That fluttering feeling in my stomach like butterflies dancing is something I haven't felt in ages. It's as if the sky has been brushed with a soft pink hue, flowers are blooming all around, and the whole world is spinning in joyful celebration, welcoming me as the happiest person alive.
His presence feels like a flicker of hope I'd almost lost, now spilling across the sky like sunlight after a storm. I can't remember the last time I laughed this freely, moved without hesitation, without the usual storm of thoughts crashing through my mind until I feel like I might burst.
Could this really be a gift meant for me? Thank you. Truly. I'm beyond grateful to have found it in the middle of the most painful chapter of my life.
"Come on in, sorry if it's a little messy," Jolly said, stepping aside to let the young doctor into her apartment.
The place was dim; none of the lights were on. "Thank God, Mark isn't home," she thought. She'd been worried he might be, but deep down she knew her brother almost never came home on weekends.
Aiden glanced around, taking it all in. The apartment wasn't big, but it wasn't cramped either. There were three doors lining the wall ~ one clearly led to Jolly's room, another to her brother's the one who'd caused a scene at the hospital and the last one was probably the bathroom. The main area had a small kitchen connected to the living space with a TV. Simple, but cozy.
"Give me just a second." Jolly disappeared into her room, dropped off her bag and came back a moment later.
"Alright! I'll start with the salad, then move on to the main dish," she said.
"Let me help."
"Really? But you're the guest."
He chuckled softly. "It's fine. I told you, you don't have to worry about that."
"Okay then you take care of the veggies, and I'll handle the pasta."
"Deal!"
They slipped into an easy rhythm as they worked. More than once, Aiden found himself laughing at Jolly's quirks ~ sometimes clumsy, sometimes just effortlessly charming.
He wasn't exactly skilled in the kitchen, so he mostly stood in quiet admiration as Jolly moved around, making pasta sauce and prepping steak burgers like she'd memorized the recipe long ago. There was something captivating about the way she focused. It brought out a whole new side of her.
Aiden had started to notice them, different versions of Jolly. There was the Jolly who got lost in her own thoughts, often tinged with sadness. Then the bright, bubbly Jolly, full of energy. And now this one—the Jolly who shone when she was in her element, quietly confident and almost magnetic.
The more he saw of her, the more he learned, and without even realizing it, he might've been falling deeper with every moment.
********
"Wow! This looks incredible, just like five-star restaurant," Aiden said, clearly impressed.
Jolly's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink. "You're exaggerating."
But Aiden had already taken his first bite. "This is great!" he exclaimed, eyes lighting up. "Seriously, it's so good!"
"I'm glad you like it," Jolly replied, a sense of relief washing over her. All that effort had been worth it. "I've been wanting to try making steak burgers for a while. You see them in cafés sometimes, but it just feels more special when you make it yourself."
"Well, this definitely beats the café versions," Aiden said, offering another genuine compliment.
Jolly felt warmth creeping up her face again. She shook her head shyly and lowered her gaze. "I just followed a recipe I found on social media."
"I'm telling you, it's really good. Just wait till you taste it for yourself."
She let out a small smile and finally took a bite of her own cooking.
"So? What did I say?"
"I… yeah," she admitted. It really is good, she thought. But he doesn't have to lay it on so thick.
"I could eat this every day," Aiden grinned. "Let me know next time you're cooking , okay?"
Jolly chuckled softly, still looking down to hide her blush. "Sure. I will."
After that, they fell into a comfortable silence, enjoying their simple meal together in the quiet warmth of Jolly's apartment.
"Thank you, Aiden," Jolly said after a moment. "I really enjoy being around you. When you're here, it feels like all the sadness just… disappears."
"I thought I'd be drowning in loneliness by now, but you've been here—listening to me, giving advice, making me laugh again." She looked at him, her voice soft. "I'm really grateful to have met you."
"Don't mention it," Aiden said with a kind smile. "We're friends, right? That's what friends do, we show up for each other, especially when things get rough."
Friends... For some reason, the word felt strange. Maybe Jolly didn't like being called a friend?
