CHAPTER 01 - HEARTBEAT

Since childhood Bella have had heart problems, and now she had been in the hospital for a long time, requiring constant monitoring by a cardiologist.

"So how do you feel today?" Carcel asks Bella in a calm tone.

He has been her cardiologist for a long time, and she cannot help but be amazed at how he always remains calm and collected despite being very tired due to work. She can't even remember a single time he was rude to patients.

He just looks too perfect...

"Good." she said and just looks at him with a warm smile.

Carcel is also pleasantly surprised by how she can still smile despite being in a hospital room. He then pats her head gently, looking at her with a soft smile as well.

"I'm glad to see you happy for a change." he says.

However, her condition worsens every day. She's just trying to get better quickly not to make him worried and disappointed.

"Well, thanks for always taking care of me Doctor Carcel." she replied.

"Call me Carcel. No need to be so formal, it's getting annoying," he says, trying to make her laugh.

She had noticed that he always does things to cheer her up. There is indeed a certain attachment on his part.

"I just like calling you Doctor Carcel when you're monitoring me." she chuckled and looks at him.

He laughs as well and puts aside the stethoscope.

"You're weird, you know that? But I like you, weirdo." he says in a friendly tone.

She likes his soft but kind voice. She always felts at ease near him. If only...

"You're actually getting better. Your condition is improving slightly." he replies, trying to look as optimistic as possible. But he remains worried.

Unfortunately in her case an improvement is still not enough. Her heart problems seem incurable...

"Let's just be honest here Carcel. Don't need to say something that isn't possible." she smiled and just sighed.

"Okay, you're right." he sighs in resignation.

"Your condition is quite serious and unlikely to get better. I've already tried many things to help you, but they did no good."

"I know and thanks for that." she smiled but deep inside she's also sad.

He nods.

"I'm sorry, really." he says, looking sadly into her eyes.

He knows very well what he would do to help if it were possible, but in her case he can't do anything anymore. He would give her his life if he could...

"You don't have to say sorry, it is what it is." she said as she laid down on her hospital bed.

He's at a loss for words. There really is nothing left for him to do. But he doesn't want to leave her without saying anything. So he tries to think up something comforting to say.

"Hmm... even if you have to stay in this hospital room for a long time... you know you could always talk to me." he says in a slightly awkward way.

He also has a certain attachment to her. She's still young in her age 23 and she shouldn't be in a hospital like this.

"I always know that I can always count on you." she smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

He looks at that enthusiastic thumbs up with a smile. As he doesn't want to bring her more sadness, he only pats her head and gets up.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then. You probably understand this, but... take care." he says, starting to leave the room.

"Yeah, thanks." she looks at him while he's walking out of the room.

A small sad smile arises on his face, seeing how she look at him. He tries again to cheer her up, trying to act in a kind way, even if this is his real personality.

But he also notices how she still look at him. Could it be that the feeling is mutual?

He then turns around and, with a soft but tired smile, closes the door to her hospital room. When Doctor Carcel left, she just stares at the ceiling of the room.

He then returns to his office and falls asleep at his desk, thinking about many things, one of them is all about her.

While he's tired, he still goes to see her every day... He can't imagine how much she mean to him and how much he cares about her...

***One Week Passed***

Bella's condition worsens again. It's a routine that Doctor Carcel has become accustomed to over this week: every day after a tiring shift in the hospital he sits by her bed to keep her company. He feels a certain attachment to her.

A soft smile arises on his tired face after seeing her. Then he sits beside her and takes out a stethoscope.

"I'm fine, I think you're the one who's not fine here." she worriedly looks at him.

"I'm alright, don't worry." he replies, trying to look reassuring, but fails.

He looks exhausted as he takes her pulse. He's clearly trying to conceal something from her. What could it be...?

"You should go and take a rest after this, I know you're tired. I'm really sorry." she looks at him with a concerned look.

He doesn't answer her.

Instead, he looks at her, and despite being tired and exhausted, he still manages to try to give her a gentle and caring smile.

She doesn't understand why he always tries to cheer her up and spend time with her. Maybe he likes her in some way...?

His heart almost stops when he saw her warm smile...

He can't even count how many times he was moved and encouraged by it...

Doctor Carcel then carefully checks on her heart, although he had started to notice how he tries to do everything to avoid telling her something. It's as if... there's a very painful truth behind everything.

"I'm done checking, how's your chest?" he says, trying not to think about anything else.

"Well.... as usual…" she just smiled lightly.

"I see." he replies, smiling as well.

As she know, her condition is worsening by the day and it is unlikely that she will ever recover. She want to ask him more, but it's useless...

But as he continues looking at her with his gentle smile, she starts to wonder if there is something else he has to tell her...

"Hmm, do you want to tell me something?" she asked while looking at him.

He looks surprised. She had correctly guessed his thoughts, as he feels a bit anxious in this situation. But as always, he remains calm, trying to answer with honesty.

"There is... something I have to say to you." he replies slowly.

"What is it?" she asked curiously.

He takes a deep breath and takes a step closer to her.

"Actually..." he pauses and then looks deeply into her eyes.

*******

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***