Enjoy this new bonus chapter.

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All I wanted was to get rid of him.

but Isaac was sticking to me more than a chewing gum stuck on the back my shoe. he was also hardheaded. I guess it should not be a surprise because he had always been. Just like me.

the fact that he didn't change much from the person he was when we were younger amazes me. Somehow, he was still the same person. But in some ways, he was very different.

I was getting back to work after my lunch break around 3 when I heard someone calling my name. I could tell they were far - about 50 meters- but I could still hear them because I had super sensitive ears. I stopped in my track on the stairs. then I continued walking.

the second time I had to look for them. I turned around, and put a hand to cover my eyes from the sun, looking for the source of the voice. For a good 20 seconds, I couldn't spot anyone. But when they called a third time, I did.

It was Isic.

But I was so far away, and there was no reason he'd come see me when he had met me once and we did not do well around each other. I believed it wasn't him. But he jogged towards me. As he got closer, I realized two things; one it was him. Two, his left arm was bleeding profusely.

I didn't know what to think about what was going on.

He stopped in front of me, looking at me dead in the eyes.

"I need you to treat my arm."

I took a step back. "I can't do that."

"Yes, you can. You're practically a doctor." His eyes were wide, and questioning. Yes, I had a degree. But I couldn't legally treat people. Especially not in the lab.

Father's threatening words came back to me. One more time, and you won't be under my protection. Father was a One, because of the score he had on the international test. That made him one of the highest-paid people there, and most respected. Because I was his daughter, people never dared to step on my toes. I would lose all of that.

But if I didn't help him, I would lose my humanity. Or whatever bit I had.

I was also terrified of blood. And his arm was like a tap. One after the other, the drops of blood almost created a pool of blood around us.

"let's go."

I took the stairs four at a time. I was focused on treating him ASAP. We may have had a bad fight when I was younger. But we had a history. And we were the same people.

I looked back to see if he was keeping up. And he was. But I could see he was growing tired. How many liters of blood had he lost already?

In front of the front doors, I froze, and waited for him. My Father's disgusted voice echoed in my mind. "You are bringing shame to our name with your careless behavior. This is not a hospital. If I see you one more time treating someone again, I will call the the Cops myself. This reckless behavior cannot go on any further."

Isic, now beside me, noticed my weird expression. "Why do you look disgusted?" he said, peering at me from my right side.

"I-nothing." I turned around. We were in front of my past, my future, and my only source of bread. It's where I wished to work my whole life, and where I ended up working. I didn't want to ruin my spot there.

Inside was a jungle. I was a One. But Isic wasn't. He was probably less than that. And inside the dome with beige color scheme, people were more in each other business' than in any job.

Some oozed competition and jealousy, especially when it came to me. All they wanted was a chance to "expose" me. That's what Ken always said anyway.

I looked straight into Isic's eyes. "When we get through the doors, make sure to act like an important person. Straighten your hand for me, please."

I took my grey scarf around it, and tied it tightly around his arm. Then I straightened the collar of his navy-blue shirt. "Nose looking at the sky. Stare in people's eyes. Big sure steps. Show me how you would do it."

"This is usele-"

I rolled my eyes. "No, it's not. And if you want my help, you have to abide by my rules."

He curled his upper lip in exasperation. But he tried anyway. His stare was good for a first try, but it wasn't fierce. It lacked that 'He's confident' vibe or "don't mess with me because I might bite you" vibe.

"yes, but focus on the eyes. Show me how confident you are."

He straightened his back. Then focused his brown eyes on me, with a slightly arched eyebrow. I smiled. "Awesome. Now let's go. Your life depends on it. Also, hide the injury."

I led the way inside. We went through the glass sliding doors that sprayed us with lots of disinfectant, as usual. But as soon as I was out, I was literally at the red carpet. Following my own advice, I started walking like I was hosting an important event. But the carpet was beige.

We passed the big front brown desks on either side of us, and walked on the beige big freshly cleaned carpets that led to the elevators. Everything was running smoothly.

It was too good to be true. Fifteen meters from the entrance, someone called my name. It attracted a lot of stares. I was like a magnet. Everyone always wanted to know what I was up to.

That's what he wanted to know, indirectly.

My heart started smashing my rib cage. The caller was Johnny, Father's friend. I didn't know what to expect.

"How can I help you?" I asked.

"Good afternoon, Princess." He looked at Isic.

I smiled, ignoring his silent request to introduce him. He never usually stopped me to say that, so it felt suspicious. Maybe he wanted to warn me to be careful.

"Good afternoon, Johnny."

Johnny wasn't usually a bad guy. Either way, I nodded and decided to leave before someone else stopped me. I opened the elevator doors, and let out a breath as soon as they closed behind us in the big space, again with brown colors everywhere, and big mirrors on the wall.

"That was a close one." Isic said. I turned my head, to find him staring at me with wide understanding eyes. Could he possibly understand why I had to be that careful?

Or was he just his usual supportive self?

The stress we had just gone through place must have helped him understand how him coming there to be treated was dangerous. Some activities could just not be dismissed by your work mates. For example, the illegal ones.

"Yeah."

The doors opened, and we started in the hallway with glass as walls on the left side. "Keep acting please. Until I tell you to stop. Clear?"

"Yes, miss."

We rounded the whole building to find my office at the end. I opened it, thinking of how fast I could make the process. But everything didn't unfold as I expected. When does it ever?

Tess, and Amber were sitting on my couches waiting for me to go do something after. I bit my lip. I was less worried about them telling someone, and more worried they'd keep the conversation going for so long we would get caught. He had to leave ASAP. Me leaving him in the hallway was not decreasing the chances.

"What?" he whispered. I opened the door wider, and my friends looked at me.

When they say him, they winked at each other with a knowing look.

"not what you guys are thinking." I said, walking fast to the mini lab in my office. They stood up to greet him either way.
"I'm Tasmin, but call me Tess."

"I'm Ambrose, but everyone calls me Tess."

"isic." He said, smirking. What was he smirking for? "nice to meet y'all."

"Y'all? You American?" Tess asked, big curious hazel eyes fixed on him.

"nah. I just think it makes my accent cooler."

I rolled my eyes. "Isic. Your hand. Come here."

As they registered his limp hand, Isic started walking towards me. Amber, at the sight of blood, froze, while Tess was still curious. She followed him. "boy! What did you do?"

"I broke my arm fo- "

I put my hand on his mouth. "don't say something cheesy." Inside, I closed the door in Tess's shocked but still cute face. "no distractions. We'll be there soon." I smiled apologetically.

She stepped back, her shoulders lumping.

I would be done soon. Without getting caught.

But I almost did. Because my emergency disappeared, and I had to walk to a crowded place with Isic.