Chapter 6

Nathan realized that he was stupid, very stupid in fact. Chasing someone whose face Nathan couldn't even see clearly, only remembering the color and how dressed the woman Erick was referring to was when he passed her in front of his friend's office door.

But from what Erick said—Nathan felt he had hope, from what Erick said, Nathan felt that he too could and deserved happiness in his life which had been full of demands. And if the woman Erick was referring to really wanted to work with him, Nathan was sure—very sure that they could be happy with their respective paths and choices.

Ah, right. The reason Nathan chased the woman Erick was talking about was to ask for her help. Exactly like what Nathan said to Erick in their conversation earlier.

"Unlucky. She must have come home a long time ago, right?" Nathan muttered mixed with his breath after running like a madman from Erick's room to the lobby. His eyes were still wild, trying to find a familiar figure, but to no avail, there was no figure he was looking for there.

The hospital lobby could also be said to be starting to get quiet. One, because it was getting late and the hospital visitors were not as busy as during the day. Two, yes, because general and non-emergency inspection activities only run according to working hours. So it's natural. The hospital will be calmer and quieter at this time of night.

“Dr. Nathan? What is it? Waiting for an emergency patient? Eh, but I didn't hear anything about an emergency patient coming in at the moment." A person wearing a white uniform combined with green approached Nathan with a questioning look.

Seeing the woman, Nathan could only smile faintly, actually grimacing a little. “Oh no, Ellen. I'm just... Just getting some fresh air.”

"Fresh air? In the lobby?” Elen asked doubtfully. By the way, Elen is one of the nurses at the hospital who works with him quite often because Elen is also in the ER, even though in the hospital rolling and changing positions in any department is a common thing too—so it seems strange for a doctor or nurses who have worked for a long time at the hospital don't know each other.

“That... hehe. Ah, then I'll go back to the ER first, Len. Prof. Indira was looking for me earlier if I'm not mistaken." After saying that, Nathan hurried away from Elen, who watched him leave in surprise.

The nurse, whom Nathan had known for more than 5 years, didn't even have time to say what was on the tip of her tongue because Nathan walked away as quickly as possible. In fact... "But, Prof. Indira has been home since this afternoon, Doc..." muttered Elen looking at Nathan's back as he moved further away from where she was standing.

***

Since that day, Nathan has always been grilling Erick about the patients they had talked about. And of course, Erick, with his common sense, with his mind having returned to normal, especially because of his experience of making a mistake, made Erick even more wary of what he was talking about with Nathan. No, Erick will not repeat his stupidity and mistakes twice. It's enough for Erick to be fooled and get lost in Nathan's story, he can't do the rest.

"Come on, Rick. Do you have the heart for me? Give me her name, telephone number or even address if necessary. You know I need it!”

Erick shook his head, his eyes busy with the patient files he was tidying up from the file cabinet in his room.

“You think I'm crazy? Since that day I can't forgive myself. And now you're asking me to divulge the identity of my patient? Do you want me to be thrown out of this hospital?"

Nathan chuckled. He had been there for almost 30 minutes and still had not succeeded in persuading his friend. It's past operational service hours, that's why Nathan can go around bothering Erick in his room— after persuading him for the last few days but to no avail. Yes, today is not the first day Nathan has persuaded Erick, but several days have passed since the incident where Erick was let go.

“Rick, come on... I promise I won't tell anyone about this. About your carelessness, about your negligence in leaking your patient's secret."

Erick glared at the man who was standing with an innocent look in front of his desk. The psychiatrist then snorted briefly, “Are you threatening me? Saying that seems to confirm that if I don't share my patient information with you then you will report it to the hospital management so that I will be prosecuted?"

Nathan is now standing straight, his hands which were originally resting on Erick's work desk have been left there and are raised as high as his shoulders. "No, no. Of course, that's not what I meant, Erick. I didn't mean to threaten you or anything. I really won't say anything to anyone about your negligence.”

A sarcastic chuckle came out of Erick's mouth, "And now you're sarcastic about me? Seriously! So far you consider me a friend and colleague, huh?”

“No—Erick, please don't be dramatic like this. You know what I mean. Right now I think only that woman can help me. This is my only chance to run away from my endless problems. And wouldn't this also be an advantage for you?”

Erick's forehead was furrowed, even though he had made it clear to himself not to be provoked by any of Nathan's persuasions and excuses—somehow that sentence attracted his curiosity and curiosity. He wondered what was going on in his friend's head regarding the benefits that Erick could gain from his friend's problem.

"Hear." Nathan continued, knowing that his friend was interested in what he had to say.

“Didn't that woman—your patient I mean, didn't you say that her life was perfect? She doesn't care about anything in her life other than her family's demands that she get married, right? And because of her commitment, from the start, she had no intention of marrying anyone, this problem then stressed her to the point that she needed your services to help her in this dead end."

"And? Don't beat around the bush. I don't have much time to listen to you! Besides, you should be in the ER now, right? Why does it feel like you've had so much free time since yesterday to interrogate me about this matter?!" Erick grumbled, provoked by this stubborn person.

“Ah, about that…”

Erick didn't know, to steal time to meet Erick—Nathan was risking his meager rest with this. Because when other doctors are taking a break, Nathan will take over almost all the problems in the ER and manage the doctors at the level below him.

"Forget about that, anyway, I've arranged it and there won't be any problems with the ER if I leave it now. In essence, let me speed up my conclusions regarding the essence of our conversation over the last few days."

Erick rolled his eyes lazily. Hadn't he invited Nathan in earlier? That man was the one who was stalling him with all those unimportant sentences, wasn't he?

"The point is if I can help your patient's problem. Doesn't that mean the burden on her mind is reduced? Doesn't that mean the problem is solved? And doesn't that mean he won't need any more consultations either—which also means you've managed to resolve the problem and—"

"What did you say?" Erick put on an angry face. His face was flat, but all his emotions gathered in his eyes.

"Yeah, I mean..."

“Try saying something clear again.” Erick came forward to approach Nathan with a thick file folder in his hand.

Nathan, who saw this, of course now realized that what he said was inappropriate or even tarnished his friend's self-esteem as a psychiatrist.

"So you're saying that just with your cheap solution my patient's problem was solved? You mean, just with your silly ideas and dramas everything is happy and has a happy ending? Is that what you mean?"

Nathan took a step back and raised his hand with a smile that he tried to carve on his lips to calm his friend who looked very angry.

“N-it's not like that, Erick. I don't mean to trivialize any problem or anyone here. I mean... I just meant—”

"Get out of my room or I'll hit your head with this file folder?! It's good to say things carelessly!" Erick shouted angrily, almost throwing the folder at his friend if Nathan didn't hurry and escape from his room. "You think because you're the son of the owner of this hospital, I'm just going to give you shit?" Erick added, following the departure of Nathan who was standing alert outside his room.

And yes, once again Nathan has to face his failure. Standing in front of Erick's room with sad eyes and disappointment, because his day was wasted again with persuasion that Erick never accepted. The man exhaled a long breath, raising his head to the hospital ceiling in an expression of despair.