When A Ghoul Falls In Love

“Doctor Sanguine, you are really” The nurse looks at him from the head to the toe. It’s not just her. Other people are also staring at him, wide-eyed. But Eli is least bothered. How thick is skin?

Eli gives her a nod. “Is Doctor Anderson in OR2?”

“Yes, Doctor Sanguine, you should hurry,” The nurse tells him with an urgent voice.

“Olson, can you take my wife to my office?” Eli asks her. He hasn’t looked at me since I said those cruel words. I am not upset or anything. It’s better this way. I shouldn’t be here in the first place.

“Sure, Doctor Sanguine.” The nurse smiles brightly at him. I guess he’s popular among the females. He could have chosen anyone from his fan. He’s probably regretting it already.

He scurries away from us. I am wrong. Eli is serious about his job. Still, I wonder what he would have done if I hadn’t come out of the room.

“Miss, are you really his wife?” The nurse asks me with a doubtful voice.

I let out a sigh. This is frustrating. At this rate, I am going to be the enemy of all the women in this hospital. This feeling is too familiar. However, I am not the same jealous girl who throws books at women f they flirt with my person. Eli isn’t my person.

“I saw his post.” Her voice is hushed. “This isn’t like Doctor Sanguine. Is he playing a joke?”

Who knows? If it’s a joke, I am also a part of it. I don’t like it at all.

“What will happen to Doctor Anderson now?” She unlocks the office. “Did he marry you because you are pregnant with his child?”

This nurse is fibbing crap. I don’t even know who Doctor Anderson is.

“Of course, not.” I frown at her. “I left the hospital yesterday night. If I was pregnant, wouldn’t it show on the reports?”

“How would we know? He didn’t let anyone else touch you after he brought you to the hospital. We never saw him act like that before.” The nurse mutters under her breath, pushing open the door. “He was meant to be with Doctor Anderson. She is so heartbroken.”

Why is she trying to make me feel guilty for a crime that I didn’t commit? First, it was the murder and now, it’s this. She’s making me sound like the other woman. These women don’t know what they are messing with.

“If you meet Doctor Anderson, tell her this.” I bend down and whisper in her ear, “Every fibre of his being has my name on it.”

She opens her mouth, eyeing me with hate. That’s good. I like this expression better. I slam the door on her face.

After a good long minute, I slap my face. What the hell is wrong with me? I shouldn’t have said that.

I need to keep my temper in check. Let’s hope that the girls will keep the code. Those words won’t find him. It would be embarrassing and awkward if he finds out.

The office is spacious and clean. There’s a boring painting on the wall. I walk to the desk. His desk is neat and organized. Everything is in its place. I pick up the sheet. It looks like a schedule. He has a lot of surgeries lined up. He must be good if he’s wanted this much.

I leave it where it was. I shouldn’t touch his things. I go to the couch and sit down. How long do I have to stay here? I check my phone. Even people who haven’t talked to me for years are messaging me after seeing Eli’s tag. I ignore them all. I check the notifications. Someone is liking all of my posts.

[Be_Linda liked your]

Who is this creepy person liking things that I posted years ago? Is she stalking my account? She has sent me a message too.

[Be_Linda: Sister-in-law, you are a wonderful person. I will read all the books that you mentioned in your posts.]

Sister-in-law? Does Eli have a sister? He didn’t say anything about his family.

My phone pings again. It’s another message from her.

[Be_Linda: Sister-in-law, can you send a clear picture of you? The picture that Fourth Brother posted only show half of your face.]

Nope, I am not sending you anything.

[Be_Linda: Sister-in-law, have you read Anne of Green Gables?]

I bite lower lip. I have read that book a long time ago. Should I answer or not? Hmm! She sent a picture. I blink my eyes. A teen girl’s face emerges on the screen. Half of her face is hidden behind the novel ‘Anne of Green Gables’. Her left eye is pink. Is she wearing contacts? It’s popular among teens, I guess. She looks about fifteen or sixteen.

I don’t know whether she’s Eli’s sister or not. I don’t see any similarities between them. But then, I am only seeing half of her face.

[Solo_Nell: I have read that book.]

[Be_Linda: Sister-in-law, what is your favourite quote from that book?]

Favourite quote?

[Solo_Nell: It’s been a long time since I read it. I don’t remember.]

[Be_Linda: That’s okay. Tell me your favourite quote from your favourite book.]

Why does she want to know my favourite quotes? I smile at the screen. But it’s rare to see a teenager being crazy about books though. I am not chatting with her because she’s connected to Eli. I am doing this because I like people who like reading books.

[Solo_Nell: “It’s enough for me to be sure that you and I exist at this moment.” — Gabriel Garca Mrquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude]

[Be_Linda: Wow! So romantic. I will read that book for sure.]

[Solo_Nell: Yeah, it was used as a pickup line once.]

[Be_Linda: Really? How unexpected of my Fourth Brother!]

That wasn’t your brother though. I sigh. I remember that person’s words, but I don’t remember his name.

[Be_Linda: Sister-in-law, are you really human?]

Huh?

[Be_Linda: Are you? Please answer me, Sister-in-law. I can’t sleep if I don’t confirm it with you.]

Maybe there’s a reason why Eli didn’t say anything about his family.

[Solo_Nell: I am Homo Sapien.]

[Be_Linda: Homo Sapien? I never heard of them. Sister-in-law, thank you for clearing away my worries. I will tell Elder Sister that there’s nothing to worry about. She has been practising archery since she talked to Fourth Brother. She won’t say it, but she’s worried.]

She doesn’t know what homo sapien is. Let it be. I won’t correct her.

[Be_Linda: How did you meet my brother?]

[Solo_Nell: Bookstore.]

[Be_Linda: How long have you known him?]

That’s a tough question. [Solo_Nell: 2 years.]

[Be_Linda: What do you like about my brother?]

“…” Another tough question. So far, I don’t like much about him.

[Be_Linda: Sister-in-law, answer me. Are you being shy? I will keep this a secret from Fourth Brother.]

He looks a lot like that person except for his eyes. [Solo_Nell: He has beautiful eyes.]

[Be_Linda: Eyes are the window to the soul. All the women fell for his face, but you fell for his soul. Sister-in-law, I approve of you.]

“…” I wasn’t trying to gain approval.

[Be_Linda: Sister-in-law, Twelfth sister is back. I will talk to you later. Goodnight <3 ]

I turn off my phone. I stare at the ceiling for a long time, trying not to think about anything.