Chapter 58 Vincent, Let's Grab Coffee
The doctor nodded, “Yeah, that’s right.”
“Could you have him come in, please?” Jessica requested.
“He went downstairs to take care of the bill. He should be back soon. Just wait a bit.” The doctor turned and headed out to look for Vincent.
“Okay,” Jessica replied, patiently waiting.
A few minutes after the doctor left, there was a knock on the door of the hospital room.
"Come in," Jessica said.
The relief was palpable when Jessica saw the man in a police uniform—it wasn’t Gabriel. He was still in the dark; what a relief.
“How are you feeling?” Vincent asked as he approached Jessica’s bedside, initiating the conversation.
“I'm fine. Thanks a lot. The doctor told me you took care of the bill. Let me add you on Venmo to pay you back."
As Jessica reached for her phone, she noticed Vincent standing rigidly, his hand at his side, making no move to pull out his phone.
“I’ll add you on Venmo,” she repeated.
“My name is Vincent.” Finally, Vincent’s tightly sealed lips parted, and he spoke, his voice a deep baritone that filled the air with a distinct masculine resonance.
Vincent? Why did that name ring a bell?
Jessica quickly rifled through her memory, staring at his face for a long moment before a flash of realization hit her. "Ah, it's you! I remember now!" she exclaimed, a spark of surprise in her voice.
She hastily typed "Vincent" into her phone on WhatsApp, pulled up his contact, and transferred the medical fees over to him.
It was him, the same guy.
She recalled the last time he was on the bus with her, how he had stepped in to help her, even taking down a mugger. Jessica had thought their paths wouldn't cross again, but here they were, meeting so soon.
And once again, he had come to her aid.
"It's incredible running into you like this," she marveled. "By the way, my name is Jessica."
Just as she finished introducing herself, Vincent's phone rang with a call from Yosef. "Boss, he's awake."
"I'll be there shortly," Vincent replied.
After hanging up, he turned to Jessica, "Take care of yourself. I've got matters to handle. I'll be leaving now."
"Sure," Jessica nodded.
As Vincent was about to step out, Jessica blurted out apologetically, "Sorry, the doctor might have mistaken you as my husband and given you an earful."
"It's no big deal," he dismissed. With those final words, Vincent hurried off.
Feeling drowsy after the IV, Jessica dozed off on her hospital bed. She slept straight through to the afternoon, waking up to the setting sun.
An expanse of twilight set the entire sky ablaze with hues of orange and crimson; the view was simply breathtaking. Opening the window, a gentle breeze caressed her face, soothing and refreshing.
Standing at the window for a short while, she decided to head downstairs. A walk in the park and a change of scenery might lift her spirits. But Jessica never anticipated what was to come.
Arriving at the park, a serene spot for recovery and relaxation, she spotted them.
Under the sunset, Gabriel was pushing Diana’s wheelchair. Standing and sitting, they looked like they came straight out of a young elite circle and a page of a romantic novel, their silhouettes gilded by the glow of the twilight as if bathed in silver light.
They seemed a perfect match, a pair meant to be together. Looking quite harmonious, akin to a loving, blissful couple.
Suddenly, Jessica felt a sharp sting in her eyes.
The once beautiful sunset that spread such gorgeous, tender light now turned into piercing rays that shot directly into her gaze, forcing tears to stream down her cheeks.
She stood frozen, her feet felt as if lead had been poured into her shoes, heavy as if anchoring her to the spot, unable to lift them no matter how hard she tried.
She wanted to step away, to turn around and leave. But her body felt incredibly heavy.
On Curvy Lane, Gabriel pushed Diana closer and closer in her wheelchair. Their forms became increasingly distinct.
She didn't want to see them, not in the slightest. Expending the last bit of her strength, Jessica swiftly turned and walked back the way she came.
However, after only a couple of steps, a loud call echoed from behind, “Jessica…” It was as if she was under a spell, rooted to the spot.
Behind her, Gabriel frowned and turned to Diana, “What did you just yell?”
Diana pointed ahead without hesitation, “Jessica! Look, she's right there.”
Gabriel's gaze followed, the figure certainly resembled Jessica, but she wasn't supposed to be at the hospital.
He had gone home early that morning. Jessica wasn't at home, and she hadn't answered his calls.
So, he texted her, and Jessica messaged back informing him that she was at school today. What would she be doing suddenly at the hospital?
“It looks like her but I'm sure it’s not,” Gabriel stated with confidence.
But Diana insisted, “I'm certain. That figure is hers.”
“Jessica.” Diana called out again, louder this time, as her hands rapidly propelled the wheelchair forward.
Jessica immediately picked up her pace. Reaching the corner, she whipped around it and slipped into the elevator.
The moment the elevator doors closed; she exhaled in relief. She had no idea where to go next, but she needed to get out of that hospital now. She could not bear to see the two of them together.
The elevator dinged, ascending instead of descending as she had intended. The doors opened, and Vincent walked in.
‘Him?’, Jessica was taken aback.
“Are you feeling better? No need for bed rest?” Vincent inquired.
As the elevator doors parted once more, with a gentlemanly gesture, Vincent stepped aside, holding the elevator doors open for Jessica to exit first.
She stepped out of the elevator. They walked together towards the entrance of the hospital.
After a brief hesitation, Jessica mustered the courage and turned to him, “Mr. Vincent, are you free after this?”
“I don't have any plans at the moment, why do you ask?” Vincent inquired, curious as to why she invited him.
“You've saved me more than once, and I'd like to thank you. How about I treat you to coffee?” As she finished speaking, Jessica watched Vincent take the lead.
Jessica gazed at his broad shoulders retreating into the distance, a pang of sorrow flashing through her. Was that a flat-out rejection?
Well, it took some courage, just to ask her savior out for a coffee, and yet it was shot down just like that.
Standing there, Jessica couldn't shake off a sense of discomfort.
Just then, Vincent paused in his tracks and turned to look at her. "Didn't you ask me out for coffee?"
‘Huh? Was that a yes? This guy, can he act any more aloof?’ she mused. Without missing a beat, Jessica matched his stride.
A car pulled up in front of them, with Yosef at the wheel, as usual.
Yosef couldn't contain his excitement upon seeing Jessica, winking and nodding at Vincent with a message clear as day, ‘Boss, you've got game, and you're moving fast.’
Vincent replied coolly, "If your eyesight is that bad, we'll need to do some serious training in the coming days."
Yosef fell silent... Settling himself rigidly into the driver's seat.
Observing the car before her, Jessica felt it was a bit much, "We're just going for coffee. Do we certainly need to take this flashy ride?"
