The Longing

Jonas PoV

After pumping the angioplasty balloon into the narrowed area succeeded in widening the artery and destroying the plaque, I started placing a stent to prevent the coronary artery from narrowing again. 

Throughout the PCI process, the patient's family was nagging me until I could barely focus.  I exhaled in annoyance.  It looks like this nother's eyes l procedure didn't go smoothly.

I hate open surgery! I hate the annoying patient's family!

"Doctor Trent, PCI has not succeeded in restoring blood flow to the heart muscle. The patient's myocardial infarctions are becoming more frequent. We must immediately find another alternative."

I looked at the patient's examination record on the monitor screen.  The situation is very critical.  If not treated immediately, I think the obstruction to blood flow will become even more massive. 

There are two other alternatives to prevent this from happening.  With bypass surgery or thrombolysis surgery.

My patient is a minister and I am still sane enough instead of letting him remain critical.  It wouldn't make sense for me to tell this man's family that his situation was beyond help.

"Make a consent report for the patient's family! We will perform bypass surgery immediately!"  I ordered the nurse and then looked sharply at the monitor screen again.

I hissed.  This is the bad situation

"Doctor Trent, don't we need to have a meeting first? The doctor team and the patien's family? This bypass surgery is quite risky for the patient," said the nurse.

Without even turning around, I shook my head slightly.  I'm pretty sure I'm smart enough to make decisions.  Waiting for claims from the results of all doctors' meetings will take up a lot of time.  Not to mention preparing all the equipment and submitting confirmation from the patient's family.

"Even to hold a meeting, we need approval from the head of the hospital. We also have to gather the doctors first. Not to mention making a final report regarding the results of the meeting. Meanwhile, you know the popular doctrine about someone with a chronic heart attack? Their life is at the end of their throat," I said impatiently.

I spoke flatly while moving the cursor to enlarge the object.  This minister's heart examination record gives rise to increasingly sad assessments.  Nearly ninety-six percent of his chances of survival were lost.  This man from a prominent family seemed to only have twenty minutes left to live.

"Quickly deliver the consent report to the patient's family and ask them to sign it," I said. "Or... We will lost one of the best minister this country have ."

The nurse nodded.  "Yes, Doctor."

Then, when the surgery is approved, I work hard to create an artificial vessel to open a new pathway.  Blockage of blood flow through the coronary artery area must be resolved with the presence of artificial vessels.

"That's the great surgery I ever saw, doctor Trent!" said the nurse, after the surgery finished. "You are amazing, as always."

Now, I leaned my back against the back of the work chair.  I turned off the monitor screen and then closed it for a moment. 

Dealing all day with all kinds of patient complaints and several surgeries makes me really tired. I lost the energy now and just want to sleep for a minutes.

My eyes opened again when the cell phone rang.  There was an incoming call from Mom that really made me sick. 

There were only two options until Mom bothered to call me.  First, the shopping money runs out.  Or secondly, Mother hopes that I will come home.  That's why I ignored the cell phone ringing even though my hearing was disturbed.

The ringing of the telephone made my sleep disappear.  Finally, I chose to finish the minister's operation report an hour ago, so I could go home immediately.

Then, my eyes stuck to the book on the corner of my desk.  The book with a collection of witty quotes in a bone white cover at the top of the pile reminds me of someone.

He was upset that day, because he felt there were many questions he didn't understand in today's exam. 

I just listened to him grumble long and short about the questions being too difficult and saying he was giving up and going on strike from studying.

"Read this book.  You will find lots of positive quotes that will revive your spirits."

"Huh, you know I hate reading books without pictures!" he replied irritably.

"Just read first.  This is a light but very useful book.  People who are stupider than you will like it."

"Hey, you call me stupid?"

At that time I just laughed and he then held me in his arms, until we ended up doing sumo on the carpet on the floor of my room and ended up panting because we were tired of wrestling and laughing. 

It was one of the many days I spent with him at that time.  Beautiful.  Full of jokes and joy.

"Stop playing with those girls. Think about your future plans and be a little serious. You don't want to make your father cross your name off the family tree and appoint another child as his successor, right?"  I said it again at that time.

In the midst of his activities of opening the book I gave page by page, he nodded. 

In the end, throughout the night my bookshelf was completely dismantled and he stole almost ten books containing light reading. 

That night, I felt victorious.  My house is the best place to complain that he almost often goes.

"This book is for you. Read it whenever you feel annoyed, hopeless, nervous, or afraid. There is a lot of good motivation that will make you come back to yourself," I said again, ruffling his thick hair.

My best friend lowered his head, acting like a student who respects his teacher.  However, that annoying face really looks so obvious.

"Of course, Professor  Jonas Finnegan Trent!" he said, made a salute form to me.

His laughter rose.  As soon as the positive aura appeared at its maximum level, I responded with a grin.  He was always fun whenever he was cheerful.  I always like his happiness and annoying laugh.

Until now, until this moment, I will never stop falling in love with him.  Will never stop reminiscing.  No matter how far we are apart, his story will always remain sweet in the depths of my heart.

I can never forget such nights from my past with him.  Even now, after eight years have passed without ever seeing each other, he still plays a major role in my every dream and daydream.

How is he now?

***

Xander PoV

"I'm tired of serving people who want to see you, Mr. Xander. At least take a moment of your time to meet them."

I turned lazily towards Norris.  Looking up slightly, I chuckled in annoyance.  There's no way Norris doesn't understand my character after almost four years of work.

"Just tell those people that I want to rest before the seminar starts. My journey here was quite long. So I think they will understand," I said calmly.

I turned my head again and looked down at the book I was holding and continue reading.

Honestly, I was at a nervous point when I entered backstage.  I'm afraid that when I go on stage my performance won't meet expectations.

Read the book line by line, then move on to the next page, makes me calmer and my confidence increases.

"I'm surprised you can still read that book, sir," said Norris in a worried tone.  "The book was very worn and full of insulating sticks all over the place."

I laughed at Norris' comment and realized the truth of what he said.

"I'll put it in a glass case when this book is destroyed, Norris, and just stare at it as if reading. After all, I've memorized everything in it," I answered lightly.

"I'll buy you a new book, sir. I'm sure there are new printed versions of books like that in bookstores," said Norris again.  "You can throw away that old book."

I chuckled in annoyance.  "Don't talk nonsense, Norris! Even if you buy the latest version that was released yesterday, I won't throw away this book. This book will accompany me to the grave!"

Norris sighed and shrugged.  "Whatever you say, sir. Ah, don't forget, your father said that you should make time to meet Ms. Linda after the seminar. She is Beta Elmar's daughter."

I waved my hand, sending Norris out.  I'm tired of hearing the names of women mentioned, whom I always have to meet here and there, for the reason that I need to quickly find a mate before the time of the coronation.

To hell with my coronation as Supreme Alpha in Father's place.  I've been stupid about finding my own partner for a long time.  In fact, all this time I was desperately blocking out stimuli that were trying to enter.

I heard voices outside the room where I sat with a book on my lap.  I closed my eyes and slowly his words filled my mind again.

"This book is for you. Read it whenever you feel annoyed, hopeless, nervous, or afraid. There is a lot of good motivation that will make you come back to yourself," he said.

His voice was soft and soothing, deep and pleasant.

After years of being apart, I finally realized, that it wasn't this book in my lap that made me calm every time I read its contents, in the bad situations I faced.  It was his voice.  Him.

Everything about him was the exact opposite of me, but he was the anchor that held me back from the noisy madness of my youth.  He is a sedative that calms me from the anxiety of my hectic difficult times.  He is an oasis that refreshes me from the thirst of wild adventures.

How is he now?