[LAMBERT]

I felt my phone vibrate in my jean pocket. Rolling my eyes I continued setting instruments on the surgery table, using my eyes to determine if anything was missing or faulty. I'm about to take out the brain tumor of a three-year-old who should be wheeled in any minute from now.

I mistakenly dropped a ball of cotton wool as I felt the vibration again. I sighed in frustration. Who's calling me anyway? Zeus bloody knows my schedule and Diablo rarely called unless he wanted news on Zeus.

Diablo.

A possibility. I concluded, pulling off my white coat and gloves before searching my jean pocket for my phone. If it's Diablo, he's going to make me go over disinfecting this place again.

I slide the lock screen before tapping on the answer button, not bothering to look at the caller ID.

"What?" I said into the receiver, my voice coming off as irritated. If he's going to call about Zeus, it's better if he did that during my break hours.

"Um, it's Diablo," Diablo murmured into the phone.

"I figured," I sighed, I can't stay mad at Diablo, especially when he's sounding so confused and lost.

"You're calling about Zeus, right? Julian's doing a great job," I added and regretted doing so immediately after.

"Oh, o-okay..." Diablo shuttered. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. He was such a baby.

"Bye then," I said, intending to cut the call right after, but Diablo's voice on the other end kept me on the line.

"Wait! Um, don't cut it yet," Diablo rambled. The image of him ruffling his curly black hair, making me smile.

"What else? Zeus called last—"

"It's not about Zeus!" Diablo groaned into the line.

"Oh," I said when the line went quiet. I didn't know what else to say. What is he talking about? We've never talked without Zeus coming up.

"Um, so how are you?" He shuttered into the phone. I blinked digesting the question. I don't have hearing problems, right?

"Wait, who's paying you to do this?" I asked seriously into the phone.

"What are you talking about Lambert? I'm just asking." Diablo insisted.

"Fine." I mouthed still suspicious. Does he want something?

"Oh. Um, okay," Diablo mumbled back. The conversation was so — awkward. I should just save the whole thing and cut the phone.

"Um, maybe I should just hang—"

"No! Don't, I wanted to ask you something important," Diablo blurted. I nodded to myself. I knew this was for something.

"Go on," I said after a while of silence.

"So, I remembered you like lemons and especially the yellow ones..." Diablo trailed. I frowned confused. So I like lemons big deal. I don't see how this has anything to do with — wait he noticed?

"You noticed?" I asked, feeling a bit fluttery in my gut.

"Of course I did. You eat them all the time," Diablo said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Oh," I said surprised and still feeling fluttery.

Because of lemons. I thought to myself. I just smiled. It doesn't matter, at least he noticed me. Well, sort of.

"So, I saw some on sale and decided to get some for you," Diablo finished.

"Is that all?" I asked still smiling to myself. I don't know why this conversation is oddly making me happy.

"I-I don't know, it's just — forget about it. Oh, and good luck with the operation," Diablo managed.

Operation?

"How did you know?" I asked, getting curious.

"Well I checked," he mumbled. I closed my eyes and muttered to myself. False signs Lambert — false signs.

"Um, okay, bye," Diablo muttered after a period of silence.

"Bye," I replied as Diablo dropped the call.

"Doc, should I bring the patient in?" a nurse asked, walking in.

"In ten," I replied, putting my gloves back on. My colleagues would be here any minute. This was going to be a long eight hours.

[ZEUS]

These past two weeks have been weird. Amanda's been weird.

My eyes followed her panicked movement from one side to the office to another. What's bugging her? She looks as if she's not slept for ages. The dark circles under her eyes said it all. She visibly shuddered from time to time. Is she ill?

"Amanda," I called closing my laptop.

"Yes," she stammered her eyes widening. Is she afraid of something?

"Amanda, what's wrong?" I asked, my voice calm so that I didn't startle her. I couldn't seem to fathom what in the world was bothering her.

"Nothing, nothing at all," she said, sounding a bit too certain as she shook her red hair, making her red locks bounce with the movement.

I sighed. She's obviously lying, nothing my ass. I opened my mouth to talk but I shut it. Her business is not mine anyway.

"I'm heading out for coffee," I announced, getting up. I brushed past her as I headed for the door. If she wasn't going to tell me the problem, I won't bother asking.