"Yeah... you're right." She nodded, then added, "Oh, by the way, I've shared a lot about myself, but I've never asked about you. What's it like being a doctor? Do you ever face challenges or tough situations?"
Aiden chewed his pasta thoughtfully before answering. "Of course. Everyone faces difficulties. At first, it was tough adjusting to life as Dr. Rainier's assistant. The gap between what we learned in school and working in the real world is massive."
"My job is life-and-death. One small mistake could cost someone's life. When I get scared, Dr. Rainier, Dr. Mai and Dr. Brenner are always there to calm me down." He paused. "Being calm doesn't mean being careless, and staying focused doesn't mean being tense. I just have to follow the steps and trust myself."
Jolly listened, captivated. His words were so thoughtful, so sincere, it made her realize just how extraordinary this young man really was.
"But... don't you ever get tired or bored of it all?"
"Of course I do. Everyone gets tired sometimes. There are days when I feel empty, even though I can't pinpoint why."
"But... what can I do? Being a doctor was my choice. I have to take responsibility for that," Aiden added, shrugging slightly.
Jolly nodded, remembering her own struggles. "I get that. During college, I was buried in assignments, no days off. It felt like my brain was going to explode from all the work." She sighed. "Even though it was my choice... is it wrong to feel exhausted?"
"Not at all," Aiden reassured her. "That's completely normal. Just don't give up. Take a break when you need it, and then come back to it. You'll be fine." He smiled softly. "Whenever things feel tough or boring, I remind myself of why I started in the first place. Why am I here? What's my purpose? That always brings me back."
Jolly nodded thoughtfully. Talking with Aiden always lifted her spirits, like one more burden was shared and made lighter. Maybe that's why it's so important to express yourself sometimes, instead of keeping it all inside.
When you meet the right person, everything feels different. Someone you once thought was distant and mysterious suddenly opens up, showing you a side you never expected.
Am I dreaming? Or is this real? If it's a dream, please don't wake me up. If it's real, please let it last just a little longer.
********
"It's getting pretty late. I think I should head home now," Aiden said as he walked back from the bathroom.
Jolly glanced at the clock on the wall, which read 8:30 PM. Time had flown by without them even noticing. After dinner and cleaning up, they'd continued chatting, swapping stories about their favorite books and films, all while munching on snacks they'd picked up earlier.
"But it's the weekend. You can stay over," Jolly offered, her voice warm and inviting.
Aiden smiled but shook his head. "No way, you only have two rooms, right?"
"Yeah, one's for Mark. But you can take it, he probably won't be home tonight," Jolly explained casually.
Aiden froze for a second, caught off guard. "Oh my God, how careless," he thought. It felt a bit reckless for her to offer her place so casually. "Still, I don't think it's a good idea. What if your brother comes home unexpectedly? That could be awkward."
"I also need to go to the hospital tomorrow morning to help with Dr. Rainier's patient consultation," Aiden added.
"I see," Jolly replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"You could go out tomorrow if you want, or I can pick you up before I head to the hospital," he offered.
"Hmm..." Jolly paused for a moment, thinking. "Maybe I'll go alone. I might not even be able to get up that early."
"I'll let you know when I come by," She added.
"Alright, well, I'll head home now. Be careful when you're alone at the apartment," Aiden said, gently ruffling the top of her head.
"Yeah, drive safe, Aiden," Jolly said with a smile.
After escorting the doctor to the parking lot, Jolly waved as his car drove away before heading back up to her apartment.
"Did I see that right?" Aiden wondered. His thoughts drifted back to earlier, when he had gone to the bathroom.
As he finished washing his hands, he glanced around for something to dry them with. His gaze landed on something sticking out from the farthest corner of the shelf. Frowning, he walked over to investigate. When he grabbed it, his eyes widened in surprise.
"A folding knife?"
The thought wouldn't leave his mind as he drove home. "I'm sure of it." She hadn't hurt herself recently, but why was the knife there? Had she stopped? He wasn't sure, but something about it felt wrong. His gut told him that there was more to the story than he realized.
