I'm Dr. Austin Lazure. Al-Muzzinih Medical Hospital, Diagnostics, and LabCorp Laboratory Director, and a Ph.D. scientist."
Dr. Austin Lazure drew a slight smile as he feebly lifted his right hand to draw Jasmine a handshake. He grinned, meeting her bewildered eyes.
Jasmine, on the other hand, couldn't explain the growl in her chest. She wasn't too early to react. She eyed him intensely while his gazes were something she couldn't comprehend.
Her eyes were widely focused on him, mouth halfway opened, eyes stunned. She couldn't believe what she'd heard although she expected him of nothing. The person who veiled his face, and now was standing in front of her was more than a professional. How foolish of her to think of him into something— someone she could share her mischievousness with.
Austin inside him couldn't hide his smile. I love my role today. All credits to you Zandra, he uttered inside his chest walls. The grin on his face slowly vanished when he realized that minutes already consumed them in staring position. He raised his right eyebrow which swept their awkward eye contact atmosphere.
Jasmine blinked composing herself. She suddenly felt uneasy by his calm gazes. Then, she sheepishly smiled at him, removing the awkward atmosphere. The temperature forcibly went back to normal.
"S--so, what do we do now?" Jasmine uttered.
The torrid quietude between them and their exchanging of gawks was shattered into the air.
"Let's get inside "
He took his hand away, put both hands in the pocket of his jeans, stood still, and began to pace towards the entrance.
Jasmine followed his dull heavy footsteps silently.
***
"Getting inside, I want you to act properly," he said in serene formality without looking at her before opening the front door.
A spacious area compelled Jasmine's eyes the moment the entrance door swung clear. A translucent light spread all over the vast area. She saw a few nurses pushing stretchers with patients laid on top, crossing on the tiled corridor. Medical staffs, practitioners, administrators, and advocates were busy doing their business— facing on computers, recording something, imaging on monitors, entertaining patients, etc.
She was in the oasis of the desert of a white cornered institution with buzzing nurses, physicians, and med crews.
Dr. Lazure ambled his feet towards the reception desk. He approached a mid-20's woman wearing a gray short-sleeved scrub top and pants. Her eyes were intensely focused on the computer monitor. Dr. Lazure did not bother to greet her. Fresh humid air from the air conditioner tickled on her ear sensing their presence. She fixed the transparent glasses she was wearing before giving her attention to them. She drew a smile on her rounded red lips.
"Third floor. Room 008," she meticulously enunciated and leaned a golden key on top of the desk.
"Thanks."
He nodded and grabbed the key from the counter. He began to turn his back, moving his feet away. While Jasmine was left in chaotic mode. She didn't know what to do, so she painted an awkward smile towards the front desk medical receptionist in front of her. She bowed her head before leaving as she followed him.
They passed through a one-meter-wide hallway. It was enclosed with various series of chambers. One was signed at the peak of the door "EMERGENCY AREA". They strode towards the side of the emergency area and entered a few steps in a narrow path, antecedently veering on the right side.
They stood currently in front of an elevator door. He pressed the button, then it feebly revealed a narrow cubicle space. They entered. The elevator door slowly closed. He pressed the number " 3" button on the keypad, then it began to rise higher.
Jasmine almost lost her balance as soon as it heightened even if she knew it would elevate. But, Austin didn't seem to mind her. She composed herself following his formal composure. She stole a glance at him peripherally. His serious eyes spoke nothing but a depression of unsaid bulky thoughts that couldn't be fathomed. The silence went circling between them as if trying to suffocate her.
Not a minute, the door slowly emptied. They stepped out.
Jasmine's eyes beheld a series of rooms numbered on the right corner— Room 004, Room 005, Room 006, Room 007, Room 008...
Room 008 was two meters away from the elevator. They gaited closer until they stood facing a transparent door. He steadily let out a view on the door saying zero words.
"You may take a nap now." He broke the oozing quietude between them.
She lifted her eyes to see the complexion of the person talking to the air. But, before she regained her equanimity, he released a sharp tranquilizer filled with green fluid. He needled it on her right arm. Everything stood solace. The last thing she knew was that a heavy rough arm had captured her light unconscious flesh.
***
Tired. Dr. Zandra Astrael felt a little pang of worried. The night was slowly facing its death over the sky. She felt dizzy, but again she needed to work overtime. She looked at the computer screen. 1:00 AM, it displayed on the desktop of her computer. She yawned and took another sip of the coffee beside her. She moved her eyes across her phone lying on top of her table— waiting for it to ring. Minutes passed, it displayed sternly black— a dead screen. After their last call, Austin didn't call her anymore. She yawned again laying her head on the headrests of her chair.
She looked at the solemn sky— the night was dark as the dull moonlight flew over and behind the murky clouds. The air was relatively calm. Her eyes slowly zipped but were disrupted when a series of knocks whacked on his office.
"Wait," she yelled.
Her tiredness didn't quit her. It attacked as she strode her feet towards the door.
"Aww," she exclaimed.
She almost hit the edge of her table and lost her balance. If her mobility was slow to react, she was probably dead on the floor. She never bothered to reach for the switch— the night vision lamp remained to provide a sheen across her office. The more the night vision got dimmer, the more it released a force pulling her to sleep. But, she couldn't. Again, she couldn't— for she shouldn't.
The knock stopped.
She continued strolling her feet towards the door of her office. She was a little bit awake at this hour. She reached for the doorknob and the door deliberately opened showing a familiar feminine figurine.
"Aren't you planning to go home?" The guest enunciated.
She irritably fixed her apparel amid the cloudy darkness.
"Shakkira..."
Her eyes were pushed to live. She was stunned.
"Is that the way you greet me?" Shakkira hissed.
"I've missed you so much."
Her voice was hushed. Zandra thought of no other word. Her arms curled to the woman in front of her as this responded to the same curls over her arms.
"I've missed you so much too," Shakkira said.
They embraced each other for minutes before Zandra escorted her friend.
"Get in."
Zandra guided her visitor inside. The room was entirely dim but was illuminated with night vision lamps. Shakkira's eyes flew over the area of the room.
"This is a huge place," Shakkira said scrutinizing the whole room although in an opaque state.
"Thanks."
Zandra smiled shyly.
"Since when did you arrive?" She added.
"Yesterday. I've gone into the Wiles Research Institute."
Shakkira sat on the sofa. Zandra was stunned when she heard the name she tended to escape on hearing. Shakkira noticed Zandra's uneasiness.
"Zans, it's already been ages. We should move forward."
"As you say," Zandra dryly spoke.
"What do you want to eat?" She added.
"We aren't eating. We're going home."
"But—"
"Crap those workaholic thoughts. You deserve a rest."
Shakkira arose from sitting.
"Let's go. The car is waiting outside."
Shakkira firstly stepped a foot outside. While Zandra was left with no choice but to follow her longtime friend's footprints.