Mom's voice cut through the quiet of the living room, “Sarah, are you not going to the cafe today?”
I barely lifted my head from the couch, letting out a dramatic yawn. “Mom, it’s Sunday. I was thinking of just taking it easy today.”
Dad, who had been absorbed in his newspaper, folded it with a deliberate rustle and said, “How about we head to the hospital to check my blood pressure?”
I groaned and tried to wriggle out of it. “Do I really have to come? I had plans to stay home and study.”
Mom, who had been listening from the kitchen, chimed in with a knowing smile, “Oh, please. We both know you'll just end up glued to your phone all day, claiming it’s ‘study time.’ Enough with the excuses. Get up and go with your dad.”
We headed over to AHP Hospital, the only local public facility. I tried to slip in inconspicuously, pulling Dad along with me.
At the counter, Miss Annie, the ever-smiling receptionist, looked up from her desk. “Hey there! Thanks for the coffee.”
I managed a strained smile and replied, “Miss Annie, it’s my day off today. Just here with my dad for his blood pressure check.”
She greeted Dad with a friendly nod. As he handed her the regular checkup receipt, she glanced at it and said, “Dr. Roy is out at the moment. He’ll be back shortly. You can wait in corridor number 4.”
I shuffled Dad toward the corridor, trying to blend into the background. The waiting area was filled with the usual hum of hospital life -- occasional chatter, the rustling of magazines, and the distant beep of medical equipment. I sank into a plastic chair, doing my best to look casual while keeping an eye on the clock.
A few minutes later, just as I was hoping to sink into anonymity, Ryan appeared out of nowhere, flashing a smile as he greeted me. Of course, he did. The more I tried to avoid him, the more he seemed to pop up at the most inconvenient moments. It was like the universe was playing some cruel joke on me.
“Your dad?” he asked, nodding in Dad’s direction.
I gave a small, reluctant nod.
Ryan walked over and greeted Dad with his usual politeness. “Hello, Uncle.”
Trying to keep things normal, I introduced them. “Dad, this is Ryan. He’s an old school friend and now a doctor here.”
Dad’s face lit up. “Oh, nice to meet you, son. A doctor, huh?”
Ryan smiled modestly and turned to me, his eyes scanning my expression. “Everything alright? What brings you two here? Is something wrong?”
Before I could deflect, Dad jumped in. “Oh no, nothing serious. Just a routine checkup for my blood pressure. We’re waiting on Dr. Roy.”
I offered a tight smile, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me. Of all days...
Ryan paused for a moment, then said, “Dr. Roy’s out at the moment, but I can help. It’s a simple check.”
Before I could interject, Dad turned to me and whispered, “Why wait? He’s offering to help. Let’s just get this over with.”
I leaned in, trying to stay calm but firm. “Dad, it’s not that simple. Ryan might not be in the same department. Doctors have specialties.”
Ryan overheard, of course. “It’s just blood pressure, Sarah. Any doctor can handle that.”
Dad grinned, clearly sold. "Let’s go, son," he said, practically jumping up and following Ryan before I could protest.
I trailed behind, rolling my eyes, wondering how I always ended up in these awkward situations. Ryan led us toward his office, chatting casually with Dad like it was a reunion while I stayed a few paces behind, feeling like I’d been dragged into another one of those moments I tried so hard to avoid.
I wanted nothing more than to avoid running into any familiar faces from that day. But of course, fate had other plans -- when did it ever work in my favor? Just as Ryan was about to sit Dad down for his checkup, she appeared. That arrogant, egoistic girl from the hospital incident.
She strutted into Ryan’s office like she owned the place, her voice piercing through the room as she called out, “Ryan, I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
“Oh, this girl again,” she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for me to hear. I clenched my fists, trying to stay calm.
YOU ARE READING
Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears
RomanceSarah, the youngest daughter in a humble, middle-class family, has always been the embodiment of her parents' dreams. With two elder sisters already established in their lives, the weight of expectation rests heavily on her shoulders. After experien...