EPISODE 1

I’m currently here at my best friend’s office, Arleina Marine Hurpen. She is my one and only best friend since childhood.

Sad to say, she is disabled now..

Because of an unexpected accident that caused her to be seated in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Even so, we are grateful and blessed because she survived.. and I am even more thankful that I was the one who handled her operation.

“Today is so tiring, we don’t even have a day off as doctors..” Arleina complained and boredly looked at me while turning her wheelchair.

“If I could still stand, I would’ve definitely invited you to a bar or to the beach, to relax and enjoy.” she said sadly while slightly tapping her legs.

“Don’t worry because we’ll still be able to do what you want once we get a day off. And I myself will invite you to relax.” I comforted her and sat in front of her.

“Don’t ever underestimate yourself, because we are more blessed since you were saved from the accident 2 years ago..” I said sadly and she then touched my cheek.

“I am even more thankful to you, because you didn’t give up on my operation. You gave me life, Jad..” she said emotionally and hugged me, so I hugged her back.

“Thank you, because you didn’t let me go at the moment when I should’ve been gone a long time ago..” she said.

“I also know very well that you had many reasons not to continue my operation, especially since that was also the day he passed away..” she said sadly again, and as I was about to tear up, I answered her.

“I couldn’t bear to just let you die like that, especially since I was the one in charge of your operation.. I could never abandon you.” I said meaningfully and gently rubbed her back.

“I still remember, when I woke up I found out you underwent my operation, you also broke up with your ex and your brother—” she was about to continue when I shook my head.

Because there was no point in mentioning it over and over again, it would only bring back painful memories.

Memories I no longer wanted to think about and remember, I just wanted to bury them in the past, and I wanted to move forward, just like she always wanted.

She smiled and said, “Good thing you didn’t immediately give in to your broken era.” she joked while shaking her head, so I laughed.

She also understood my smile and head shake earlier, so I knew she wouldn’t continue what she was about to say about Kuya..

“Of course the operation needed to be successful, you needed to be saved, how could I let you go?” I said with raised eyebrows.

“If I let you go cold, I wouldn’t have anyone to talk to anymore.” I joked and then sat in front of the chair near her table and drank soda.

“So, your only purpose for me is gossiping so you kept me alive?!” she said with raised eyebrows while moving her wheelchair closer to me.

I laughed even more because of her reaction.

And since I like teasing her, I teased her even more.

Haha..

“Something like that.” I said as if it had no malice, so she pouted and I laughed.

“Just kidding.” I corrected.

“You really never get tired of teasing me.” she said while rolling her eyes.

“Because you’re so easy to tease.” I replied again.

She was about to respond when there was a sudden fast knock and the door was quickly opened without waiting for permission, so we both looked at it.

“D-Doc! S-someone is causing trouble in the hospital lobby!” Dr. Paul said breathlessly as he entered, one of the male doctors here.

He is 2 years older than me, but he acts even younger than me, and he also calls me Ate Jad.

He is very playful and cheerful, and he doesn’t look his age because he looks like he’s only eighteen years old.

His family is also one of the shareholders of the hospital managed by my grandfather, so we are also close. And with others as well.

I also consider him like a sibling, probably because I also have a brother.

“What is that, Dr. Paul! Calm down, you’re making me nervous.” Arleina said while holding her chest, also clearly startled. I also frowned at him.

Because I was seeing him like this only now, he looked very panicked and seemed like he didn’t know what to do.

Because I didn’t fully understand what he was saying. “Repeat it again, Doc. What did you say?” I asked again and stood up to approach him.

I couldn’t smile at him immediately, I know how jolly and playful this 22-year-old doctor is. But now he is being serious.

“D-doctor, t-there is a p-parent of a p-patient you handled who is causing a scene because their billing is very high and they even c-called the g-gangster brother of that p-patient you handled..” he said in a long frustrated sentence, still panting because he probably ran..

“A-and also, another patient escaped from Nurse Cha, they say he is a thief teenager..” he added again while still panting.

“How is the billing high, most of Jad’s patients have 30% discount? Especially if it’s severe.” Arleina said worriedly, so I looked at her.

“Oh no, Nurse Cha will be in trouble once the hospital Head in charge finds out..” she said.

“The chairman is really hard to deal with, even his brother Jad cannot make him stop his plans..” she said worriedly again.

“Calm down, sissy. I got this. I will fix the situation downstairs first, I’ll come back after this..” I assured her and looked at Dr. Paul who looked scared and breathless.

“Just be careful..” she said worriedly while holding my hand, so I smiled at her.

“Promise..” I said. And I immediately put on my white coat.

“Let’s go, Dr. Paul..” I said.

“Let’s go, Doc.” he said and walked fast so I did the same.

While we were walking toward the elevator, Dr. Paul said this..

“D-doctor, I-I will repeat our other problem. Another patient of Nurse Cha also escaped, the one involved in beating a gangster they say. Nurse Cha will have a hard time if the chairman finds out..” he said nervously and stuttering.

“How did that one leave without you noticing?” I asked him.

“Doc, he only had a minor injury and neck lock, but it wasn’t that serious, and he said he will just go to the CR, but he didn’t come back after several minutes, so they checked CCTV and he already left the hospital.” he explained again.

“Was he given first aid?” I asked.

“Yes, Doc.” he said so I nodded again.

“That is surely connected to the gangster child of one of my patient’s parents.” I said thoughtfully.

“The patient who escaped, we’ll talk about that later, let’s focus first on the one causing trouble.” I told Dr. Paul.

“And who is the patient being referred to by the parent?” I asked with curiosity, because I always have a full schedule and many names and cases I handled so I can’t remember everything.

“Keil Lackson, Doc.” he said which made me frown.

He probably noticed my expression that I couldn’t remember.

“The one with many tattoos, Doc. The one with eighteen stab wounds on his body, and still unconscious until now..” he added with full details.

I remembered, “The one with so many internal bleeding and used 25 packs of blood because of massive blood loss? Right?” I confirmed.

“Yes, that’s him, Doc.” he agreed politely.

I nodded, “How much is their bill?” I asked curiously while adjusting my eyeglasses as the elevator opened.

“Good morning, Doctor Jad!!” nurses, doctors, staff, and other parents greeted us with smiles as we entered.

“Good morning.” I greeted back and continued walking through the hallway toward the lobby.

“950,000, Doc.” he answered. I stopped and looked at him, and he also stopped.

“That’s low, I remember I gave them a bill of only 250,000..” I said with a frown.

He was shocked too. I wouldn’t be surprised because the discount was very large.

And the remaining balance, I am the one paying for it in the hospital without them really knowing, because I handle medical finances.

And the medical insurance in the hospital, as well as my bank accounts, are all linked for auto payment.

“But Doc, their billing file total is 950,000.” he corrected again.

I nodded. “Maybe the counter hasn’t been updated, or the hospital billing records haven’t been updated.” I said and continued walking.

“Maybe it is still in charge, Doc.” he said, so I nodded.

“Then maybe the record wasn’t updated, or the directors decided it because of blood packs, tools, machines, and medicines attached to the patient.” I explained.

“Especially since this hospital is really well-known in the country, and public hospitals are rare nearby. So it really becomes expensive, because you are not only paying for medical care, but also services.”

“It should’ve been around 2.5 million, but I lowered it because I know it’s not easy to get that amount of money.”

“That’s why I gave 30–80% discount to my patients, even more sometimes..”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***