Chapter 9
I dragged my feet as I got the medication cart ready, psyching myself up for what felt like forever before finally pushing it toward Room 3.
When I reached the door, I took a deep breath and pushed it open.
To my surprise, the awkward scene I'd braced myself for never happened.
Inside the room, besides Julian, there was an unexpected visitor.
A girl in a white dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders.
It was Cathy Kaplan.
She was the campus queen of our major, and the center of that infamous "love letter" scandal.
She was sitting by Julian's bedside, holding a fancy thermos, her voice low and sweet as she tried to persuade him.
"Julian, I made this chicken soup for you. Have some. It'll help you get better," she said.
Her voice was so sweet it was almost cloying.
Julian leaned against the headboard, his face still a bit pale, his brows slightly furrowed, looking a little impatient.
"I don't have an appetite. Take it back," he said.
"How can you not have an appetite? You're sick. You need to eat something," Cathy said.
As she spoke, she scooped up a spoonful of soup and brought it up to Julian's mouth.
"Here, let me feed you," she added.
My grip on the medication cart tightened without me realizing it.
The wheels made a faint sound as they rolled across the floor.
Both Julian and Cathy turned to look at me in unison.
Julian's eyes lit up for a split second when he saw me.
Cathy's expression soured, clearly annoyed by the interruption.
She sized me up, her gaze sharp and a bit haughty.
"You're... the nurse?" Cathy asked.
Before I could say anything, Julian spoke up.
"She's my classmate, Alyssa Raines, and the intern doctor assigned to my case," he said.
He said it with deliberate emphasis.
That vague discomfort I'd been feeling disappeared instantly.
I put on my most professional smile and walked over to the bed.
"Julian, it's time to change your dressing," I said.
As I spoke, I slipped on my gloves with practiced ease, getting ready to remove the bandage from his abdomen.
My actions cut right into Cathy's soup-feeding moment.
Cathy looked pretty annoyed.
"Doc, can you just change the dressing? Julian was about to have his soup," she said.
She kept calling his name affectionately, acting like they were a couple or something.
I lifted my eyelids and glanced at the thick chicken soup in her hands, my voice flat and leaving no room for argument.
I said, "Sorry, miss. Julian just got over a high fever. His stomach is still fragile, so greasy food like that isn't suitable right now.
"He needs to stick to light, clear liquids for now."
Using my medical expertise, I easily outmaneuvered her.
Cathy's cheeks flushed bright red.
"I... I made this especially to help him get better—" she stammered.
"Your heart's in the right place, but the way you're doing it isn't," I interrupted bluntly. "If you really care about him, you should follow the doctor's advice."
I turned to Julian, my voice gentler now.
"Julian, how are you feeling? Any discomfort in your wound?" I asked.
Julian shook his head quickly.
"No, I'm feeling a lot better," he said.
Then he turned to Cathy, his tone going cold and distant again.
"Cathy, I appreciate your kindness, but I'll pass on the soup. Please take it back," he said. "I'm tired and want to rest."
He was clearly kicking her out.
Cathy's face changed colors, putting on quite a show.
She shot me a pleading look, clearly hoping I'd say something to bail her out.
I gave her a smile that said, "Sorry, can't help you."
Seriously, why would I help her?
In the end, Cathy left, still clutching her thermos of chicken soup, her face full of reluctance.
Before heading out, she shot me a death glare, as though I was the thief who'd stolen her candy.
At last, the room felt peaceful again.
I kept my head down, meticulously disinfecting Julian's wound and applying a fresh bandage.
Neither of us said a word the whole time.
The atmosphere was a bit awkward.
Once I finished changing the dressing, I packed up my things and started to push the cart toward the door.
When I reached the doorway, Julian's voice called out from behind me, a hint of amusement in his tone.
"Alyssa," he said.
"What?" I snapped, turning around.
He was leaning against the headboard, a teasing smile playing on his pale face.
His intense gaze locked onto me.
"Were you jealous just now?" Julian asked.
Jealous? Me?
Those words were like a bomb going off in my head.
My first reaction was to deny it.
And I shot back right away, without a second thought, "Me? Jealous?"
My voice shot up an octave from how flustered I was. "Julian, are you still delirious from the fever or what?"