Sincerely, Dr. Cruz

Six: Armando

Chapter Six: Armando
Rhode Island Hospital: Providence, Rhode Island

“So since we accomplished  practically nothing yesterday,” Neal smiled and said with a gleam in his eye, “we need to look over at least four surgery profiles today.”

I refrained from groaning.

I was still sleep deprived from the night before, but I wasn’t going to admit that. At least I had coffee in hand now.

“Hey.”

I jerked again, realizing that Neal had a questioning look on his face and his voice tone was more gentle then anything. I wonder why it takes Jaya a bullhorn to get my attention whereas Neal—never mind.

“Sorry.” I said and I looked for the surgery files he was referring to on the shelves lined with an infinite amount of semi-patient records. It was interesting to see what all departments these files had travelled though. Like primary hospital history right in my hands.

Even though he was at his desk and I was on the other side of the room, he continued to ask me questions in a gentle manner.

“Did you get enough sleep last night?

How could he seriously tell?

“Not really, but I mean I’m used to it.”

Neal’s tone was warmer now. “Well you did get through medical school a little more than successfully.”

I smiled at his statement. The sleep that was going to overcome me at one point managed to postpone itself. “What was the name of the third patient again?” I asked.

Neal flipped through his records and said “Toy.”

“What?”

“Bedford Toy. That’s his name.”

“Oh, okay thanks.” After the headache of a discussion Kat and Jaya had carried out at lunch for the past two days, I wasn’t too sure I wanted to hear the word toy or any variant of the word toy. Particularly toying.

Hopefully I could get through the day with Neal and without any more awkward thoughts.

___________

“You don’t eat very much darling.” Armando put extreme emphasis on the word darling.

I looked up dreamily at what was Armando Bernoulli. He was eyeing my salad, which wasn’t exactly a sustainable sized salad.

“I just don’t eat very much, Armando.”

“Please, call me Mando.”

I smiled at the thought of addressing him by his pet name. He asked if he could sit down with Kat, Jaya and I, to which the obvious answer was a yes.

I mean, he wasn’t old like the fourth year residents and he was far more attractive than Brad and Caleb. Basically, Armando was foreign, hence attractive.

“I remember when you used to eat so much Rei. I guess I’m just not used to your new lifestyle.” Katrina pointed out.

I suddenly lost the heart to eat even the small salad I had. “Yeah well, things change Kat.”

Armando and I continued to talk about his family and what it was like being alone in the US. I couldn’t imagine how lonely it must be. Heck, my mom lives 40 minutes away from me. I hadn’t experienced total independence ever. I stayed with my mom throughout college and medical school. It’s only been three months that I had been living alone.

And three months that I had feared too much.

That’s beside the point though. I noticed that my unresponsiveness to the conversation resulted in Armando talking to Jaya about her family. Looks like I had failed, yet again, to maintain an interesting conversation with the opposite gender.

The rest of lunch basically followed with Armando and Jaya laughing about their respective overprotective families while Kat eyed me poking around my salad, not even attempting to eat it.

I needed to call Travis.

______

Pick up idiot!

“Hello, Travis Cruz the Wedding Planner speaking. Who’s getting married and where?”

“Travis Renaldo Cruz, why have you been ignoring my calls?”

“Oh my god Reina! Don’t tell mom but I kind of lost my phone at the airport. I’ve already deactivated it. You should’ve heard Lena! She freaked and—“

“Travis, you’re alright. When are you flying back into Providence? I haven’t talked to you in forever. It’s either Edward and mom in Newport or Lena and Gabriela in Brooklyn. I want some attention too.” I fake pouted as Travis laughed knowingly.

“Tell you what, I’ll fly in for a weekend towards the end of August. Just for you. No mom, Lena or Gabriela.” I heard what was presumably his calendar flop closed.

“That’s perfect little brother.”

“So Short Stuff, if I may ask, what is going on?”

“First, stop calling me Short Stuff, and second I’m taking advantage of my half hour break to talk to you.”

“Really? No acquaintances to talk to? I thought you hated me more than that.” Travis laughed as I let out a sigh.

“Well let’s see, the only attractive resident here is probably spending his break shoving his tongue down my friend’s throat—“

“Ew.”

“Kat is probably arguing with our asshole resident—“

“Oh Kat.”

“Stop interrupting me!”

“Sorry. Hey, sis. You sound stressed. Just chill.”

I let out a deep breath.  “Yeah, you’re right. I just wish it was easier.”

“Reina, everyone can have a content life, no one said it was going to be easy though.”

“When did you become so wise?” I asked Travis.

“The day Gabriela was born and Lena told me no more Jersey Shore marathons in the living room.”

“You have a good wife who is going to be a good mother, little brother.”

“And I’m proud of that. Now, tell me? How’s the love life?’

“You mean the non-existent one? Yeah it’s still non-existent.”

“You’ll find someone.”

“Sure. Or I could just be single forever and adopt kids.”

“Then again, who said you needed to be married to have kids?”

“TRAVIS.”

“Sorry! I was just joking.”

“It’s not like anyone’s interested in me anyways.”

“Reina.”

“Don’t deny it. Twenty six years being single and still counting.”

“Sis, you’re gorgeous, smart, and going to be loaded. Give it time.”

“I’m just saying.” I said sheepishly.

I loved how I could express everything I wanted to Travis and he could only comfort me.

“I know Sis.”

“Well, I should get back to work. Love you Trav.”

“Love you too Rein. Take care and eat on time.”

Somehow when Travis said it, I wanted to actually do it.

“I’ll try.”

“Reina.”

“I’ll give it my all. No promises though. Love you and see you in August.”

“Bye Sis.”

AN: Here ya'll go!