A little later.
Tired of flying the kite, the two spread out a picnic mat on the ground and began to eat the lunch they had packed.
Dylan put a piece of kimbap in his mouth and asked.
“How is today? Was it fun?”
“Yes. This is my first time on a picnic like this.”
A pleasant smile was plastered on Lola’s face.
“It’s my first time too. When I think about it, I seem to have shared so many firsts with you.”
“When you say things like that, you sound like a player who seduces women.”
Dylan’s eyes narrowed as he watched her munching on the egg roll kimbap in her mouth. Soon after, a grumble escaped from his lips.
“You, it seems like you’re picking on me no matter what I say now. Geez…… I’m too scared to say anything.”
Lola avoided Dylan’s gaze and looked elsewhere.
Dylan put a cherry tomato in his mouth and casually threw out the words.
“But you! You seem to have gotten bolder these days.”
Dylan didn’t explain in detail, but Lola understood the meaning of his words exactly.
Even she thought she had become bolder these days.
If he didn’t agree with her, she would often talk back, and she would also joke around with him in a teasing tone without fear, like now.
And if it seemed like it would be disadvantageous to her, she would subtly change the subject.
Now was exactly that time.
“Um…… why did you become a prosecutor, Dear?”
He couldn’t have failed to notice the smoothly changed topic, but Dylan pretended not to know and answered the question honestly.
“I became a prosecutor to protect my family and the people I love.”
“That’s cool.”
“Then now you tell me. Why did you become a psychiatrist?”
“I…….”
Damn it!
It was a word I came up with in a hurry to change the subject.
But why did you have to ask about my job?
Lola wanted to slap her own head for not being more careful.
Dylan didn’t miss the change in Lola’s expression as she couldn’t continue speaking and was flustered.
“I wanted to know more about myself. So I chose psychiatry.”
“…….”
Dylan’s brow furrowed as if he was thinking about something. After a moment, Dylan asked.
“Then what kind of woman do you think you are?”
“Then, what kind of woman do you think you are?”
Unexpectedly, Lola, instead of answering, asked Dylan a question in return.
“What kind of woman do you think I am?”
“I think I asked first.”
“I still don’t know myself very well.”
At her calm reply, Dylan frowned slightly, as if in thought.
Lola, feeling nervous yet expectant, stared intently at Dylan’s lips.
“You’re… what should I say?”
Lola perked up her ears. Dylan continued quietly.
“You cry easily, never listen, and sometimes you can be a bit stubborn…”
As Dylan rattled off only negative assessments of her, Lola’s expression gradually turned sulky.
“Okay, I don’t want to hear it.”
“I’m not finished yet. You have to listen to the end, or you’ll regret it.”
Looking disgruntled, Lola pouted and stood up.
“Are you really not going to listen? You’ll regret it immensely, you know?”
Lola waved her hands dismissively and moved away little by little.
That’s not what I wanted to say.
‘See, you should have listened to the end.’
You’re kind, timid yet brave, and really attractive when you smile.
And you’ve shared so many firsts with me, and you’re a precious woman to me, someone who makes me feel good just by looking at you.
Dylan, muttering the words he couldn’t bring himself to say to her, looked up at the blue sky.
Until then, he had clearly been feeling excited and good.
When his phone, which he had put in his pants pocket, vibrated, Dylan tilted his head and took out his phone to check.
He had received a text message.
-Dylan, are you free for lunch tomorrow?
It was Nia.
Dylan’s face instantly clouded over as he checked the sender.
When Dylan didn’t reply immediately, the text tone rang again after two minutes.
-I’d like to meet and talk about Amaya.
Dylan glanced at Lola, who was already far away, and then sent a short, curt reply.
[Okay.]
I had almost forgotten.
Feeling as if he had returned to the harsh reality after seeing the text message, Dylan already had a headache.
It was because Nia and Amaya were annoying and bothersome, like thorns in his fingernails.
However, Dylan had no choice but to agree, as Nia’s cooperation was essential to finding Amaya, who had disappeared like smoke.
*****
Even though she had only taken a little over a week off, Lola felt like it had been a very long time.
Perhaps it was because she had been through a near-death experience, but everything looked new to Lola upon returning to the hospital.
The doctors and nurses who were close to Lola also couldn’t hide their happy expressions.
“How’s your injury? You should have rested more.”
Lola smiled brightly at Gia, who asked with concern.
“I’ve been eating and resting so well. Don’t you think I’ve gained weight?”
“Oh, you can afford to gain some weight.”
Gia, giving her a playful glare, pinched Lola’s cheek lightly. Nurse Sasha chimed in.
“I’m glad you look good, Lola Dax.”
“Wow! It’s good to see you, Lola, after so long.”
Doctor Becky, who had come to the station sometime, made a fuss and made it obvious that he was happy to see her.
“How have you been, Doctor Becky?”
“I’ve been really busy taking care of your patients too.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Doctor Becky shrugged, saying it was nothing.
Lola began to ask about the condition of her patients during her absence.
“How is patient Xavier doing?”
“He’s gotten so much better that he can be discharged this week.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
“By the way, I’m worried.”
Lola tilted her head, as Doctor Becky’s face suddenly looked troubled.
“Why? Is there something bothering you?”
“It’s about patient Amaya.”
“What about patient Amaya?”
Doctor Becky’s brow furrowed deeply. Nurse Sasha, who had been eavesdropping quietly, carefully joined the conversation.
“Patient Amaya suddenly disappeared. There are quite a few people looking for her here and there.”
Doctor Becky frowned and immediately took over the conversation.
“The police are also looking for patient Amaya. Amaya’s husband has also been here a few times. It’s a complete mess these days.”
“I wonder if that woman is up to something again? Why do I feel so uneasy?”
Gia muttered anxiously. Lola was also worried, as she kept thinking about what Amaya had said while assaulting her.
She hadn’t realized it when she was with Dylan, who was a strong support, but she felt anxious in many ways when she was alone.
While Lola was feeling troubled, her phone rang in her gown pocket.
When she took out her phone, a familiar caller ID appeared on the screen.
‘Why is Mom calling again?’
What could it be?
Lola tilted her head and walked to the end of the hallway to talk to Paulina, asking for their understanding.