Walking through the hallway, I could see the early decorations for Valentine's Day. The heart decorated streamers running from one place to another, the spinning inflammable cupids hanging from the ceiling.

Julian. Was the only thought that ran through my mind. I smiled to myself. He's turning me into an overgrown lovesick puppy. I couldn't deny it anymore. I was falling in love with him — with his smile, his hair, his moans... I chuckled to myself as I got to a turn. The cafe was only another hall away.

I wonder what flavors they have now — Okay, you got me. I'm not going to get coffee, I'm going to get yogurt. They're not only for kids. They're for grown men like me.

I walked into the cafe through the transparent slide doors. The cafe was also decorated in preparation for Valentine's Day. Looking over the serving point I smiled. Early valentine chocolate cake and cookies were already up for sale.

"Isn't it too early for all this?" I asked stuffing a cookie I stole from the display in my mouth. Shoo, I own this place.

"It's only three days away," the black plum lady said from behind the counter. I smiled, nodding approvingly. She's right, it is close.

"Yogurt?" the woman asked earning a grin from me. Does she even need to ask?

"The raspberry?" she asked, heading for the fridge at the corner.

"No, the strawberry," I corrected quickly. She raised her brow in question. I understood why. I always took raspberry.

"Trying something new?" she asked, replacing the large raspberry yogurt-filled cup with an empty one.

"Sort of." I grinned, watching her fill the empty cup with yogurt.

You can actually say I'm trying something new, Julian new. Is it odd he reminds me of strawberries?

"You're not with us," the woman said, dropping the plastic cup of yogurt noisily to gain my attention.

"Sorry," I blurted, taking the transparent plastic cup off the counter.

Walking back up the stairs; taking in all the decorations again. I started to have those weird feelings again. Those 'I could burst in happiness right now' sort of feelings.

I was about finishing my yogurt as I walked into my office. I sighed, Amanda's no longer here, but neither is the gloominess of being loveless and alone.

God, when was the last time I was in love?

I'm clearly breaking the promise I made to myself when I met Julian — when I was sure I would never fall in love again. Never be victim to the stupid tricks cupid plays on us.

Falling into my chair my eyelids began to feel sleepy. Today has been a long and tiring. I more or less had to do everything myself because of Amanda's uneasiness. That reminded me. I wondered what in the world is bothering her.

I sighed, shaking my head. I'm not going to let her personal problems bother me.

A light blush crept up my cheeks as I realized I had been unconsciously scribbling Julian's name on a stray sticky note on my desk.

Julian. Julian. Julian. I repeated to myself in my mind as I read the sticky note amused. My face softened in compassion. I forgot I did stupid things when I was falling for someone.

I impatiently looked at my watch. Two more hours till my office hours were over. I want to see Julian. I really want to see Julian. I continued to write on the poor sticky note under my mercy.

After a while, I checked the time again.

"One hour, forty-eight minutes more," I groaned, getting restless. Time is so slow. I occupied myself with looking through some selfies Julian and I had taken with my iPhone a few days ago at my place. I loved seeing Julian in my bed. I liked knowing he was there. I loved feeling him there.

I alternated most of my remaining time between paperwork and thinking of Julian. Since I had tons of work to do, I made it into a game. Every time I answered a shitty business letter I got to scribble Julian's name somewhere. If I answered or replied to a missed call I could scroll through more pictures of Julian, and If I can sign one more stupid document, I could go through our past texts.

I smiled, scrolling through our texts.

Julian: 

I miss home. 3:15 PM.

Me:
You are home.
3:16 PM.

Julian: 

I mean; home as in, home. 3:18 PM.

Me:
And where is this home?
3:19 PM.

Julian: 

your house, your bed, anywhere with you in it. 3:20 PM.

I was a bit shocked at the jittery feelings I was getting reading this all over again. Scrolling up I found later ones

Me:
Are you awake?
11:50 PM.

Julian: 

Yes.

11:52 PM.

Me:
Go to bed.
11:53 PM.

Julian: 

No. 

11:54 PM.

Me:
Why not?
11:55 PM.

Julian: 

I can't, I want you here. 

11:55 PM.

Me:
Too bad.
11:55 PM.

Julian: 

I know, right?

11:57 PM.

Julian: 

Zeus? 

12:00 AM.

Me:
Yes?
12:01 AM.

Julian: 

I really, really like you. 

12:02 AM.

Me:
I like you too.
12:02 AM.

