42. Lina
Lina
My throat was dry as I took a sip of my extra-dark coffee.
I was alone in the break room of the pharmacy far earlier than necessary.
Coming in this early reminded me of my first few weeks working here.
It brought back the memories of when Jonathan was the opening pharmacist, and I would come in just as early to prove that I could be there on time.
Most mornings, I’d dread the entire drive here.
While other mornings, I’d sharpen my composure or even my tongue for the day ahead—preparing myself for the remarks he’d make.
Today, however, was different.
Jonathan wasn’t going to walk in with his brisk footsteps. He wasn’t even going to get a chance to savor the strong coffee I made.
For the first time in over a month, the daily ritual I’d built around the pharmacy—and even Jonathan—changed.
Jonathan was getting his sutures taken out today, and he wouldn’t be here until mid-morning.
Anxiety pulled lightly at my chest and buzzed at my fingertips, begging me to chew on my nails.
It almost felt strange, knowing I wouldn’t see him at all this morning.
This realization suddenly made me feel out of place.
Since the coffee probably wasn’t doing me any good in that department, I poured out the rest of the ultra-strong coffee in my cup, watching the dark liquid disappear down the drain.
I got myself a mug of hot water instead.
It had been five days since Neng threw the chair into the glass divider in the pharmacy. It had been five days since Jonathan’s gash was sutured up. It had also been five days since I’d been riddled with guilt whenever I helped him clean his stitches and wounds.
The bloodstains he left behind on the pharmacy’s carpeted floors were immediately cleaned up by a carpet cleaning company hired by John.
A new Plexiglas screen will be installed this week.
Despite everyone moving on as if I hadn’t been the one who brought all this on Jonathan and the team, I still felt that nagging guilt.
The back door suddenly opened, and the sounds of footsteps echoed down the hallway. As much as I wanted to set my cup down and run out to see if it were Jonathan, I didn’t.
“Good morning,” Carmen greeted as she came into the break room. She glanced at the pink box I brought in this morning with a soft grin. “Thanks for the doughnuts, Lina.”
I smiled back. “You’re welcome. It’s the least I can do to thank you all for helping me hold down the fort until Jonathan comes in the afternoon.”
She waved her hand dismissively as her unbound, long black hair cascaded over her shoulders. I watched as she put her belongings away in her locker. “We’ll be fine,” she said, “I hope.”
I let out a soft chuckle as my phone started ringing from the break room table. Jonathan’s name flashed across the screen, and I suppose that was Carmen’s cue to bounce to the bathroom.
I picked it up and answered, “Hello?”
“Wow,” Jonathan mumbled, voice groggy. “Your early-morning voice sounds so sexy over the phone.”
“Jonathan,” I greeted, shaking my head.
He hummed. “Yeah, Darling, keep saying my name like that.”
I sighed. “Stop it. Why are you even calling?”
I could hear the corners of his lips curling into an amused smirk. “To tell you I’ll be there soon.”
“You have an appointment to remove your sutures,” I stated.
“I’m aware.” He chuckled softly. “When we talked last night, you sounded anxious. You’ll do well by yourself, Dr. Lee. I’m certain.”
A scoff bubbled out of me. “I’m not anxious about being on the floor alone. I’m just . . . worried about you.”
“What about me?” he quickly asked.
“Your safety,” I muttered.
“I’m good, Lina. You know that. I’m more worried about your safety.” He inhaled and exhaled a long breath, allowing us to take a moment to just breathe. “The suture removal should be quick. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“I know.”
“I know we’re not technically allowed to do this. But I want to give you a kiss when I see you.” His voice was playful and mischievous.
“Dr. Lo, we are at work.” My words came out sharply, and I heard him sigh begrudgingly on the other end of the call. “You need to be professional.”
“Well, I’m begging you, Dr. Lee. At least one kiss. I’ve been such a good boy. Eating balanced meals, healing well, and going to the doctor’s and all,” he mumbled. “Please. We can kiss in my car in the parking lot.”
“Dr. Lo,” I said his name again.
“Lina, please,” he groaned. “Just one kiss.”
“I’ll think about it.” My tone was firm.
He grumbled. “Fine.”
He strolled into the pharmacy around ten with a coffee carrier of Vietnamese iced coffee.
