MAYARI FOUNDATION HOSPITAL, Quezon City

Robin and Sophie, along with Dani and Zephyr stepped from a black van and into the lobby of Mayari Foundation Hospital. On the left and right respectively, were the Mayari and Sidapa clan members, who lined up to greet the don and his wife.

Jude Mayari stepped into the lobby with a line of doctors.

“Finished my rounds. I’m glad to see that I didn’t miss your arrival. Welcome to Mayari Foundation Hospital.”

Robin and Jude shook hands. “I look forward to working with you. My clan members have arrived early and I hope they are now well acquainted with yours.”

Robin saw the defensive pride in the face of the Mayari clan, as they eyed down on his members. The Sidapa clan remained unfazed. It was an interesting sight to see, one group in white doctors’ coats and nurse uniforms, the other group in black button downs.

Robin took Sophie’s hand. “Now everyone, this is my wife, Sophie Esperanza-Sidapa. Any disrespect to her will be seen as disrespect to me. You may approach her if need be, and if I am not available.”

“Thank you, Robin. And it’s nice to meet you, Sophie. If you need anything, let me know. I will be in my office.” Jude dismissed the Mayari clan and went on her way.

Robin gave orders to his clan members on where to search. Dani and Zephyr were assigned to check the supply of the lab materials. 

“Wow,” Zephyr said. “This is the first time I’m actually seeing you in a doctor’s coat.”

“I used to wear one all the time back when I worked here.” Dani said. “I only stopped when I became a family physician and lived with the Esperanza’s.” Dani said, as she put on her gloves and safety goggles.

“How long have you been working as a doctor? I mean, you’ve been with Sophie’s family and you’ve worked here. Most doctors don’t even graduate from med school in their mid 20’s.”

“Why do you care so much?” Dani said, leaning closer to Zephyr. “Are you afraid to be with an older woman?”

Zephyr was rendered speechless. Dani laughed. “I’m just kidding. If you want to really know, my doctor career got fast tracked after the war.”

Dani then went ahead to start counting the lab materials. “You start with the test tubes, I’ll do the beakers, then we can-”

Dani turned back to see Zephyr, who could feel his face flush with heat. “H-hey,” She said. “I didn’t mean anything by that. Don’t worry,”

“Would it be so bad if it meant anything?” Zephyr said, in a softer tone.

“What do you mean?” Dani asked.

Zephyr looked away. “Never mind. Let’s just get to counting,” 

“If you say so,”

Counting all sorts of items in the laboratory took hours. Not only did it take hours, but it was also mind numbing. Occasionally, a member from the Sidapa clan would come in and ask for the numbers. It was silent for many hours until Zephyr heard Dani sigh.

“There’s a stupid syringe that was left open.” She picked it up, then pricked herself. “Agh!”

Zephyr went to Dani. Her finger bled slightly from the sharp needle.

“Does it hurt?” He asked. 

“There’s a bandage on my bag. Just get it. And some antiseptic too,” She said. 

“Why is there a syringe with no cap?” Dani complained. 

“Just let me put this on you,” Zephyr said. 

Dani gave out her hand to Zephyr. He applied the antiseptic and tied the bandage around her finger. Zephyr then gave a small kiss to Dani’s finger.

Dani cracked a smile. “What was that?”

“It’s a get-well-kiss,” Zephyr said. He then held Dani’s hand and whispered to her ear, “Would you like me to kiss you somewhere else?”

Dani laughed. “We would be infecting the room. Get back to counting,”

Zephyr smirked. “I already infected the room when I kissed your finger,”

“Shut up or I’ll actually kiss you,” Dani said. 

They both laughed. Zephyr suddenly remembered. “Dani, did you count that syringe? The one you got pricked by?”

Dani’s eyebrows widened. “No, wait. Oh my goodness, we haven’t been checking the waste disposal bin.”

They grabbed surgical masks and opened the waste bin. In the bin, were not just more syringes but more used test tubes. 

Dani went outside the room, where a clan member was waiting. “Can you get the supply count in the medical records?”

The clan member rushed on. In a few minutes, it was confirmed that there were more used lab supplies than was recorded.