Chapter 16: MYSTERY UNVEILED

In the University ...
"Hey bestie ! What's up ?" Audrey asked Rachel.
"Nothing much, Queen. How"s everything with you ? Where were you in the evening after the lectures got over," Rachel asked as she dumped her pile load of library books in the locker.
"Nerd," Audrey teased when she saw that the books didn"t fit completely in her friend"s locker.
"Yeah sure. Laugh all you like. I need to finish reading them before the finals ! Plus, you didn"t answer. Where were you ?" Rachel asked and closed the locker door shut quickly before any book decided that it did not want to squeeze in with the others.
Audrey curled a strand on her finger before she pulled herself away from the wall and walked alongside her best friend who was a business administration student in the same university as her.
"I went to the Book Café to pick up some books and enjoy a mug of my favorite Black Beauty," Audrey replied.
"Wow, that"s amazing ! But I missed it," Rachel pouted.
"It wasn't all that amazing !" Audrey muttered under her breath and Rachel clearly heard it.
"Why, what happened ?" Rachel asked intrigued.
"When I was there, I had the same coffee spilling incident with the same doc," Audrey groaned.
"And ?" Rachel further probed.
"He apologized again and ... " Audrey trailed off when she felt her cheeks heat up.
"And ?" Rachel urged.
"Gave - a - peck - on - my - cheek - and - left - hurriedly," Audrey quickly said the words in one breath.
"Woah, woah ! Hello Ms. Rapper. Slow down there," Rachel said as she stopped her friend by her arm, who was ready to vanish from the spot like a genie and guided her to a corner of the hall.
"I heard you say peck" ! What did you just say ?" Rachel demanded.
"He gave a peck on my cheek and left hurriedly," Audrey repeated, her face thermometer red by now.
"Ah ha ! No wonder, your cheeks are extra red today," Rachel teased.
"No, Miss Rainbow. Keep those colorful thoughts to yourself," Audrey brushed off her friend and started hurrying down the hall to reach for her first class on time.
"Ooh-la-la ! Someone is a little dressed up today and glowing more than usual after a romantic encounter with a hot doc after sealing it with a kiss," Rachel mocked with a nudge of her elbow.
True but did she have to say that aloud ! How embarrassing !! Audrey blushed, if it was any more possible.
"Sometimes we need to shower, dress up nice, and look pretty. This has got nothing to do with the doc or the kiss," Audrey deadpanned.
"Come on, Audrey ! You can confide your feelings in me !" Rachel whined. "There are some conversations to have with your best friend that truly seal the deal and prove your bond is legit. So let's talk" she unilaterally made the decision for the both of them.
"Alright, Alright. Geez you are using all your business skills on me to accede to your demands," Audrey joked and when Rachel squinted her eyes at her to not deflect from the point, Audrey sighed and revealed. "Look, everything in life was normal till yesterday. But now, I just can't stop thinking about this doctor. His thoughts are constantly on my mind. His naughty dimpled smile is driving me nuts !"
"Oh, I'm excited for you, honey ! Crushes are real fun ! At least, um, kind of," Rachel said.
"Before this, I could easily let crushes slide. I would always tell myself "time will get rid of it and I will move on" but now I am going crazy !"
"So you're in love ! Check out this doc, darling," Rachel coaxed.
"But how ? I don't even know his name or contact number," a disheartened Audrey replied.
"Don't worry, dearie ! I'm going to take on the world with you and we'll find him," Rachel assured.
"Hmm. We need to exercise our gray matter and get that doctor's name and number, somehow," a determined but impatient Audrey resolved.
"Audrey, relax ! Chill out and then think !" said Rachel.
"Ta-daa ! My eureka moment is here ! I nailed it !" exclaimed Audrey triumphantly on discovering a bright fool proof idea.
"What ?" Rachel asked.
"Come, follow me, Rachel ! To the room of the university administrator," Audrey said enthusiastically, grabbing her friend"s wrist and tugging her along with her.