********
The weekend was a time when most people probably didn't want to get out of bed, wrapped in their blankets on a cold morning. Jolly was no different, still half-awake even though she was dressed casually and neatly. But it wasn't because she was still sleepy; rather, she was confused by the young man standing in front of her, accompanied by her parents in the apartment's living room.
"Who's this?" she asked, clearly confused.
"Bryson, Mr. and Mrs. Leighton's son. You know, the one I mentioned I wanted you to meet," Nael said casually.
"Wanted me to meet him? Why?" Jolly asked, still trying to wrap her head around it.
"Don't you remember? We talked about introducing you to my business partner's son, I thought he might be a good match." Nael said, with a bit of authority in his tone.
"Huh?" Jolly blinked, half hoping someone would pinch her and say this was all just a dream.
She blinked a few times, trying to make sense of it all. It felt too real, though. But why? Didn't she still have time to show her dad she could make her own decisions? Wasn't the semester still ongoing?
"Why, Dad? Mom?" she asked, her voice trembling as she tried to process what was happening.
"Why? You need to get to know him, so you can be more comfortable around him," Nael said, his tone smooth.
"But..." Jolly trailed off when her dad shot her a stern look, a clear sign for her to go along with it.
"Your mom and I brought him here to meet you. Since it's the weekend, why not take a walk together and chat? Relax a bit. If you want, Bryson can even stay over. Mark won't be back until later after work," Nael added casually.
"Thanks, Uncle Nael," Bryson said with a polite smile.
"Alright, we'll leave you two to it. Take care," Nael said, grabbing his wife's hand as they left, leaving Jolly with more questions than answers.
What just happened? she thought, feeling totally lost.
"Um, hi… Jolly, right? I'm Bryson," the young man said, breaking the silence with a friendly smile. "Feel free to just call me that."
"I… I'm Jolly," she replied, her voice soft and unsure, still trying to process the whirlwind she had just been thrown into.
"No need to be formal. I'm about the same age as Mark," Bryson added casually.
"You know my brother?" she asked, blinking in surprise.
"Of course. Mark's my best friend."
"Oh… I see." Her lips curled into a polite, empty smile. Everything still felt far too sudden.
"So, what are you planning to do today?" Bryson asked, keeping his tone light.
"I… don't really have any plans," Jolly said truthfully. The day was supposed to be slow and quiet. She had thought about visiting Dr. Aiden and Jeanne, but now here she was, spending time with a complete stranger.
"How about we go out for a bit? Grab something to eat and hang out?" Bryson offered, his smile still warm and relaxed.
"I… yeah, sure," she replied hesitantly. "Let me just go change. You can have a seat while you wait."
"Sure, take your time."
Jolly slipped into her room and closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a second.
"What is happening? Why now?" Her mind swirled with unanswered questions. "Dad… this is you, isn't it? Why didn't you say anything? I thought we had an agreement."
Still overwhelmed, she crossed to her closet and began searching for something to wear. Bryson was waiting, and she didn't want to keep him too long, even if none of this made any sense.
********
Jolly absentmindedly stared at her plate. Here she was, sitting at a nice restaurant with her so-called "match," and everything felt completely out of place.
"Why aren't you eating? Not hungry?" Bryson asked, his tone a bit too eager.
"Oh, no, I was just lost in thought," Jolly replied, shaking her head. She picked up her fork and spoon, trying to focus on her meal, though her mind was elsewhere.
Feeling a bit awkward in her oversized shirt, Jolly went along with it, not wanting to argue with her dad. She didn't quite get why, but didn't dare question it either.
"I heard you're in your second year of college now," Bryson said, attempting to make small talk and ease the tension.
"Yeah, that's right. What about you?" Jolly asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
"I'm doing my master's in business."
"Wow, really? Where are you studying?" Jolly asked, a little surprised.
"Florida."
"That's impressive! I've always thought about studying abroad for my master's."
"You can, once you finish your bachelor's," Bryson said with a smile.
Jolly's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. It felt almost impossible. "Yeah, maybe if I work harder," she replied, forcing a smile.
