THE BAD BITCH AND THE DOCTOR

Chapter Nine

A/n: Reader discretion is advised as this chapter contains suicide reference. If you're struggling with suicidal thoughts, please talk to a friend or a healthcare professional. Or your local suicide hotline. Please. You are loved, don't forget that.

CHAPTER NINE - Scars

Third Person's PoV

Pumarada si Kieran sa underground parking lot ng tinutuluyang hotel ni Shane. Minadali ni Shane na tanggalin yung seatbelt niya.

"Thank you." Bulong niya, hindi niya kayang tignan siya sa hiya. "Here, you can have your jacket back."

Pinigilan ni Kieran na hubarin ni Shane yung jacket. In-unbuckle niya ang kanyang seatbelt at lumabas para pagbuksanan ng pintuan ang dalaga. Linahad ang kanyang kamay para alalayan siya.

"Subukan mong paluin ulit at kakargahin kita." Banta nito.

Shane snickered, "Don't threaten me with a good time, doctor." Biro niya pero 'di natuwa si Kieran. "Tsk. Fine."

Nanghihinang lumabas si Shane at maingat na iniapak mga paa sa semento. Medyo maluwag sa kanya yung sapatos ni Kieran. Ayaw niya na lang magreklamo gawa ng panghihina niya. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ng doctor at naginit ang mga pisngi.

It must be the fever. It must be.

Dahan-dahan silang naglakad patungo sa elevator. Ramdam ni Kieran ang nginig ni Shane sa sobrang lamig.

"K-kieran..." nautal pa ang babae sa sobrang panghihina.

"Almost there, Shane. Just hang on." Sabi ni Kieran sa may tenga niya. Lips lightly brushing against her ear. It sent chills down her spine—making her shudder more.

"I have...a favor to ask." That certainly caught his attention. "Are you able...to falsify your reports for me?"

Huminto sa paglalakad ang doctor kaya naman napatigil din ang dalaga.

"Gusto mong i-risk reputasyon ko, Shane?" His tone didn't sound mad. It was genuine curiosity.

Shane pursed her lips and shook her head.

"I'm sorry. That was a stupid question." She said while forcing a smile. "You worked so hard...to be w-where you are now. Don't let my life ruin that."

Everything Shane had to endure for the past decade is to make sure Kieran becomes a successful doctor. She never fully understood why she desperately goes through such lengths for this man, but she did.

And she did it with no regrets despite everything bad that has happened to her.

She does not want Kieran to know what she did. All she wanted him to remember was how she broke his heart. That's it. It's easier to cope that way since she knows deep down she does not deserve him.

Kumalas si Shane sa kamay ni Kieran pagkarating nila sa elevator, "I got it from here, thanks."

Hindi nagbago yung mga mata ng lalaki. Puno pa rin ito ng alala at inis.

Yumuko si Shane at saka naalalang isauli yung sapatos. Nakapaa ba naman si Kieran na inalalayan si Shane hanggang sa elevator.

"Shit. Sorry, here." Akmang tatanggalin niya na sana ang sintas nang makaramdam siya ng hilo. Tumingala siya't kumurap. "K-kieran..."

"Shane?— SHANE!" Mabuti na lang at nasalo agad siya pagkahimatay nito. Sobrang init ng balat ni Shane at sobrang putla. "Fuck. Teka lang, Shane. I got you."

Inayos ni Kieran ang pagkakahawak sa kanya't kinarga na siya sa elevator. Parang wala lang sa kanya ang bigat ng babae sa sobrang payat nito. Nakaramdam na naman siya ng inis.