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The Volunteers

Charlotte

It is my usual Sunday morning. I'm getting ready to go right away to the nursing home that Cambridge has built since 6 months ago. Yes. I'm one of the volunteer for this nursing home. Not only me actually, April is also one of the volunteer.

This nursing home takes care of old age people with mental health condition and physical disability also. The volunteers of this nursing house are Cambridge students itself. We are divided into 3 groups, one will take care of their food, one with their daily check-ups, and one giving them something to be excited about. Like entertainments. Me, I'm in the entertainment group and April is in the food group.

"Good morning, everyone!" I'm greeting the old people that is in this room with me. "How if we start our morning with a little music ?"
I turn on the music player next to me, and an old song comes to play. The song is not something that I know, but it's nice. I can see them smiling and even some of them start dancing with the volunteers.

A smile is rising from my lips, glancing at everybody in this room, looking happy and all.
Then something catch my attention. My eyes are moved to the front door where the medical check-ups groups come in. A well-dressed students with lab coats walk in the nursing room one by one, it's like they're walking in slow motion.

And then, there he is. My jaw instantly drops when I see him. The new piano guy. Wearing a white coat, his hair is slicked back but still messy, he looks so neat for me as he's walking along with the groups. I didn't know that this guy was one of the volunteer here. Or I just didn't pay much attention before ?

Our eyes meet as he walks to the check-up room. I'm trying not to smile or even smirk. But I can feel my cheeks slowly burn.

"Ms. Swansea ?" Someone calls my name. It's Mr. Kent, my favourite old lad. He reminds me a lot with my father, except he's a red head.

"Yes, Mr. Kent, what can I help you with ?" I approach him slowly.

"Can you drive me to the check-up room ? It's about time for me to check this old trunk." he asks. I chuckle at his bad jokes even though it sounds more pathetic than funny.
"Okay, Sir, let's go." I un-brake his wheelchair and drive him to the check-up room.

The check-up room is just an ordinary room with some mattresses and equipment and it's already filled with the volunteers and some of their patients. My eyes are scanning the room, trying to find the new piano guy.

"Over here please," a sound from across the room calls. I bet it's for me. I keep pushing Mr. Kent's wheelchair to the source of the sound then voilà ! I find the new piano guy.

I stop the wheel in front of the woman that will check Mr. Kent up. I could leave him there, but I don't want to. I still want to look at the beautiful creature next to me. He's standing not far from me and Mr. Kent. Only a mattress away and the closer you get to look him, the more handsome he gets.

I study him slowly from his head to toe. One of the perks of being a psychological student is that you get to know human characteristic from his or her appearances and behaviours.

As I look at him on the sly, I learn that he has this dark brown wavy hair, he also has chestnut-brown eyes that look gentle and mesmerizing. His eyes crinkle as the corners of his mouth tunes, his face shows kindness.

"You're doing great, Ma'am," I hear him speaks to his patient. "You can't stop drinking your pills, but if the headache comes again, don't forget to only take one, don't double doze it." After he waves his goodbye to his patient, he turns around and finds me standing not far from him.

"Hey, you are the ballerina lady, right ?" he calls. At this moment, I know this is something that I can't waste.

"Hey! Yeah, I am and I'm surprised you notice," my feet take me closer to the mattress beside him. "I didn't know that you're one of the volunteer here ?" I pop some question.

"Well, I just join in this very day," he answers with a little smile on his face. "I'm Adam, Adam.."

"Gardner, I know, pleased to meet you," I take his hand and gently shake it. "I'm Charlotte but people usually call me Charlie."

"Ms. Swansea," I hear some voice behind me, it's Mr. Kent, he already finished his check-up.

"I need to go. Mr. Kent needs someone to drive his wheels." I fake laugh at my own horrible joke. "I'll see you around ?"

"Yeah, definitely." I leave him a simple smile as I turn around and ready to leave the check-up room with Mr. Kent.

"Okay Mr. Kent, do you want to have your breakfast now or later ?" I say as I set him on his first place.

"I'm good, I already had one, thank you." Mr. Kent touches my hand gently before I leave to find another that needs help. Instead of looking someone that needs my help, I walk outside the room to the refectory. I need to find April and tell her about this Adam.

"You really need to go to the check-up room," I spill as soon as I found her. "The guy that I talked to you about, the new piano guy, is here!"

"Are you joking ?" April responds.

"No! I just talked to him. I drove Mr. Kent wheels and there he was. In a lab coat!" Seems like I'm too excited about this guy. But no lies! I am excited.

"Okay, but later, I have people that needs to be fed."

The day at the nursing home was fine, but I didn't get the chance to talk to Adam again. He's being busy with his medical stuff and I helped April and the rest of the volunteers to clean the refectory.

"Well, you can meet him at your ballet practice tonight, right ?" April says in our room. She's right, I still have my chance to talk to Adam tonight, at my ballet practice.

"You're right!" I look at her then turning around to find the mirror jiggling my bosoms. "Should I wear my push-up bra ?" April giggles before she answers.

"You're going to your ballet practice, not a strip club. Don't try to kill yourself by wearing a tight bra." April speaks. This is why I love her. She's caring even just for a small detail. I think this is why April has more friends than me. She's so kind, caring, and all. Sometimes, I wish I could be more like her.

"Alright," I roll my eyes then rush myself to change into my ballerina's outfit.

By the time I get there, I can't find him anywhere. The piano seat is still empty. Disappointment starts taking over my body. I can feel my face expression starts to change too. I thought we would practice with him again, turns out, we're just going to practice with the music from the player.

I shouldn't do this. I say to myself. My ballet show is only 5 days away. I know I'm not suppose to distract myself with literally anything. Especially when I get to play as Clara, the main character. I should be more focus to my show. But there is something about this guy. He is the first guy that ever makes me feel this way. The feeling that I can't even explain.