After the resounding slap, my left cheek stung with pain, and I instinctively covered it with my trembling hand. I stood there, frozen in shock, like a statue carved from ice, as I stared at Mrs. Smith. Her face was flushed with anger, her eyes blazing with fury. As if on cue, Mrs. Warner appeared, her expression one of sheer disbelief, as she took in the sight of the bodyguards sprawled on the ground, groaning in agony.
Suddenly, a young woman emerged from inside the orphanage, a stethoscope draped around her neck. It was clear she was a doctor. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped in surprise. I couldn't help but wonder why she was there, but I had a feeling it had something to do with Alice.
Mrs. Smith's voice boomed, scolding me for single-handedly incapacitating the bodyguards. They had been specifically instructed not to allow anyone to enter, which explained their resistance. The weight of my actions crashed down upon me, and I felt a pang of remorse. I hastily apologized to everyone present, my words filled with genuine regret.
Mrs. Smith ordered me to go inside my room, and I obediently complied. As I retrieved my bag, which I had thrown, I glanced back at the bodyguards. They stood up, clearly in pain. I apologized to them once more, and to my relief, they forgave me.
I hurried inside the orphanage towards my room, feeling the weight of my actions heavy on my shoulders. I entered in my riom, locked the door behind me and collapsed onto my bed, still dressed in my clothes. I replayed the events in my mind, berating myself for my impulsive behavior. How could I have acted so recklessly without even stopping to ask why they were blocking my way?
I mean, seriously, I didn't even bother to ask what those guys were up to before I went all crazy on them. My anger got the best of me, and I just unleashed all my fury without even thinking twice. Now, I couldn't help but worry about what the doctor would say. I mean, how could she not be super pissed at me? I totally beat up her bodyguards like there was no tomorrow. I let out a big sigh, realizing how messed up my actions were, and quietly said to myself, "Man, I'm such a fool."
Engrossed in my own thoughts, I heard a faint sound of knocking on my door. Startled, I called out, "Come in!"
The door creaked open slowly, revealing the familiar figure of Mrs. Warner. She entered the room, closed the door behind her, and fixed her gaze upon me. With a hint of amusement in her voice, she remarked, "Quite the troublemaker, aren't you?" I remained silent, unsure of how to respond.
Letting out a sigh, Mrs. Warner made her way towards the bathroom. She returned with a cool piece of cloth, which she gently placed on my left cheek. As the coolness soothed the pain, I winced in pain. Mrs. Warner noticed and asked, "Does it hurt that much?"
I nodded in response, my cheeks flushing inexplicably. "Of course it does," I muttered, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration. Trying to defend myself, I blurted out, "And I'm not a troublemaker. They didn't let me in, so I had to teach them a lesson."
Mrs. Warner sighed once more, her eyes filled with a mix of understanding and disappointment. "Why do you always resort to fighting, Alvin? Is that the only solution you see? You used to be so good at talking things out."
She continued "You know, I think I know you better than anyone else here, even more than Alice. So don't even try to lie to me, tell me what happened."
Her unwavering gaze made me squirm uncomfortably. I knew I couldn't hide the truth from her. Reluctantly, I began to recount the entire story of how I had encountered those drunken individuals and ended up beating them.
Mrs. Warner listened intently, her expression a mix of concern and familiarity. "Same old Alvin, You will never change." she murmured softly.
Feeling a sudden urge to change the subject, I asked, "Anyway, how is Alice? Is she feeling better?"
A warm smile spread across Mrs. Warner's face. "Yes, she's in perfect health now," she replied. The mention of Alice brought a sense of relief, knowing that she was doing well.
I eagerly asked Mrs. Warner about the new doctor who I saw eariler. She smiled and told me that her name was Elizabeth Murphy she is 21 years old, and she was a specialist physician who traveled to poor towns to help sick patients who couldn't afford hospital treatment. She was doing everything for free and she was also donating money to our orphanage.
As she spoke, my eyes lit up with excitement. I couldn't believe that there was someone who was willing to help people in need without any expectation of payment. I asked her if Alice's fever could be cured, and she replied that the doctor had said it was possible, but it would take some time to find the right solution. She also mentioned that the doctor makes her own medicines, which gave me hope that Alice would soon be on the road to recovery.
I suddenly became aware of the grave mistake I had made and the terrible consequences it had brought upon the person who had been doing nothing but good things.
