Game Over | 18+ ✓

II

"What the hell was that?" I huffed, poking an index finger into Kai's chest.

I knew I'd see him here. I mean, who was I kidding? I couldn't possibly have avoided him, seeing as he was, unfortunately, a close friend of my brother. But the part where we'd actually have to talk or him putting his arms around me again? 

God, I was not prepared for that. Not prepared at all.

Kai chuckled at my expression. "He seemed like a nice change. Didn't you say you were gonna try different?" he teased.

I frowned. Still feeling his eyes on me somehow, I pinched the elbow of Kai's jacket and dragged him behind a much more shielded tree.

"That's not for you to decide!"

"It was a spur of the moment, damn." Kai raised both hands in mock surrender.

"Do you even remember what you are here for?" I reprimanded him.

The half-Asian dude—damn him and his good looks—merely smirked back at me.

Two weeks ago...

"I need your help." I told Kai, who works at the same hospital as I do. We met during our first-year residency while we were both assigned to the ER one night. Even though we've branched out into our individual specialty now—him in Pediatrics while I'm in Oncology—our paths only crossing occasionally and not very much a good thing when it does, he was still my go-to guy in the entire hospital.

Yet, after three years of knowing each other, we had never once hung out outside of the hospital. It was strange, really, considering the fact this was the same guy who picked up my laundry from the laundromat whenever I was too busy to do it myself.

Kai twisted his head around while keeping his white coat and stethoscope in his locker. "If it involves having to speak to Nurse Robbie, then it's a no from me." He sighed exasperatedly, slouching slightly. "I'm tired, Ri, not today."

Knowing him well enough, I knew it was likely he had a patient who passed away today, and he didn't want to talk about it. I felt even more like an ass about what I was about to ask him to do and contemplated turning around and forgetting about it.

"No, say it." He apparently caught the struggle on my face. "As long as it's not about Robbie. That part, I'm serious," he said with a faint smile.

I sucked in a deep breath and plopped down on the bench next to him.

"You still have paid leaves, right?"

"Oh, here we go." He shook his head, grabbing his briefcase before slamming the steel door shut. "You're not seriously considering taking me to the wedding, are you?"

Damn, thank God I didn't have to spell it out.

"Please?" I tried my best at puppy eyes.

"Just tell your family the truth, Ri. You've had more than two months to say it." He gave me a disapproving look.

I knew he was right. He usually always was. But that didn't mean I wanted to tell him that.

"I just don't want to draw attention to myself, okay?" I sighed, staring up at the ceiling. "They're going to ask why and demand a story, and I'm just over it."

He raised a brow. "So you want me to go as Leo, the ex-boyfriend? Ri, you know I suck at pretend. They're going to see through us in less than a second."

"I didn't say you have to act as Leo. Just be yourself. Be as boring as you usually are. That way, they might not even like you that much. Then, I wouldn't have to bring you to the next family gathering. Isn't that genius?" I grinned, fingers crossing that this would work.