tightly by his side and the other flung towards the metallic exit. "Get out," he repeated, his voice lowered to a menacing growl. If his family wanted to treat him like a child by inviting people into his room to tend and do some other bullshit, he was ready to behave like one.

She took another step back, watching him closely as she held her breath. His temper was growing more intense by the second and she wondered what she had done to deserve such scorn from him. She was only trying to help, and now she was being treated like a piece of trash. He wanted her to leave but she had her job to do. It felt disheartening and difficult when her patient did not want her around.

"I'm sorry," Maria uttered in a small voice, "I thought you would be pleased that I am taking an interest."

"You have no reason to be here," he snapped almost immediately, his brown orbs darkening at the hurt in her eyes.

She stood still, needing space to think. The room seemed too close now, and her heart felt like it was breaking. Watching him explode with fury slowly made her heart pump with growing annoyance. She was human too and there was a limit to some attitudes she could take from patients.

"If you want me out of this room, then I will go," Maria pronounced, carefully hiding her irritation from her tone.

He stopped his profuse bangs and straightened to face her with a =n expression dominated by indifference. "Yes, go away and never return."

Maria was not bluffing and had already given up on his case. They could find him another doctor. However, she did not think he would change no matter how many times they tried to convince him. He was a lost cause and too stubborn, for his own good.

She thought about leaving the room without saying anything else but instead decided to do so after she made one last comment. "I'm sorry for wasting your time." Her voice was soft as she spoke.

Her frame revolted and marched toward the already opened doors. She paused before exiting, noticing his panting had grown more erratic, louder, and... painfully? It sounded abnormal. The sound was strange and frightening, making her wonder if he was suffering from some kind of attack.

Maria whirled around without hesitation and directed her gaze at him. Her eyes protruded at the second sight of him. He was in a different condition within seconds. His body was trembling and he was grabbing his head as if the pain was erupting through it. He had his eyelids slammed shut while he dug his fingers around the crown of his skull.

The doctor was startled by the sudden transformation, fearing for his state. She was frozen at the scene before her for several seconds until the staggering of the man revived her senses, and she rushed like a hurricane to his side, forgetting every damn thing about quitting.

***