Open Heart

Chapter 16: That gut feeling

THERE WERE DAYS WHEN things were going so noticeably smooth that you couldn't help but feel like something unpleasant was coming.

Today felt like one of those days.

And as much as I wanted to shake the feeling, it followed me all day like a stray dog looking for a home.

Of course, being the optimist I am, I ironed out my scrubs with my sweaty palms, took a deep breath, and hushed the annoying voice in my head.

No, no, no, Fatima. Nothing terrible is going to happen today.

"I heard you ladies went out," Kai commented as he flipped through a file. He was going on hour 13 of a 16-hour shift. He looked like he needed my coffee more than me, so I gave it to him.

I was about to clock out anyway.

It was weird that I was craving coffee, to begin with, seeing that I was more of a herbal tea person. But it was almost seven in the morning, and I felt drained from my seldom night shift.

Note to self: never accept a night shift again.

"You look-"

"Like shit," Kai grinned, taking a sip. "Yeah, I know. Thanks, Fatima."

"I was gonna say you look like you need a good rest, doc, but what you said works too."

Claire answered Kai's previous remark with an eye roll and a playful scoff, "Of course you heard, Tweedledum. I told you." Claire was already dressed in her scrubs which saved her an extra five minutes of having to rush to get ready before clocking in.

"Yet, I wasn't invited." Kai clicked his tongue in mock dissatisfaction. "What a shame. How was it?"

"Spectacular because you weren't there." She then tucked her curls under her blue disposable bouffant cap and put on her face shield mask over her already masked face.

Claire looked like she was getting ready for war, and in a way, she was.

War with the germs and this virus.

I giggled at the young doctor's ability to frustrate the curly brunette easily. "Fishner, I'll tell you what. How about we all do lunch over the weekend?"

Claire gave me a look as if to say, what are you thinking? But her smile that followed soon after said that she approved.

"Just when I wondered where Tweedledee was. It looks like we have ourselves a winner. Ding ding ding." Claire blew a sassy kiss through the mask.

"See you tomorrow. I have to meet up with Dr. Kim so that we can discuss a treatment plan for a patient. Drive home safely, Fa."

I tucked my hands into the pockets of my scrub. "Thanks, and don't have too much fun bullying Kai without me."

Even under his disposable barrier gown and a busy night without getting any shut-eye, Kai still managed to look good. "Looks like Claire bear does care, after all."

"My hands are itching to slap that smug expression off your face, Kai Fishner. It's too early to choose violence, so I'm going to busy my hands with something more productive."