When A Ghoul Falls In Love

A faint scent of disinfectant. Sound of rushing footsteps. Warm fingers on my forehead.

Why I am not dead?

My body feels heavy to move. My left wrist is throbbing with agonizing pain. Though it’s not as bad as the pain that I felt after I sliced my wrist, I find it hard to move my fingers.

“Don’t move your left hand.” His voice is low and commanding. Wearing a white coat and a stethoscope around his neck, Eli Sanguine is taking a look at the chart in his hand. Those black-rimmed glasses on his face don’t do justice to his distracting amber-gold eyes.

“How are you feeling?”

I don’t answer him. How did I end up in the hospital? Of all the people in the world, why is he here? He had seen me getting handcuffed by the police.

“You were pretty determined to kill yourself, weren’t you? The cut was quite deep.” He narrows his eyes. “You injured your ulnar artery.”

Cutting the wrist wasn’t easy. It’s quite agonizing. I saw my blood splurt on the floor. Who the f.u.c.k saved my life? I was f.u.c.k.i.n.g planning to die.

Before I could press my hands on the bed and try to sit up, Eli grabs my elbow. “Idiot, didn’t I tell you not to move your hand?”

Yes, I am an idiot. I should have jumped into the river. Facing the aftermath of a failed suicide attempt is a nightmare.

He wraps his other arm around my shoulder and helps me sit up. He’s so close that I could feel the heat emanating from his body. He puts a pillow on my lap, placing my left hand on it carefully. I hold my breath. He has a single freckle under his right eye. I blurt out. “Doctor, do you have a fever?”

“No, my body is usually hot to touch,” He answers me, amused. “Nell, you don’t have to be formal with me. We already know each other.”

I wanted to pretend that I didn’t know him. I am here because of my failed suicide attempt. “I don’t even know your name.”

“You don’t know?” He raises his brow and chuckles. “I am Eli Sanguine. I am thirty-two year old. You already know that I like reading in free time. What else? I am also single.”

Thirty-two and single? I thought that he was younger than me. Nevertheless, I haven’t expected him to be like this. It’s too strange for me to digest. “Do all doctors introduce themselves in this manner?”

“No, you are getting special treatment.” He points his index finger at me. “Aren’t you going to tell me about yourself?”

“The information on the patient’s chart with my name should be enough for you.”

He replies with a light voice, “It can’t tell me why you did it.”

So, he’s one of those curious ones. I am sure that he will start a lecture on how life is a wonderful gift. I don’t want to hear it. “We aren’t close enough to discuss why I tried to kill myself.”

Suddenly, he leans closer to my face and whispers, “We can get closer if you want me to.”

What is wrong with this man? Where’s the quiet and aloof guy? He’s completely different from how I imagined him to be. “I don’t want you to get closer.”

“Why?” He puckers his lips and c.o.c.ks his head. “Am I not attractive enough?”

I don’t know where this conversation is going. “You aren’t my type.”

“What is your type then?” He glances at the saline bottle. It’s nearly empty. He walks around the bed and changes it. “You haven’t answered me, Nell.”

“I am not going to answer.”

The ward is clean. The window is open, letting in the rays of moonlight. There’s a freaking large television on the wall. Who the hell admitted me to the VIP ward? Do I have enough to pay the hospital bills? I don’t think that the money I got from Mr Emerson can cover this.

I want to f.u.c.k.i.n.g kill that person before I kill myself. “Who brought me here?”

“It was me.” He sits down on the stool. “If it was someone else who found you, I don’t think that you would be asking that question right now. You did some damage to your wrist, Nell. You need to get physical therapy for some time.”

“Why did you go to my house?” Though I sound calm, my mind is in chaos. This man and I aren’t friends. How did he even find out where I lived?

“After I saw you last night, I was going to come to the police station. But I was called to the hospital because of an emergency. As soon as I finished the surgery, I went to the police station. You were already gone by then. One of my friends works at the station. He told me what happened.” He looks away, looking embarrassed. “I might or might not have asked that friend to give me your address. When I visited your house, the door was open. I knocked before I went in.”

Did I not lock it when I entered the house in the morning? I might not have done it in a hurry.

But he only answered half of my question. Why would he bother going to the police station? He and I aren’t best friends. I stare at him. “Do you like me or something?”

A faint streak of red spread from the bridge of his nose to his cheeks. “Don’t ask such questions with that kind of expression. I am not bold like you.”

Not bold? Who was flirting with me shamelessly a while ago? Was it your doppelganger? I shake my head and murmur, “Doctor Sanguine, thank you for saving my life.”

I reach for the IV. I don’t want to stay here for another moment. I don’t know what’s going inside this eccentric doctor’s head. He grabs my shoulders and pins me down with an alluring smile on his face. “If you are really thankful, then don’t move your body suddenly. The surgery was quite difficult. I haven’t had a minute of sleep for two days.”

Who does he think he is? I glare at him. “Doctor Sanguine, you did an unnecessary thing. Are you a stalker? Why would you visit a stranger’s house? You should mind your own business.”

“I don’t consider you a stranger.” He pinches my nose and laughs. “And I am minding my own business. You are the woman I like. Naturally, you are my business.”

He likes me, huh? If I believe you, then my head is full of shit. “You never talked to me once in the last two years.”

“I wanted to talk to you, but you always gave me the impression that you hated my guts.” He pouts. “I didn’t know what to do. So, I started buying recipe books. I thought that you might become interested in me if you knew that I knew how to cook.”

“…” This doctor is insane.

“In my defence, I read somewhere that women like men who can cook.” He creases his forehead. “Since you liked to read a lot, I bought random novels with interesting covers. I did read them whenever I had free time. I thought that you would start a conversation someday, but you always seemed reserved.”

How was that random? “You always bought non-fiction novels.”

“I had no choice.” He waves his hand. “I could watch you from the spot behind that shelf without getting caught.”

He’s been doing this for two years. “Why me, Doctor Sanguine?”

“Why do I like you?” He grins at me. “I will tell you if you behave and do your best during the therapy.”

It’s not like I have never dated anyone in my life. I already know how destructible love can be. I was betrayed by love once.

It’s been a decade. It doesn’t hurt anymore. “I want to leave.”

“You can’t.” He grimaces at me. “You have to stay until your body heals. I will get you the best physiotherapist. You don’t have to worry about the police officers. I already talked to a lawyer.”

Nobody is nice for no reason. “Doctor Sanguine, how do you know that I didn’t commit those crimes?”

“You didn’t do it,” He tells me with an unwavering voice and confidence in his eyes. “You are not that kind of person.”

I snort at him. “You act as if you know me.”

“I know more about you than you think.” He pats my head. “Nell, don’t think much. Wait here for a while. I will bring something for you to eat.”

He stops at the door and looks back at me. His amber-gold eyes shine. He smirks at me, “If you dare to take off the IV and leave this room, then I will find you and I will eat you next time for sure. Don’t think that you can escape me using death.”

“…”