Whispered Secrets • BrightWin

One

ONE

"Eros," Xio involuntarily mumbled under his breath, just enough for him to hear it himself. His heart began to beat erratically as a wave of astonishment and a flood of memories rushed through him. The name carried weight, laden with history and emotions he had tried to bury deep within. As his eyes subconsciously snuck on the man's form, he found himself holding his breath. A strange blend of anticipation and trepidation settled over him.

Five meters away from Xio, Eros' eyes lazily found Xio's. It was as if the former felt a string being tugged, an almost imperceptible pull in the complex web of fate, alerting him to the fact that someone was watching him. Eros gaze lingered for a fraction of a second, his visage concealing a myriad of secrets like a mask. The connection between their eyes was brief yet charged, like a current passing through a circuit, sparking recognition and memories long dormant.

"Doc!" A distant scream pierced through the haze, a frantic cry that pulled at the edges of his awareness. His heartbeat jumped for a fleeting moment, a feeble attempt to align with the urgency of the circumstance.

Xio's mind was a whirlwind of contradictory emotions and memories, the sight of Eros still resonating in his senses. His pulse raced as he tore his gaze away from Eros and Seth's anxious voice drawing him out from the maelstrom of memories. His eyes darted around, struggling to focus in the midst of the disorienting chaos. But he felt a mixture of relief and apprehension at being snapped out of the unexpected encounter.

"Seth, wait," Xio managed to say, his voice low as he tried to make sense of the situation while keeping up with his colleague's brisk pace leading him towards the patient.

Seth turned to face him, his expression reflecting concern. "What is it, Xio?"

Xio's eyes flickered back to where Eros had been standing moments ago. "That man... Do you know who he is?"

Seth pondered Xio's query, his brows wrinkling. His lips parted, an unspoken response on the tip of his tongue, but the urgency of their current situation held him back. The chaos of the emergency room was palpable, and the distant screams were a stark reminder that lives hung in the balance.

"Oh... I've only heard a bit about him just now as well," Seth finally replied, his voice strained with a mix of curiosity and reluctance. However, he still managed to give him a bit of information. "Dr. Eros Chivaaree. He's one of the new senior resident surgeons the medical director brought in."

Xio's brows furrowed as he absorbed the information Seth had shared. "Eros Chivaaree... senior resident surgeon," he repeated softly, the name and title echoing his mind.

Although Xio intended for it to be a whisper, he didn't realize that he spoke it aloud that Seth could hear through him. The latter nodded, confirming the former's words.

Oblivious of Xio's emotions, Seth spoke, "Yeah, that's right. Seems like they're impressed with his track record. He was already set to start working with patients right after he arrived today."

Xio's emotions churned within him, a mixture of surprise, unease, and a hint of resentment at the idea of Eros being brought in with such acclaim. The memories he had tried to push aside resurfaced with a vengeance, and he found himself struggling to reconcile with the present reality.

Seth's expression shifted as he noticed Xio's reaction, his concern arising. "Anyway, now isn't the time to gossip, Xio. We have to focus on the patients."

Xio nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. They were in the midst of a medical crisis, and it was their duty to provide aid to those who needed it most.