BLOOD OR LOVE

YOU REMIND ME OF HIM

"Can I ask you something?" Alice inquired.

"Shouldn't we check on Lisa first?" Zach suggested.

Alice's eyes sparkled,"You like Lisa, don't you?"

"What makes you think so?"

Alice's smile widened,"It's obvious. The way you smile, talk, and stare at her... I wonder why she can't see it."

Zach's voice dropped,"What if I do?"

Alice's tone turned serious,"You can't. You'll get hurt. She has a boyfriend."

"I should check on her. Something might be off." He avoided further questions as he rushed into the building, his heart racing.

The elevator doors opened, revealing a disturbing scene.
Lisa on the floor, Dean standing over her.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO HER?!" Zach thundered.

"Who are you?"

Lisa accused,"You pushed me! Do you hate me that much?"

Zach's anger intensified,"You pushed her?"

Dean clarified,"It wasn't intentional. Who are you?"

Zach's voice claimed ownership,"I'm her boyfriend. Any problem?"

Dean's eyes widened in shock,"You're her... boyfriend?"

As Zach helped Lisa to her feet, Dean's gaze lingered on the couple.

"Are you hurt?" Zach asked, concern etched on his face.

"I'm fine," Lisa replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What did he do to you?" Zach pressed.

Lisa's exhaustion overwhelmed her,
"I'm...I'm...exhausted. You should go."

She ushered Zach out, closing the apartment door behind her.
Zach turned to Dean, his warning stern,"Don't come near her again. Got it?"

Dean nodded, still processing everything.

As Zach left, Dean thought,"Wow, she has a boyfriend."

He dragged his feet into his apartment, his mind racing.

The next morning, Lisa woke to her alarm's annoying song.

"Ouch! What the heck?" she groaned, her headache pounding. "What happened?"

Memories of the previous night flooded back.

"OH MY GOD!!" she exclaimed, springing out of bed.

"How do I face Dr. Dickson? Or my neighbor?" she thought, mortified.
"At least I was drunk...but that's no excuse."

Lisa arrived at the hospital, still reeling from her hangover.

"Hey, Lisa!" a familiar voice called.

She turned, recognizing the speaker.
"Alice, how are you?" Lisa asked.

"I should be asking you," Alice replied with a chuckle. "You were completely knocked out. You still reek of alcohol."

Lisa rubbed her temples,"My head hurts."

"Why wouldn't it?" Alice teased.

Just then, Zach appeared,"Hi!"

Lisa's awkwardness smiled knowing it was it's turn to shine.

"Hi, Mr. Dickson."

Zach handed her a cup of coffee, "Coffee?"

"Thank you," Lisa said, grateful.

Alice intervened, sensing Lisa's discomfort,"Lisa, didn't you say we needed to get a file from Mr. Mann?"

Lisa seized the opportunity,"I'm sorry, I have to go now."

"Okay, see you around," Zach said.

"Yes," Lisa replied, swiftly departing with Alice.

"You owe me two," Alice whispered.

"I know," Lisa whispered back with a smile.

Later into the night, Lisa trudged into her apartment building, exhausted.
The elevator doors opened, revealing Dean.

Lisa's fatigue vanished as she held eye contact with him.

"Are you coming?" Dean asked, breaking the silence.

She entered as the elevator door closed. Silence fell, tension hanging in the air.

.
.

The hallway silence was broken when Lisa asked,"Why do you ignore me?"

Dean shrugged,"Why does it bother you?"

Lisa's voice softened,"I don't know. For some reason, I care."
"Have we met before? Before the hospital incident?"
Lisa pressed,"Ten years ago."

Dean's gulp betrayed his calm demeanor,"I don't know what you're talking about."

Lisa's eyes locked onto his,"You remind me of someone important. I just want to know if you're him."

Dean's denial came swiftly,"I'm sorry, I'm not."

Lisa's conviction grew,
"You sound like him. You also....

Dean interrupted,"You're being delusional."

Lisa's voice rose,"I'm not! You're him! Back at Penny's Ville. You were there."

Dean faked confusion,"Penny's what?"

Lisa's words spilled,"I was blind back then, but I wasn't dumb or deaf. Your voice reminds me of his."

Dean's inner turmoil intensified,
"Is this 'him' your boyfriend or something? I don't get why you're insisting I'm him."

Lisa's pain surfaced,"He left before I could tell him how I felt."
"You left before I could tell you how I felt."

Dean longed to reveal the truth. But he couldn't.

"Promise me one thing, keep your identity hidden from Lisa."

"I'm not who you think I am," Dean repeated.

Just then, an old lady intervened,

"Can't an old lady have peace?! Keep it down, you two!" The door slammed shut behind her.

Lisa apologized embarrassed,"I'm sorry."

She hastily entered her apartment, murmuring,"What was I thinking?"

Her phone rang, breaking the spell of embarrassment.

"Hello." She answered.

"Hello! How're you doing?"

"What do you want Mariah?"

"Geez! Why read me like that?"

"Mariah!"

"Fine! I need a little favour."