Purple Romance

Carlien walked out of her office to see Lucas standing just at the side. He had in his hands a bag. Seeing her, he smiled and lifted the bag up saying, ''chicken and beer?''

''Call!!'' she said smiling and followed him.

It was evening and most of the daytime workers had gone home. Carlien and a few other doctors were on night duty but there were hardly any emergency cases so, she was free to spend some time alone.

Lucas led her to the stairs and sat down and she joined him. She glanced at him briefly and her gaze landed on his lips that he had curved into a beautiful smile as he removed the box of chicken and cold can beer from the bag.

Carlien suddenly felt that they were on a mini date on the stairs and her face turned red just thinking about it. She had avoided him like the plague after the stunt she pulled but he hadn't said anything and still acted normal around her. Each time they had to treat a patient together, he would do it with utmost concentration.

In the past week since that day, none of them had spoken about what happened neither did they really stay in the same space together for long like today. Carlien suddenly felt that, somewhat this was a good feeling. She could tell she really like him but she was still afraid of the memories she didn't have anymore. She wondered if she would still be this happy if her memories of the past suddenly came back. would she be able to still be with him if she suddenly came to remember why he left in the first place? All of this confused her, but most importantly, her life had taken a drastic change over the last month and she wasn't the same person anymore. She had a lot of responsibilities on her head, a people who needed her and a place she had to return to sooner or later.

The question that plagued her the most was, was she capable of finding happiness with everything going on in her life? She really didn't think that such a destiny awaited her. a destiny where she had to make a choice between the people she loved and cared about and the people who needed her.

Just that morning, Cassax and regained consciousness but he couldn't speak yet. Noah was waiting to take him back, meanwhile the man who had come to her that night was still yet to make an appearance. She didn't know until when all of this was going to end but in all of that, she didn't want to have to make a decision between her people and the people who had stick with her through thick and thin.

''Here, I realised you didn't eat much during lunch today'' Lucas lifted the chicken leg towards her and noticed she had zoned out. He furrowed his brows and sighed. Was there really nothing he could do to help her? He had thought of ways of making the burden on her less but it seemed it was eating her up more than he thought.

He placed the chicken leg back and took the can beer and opened it. the snap sound brought her back to her senses and she looked at him, meeting his gaze. Lucas chuckled saying, ''finally, I got your attention''

''I… I'm sorry about that'' she smiled apologetically and took the beer from her.

''It's alright. Must be hard, right?'' Lucas picked the chicken leg and gave it to her again, this time she took it.

''What is hard?''

''You must be thinking of your people, your grandfather and what is happening in Country A, right?''

''How did you know that?''

''I can read your mind''

''Tsk, are you a psychic?''

''Maybe. Actually, you can tell me if you feel like sharing with someone. I am always here to listen to you''

''I'm scared. a lot of things happened recently and I feel that I am just overwhelmed by the sudden change in status. I want to visit there even if it's once. I want to see the place I was born. The house I lived in, I want to know who my parents were and how they looked like. I want to see my grandfather whom I haven't seen before. but, I am afraid that, it will make my mom sad. Over the years, she has done so much for me. I don't want to do something that will sadden her but I can't help but wonder how that place is. The kind of people there, but then again, I know that if I go there, my life is just going to be in a great danger. My third uncle and the others can't wait to get rid of me and ascend the throne. It is quite risky no matter how I think about it''

''Carlien, you are smart and intelligent. No matter what decision you take, I believe it is going to be the best decision. Because the Carlien that I know always think through with her decisions and she always wants the best for the people she care about. I believe your mother is also thinking about all of this. Maybe, instead of trying to carry the burden on yourself, why don't you share it with her? She is the person that knows you best.

Your country and its people are important part of your life and even if you don't wish to have anything doing with the throne, you will still need to make a trip there and set everything into the right place. Just remember one thing, whatever you decide to do, anything and everything you want to do, I will always be there to stand next to you while you do it''

''Thank you, Lucas. This means a lot to me''

''You mean a lot to me'' he smiled at her and she bit her lips before sipping the beer.

''This is life; I feel so energised after drinking this''

''But, there is something important we are not talking about'' he said looking at her.

''What are we not talking about?''

''You avoided me the past week. Don't you think I need some explanation?''

''That, we have all been busy, right? Operation here and there. A lot of things to do and think about''

''Did you really not feel anything at all from that kiss?''

Carlien opened and closed her mouth again. She smiled before saying, ''no comment'' then she bit the chicken leg in her hands.

''Let's do it again. I guarantee you will feel more than just something''

''Huh? Why?''

''You took my first kiss and now you are just playing it off with ''no comment'?'' he asked and she felt like face palming herself.

''Your first kiss? Isn't that supposed to be my line? When did it become yours to use?''

''Well, technically, that is my first kiss in the last one year''

''One year? Are you lying to me? I heard you were a big womanizer''

''I never touched those girls, I only played with them but when it came down to really doing it, I couldn't bring myself to''

''You… you are not lying to me right?''

''I am not. I can give you their contact details. You can call and find out from them. I only hanged out with them because I was bored but all of that stopped the moment I started taking notice of you''

''Lucas, you are too shameless''

''What about you? Do you know what a man hates to hear the most?''

''What?''

''I didn't enjoy it. It didn't meet my expectation; I didn't feel anything. Those kind of words bruise their ego and that's what you just did to me''

''So, I hurt your ego?''

''Yes, and you have to make up for it''

''Whoa, I have never met a more shameless man than you. You are clearly taking advantage of me right now. You want to lure me into kissing you again, right?''

''You are too smart for your own good but, Miss, I am not trying to lure you. I am going to make you want to kiss me again''

''What?'' Carlien looked at his serious face and couldn't stop herself from laughing, ''you look so childish right now'' she stood up and leaned against the holders.

''You are finally laughing'' Lucas said and looked up at her.

''Huh?''

''I thought of many ways to make you smile. I can't remember the last time you smiled like that. I'm glad I am the one making you laugh''

''You did all that to make me laugh?'' she asked looking down at him. She blushed at his smile.

''Yes, because you look beautiful when you smile. I hope that you never forget this about yourself, Carlien. You are beautiful but you look even breath-taking when you smile like that''

''Thank you, Lucas, for making me smile''

''You should thank me in a better way''

''Like?''

''Like this…'' he stood up and pulled her closer to himself, ''this time, I promise to make you feel something'' he said and closed the gap between them, kissing her passionately.