Destined Across Time | LadaEarn

Chapter 21

It was a rare sight in the hospital cafeteria-Dr. Fahlada, usually so composed and focused, sitting with Tan and Bow for a lunch break. The midday bustle of the cafeteria, with the usual hum of voices and clattering trays, felt unusually serene in the presence of the three. The fluorescent lights flickered above, casting a sterile glow on the long cafeteria tables, but in the corner where they sat, Fahlada seemed to glow in a different way. She was calm, almost radiating a quiet contentment as she ate, her movements slow and deliberate, as if savoring every moment.

Bow, who typically thrived on the chaos of hospital life, narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the sight of her colleague. "What's wrong with her?" she asked Tan in a hushed tone, jerking her chin toward Fahlada.

Tan, who had noticed the change but didn't seem surprised, chuckled knowingly. He sipped his drink, the soft clink of the ice in his cup barely audible in the otherwise quiet corner of the room. "Nothing's wrong," he said with a slight grin. "In fact, I'd say everything's finally right."

Fahlada, completely absorbed in her food, didn't seem to hear them. She absentmindedly poked at her salad with her fork, her gaze distant, the faintest smile tugging at the corner of her lips as though something-or someone-had brought her peace.

Bow leaned in closer, her curiosity piqued. She whispered, her voice low and full of intrigue, "Is she... okay? She looks like she just won the lottery. Or had a really good... you know." She wiggled her eyebrows for effect.

Tan rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his amusement. "She's not sick, Bow. She's just... happy."

"Happy?" Bow repeated incredulously, raising an eyebrow. "Since when does Lada get happy? Did she finally inherited the hospital, or did some royal decree grant her a one year vacation?"

Tan's smirk deepened, and he leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying the teasing. "She's happy because she's back with her love."

Bow froze, her fork suspended midair. "Her... love? Wait, wait, wait." Her voice dropped to a whisper as she glanced over at Fahlada, who was still blissfully unaware of the conversation. "You had a love? Since when? And why didn't I know about this?"

Fahlada blinked, her head tilting slightly as she finally registered the bombardment of questions. "Huh?"

"Don't 'huh' me!" Bow said, pointing her fork directly at Fahlada. "Are you seriously dating someone? And Tan knows about it?!"

"I've always known," Tan said smugly, taking another leisurely sip of his drink, clearly enjoying Bow's confusion.

Bow's jaw dropped in dramatic disbelief. "Excuse me? And no one thought to clue me in?"

Tan chuckled, brushing off her outrage with a casual wave of his hand. "You're so dramatic. Yes, Fahlada's back with someone from the past. Someone very special."

Bow's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Her past? Like an ex-lover?" Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper as she leaned in. "You have an ex-boyfriend?"

"Girlfriend," Tan corrected smoothly, the teasing smile on his lips now matching the mischievous glint in his eyes.

Bow's eyes widened in shock, and she nearly dropped her fork. "A girlfriend?!" Her gaze whipped back and forth between Tan and Fahlada, who, despite her discomfort, had returned to poking at her salad, as if the whole conversation didn't concern her at all. "Wait, wait, wait. You're telling me you had a girlfriend? And now you're back together? I need details. Who is she? What does she do? What's her blood type?"

Fahlada sighed, massaging her temples, clearly feeling the heat of Bow's interrogation. "Bow, calm down."

"Calm down?" Bow echoed in disbelief, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "How am I supposed to calm down? I've known you for years, and this is the first I'm hearing about an ex-girlfriend! I need to know if she's good enough for you. Does she meet my standards?"