UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER (EDITED VERSION)

CHAPTER TWO: Unexpected

-Shelley-

With the alarm blaring from my bedside table, I groggily roused from sleep at the break of dawn. Despite feeling weary from a recent trip to the mall, accompanied by various aches and pains, the temptation to return to slumber was strong. However, I knew that delaying my morning routine would result in missing the bus to work. After a brief moment of hesitation, I managed to shuffle out of bed and navigate my way to the bathroom. With a sense of urgency, I swiftly prepared for the day ahead. Following the quick preparation, I packed my lunch, donned my attire, and set off to the station to catch the bus to work.

Upon arriving at the workplace, I exchanged pleasantries with my co-workers, clocked in for my shift, and proceeded to the female changing room to change into my scrubs. Subsequently, I made my way to the consultation room to prepare myself for the task that lay ahead.

Upon entering the consulting room, I gathered all of the necessary items for the examination, including my cards, and patiently waited for the arrival of Dr. Blackson, the physician specialist.

At exactly 8:30 a.m., we started with the consultation. I called the first patient, followed by the next, and the next. At 12:45 p.m., Dr. Blackson called me by my name.

"Miss Dickson?"

"Yes, Doctor," I responded.

"Can you call this patient?" he said, as he handed me the card.

As I went out to call the patient with the card held up, I noticed the name on the card, which read Mr. Ben Adam. I was caught in my throat.

"It couldn't possibly be him, right?" I asked myself.

I stood at the entrance of the consulting room and called out his name, eagerly anticipating the sight of the person it belonged to. To my surprise, the man standing among the patients was the same person I had met at the mall. It seemed unbelievable to encounter the same person twice in a week.

I watched as he walked towards me. "You called?" he said.

"Yes, I did, Mr. Dickson. Sorry! I meant Mr. Adams." Amused by my words, he smiled. Stepping aside, I said, "Please do come in."

As he stepped into the room, I observed closely, captivated by the way the two gentlemen exchanged a warm and genuine greeting before easing into their chairs. The ambiance of the space shifted subtly, thick with anticipation, as Dr. Blackson commenced the consultation. With a steady voice, he encouraged Mr. Adams to share the reason behind his visit. My attention, however, kept gravitating back to Mr. Adams—his presence remarkably poised, radiating a charming charisma that was impossible to resist. Every flicker of his expression and shift of his posture drew me in, making it almost impossible to divert my gaze from his undeniably magnetic allure.

Yet, as the conversation unfolded, a strange unease washed over me. Each passing minute felt like being trapped in an elevator, the walls closing in tighter. I couldn't shake the feeling that something about this situation was unsettling, but I couldn't quite place my finger on it. What was it about him that left me feeling so off balance?

After the consultation was over, I handed Mr Adam his hospital card. As our hands brushed, there was a brief, electrifying moment of connection. I could sense that he felt it too - the immediate bond that seemed to exist between two kindred spirits. I just hope that Dr. Blackson didn't pick up on the subtle interaction between us. I wouldn't want to find myself having to justify or explain it.

As my shift came to an end, I carefully secured the equipment, changed into my regular clothes, and gathered my belongings. Exiting the building, I savoured the feeling of freedom after a long day of work.