Dean wanted to cry. Flynt didn’t pick up the phone, even though he had called many times. Almost running, Dean exits the hospital and intercepts a passing taxi.
Flynt probably went home tired of waiting and what Tia said earlier. Asshole! Dean hit himself in the thigh in the cab.
Kay’s right. He should not have let Tia continue to approach him from the start. He should have rejected Tia from the start. However, Dean was a gentleman and shouldn’t be rude to people who had been nice to him.
The taxi pulled up and Dean ran straight for the house after paying and he didn’t even bother to take the change money back from the taxi driver.
Dean froze in front of the dark terrace. Flynt sat on a rattan chair with his body bent down on his knees. He didn’t come in and turn on the light, just sitting in the dark in the midnight breeze.
Dean approached and knelt in front of Flynt, cupping Flint’s hands which were above his knees. Flynt flinched at the warmth of Dean’s hand and lifted his face and smiled lopsidedly. His eyes were unfocused and there was a strong smell of alcohol emanating from him.
“Hi, Baby,” Dean whispered softly. “Why don’t you wait and just walk away?”
“Hi, Dean. Why are you here? Shouldn’t you still be working with that beautiful nurse? What’s her name? Tina?”
“Her name is Tia and yes, she is beautiful but I don’t want her.” Dean smiled. The big wolf must be jealous right now. He leaned in and kissed the tip of Flynt’s nose. “Why did you come home all of a sudden? Did something happen? You didn’t tell me either.”
“I got special leave until tomorrow night for solving a problem and wanted to surprise you. I didn’t know you were … with someone.”
Dean looked into Flynt’s eyes, which were red and puffy. Was Flynt crying or was he drunk? Dean felt even more guilty.
Flynt is in the middle of the ocean completing his apprenticeship and their very limited time to meet and be together, makes everything feel vulnerable. Dean should have set boundaries a lot harder since Flynt was the one to leave, he must have been the more sensitive side.
Dean touched Flynt’s furrowed brow. “Flynt, she’s a nobody. She’s just a new nurse I happen to work with.”
Flynt slapped Dean’s hand gently and straightened up. “But she loves you and is determined to take your heart and make you her own. I can see the sincerity in her eyes.”
“What was said to you? It wasn’t true at all. I wasn’t attracted to her at all.”
Flynt stared deeply into Dean’s eyes, as if looking for any sign of lying or doubt. He looked sad and very depressed.
“Dean, can we go inside? I’m sleepy and tired.”
Dean raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Where’s your keys, Flynt?”
“I don’t know. Probably left it in my dorm room. I was in a hurry to catch the plane earlier.”
Dean took Flynt by the hand and led him. He opened the door and when the door opened, turned on the light. Flynt took off his shoes and placed them neatly on the shelf. He walked in ahead of Dean and headed straight for the bathroom.
Dean looked at the watch on his wrist and sighed. He still had an hour before the start of the last round of patient visits and after that he would be free. Seeing Flynt’s attitude now, Dean knew that something was wrong with Flynt.
He didn’t know what Tia had said to Flynt when they met, but he was sure it was something bad.
Flynt came out of the bathroom just as Dean was about to turn on the microwave to heat the pizza . “Flynt, have you eaten? I made pizza yesterday and it’s still pretty good. Wait for me to heat it up a bit.”
Flynt didn’t answer, just walked into the room and closed the door. Dean was stunned. He felt hurt now.
Why did Flynt treat him like this? He didn’t do anything wrong. Maybe Tia clearly showed her feelings for Dean, but that didn’t mean he had the same feelings for her.
Why did Flynt not ask or ask for an explanation from him and even his demeanor made it seem as if he had missed an opportunity to explain.
“Flynt.”
Dean came into the room and saw Flynt lying on the bed, already wearing a t-shirt and shorts to sleep.
Dean sat on the side of the bed and touched Flynt’s back which was facing him. “Flynt, are you sleeping?”
Flynt didn’t turn around, just mumbled in a pillow muffled voice. “I’m sleepy and very tired. Can I get some sleep first?”
“I have to be back in the hospital in an hour. I still have another round of patient visits.”
“Go. I’m just going to sleep a little.”
“Looks like we need to talk, Flynt.”
“There’s nothing we can talk about in less than an hour.”
Dean stared at Flynt’s wide back in exasperation. “I’ll be home soon, after finishing my assignment this morning,” Dean said.
“Kay said you had to attend a seminar on child health this afternoon?”
“Yes. The hospital appointed me to attend the seminar and I agreed because I still need to add credit to my grades in the pediatric ward.”
“With nurse Tia?”
Dean swallowed the bitter taste of saliva. “Flynt, it’s not something important. We’re just working together.”
“Dean, did I tell you about the seniors who used to send me food and flowers at my internship? Also one of my interns who was from a different group but insisted on moving into my group because he publicly stated he liked me in front of everyone?”
“Flynt … I ….”
“I give you a copy of my work schedule, introduce all my friends there and tell you what people who try to approach me there, girls or boys do. I clearly told them the first time they tried to approach me that I already have someone I love and that no one can replace you in my life.”
“Flynt, I had intended to stay away from Tia, but….”
Flynt pulled the blanket up to his chest. “Go, Dean. Your patient is waiting for you.”
Dean touched Flynt’s shoulder, but his lover didn’t budge. Dean’s phone vibrated in his pocket and he knew it was from the hospital.
“I’ll be right back, Flynt. I love you.”
Dean kissed Flynt on the head and left again. He went through rounds of examinations and patient visits with his mind wandering. Tia acts as usual and as if nothing happened.
Dean immediately ran to the parking lot and got into his car after filling in the last patient data. Last night he took a taxi because he was too panicked and forgot where to put his car keys.
Dean got out of the car in front of the house and felt weak when he opened the closed but unlocked door. Flynt’s shoes weren’t on the shoe rack in the corridor.
He opened the bedroom door and saw a neat bed, without Flynt on it.
“Flynt….” Dean called blankly, knowing that Flynt wouldn’t be there to answer. “Where are you?”
***