In Aid

24. Gross Inspection

"Zedikai, come here for a moment please."

I went inside from the balcony and stretched my arms over my head. I winced slightly. The doctor did tell me that I was going to feel sore when lifting my arms because of my still-healing ribs. I needed to be more careful. Finding Sang at the table with a book, I went over and sat across from him. "Yes, Sang?"

"How are you feeling?"

"Better."

"Are you sure? You don't look like you've been sleeping very well."

"I'm fine. Really."

"Okay." He shut his book and regarded me curiously. "I think I know what your answer will be but I have to ask anyways. Are you ready to see Dr Stanley again?"

I groaned and slouched in my chair. "Why do I have to see him again?"

"Because he never got to finish speaking to you about your bloodwork results. He is very concerned. He cannot do any further testing unless you give your permission, and he has the results from your urinalysis that he would like to discuss with you."

"What if I don't care to dig any further into my weird bloodwork?"

"I told you before that you will have to sooner or later. You will not be able to travel to Othanai unless it is recorded that you have done a complete checkup."

I dropped my forehead onto the table with a thud. "I already went through all of these years ago. Why can't Dr Stanley just take the information from back then?"

"Because it is too old. You have not had any vaccines, checkups, or bloodwork done in six years. A lot can change with your body."

"But you saw what happened the last time. I nearly had a heart attack."

"An anxiety attack," Sang corrected, rolling his eyes at my exaggeration. "I do understand that, but this is a necessary evil. What will it take for you to sit through an hour of medical history so we can properly assess your health? Do I need to bribe you with ice cream?"

"Ice cream will hardly be enough," I said with a scoff, sitting up.

Sang sighed and leaned back, eyebrows furrowed. "I will take you to get your ears pierced."

"That's... random."

"Not very. Aubyn likes to talk about you at work and he so happened to mention that you are into jewellery."

I tried not to be obvious with my reaction, but I couldn't help it. I wanted to ask if he told his coworkers about me, but I couldn't seem too eager or curious about it. "Aubyn... talks about me at work?"

"Sometimes." Sang narrowed his eyes at me questioningly. "I have noticed that you do not have any piercings – at least none that I can see – so I figured you would like to have your ears pierced. How about it?"

I was planning to do it if I ever got to move to Othanai as a sign of a new start, but I could get a tattoo or a haircut for that. Since my conversation with Aubyn, I suddenly got the urge to go through my past designs. Some of them weren't that good and could do with a little editing, but some were really good enough that I wouldn't mind owning the real thing. Reviewing them only made me want piercings that much more.

"Sang, my medical history is somewhat of a touchy topic for me," I reminded him, a bit frustrated that he had only glossed over the topic of Aubyn.

"I know. I do understand, but this is not something you can run away from. It is your own body we are talking about. Would it be more comfortable if I did not accompany you? I could request for an English speaker to translate for you, or get you a different, English-speaking doctor. Maybe a human one instead?"