Chapter 2 Something suspicious

Joyce noticed recently when she returned back home how she forget things easily unlike before. Always feeling down and weak , sleepy and kind of high. She thought it was her caffeine intake and reduced it but these symptoms still persist. She started scrolling through her Facebook news feed until she slept off.

Joyce knew she is in for it for coming to work late today which is completely unlike her. She really need to see a doctor. How come she slept that long even with the alarm ringing?. She ran to the nurse's desk.

" Jeez, nurse Joyce, you were never this late" Nurse Ash said worriedly holding her hand to catch a breath " just calm down"

" I'm sorry, it's not intentional" Joyce replied faintly. Someone came in through the other door, she can recognize the perfume, that's her best friend , Vivian.

" Do you know the doctor you are assigned to today?" Nurse Vivian looked at her closely while holding unto a file on her chest.

" Who could that be?"

"Doctor Smith!!!" Ash and Vivian chorused together

" Holy shit!!!" Joyce shouted. Today is really not a good day.

" But you know that peahen is already with him in the name of covering up for you, we know what she wants" Ash replied shrugging shoulder

"You mean Liz?"

"Yeah" Vivian replied " yo girl, see you later, I gotta go" she hugged Joyce and left.

" I need to go too" Joyce announced, readjusting her breast watch.

***

" I don't know what might has happened but you know nurses like her. They study abroad and come here doing things at their will, it's like her though" Lisa shrugged as she sat down.

" I'm going to a party later this weekend" Smith announced, trying to write an invincible word with pen in his hand.

"And?" Lisa asked eagerly greaning.

" I need a partner actually, you wanna tag along?" Smith saw the excitement in her face and quickly added " nothing attached"

"For now"

" I repeat, nothing atta...." He couldn't complete his statement when the door got opened .Who is this one?

" I'm sorry , doctor Smith. I don't know what happened, I just slept out of time" Joyce said shakily , trying to close the door and at the same making eye contact.

Lisa scoffed "and you couldn't knock?". She stood up, walking to her side , whispering to her ears " and didn't I deserve a thank you"

Joyce looked back at her with alot of disgust and irritation, she really wish she can hit her right now. But she remained silence looking at Smith squarely like a way of begging him to save her from doing what she might regret.

Smith was just stunned and confused with the atmosphere here. He definitely knows Joyce is not one of his fans, definitely that can't be the reason for this intense hatred in his office. Lisa as the predator and Joyce as the prey. He saw Joyce's face and knew she needed help.

" It's all right, I already did the ward round" he finally spoke , taking his eyes away from the long eye contact with Joyce's.

"Really?" Lisa asked in disbelief " you should have gave her a handful like you do to other not it's alright"

" I said what I said" Smith replied.

"Thanks alot, let me get the other files ready for the afternoon ward round" Joyce replied smiling. She was about to open the door before Lisa swiftly held the door knob.

" No way, you're going out before me" Lisa said triumphantly. " Smith"

Smith looked up.

" We meet weekend night, right" Lisa asked looking at Joyce as a way of saying I won

He nodded.

She walked through the door but not only after a smirk at Joyce.

Right that moment, Smith already regretted his decision of taking her along.

Joyce left the office .

*******

Things can't continue this way, I can't keep on feeling down and making terrible mistakes especially affecting my career. I need to see a doctor. All these thoughts were going through Joyce's mind to the extent that she was oblivion about Vivian around her.

Vivian tapped her on the shoulder while she jerked back to life.

" Oh my God, I'm so sorry" Joyce said holding Vivian's hand as support from the sudden jerk. " When have you been standing here?"

"Couple of minutes ago"

" I'm sorry"

" What you're thinking of so bad?" Vivian sat down beside her "and don't tell me, it about that peahen"

Joyce laughed faintly. "I wonder when you guys will stop calling her that"

" I think it's high time, you let everyone know she's your step sister"

Joyce Shaked her in opposition." No no no, I'm not bringing my family's drama to my work. You know I got my job here by myself while she got it through recommendation from my dad, I will be the one to be affected"

" No one likes her even still" Vivian shrugged.

"Maybe"

"So what's up?"

" Nothing much. Just wanted to see a doctor"

" Why?" Vivian asked with a caring expression.

" Just having this feeling of something wrong with me"

" Just because you came late for work today?"

" Part of it"

Vivian moved closer, holding her hand " it doesn't worth it baby girl."

"Hmm"

"Leave life YOLO" Vivian untangled their hand, stood up took out a pen and writing on the plain sheet Infront of them " YOLO life means You Only Live Once" . She dropped the pen " enough of all these check up drama"

Joyce kept quiet looking at her best friend closely. Vivian had this social life but not the academic aspect. She's really beautiful one might say. Joyce wondered and yet grateful how Vivian still continue to stick close to her after the ugly incident with Vivian's fiancee. That was really an horrible moment for them because since then Vivian never had a stable one.

Vivian tapped her on her forehead . " You've knocked off again?"

Joyce adjusted her sitting posture . " Nah, just admiring my best friend, you know"

Vivian beaming with smile, open her arms to invite her for a hug." Come here baby"

They hugged each other closely.

" Damn girl, I love this perfume, I'm gonna steal it" Joyce said jokingly

" It's all yours baby" Vivian replied jokingly mimicking the male actor in their favorite Tv series.

They both laughed.