Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

Andre laughed until his white teeth were visible. His charming smile made Lara’s heart race. However, the woman quickly turned her face away. “Put on your clothes first!” she ordered for the umpteenth time.

“Okay, okay. Just wait a moment,” Andre stopped teasing Lara and went to the changing room. A few pieces of clothing were always available in his car. Andre didn’t need to worry if there were sudden errands because that’s the life of a doctor.

“At least, back then… even though now I’m unemployed,” Andre muttered as he combed through his collection of T-shirts and shorts to relax on this bright morning with Lara.

***

“Turns out, you’re good at cooking too. The fried rice is delicious,” Andre praised after scooping the available dish in front of him.

“Thank you. Maybe it’s just a coincidence. Usually, my maid done all the house-chores including cooking. I just cook occasionally,” Lara replied.

“A good future wife, huh,” Andre joked, throwing a glance at Lara sitting in front of him. The woman just blushed and lowered her face. Andre became more enthusiastic in teasing her.

“About Seno’s trial…,” Lara began to speak. Meanwhile, Andre seemed reluctant to discuss it.

“Let’s talk about it later,” he quickly interjected. Remembering Seno made his appetite decrease. Andre didn’t want that scoundrel’s image to flash in his mind.

“Okay,” Lara sealed her lips. She didn’t want Andre to feel uncomfortable. “Want some more?” she offered. Andre nodded, and Lara took a few more scoops of fried rice from the glass plate.

That morning was very calming for both of them. They never felt that such a morning would finally come.

“I want to visit my child’s grave, Ndre,” Lara requested.

“Yes. I’ll ask Briptu Ani later, where they buried your child’s body. You have to be strong, Ra. Events like this are painful… but… we can’t turn back time.”

Lara understood Andre’s words, although part of her still rejected the fact that her child, whom she had carried everywhere, now only existed in memories.

“Which mother’s heart wouldn’t break hearing all that, Ndre? I can cope with divorce or living alone. But losing a child whom I haven’t even seen his face? I don’t know….” Tears welled up in Lara’s eyes unprompted. But she quickly wiped them away.

“Ra….” Andre finished his meal. He immediately approached Lara and hugged her. Lara hadn’t fully recovered. Her soul was still gnawed by painful memories from the past.

“Sorry, Ndre. Done with your meal?”

“Yes. I’m full. Ra, how was yesterday’s assessment with the psychologist?”Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

“Oh, that… Yeah, I’m still unstable, Ndre. But my wounds have improved.”

Andre seemed to contemplate for a moment. He then looked at Lara with an unusual gaze.

“W-What is it?”

“Ra, what if we move to my apartment? It seems like you don’t need to be here anymore,” Andre said as he reached for Lara’s hand. Lara’s heart raced again.

“L-Live together?”

“Yes. Do you want to live alone in Mahya’s apartment? It’s not safe, Ra.”

Lara swallowed her saliva. Andre’s words had truth in them. She also didn’t want Mahya to be dragged back into her case. “How’s Mahya, Ndre?” Lara asked anxiously towards her object of concern.

“Mahya is awake, Ra. She’s closely guarded by the hospital security team. I don’t know, it seems like James will move Mahya, or has he already? After your kidnapping case, Mahya’s security is also in jeopardy.”

“That’s right. You probably didn’t know….” Lara remembered Andre’s words about his dismissal. Plus, he had to take care of Lara. Surely Andre’s mind was divided and restless. “Sorry, Ndre.”

“For what?”

“I’m causing so much trouble.”

“What are you talking about? I’m not bothered at all.” Andre tidied Lara’s hair. Their brown eyes clashed affectionately, for a moment, the earth seemed to stop spinning between them. The clock hands seemed to stop ticking, the atmosphere enveloping them was so quiet.

“Th- The d-dining t-ta-”

Cup! Andre planted a kiss before Lara could change the subject. “Mmh….” Lara actually enjoyed the kiss, but… “Ndre! There’s a phone call!”

***

“Yes? Go ahead.”

Andre answered the phone immediately, it turned out to be from Briptu Ani who reported on the autopsy results of Lara’s child’s body.

“There are many cuts and injection marks here and there. Even, we feel pain just imagining it,” she explained, taking a deep breath. Andre also sympathized.

“You can fill out the online form, I’ll send it to you soon, for the burial process.”

“Oh, good. Thank you, Briptu Ani.”

Andre became Lara’s guardian in this autopsy process. He really wouldn’t let Lara know this little secret.

“From whom, Ndre?”

“Oh. Briptu Ani.”

“What did she say?”

“She said… the location of your child’s grave will be informed later. She’s still busy,” Andre lied. How did he know where the grave was, if the body hadn’t even been buried yet? Andre had to be good at making up stories.

“I want to visit his grave soon, Ndre,” Lara said mournfully, staring blankly at the ceiling of the house. The sun had risen. The temperature inside the house started to rise. The morning cheerfulness had turned into the heat of the sun’s rays.

“We’ll visit his grave soon, Ra. Just wait.”

Andre hugged Lara from behind and kissed the top of the girl’s head affectionately. Lara turned out to not be as tall as he thought. If Andre was with Lara, he seemed to be a human shield who could protect her from danger.

“I hope you’re always safe with me, Ra.”

“Thank you, Ndre.”

***

Andre received news from Riko that Seno’s trial was intense. With accusations of violence as the basis of the charges, Seno dodged them.

“He said he just wanted to meet Lara without intending to torture her,” Riko said on the phone. Andre was furious. How could the judge be so easily deceived?

“And what about the injuries on Lara’s body? The kidnapping?”

“Those injuries were claimed to be just accidents. And, for the kidnapping case… there’s no evidence of that, Ndre. The CCTV at the hospital area wasn’t even functioning, right?”

“WHY IS IT LIKE THIS?” Andre was truly at a loss for words.

“That’s the use of a good lawyer, Ndre. All accusations can be turned around, and all charges can be unproven. We just need to wait for the witnesses,” Riko explained wearily. He felt Andre’s suffering as a close friend. Lara’s case was not as easy as they thought.

Andre tapped on the terrace table. He intentionally called Riko when Lara was already asleep. It was 10 PM. The cold air felt biting. The police guard shift at the safe house only consisted of one officer. The position of his post was about 3 meters from where Andre was.

“Can we meet tomorrow, Bro?” Andre asked after deciding something.

“We can. What’s up?”

“I brought new evidence about that accident….” Andre paused for a moment, after hearing a strange sound in the backyard. The sound was similar to someone brushing against bushes. “Hold on.”

Andre took the small flashlight that he always carried in his pocket. Police flashlight, they called it. The term was attached as a selling point for a small but useful item, like a police detective hunting down criminals. All those descriptions were, of course, made up so that the item could be sold easily.

“Bro….” Riko called from the other side, but Andre ignored him.

PATZ!

Suddenly, the electricity went out.

“Damn!”

Andre immediately ran to Lara’s room, while the guard seemed to rush to check the generator located in the backyard of the house, precisely in the warehouse.

“Lara!” Andre called out urgently. He hurriedly searched through the dark room to reach Lara’s room.

“KYAA!!!”

Too late.

Lara’s scream made everything chaotic!