"So, what are your hobbies?" Bryson asked, eager to keep the conversation going.
"Hobbies... I guess reading and writing, maybe a bit of research," Jolly replied, unsure how interesting her hobbies were.
"Research? Ah, I remember Uncle Nael and Auntie Leah mentioning you're studying science, right? What kind of research do you usually do?"
"Well, it's not much... I like doing simple experiments just to pass the time," Jolly explained.
"Like what?" Bryson asked, curious.
"Fireworks in a glass."
"Hmm... that sounds interesting," Bryson said, clearly intrigued.
Jolly chuckled softly. "It was just a fun little experiment I did when I had some free time."
"So, what about you? What do you like to do?"
"I enjoy watching movies, traveling, and just relaxing like this," Bryson said with a casual smile.
Jolly nodded, appreciating the simplicity of his answer. "I see."
"You said you like reading, right? How about we go to a bookstore after this?"
"A bookstore?"
"Yeah, would you like that?"
"That sounds nice. But if you'd rather go somewhere else, I'm fine with that," Jolly said, not wanting to make Bryson feel like he had to follow her lead.
Bryson smiled lightly. "No, I enjoy this, just walking around and being with you wherever you want to go."
"Alright then," Jolly said, giving a soft smile. It felt nice, even if everything was still a little strange to her.
With a sense of calm settling over her, they left the restaurant and headed to the bookstore. It wasn't how she'd expected to spend her weekend, but at least she could enjoy a peaceful moment amidst all the confusion.
********
"Looks like you're into some pretty heavy reading," Bryson commented, gesturing toward the books Jolly was poring over.
"I'm used to books like these. Plus they help a lot with my writing," Jolly answered, shrugging it off.
"That makes sense. You said you like writing, what do you write? A novel?" Bryson asked, clearly intrigued.
Jolly shook her head. "I'm part of the literacy club at school. We publish research journals or academic papers on various topics. That's why reading stuff like this helps me with writing."
Bryson looked at her with admiration. "That's impressive. My future wife isn't just brilliant but hardworking too. I've got to make sure I keep up."
The words "future wife" hit Jolly like a sudden jolt. Though she knew her parents had set this up, hearing it from Bryson left her feeling uneasy. It wasn't exactly hatred, it was just... discomfort.
Out of nowhere, a memory of a young man's smile flashed in her mind. She couldn't help but wish it were him accompanying her today, not Bryson.
She shook her head, trying to snap out of it. "What am I doing? Come on, Jolly, get a grip."
"Jolly? Are you alright?" Bryson asked, noticing her sudden distraction.
"Huh? Oh, yeah… it's nothing," she replied quickly, brushing it off.
"Why am I thinking about Aiden?" her mind raced. "This is crazy. I must be losing it." Despite her attempts to push it aside, a small part of her couldn't shake the hope that it might somehow be Dr. Aiden, the one who had unknowingly captured her attention, who would be walking by her side through life.
********
"Alright, where to next?" Bryson asked, shooting a quick glance at Jolly.
"Uh... I don't know. I don't really have anywhere in mind," Jolly admitted.
"How about we just find a café, grab some coffee, and chill for a bit?"
"Yeah, that sounds nice."
"Cool, let's head out... wait, Jolly?" Bryson paused, noticing something was off.
Jolly suddenly pressed a hand to her forehead, wincing as a sharp pain stabbed through her skull. "M-my head... it really hurts," she murmured.
"Hey, you okay? Come on, let's sit down," Bryson said, gently steering her toward a nearby bench.
She winced again, the pain pulsing harder, sweat breaking out along her hairline. Tears started to pool in her eyes from the intensity.
"We should just go home. You don't look so good," Bryson said, worry written all over his face.
"B-but..." Jolly tried to argue weakly.
"No buts. You're in pain. You need to rest," Bryson said firmly.
Feeling helpless and miserable, Jolly gave in. Guilt gnawed at her ~ she hated ruining their day together, especially when Bryson had been so excited about it. Now, all she could do was sit there, silently apologizing, feeling awful for dragging him into this mess.
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*** To Be Continue ***