The Curiosities Concerning Fate

∷ Chapter 12 ∷

KLYDE RESTED HIS chin on his hand as he observed the hiker's head scans. There was nothing amiss about the results, yet he could not help the uneasiness he felt. A hand on his shoulder alerted him to the arrival of the radiologist in charge: Joshua Greyson. He moved to sit next to Klyde, tracing the outlines of the pinned scans that seemed to be troubling him.

"A patient of yours?" Joshua asked.

Klyde nodded but remained silent, still focused on the scans.

"What's wrong?" Joshua asked when he registered the misery on Klyde's face. Motioning towards the scans, he added, "The man will be fine. There is nothing wrong with the results of his scans."

"It's nothing just . . ." Klyde hesitated before muttering, "I'm just making sure everything's really okay. He was bleeding a lot."

Joshua nodded, their gazes still fixed on the illuminated screen in front of them.

After a moment, he said, "You're being too hard on yourself."

An observation that caused irritation to flare. The feeling wasn't justified, of course. Joshua was merely looking out for his mentee, yet Klyde's irrational mind assumed the worse of the former; the result of which was an unexpected outburst.

"I'm emotional with my patients. I get it, okay?" he spat.

Joshua chuckled, unaffected by his reaction.

"I didn't say it was a bad thing. I think it's great you care so much about your patients. But you should also accept facts when they are presented to you."

"I guess you're right," Klyde mumbled before he retrieved the photographic films and placed them in a folder for Sebastian.

"It's always better to show emotion than to show nothing at all," Joshua said.

The words were said in an offhanded and nonchalant manner, yet it was obvious to whom the radiologist was referring. Klyde glanced at him from the corner of his eyes, unable to hide the disdain he felt upon hearing the comment.

For as long as Klyde knew him, Joshua had never liked Sebastian. The latter wasn't entirely a likeable person, to begin with, but Joshua's dislike bordered close to hatred, though its cause was unknown. He took every chance given to disparage the guy and Sebastian's lack of reciprocal reaction only seemed to anger him more.

It was always a wonder to Joshua, and everyone else, how Klyde was able to be remotely close to a friend to Sebastian. And it was a wonder to Klyde, how no one else managed to see Sebastian as the misunderstood person he was. Looking past the horrid character and the front often displayed, Sebastian was just as good a friend as anyone else. But no one bothered to try, and Sebastian did not have the patience for those who refused to stay.

"I have to go," Klyde said.

Joshua's words had left a bitter note in the air and it was something he did not wish to tolerate. Sebastian was a friend, and Klyde refused to mingle with those who would speak rudely of him even if said person was his mentor.

Arriving at last in front of Sebastian's office, Klyde hardly bothered to wait before pushing the door open. A decision he would later learn to regret when he found himself interrupting something he clearly shouldn't have.

Still, the awkwardness of the situation prompted him to ask, "Am I interrupting something?"

The air was still for a moment before Sebastian stood abruptly, clearing his throat and clasping his hands behind his back. He gave his friend a pointed look but said nothing.

"Dr Devon," Adine greeted, her voice breaking him from his state of shock.

"Adine—" he started, but quickly corrected himself when he caught the way Sebastian frowned. "I mean, Miss Griffith, what a surprise to see you here."