The team eagerly greeted him, grabbing their coffees from him, as I stood by my computer station.
I merely glanced at him for a moment. With a bandage still on his eyebrow, he looked relaxed and rather excited to be here.
I quickly turned back to look over a possible drug interaction alerted by the system.
“Good morning, Dr. Lee,” said Jonathan, placing one of the iced coffees by the desktop monitor. “Glad to see the pharmacy isn’t burning down without my supervision.”
I scoffed, straightening my spine. I grabbed the coffee and took a sip of the robust and full-bodied drink as if I didn’t already consume something equally strong this morning. “Glad to see you doing alright after your doctor’s visit as well.”
The corners of his smirk tipped a tiny fraction tighter, and his eyes began to twinkle. He was practically begging me to kiss him on the floor in front of everyone. I simply stared at him as I took another drag of the coffee he brought.
He blinked slowly as his eyes flicked to my lips. Before he could stare any longer, I spoke up, “Dr. Lo, I suggest you to not engage in any strenuous work today—considering your delicate state and all.”
His good eyebrow quirked as his mouth coiled another centimeter higher. “Oh?”
“Take it easy, sir.” I smiled before lowering my voice quietly enough. My eyes darted to the healing laceration on his eyebrow. “As always, thank you for looking after us.”
Jonathan’s Adam’s apple bobbed with a thick swallow. His gaze softened. “You’re welcome, Dr. Lee.”
I wanted to look at his wound, bandage it back up, and lightly place a kiss over where I hurt him. Like Jonathan, I wanted to kiss him the moment I saw him. Yet, we stood there for a moment watching the other because that was all we could do. We were at work and had to stay professional, after all.
“Oh! Just kiss already!” Grace demanded all of a sudden.
We both turned to her, shock on both of our faces. Carmen and Sheryl were at her side. All three of them were giddy and grinning ear to ear.
“We promise we won’t say anything to John,” Carmen nodded, wiggling her brows.
“And we’ll also look away. Promise,” Sheryl added, giving the two of us a thumbs up.
“There are no patients here. Hurry! Kiss!” urged Grace, glancing out to the empty waiting area and doorway.
Jonathan and I laughed, turning to each other.
Before I could react, he leaned in and gave me a soft peck on the corner of the lips.
Carmen and Sheryl let out muffled squeals in the background.
Feeling it was unfair I couldn’t kiss him back, I gave him another peck directly on his lips.
A shaky breath escaped him, reminding me what we were doing was wildly inappropriate on the pharmacy floor.
I tugged away with red cheeks while Jonathan huffed a disappointed sigh.
“Glad to have you back here with us, Dr. Lo,” I said after clearing my throat and straightening my white coat.
He grinned with equally flaming cheeks. “I didn’t go anywhere, Dr. Lee. But I’m glad to hear I was greatly missed.”
I nodded as my own lips fought to mirror his. “Rightfully so.”
Just as Jonathan was about to walk past me, he leaned over and placed another kiss on my cheek as Carmen and Sheryl shrieked excitedly. Grace laughed out loud.
“Dr. Lo!” I yelled as he zoomed to the other side of the pharmacy. I turned to our two youngest pharmacy techs with a heated face. “You said you were going to look away!”
“We couldn’t help ourselves, Lina,” laughed Carmen.
“Free coffee and a free show? Sign me up!” whooped Sheryl.
“Me too!” chuckled Grace, waving her iced coffee in the air.
This was the first time since the incident that we had all laughed this much, the sounds of our shrieks and giggles cackling through the pharmacy.
I didn’t usually condone this behavior—I preferred upholding myself to the most professional standards I could—but seeing our team this relaxed and ecstatic now, I allowed it.
After looking at each of our techs’ happy faces, I finally turned to my pharmacy manager as he turned to me. Across the floor, we shared the same loving smile.
The techs continued laughing until the front door opened and a patient sauntered in, pulling everyone back to their respective stations and positions. Grace greeted the patient while Carmen cleared her throat, and Sheryl started counting pills again.
I turned back to the monitor, but not without sharing one last glance with Jonathan. He grinned, eyes darting to my lips again, and I shook my head at him before focusing on what was in front of me. It was nice to have a little break for a moment. However, it was time to work.
It was another Monday and another day at the pharmacy.