Olivia Sparks

Olivia walked the expanse of the hospital as if she owned it. Eyes followed her direction, and some staff whispered behind her retreating back. Never in their life would they imagine a person like her stepping foot in their humble hospital.

Taking off her sunglasses, Olivia wiggled her brows at her gal pal who was hiding under the sheets in shame.

"What's the diagnosis?" Olivia asked as she sat down on an extra stool beside the hospital bed.

Peeking out from her shield, Emily tweeted, "Just an infection."

"Huh? Is it that bad? Why would you end up in the emergency room?"

"Because… I panicked." Emily looked around, beads of sweat formed on her pores as if she had one.

"I'm confused." Olivia closed her eyes to clear her mind. And when she opened it, she demanded, "Can you give me the gist of what happened?"

"Ok…" Emily finally rolled the sheet down to her l.a.p. Her shoulders sag from the weight of her embarrassment. "So a few days back Wyatt and I tried something. Like… he put some whipped cream down there."

"Oh god. Please skip that part."

"But that's the part of the story, Livi darling."

"Okaaay. And then?"

"And then I was itching the whole day today and when I checked in the mirror… I had white spots all over my va-jay-jay."

A passing nurse slid the curtains and shushed them. "Please respect the other patients in the ER. Thank you."

Emily and Olivia pursed their lips and nodded. Olivia even went the extra mile and made a zipping gesture on her lip, throwing the imaginary key across the room.

The nurse gave them a thumbs up, smiling as she left the two gal pals. At first, she just went over to chastise the noisemakers but was surprised to see two fairies. 

However, what surprised her more was how they handled her reminder unlike other visitors who would talk, fight back, and even dared ask for the manager just so they could report nurses like her who's just doing her job.

When the nurse was far and out of sight and earshot, Olivia clamped Emily's hands. "I'm glad it's nothing serious. Have you seen the doctor yet?"

"Yes, they just took a sample and I'm waiting and waiting. I don't know how long it'll take. I'm too scared to give my name so I gave my assistant's name so now I have to wait for the results. Nerve-racking. Aaaaah!" She pulled her hair from the roots. "Why are the results taking so loooong to come out?"

"Okay, Ems. You need to calm down." Olivia planted a comforting hand on Emily's cold ones. She fished her phone from her sling bag and dialed Dr. Aila Zhang's number. "Hey, it's me. I need a favor…"

In no time, Emily was wheeled into a private room where Dr. Aila Zhang was waiting for them.

"Dr. Aila Zhang. A p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet you, Ms. Tay," she said, introducing herself as she shook hands with Emily. She gestured to the seat in the center of the room.

"Your results will be here shortly and an OB-GYN too. I'm sorry that you have to wait in the ER. Coffee? Tea? Water?"

The gal pals shook their hands and just gave her a curt smile. 

A knock on the door stole the ladies' attention and a young doctor stepped in with Emily's results. 

Olivia's passive expression turned into silent rage when she saw who the doctor was. 

She was a complete replica of Emily. Same color and cut of hair, even the features were the same. In a quick glance, one might even think they're twins.

"Look at that! What are the odds of meeting your doppelganger?" Dr. Aila Zhang exclaimed, failing to notice the brewing Olivia across her.

The resident doctor coyly smiled, tucking a loose hair behind her ear. "I don't think I will come close to Ms. Tay, Chairwoman."

"Come, sit. I see you have the results for us."

The resident halted her step and scanned the room, her eyes landing on Olivia before drifting to Emily. She asked, "Would you be comfortable to share the results with your friend, Ms. Tay?"

Emily shifted in her seat, smiling at Olivia. "Of course, she's my gal pal. Oh, wait. Do you mind, Livi darling? You can wait outside if you're not comfy."

"I think it's best if I stay here. I'd like to hear what this neophyte has to say."

Emily's brows furrowed. She couldn't point a finger on what or whom exactly made Olivia's mood turn sour, so she just brushed it off and gestured for the resident to take a seat.

The resident sat on Dr. Aila Zhang's left and read the doc.u.ment that would forever change Emily's life.

After what felt like being splashed with ice-cold water, Emily excused herself and went straight to the farthest bathroom as possible. She silently wept inside one of the stalls where she rubbed her cheeks until it turned red and bruised from too much scrubbing.

She was about to dial Wyatt's number when she heard a door creaking open. Something in her gut told her to stay still. To stay quiet. And so she listened to her woman's instinct.

They say when it rains, it pours. But in Emily's case… she never expected to be whiplashed by a thunderstorm.

She wailed silently as she eavesdropped to every last bit of conversation that happened outside the bathroom stall. Biting her fingers to keep her from being found out in the darkness of the farthest bathroom stall.

"What. The. F. I just dropped the biggest bomb today. Would you believe who I met? It's Emily Tay, Wyatt's fiancee. Gosh.

"It's a good thing I didn't go out with him again. Would you believe if I told you she has s.e.x.u.a.lly transmitted disease? Yuck.

"Yes! She came here with a friend and her vulva is infected. Cottage cheese infected. Oh my god."

"Miss… Miss Emily… I was…" The resident's eye darted to Emily's blinking phone and the color of her face turned grey from horror.