I was overjoyed at the news, Amidst my elation, Mrs. Warner couldn't help but tease me. With a playful smirk, she remarked, "Someone looks happy because his girlfriend is going to be cured by illness soon."
Caught off guard, I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Of course I am." I stammered.
She said "Okay, but first, make sure to apologize to her personally, okay?" Her voice held a hint of urgency. "I have an idea, why don't you go there now? She must be free by now."
I hesitated, my gaze falling to the floor. "Do you really think it's okay after what I've done?" The guilt weighed heavily on my conscience.
She reassured me, her voice gentle yet firm. "Yes, it's okay. We all make mistakes, Alvin. Apologizing is the first step towards making amends." Her words resonated within me, slowly eroding my resistance.
Yeah right, I wouldn't call beating her bodyguards a mistake. I continued to protest, shaking my head, but she insisted, her voice unwavering. "You should apologize to her right now. It's the right thing to do, just go already." Her conviction was unwavering, and I finally relented. With a sigh, I agreed, mustering the courage to face the consequences of my actions.
Mrs. Warner followed me as I got out of my bed, her presence providing a sense of support. We closed the door behind us, leaving the comfort of my room behind. Mrs. Warner went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, leaving me to navigate the hallway alone.
As I walked down the quiet corridor, my footsteps echoed softly, creating a soothing rhythm. It was then that I caught sight of the doctor, sitting gracefully in a chair placed in the front yard. The gentle breeze played with her hair, causing strands of chestnut brown hair to dance around her face.
Her legs were crossed elegantly, and she was wearing a flowing skirt that swayed gently in the breeze. As I approached her cautiously, I couldn't help but notice how stunning she looked. Her hair was pulled back in a loose bun, with a few strands framing her face. She wore a pair of delicate silver earrings that glinted, and her smile was warm and welcoming.
Her pink lips, delicately curved, held a touch of rosy hue, adding a subtle hint of allure to her countenance. They were inviting, as if they held the power to heal with a single touch. The doctor's presence was captivating, drawing me closer, as if her very essence possessed a magnetic pull.
With a graceful gesture, she placed her cup of tea on the table in front of her, a silent invitation for me to join her. The table, adorned with a delicate lace tablecloth, held an array of vibrant flowers in a crystal vase, adding a touch of color to the scene. The aroma of freshly brewed tea lingered in the air, mingling with the sweet scent of the blossoms.
"Um, Hello," I stammered.
She smiled warmly, her voice filled with genuine friendliness. "Hi! You must be Alvin."
I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, I am. I'm sorry for the late introduction. I'm Alvin Walker. It's nice to meet you."
She extended her hand, and I shook it, feeling a sense of connection. "I'm Elizabeth. It's nice to meet you too. Care to join me?" she offered, gesturing towards the empty chair beside her.
I nodded gratefully, pulling out the chair and settling down. As I sat, a bodyguard poured tea into my cup, the warm liquid soothing my nerves. We began to talk, our conversation flowing effortlessly. Elizabeth shared stories of her journey and her experiences treating the sick.
Honestly, I was getting super bored, like watching paint dry or waiting for my toast to pop up but I had to listen.
Elizabeth said, her voice laced with a combo of awe and disbelief. "You know, I gotta say, I was totally blown away when you kicked my bodyguard's butts, I mean, seriously, I was like, damn, this 15-year-old kid just took 'em all down. Impressive as hell, I gotta admit."
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I struggled to find the right words. "I am sorry about that," I managed to stammer, my voice barely audible.
She exclaimed, practically bouncing on her toes, "Holy guacamole! I've never come across someone as unique as you! I mean, seriously, you've got the strength of a thousand Hulk Hogans and the audacity of a squirrel stealing acorns from a grumpy bear. You just waltzed in here and whooped my bodyguards like they were made of marshmallows! I gotta say, it's both impressive and slightly terrifying.
I shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond to her unexpected praise. Elizabeth, however, seemed unfazed by my awkwardness. She leaned in closer, her gaze unwavering.
"I could use someone like you by my side," she said, her tone almost playful. "Someone who can handle themselves in a fight, someone who isn't afraid to take risks and not afraid of anything at all. Tell me, what do you say to becoming my personal bodyguard?"
Before I could answer, Elizabeth reached out and gently touched my arm, her eyes searching mine for an answer. I started blushing crazy.
She smirked, "You know, I am quite interested in you."