However, Frank answered differently from the question.
“What are you planning to do?”
Lola could only be bewildered by the incomprehensible question that was like a non sequitur.
“Pardon?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
“I really don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about the patient who assaulted you.”
“Ah.”
Only then did she nod her head.
“From the way things are going, it seems like the hospital is just going to let it slide.”
“…….”
Even Professor Kent had asked her opinion on what to do, but Lola couldn’t make a decision right away.
It wasn’t a simple matter, and she needed to discuss it with Dylan. But then she would have to be honest with him.
If that happened, he would worry endlessly, and the matter could escalate out of control.
Lola couldn’t help but be deeply troubled.
“In situations like this, you can put aside your sense of duty as a doctor. If you or the hospital don’t report that patient, I’ll have no choice but to tell Dylan the truth.”
“…….”
“This is a country governed by law. So if a person commits a crime, it’s only right and natural that they be punished.”
“Please give me some time to think.” Frank sighed, sensing that Lola was hesitating.
After a moment of silence, Frank asked. “But what did you tell Dylan today?”
“I told him I had a duty.”
Frank looked dubious at Lola’s reply.
“Does Dylan believe that? He’s not the type to believe things so easily.”
“Duty is a common occurrence for residents. Dylan knows that, too.”
Frank finally nodded, saying, “Ah,” and then asked again. “But doesn’t Dylan’s sister, Gia, also work at the hospital? Even if I don’t tell Dylan, I think Gia would.”
Lola smiled faintly.
“Gia happens to be away for two days. So you just have to keep your mouth shut, Prosecutor.”
“Really!”
“I guess I’m lucky. You came just in time and saved me from dying. I unintentionally owe you another debt, Prosecutor. Thank you for even taking care of my dinner.”
Lola bowed her head and thanked him, and Frank responded curtly.
“I’ll think about how to get it back.” Lola knew it was a joke, so she didn’t feel hurt at all.
“Enjoy your meal.”
Frank quietly excused himself so that she could eat comfortably, thinking that his presence might make her uncomfortable.
Thanks to Frank, Lola was able to regain her strength and become cheerful again, even if only for a moment.
*****
The next day at lunchtime, Dylan bought Lola’s favorite strawberry cake and came to the hospital.
He assumed that Lola would be sitting on the bench at this time, so he parked his car in the parking lot and walked straight to the bench, but she wasn’t there.
Dylan tilted his head to the side, puzzled.
He quickly took out his phone and called Lola. As soon as the call connected, he asked abruptly.
“Where are you now?”
Lola didn’t answer right away on the other end of the line, so Dylan softened his voice, thinking that his tone might have been too harsh.
“I came to the bench, but you’re not here.”
-Dear, are you at the hospital right now?
“Yeah.”
He heard a surprised gasp on the other end of the line.
It wasn’t the first or second time he had come without contacting her, but she was always surprised.
The image of her widening her eyes in surprise flickered in his mind, and Dylan smiled softly.
-Dear, can you wait a little bit? There’s an emergency, so I can’t come out right now.
“Where are you now? I’ll come to you.”
-Ah, no. We might miss each other.
Dylan thought that she had a point, so he didn’t insist and readily agreed.
“Okay. I’ll wait on the bench, so come slowly.”
No, I didn’t see you yesterday, so I wish you would come quickly.
Lola said yes and hung up the phone.
Dylan sat on the bench with his legs crossed and waited for Lola.
Each minute and second felt too long.
The waiting time felt like it was passing very slowly.
Dylan sighed deeply and looked around, wondering when Lola would come.
Lola finally appeared 15 minutes later.
Seeing Lola walking slowly, Dylan felt a strange sense of relief.
Haa!
‘Lola is like a tranquilizer.’
Even though he thought it was absurd, Dylan’s lips curled up and didn’t come down.
“I’m sorry. Did you wait long, Dear?”
Lola, who had approached him, spoke apologetically. Dylan waved his hand as if to say it was okay and pointed to the seat next to him with his eyes.
“Sit down.”
“Okay.”
Lola carefully moved her steps and approached the seat next to Dylan.
Her body, bruised in places, still ached, but Lola tried her best not to show it.
“Did you have lunch?”
“Of course. What about you, Dear?”
“I ate too.”
Dylan frowned as Lola looked down at the ground with her head bowed.
“Lola.”
“Yes.”
Dylan grabbed her chin and lifted it up, finding it strange that she still wouldn’t make eye contact.
Dylan, who flinched when their eyes met, wore a slightly surprised expression.
“You’re pretty even without makeup.”
Lola always went around with a completely bare face, and it wasn’t very often that she wore full makeup like she did now, so Dylan felt a new kind of feeling.
“Ah. I had duty yesterday, so my complexion looked bad, so I just did it roughly. Does it look bad?”
Lola blushed and smiled awkwardly.
She was so surprised when she received the call that he was at the hospital.
He was a man with a quick wit, so he could quickly sense anything strange.