With several pleas from Rachel of "Audrey, slow down, sister, slow down !" and Audrey"s cries of "Emergency here, get aside !", they finally made it through the crowd and reached Audrey"s destination.
"Good Morning, Sir !" Audrey greeted.
"Good Morning. What brings you here, Ms ... ?"
"Audrey Blaydes, Sir. I have some queries on my choice of career in medicine. So, I would like to know the name and the number of the gentleman counselor who took the counselling session in our university for medicine last week," requested Audrey politely.
"Sure. This is Dr. Dmitri"s number. You can even meet him in person in the Town Hospital," the University Administrator suggested.
"Oh, I see. Thank you so much, Sir, for all the help," Audrey gratefully replied and left the room with the prized number in her hand.
When Rachel saw the flying slip of paper in Audrey"s hand and her delighted face, she squealed in joy and hugged Audrey.
"Ahhh ! Mission Accomplished !" Audrey giggled, once outside the administrator's room.
"Now, we can stalk your super handsome Dr. Dmitri .... mhmm, hot name .... on social networking sites and get his details out in no time to know and approach him better," Rachel suggested.
"Oh shucks ! He's not active on any of the social networking sites," a disappointed Audrey replied after quickly searching on her cellphone on the spot even before Rachel could complete her sentence.
"Now, what next ?" a worried Rachel asked. "You should call him directly," she suggested.
"That is scary, Rachel," Audrey whispered, her beautiful almond shaped eyes turning bigger in despair. "What will I say ? I don"t even know if he likes me. What if he finds me annoying with a fiery temper ? Do you think he will want to get together with me ? Especially after our awkward encounters" a vulnerable Audrey rapidly threw question after question to relay her fears.
"I don't have a prediction globe. So it's better to ask your Dr. Dmitri directly. Hehe." Rachel winked while pulling Audrey"s leg.
"Stop making fun of me !" Audrey chuckled along with her friend. "For heaven's sake, be serious and answer ! Should I call him or text him ?" Audrey came up with a new predicament.
"Audrey, your feelings might come as a total surprise to Dr. Dmitri. Receiving a message from you would mean that he would have a little more time to think which might increase your chances of a yes !" Rachel advised.
"Rachel, you know that sending a message will have me glued to my phone the whole time and going hella crazy until I finally get a response," Audrey replied.
"Sweetie, don"t put yourself through that. I's better to call him then. But make sure you do so at a moment when he's likely to be free, rather than out and about, without you sounding too stalker-esque," proposed Rachel.
"I've never called someone like that. I'm really scared," admitted Audrey.
"Remember, talking to a stranger is an act of bravery; talking to a crush is even bolder !" Rachel encouraged her.
"I feel like I am going to a war when you say like that but thanks," Audrey teased and Rachel rolled her eyes but laughed nonetheless. "But what if he says no ?" Audrey asked.
"Audrey, you're inevitably going to have to gather your nerves and talk to him as you're super attracted to him. Now stop making puppy eyes at me and get your man ! You can do this !!" added Rachel for her confidence boost.
"Who would have thought that a day would come where I would be desperate to talk to someone and calling him would scare the hell out of me," Audrey replied. "This is the worst," she cringed.
"What is the worst that could happen ?" deadpanned Rachel.
"Uh .... ," Audrey was left speechless.
"See ? You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. All the best, Audrey ! See you tomorrow. I'm going out to a movie with Leo tonight. Let me know if the doctor also confessed his feelings for you," winked Rachel with a laugh before they parted ways and went towards their respective departments.
"This girl," Audrey chuckled to herself as she shook her head.
It was time to man up for 'Operation Doctor' now.
* * * * *
At home ...
Audrey tried calling Dmitri a few times but the moment she started calling his number she would freaked out and hang up.
Finally, Audrey worked up her nerve to call Dmitri again and got him on the phone this time.
"Hello ?"