Without a second of thought, Shakkira successfully convinced Dr. Zandra Astrael, her longtime friend, to have a rest.
The cold air greeted them an advance good morning amid the dusk of the night as they left Zandra's clinic. Shakkira accompanied Zandra towards her car. They entered silently inside the car and drove through the frosty night.
Fifteen minutes passed from 1 AM yet both yawned seeing the broad awoke street. The main street was crowded with traffic.
"I guess we'll be spending the night here," Zandra said, eyeing the busy street. She yawned— rested her head on the headrests of the passenger seat.
"That is too shallow-minded for a smart girl," Shakkira replied in full enthusiasm.
The car wheels stretched backward.
"What do you mean?"
Zandra diverted her attention to her.
"You know what I'm thinking," Shakkira replied excitedly.
She winked. In an instant, Zandra's eyes went alive. Shakkira made a swift U-turn entering the heavy traffic; then she the engine crunched speeder than average. The car crisscrossed the heavy traffic; from the side mirror, they saw two policemen wailing their whistles— but too late; Shakkira grimaced sheepishly.
The side mirror also revealed the faces of the drivers and passengers opened the windows of their designated vehicles to see the strong violation they made. Zandra was slow to react. The moment she knew was her eyes were broad and her tongue was glued.
"I'll go for an adventure," Shakkira muttered beside her in the driver's seat.
The traffic was still kilometers away from them. They could notice the people changing the skin of their faces. Sirens began wailing and approaching their car. Shakkira knew at that moment if they'll be caught-- it's a penalty.
"What are you doing? You're putting our lives to death," Zandra finally spoke hardly maintaining a hard glower on her longtime friend.
"I am impatient. I hate waiting. You know that since high school," Shakkira hissed.
"It's different now-- different regulations," Zandra protested.
"Different? Since when? We all know it's still the same," Shakkira's tone changed— it lowered and tightened.
Her hands gripped intensely on the throttle; then she made the engine at full throttle. Policemen were whistling; sirens were wailing, yet she didn't seem to hear any of those sounds. She ignored the growing anger on her chest.
"Shakkira stop," Zandra exclaimed.
The car was unstoppable. It narrowed its way across the lining vehicles over the traffic. Shakkira eyed intensely on the road burning inside.
"Shakkira, are you listening?" Zandra ejaculated.
Shakkira replied nothing. They were like flying inside the car. The full speed of the engine continued until they successfully went away from the traffic, leaving those policemen exhausted catching them.
Shakkira didn't slow down the engine. The car again shifted direction on the empty dark road.
"Shakkira, let's talk," Zandra yelled. Shakkira didn't respond.
"Hey, listen to me," Her voice went louder.
Shakkira left her unanswered until a car beeped on them. Shakkira stopped the engine.
"Is there anything wrong?" The driver of the car asked.
Shakkira was still in the midst of her thoughts. She eyed the road blankly.
The driver opened the window of his car. His face was invisible by the black cap he'd worn and the black sunglasses veiling his eyes. The gloom of the night made him more unrecognizable.
He took off his sunglasses. The two women inside the other car saw his pair of squinted hooded eyes.
"Is there anything wrong," he repeated in his croaky monotone.
Zandra opened the window of the passenger's seat.
"No, nothing. You may go on first," she said.
The man slid down the window before going away.
"Shakkira, are you okay?"
Zandra offered her friend a hand. Shakkira remained speechless.
"We better go home now," Shakkira replied tiredly.
Zandra didn't say any word but allowed her friend to reawoke the engine.
***
Jasmine's consciousness came back to life when she heard a loud knock on the door. She gently rubbed her eyes. The morning rays of the sun itched her eyes while kissing her temple. The window silk curtains swayed displaying the feathery clouds fleeing over the vast heavens. She did her morning stretches and scratches before leaping off the white narrow rectangular wooden regular bed with foamy covers.
She heard the loud knock again. This time, three knocks were unleashed.
"Wait," she yelled.
Her senses got alerted. Her thoughts were barren. It speeded her mobility. She quickly jumped off the bed and paced swiftly towards the door. She almost stamped on the edge of her blue pajamas.
A wide smile greeted her good morning the moment she opened the door. She had never seen her last night. She was wearing a typical light-blue scrub dress paired with white tennis shoes, hair ponytailed. Hanged on her neck was a stethoscope. On the upper right chest corner of her suit, a nameplate was pasted. "E. ESTRELLA," it was written. While a pen was peeking on the pocket located below the nameplate.
She recalled the night before. She thought of nothing. She merely erased whatever memory it was the night before.
"Good morning Ms. Jasmine."
The nurse delicately widened her smile infecting her unconsciously reciprocating the same smile the nurse arched.
"What do you want to eat for breakfast?"
She grabbed the pen and paper from her pocket.
Jasmine was flabbergasted for a second; she released out her very most thought— thinking if she would demand anything. Jasmine glanced at her— her smile was unmoved and remained without withdrawing her sweet smile and squinted eyes.
"Ahh, Just offer me anything."
Jasmine thought after a while.
"I can eat anything though," she asserted.
The nurse pushed the tip of the pen, still looking into Jasmine's eyes.
"Cereals, yogurts, and fruit juice, will that be convenient?"
She made a list on the paper and returned her gaze at her. Her gape never escaped capturing Jasmine's cringe eyes.
Jasmine winced hearing the name of the dishes. How I hate hospitals. I'm not even sick, she exclaimed inside.
"Ah-ah... D-do..." Jasmine hardly stammered.
"Say it please."
With composite bravery, Jasmine exposed her interiority.
"I–I want some savory pasta with bacon and scallions on top, along with lemonade juice."
Jasmine drew halfway flinched, afraid to see her reaction.
"Oh, that won't be a problem. I told you, you can demand anything."
She smiled for a period.
"R-really?" Jasmine ejaculated with glimmers in her eyes.
"I'm not a patient here right?" Jasmine continued unveiling the glistening brittleness of my eyes.
"Dr. Lazure will discuss that later. For now, stay relaxed. I'll deliver your order to the Food Catering Services. Wait a little while, hun. They'll be sent here right after."
The nurse hammered her compassionate gazes towards Jasmine, not averting her benevolent sweet smile and her cordial posture. She then began turning away for a leave.
"W-wait..."
Jasmine called her when she was about to turn her back.
"Yes?"
Her lovely smile came back to life showing her white symmetrical long teeth.
"Where is he?" Jasmine lowered her voice.
She felt a dosage of embarrassment about what the nurse's reaction might be.
"You mean Dr. Lazure?"
Jasmine nodded.
"He's currently in the laboratory. He'll be here soonest."
Jasmine replied a no again in semi-satisfied agreement.
"Need anything else?"
"Nah, nothing," she dryly answered.
The nurse left her alone.