Julian: 

It's different. 

12:03 AM.

Me:
How?
12:03 AM.

Julian: 

That part I can't explain. 

12:04 AM.

Julian: 

Goodnight. 

12:04 AM.

Julian: 

I would have kissed you too if I could. 

12:05 AM.

Me:
go to bed Julian.
12:06 AM.

Julian: 

I guess I should. 12:06 AM.

Smiling, I heard the office door creak open.

"Mr. Darcanius," Amanda called, walking in. I creased my brows in disapproval. She looked like hell.

"Office hours are over, should I call for your car?" Amanda asked, her voice oddly raspy.

"Gladly," I said, beginning to pack up. I might not be meeting up with Julian today, but I have the rest of the day to plan out our date tomorrow.

Three days to Valentine's day. I thought, smiling to myself.

[LINDA]

I stared at the computer screen doing absolutely nothing related to real estate. Working hours were long over, but I took the excuse of wanting to work overtime to stay a little longer at the office. I need to ponder over my thoughts.

Should I be doing this?

Was it worth ruining a whole family to get to just one man?

Zeus Parthoropeons was the son of Acheron Parthoropeons and Vera-Tabitha Parthoropeons. Apparently, they owned one of the biggest real estate companies in Greece. I sighed biting my lip. Things would have been a lot easier if Zeus had been some new money from the slums. Apparently, he had been proclaimed dead by his own parents and I wouldn't blame anyone for taking on a fake identity.

Zeus Parthoropeons was dead-legally, while Zeus Darcanius was not.

Outing him would mean involving his family and I really don't want to be the attention of public news.

I'll just post it on a newly created website. I thought to myself. Then I'll buy some ads to circulate the news.

"Andrews, it's past eleven, better get going," the office bus boy marshal said, passing me with a bucket and a mop in hand.

Andrews. I thought, closing my eyes. I probably won't have the right to that name if Julian finally divorced me.

No, I can't keep my discovery a secret, but I am not going to reveal it now. I thought, canceling the web page. I'll use it when all other means fail. When I have no other choice.

I sat up and watched the desktop shut down.

I needed coffee. I didn't intend to sleep tonight. I sighed, remembering Julian was on some sort of strike. He isn't cooking or cleaning around anymore, and now that I thought about it, I realized he barely at home anymore either. I cursed under my breath. I'll just substitute with the caffeine in coke. What can I say? I'm addicted to that shit.

Getting up from the chair, I wore my coat and picked up my bag that had been lying on the floor before I made my way to the hallway that led to the main reception. I proceeded to leave through the front door but Marshall stopped me.

"Oh, your brother called," he said shouting from behind the counter where he was dusting.

"What did he say?" I asked swatting some flies that had gathered over the light bulb above me.

"Fuck you," he said and I frowned.

"Don't shit with me," I said narrowing my eyes at him.

"No shitting, he literally said fuck you," Marshall said waving the black feather duster over his head. I frowned at him, is everyone turning into a fag now?

"Hey Marshall," I called him, getting curious. I watched as his eyes settled on me.

"Yeah?" he answered, turning around to continue dusting.

"Are you gay?" I asked, being direct.

"Wai- what... Fuck no," Marshal stammered. I could see the light blush beginning to dance on his cheeks.

"Good," I sighed, feeling relieved before I walked out the door.

The night air was cold and I groaned in frustration forgetting where I parked the car. I rubbed my palms together trying to get rid of the goosebumps taking over my skin.

"Think Linda think" I murmured to myself walking about the parking lot. I finally spotted the small CUV parked close to the edge of the building.

"Thank God," I whispered to myself getting into my car. I didn't waste time putting on the night lights and turning up the heater. I soon started to search the pigeonhole for something — something private. Finally finding what I was looking for, I began to unfold the white piece of paper. I was soon looking down at the results from the tests I had done in New York just to make sure I wasn't the one in the wrong, wasn't the one who was putting my relationship with Julian in danger.

'BIPOLAR.'

Was the word boldly written at the bottom of the test results, a doctor's signature confirming the test results sat directly under the word.

"Bipolar my ass," I hissed tearing the test results into tiny bits and pieces.

I'm not going to let some doctor label me. I thought to myself as I stepped on the gas. I don't need drugs, I'm not crazy or depressed. I don't have some stupid disorder.

I'm just madly in love with Julian Andrews.