Michael.
Cleo's Apartment.
16:03

If I've done anything wrong in my life, it was meeting this girl.

I hate Cleo.

That's where I was, thanks to this discovery.

I hate her. I hate kissing her, I hated that liked the little things about her. The way her dimples form as she smiles, the way her braids would gently cover a part of her face when she was embarrassed, the way she would sit and listen to my problems without complaining. I hate that for the days I've been gone from her due to this divorce situation, she's been something I've loathed. A distraction. I hate that I saved her life because now, it left me staring at a woman I desire. I hate how she looks at me now, with a blank face because I would rather omit my feelings for my selfish pride.

Or was I just protecting her from me and my egotistical insanity?

"I think you should just go, Michael. I get it. You hate me, and I didn't know me telling you this would bother you so much."

I clench my fists in frustration as I scowl for a moment while looking away from Cleo. Damn you, girl. My chest ached from the burning narcissist spirit that burned inside me. I want to kiss her deeply and do the most indescribable things to please her. She simply would comply if I did such a lewd thing, eh? Just the idea of leaving marks on her neck to make the world know that I was HER hero, the one that was somewhat capable of bringing her back to life with my own hands.

Yet, my modesty tends to get the best of me.

"I don't...hate you. Ugh, I didn't mean to hurt you, but we can't be together because we will never be equals. I want to protect you. You will always see me as this 'savior' or the greatest thing you've ever seen. It makes sense why you always flattered me. Who wouldn't be flabbergasted by someone who saved their life? I don't want to be seen as a hero or of someone with that level of importance. I'm not a hero. I saved your life as per my job requirements required."

My eyes look at her as she begins to smile widely before letting out a chuckle. Could she sense I was lying through my teeth? My first tighten at the sound of her voice, the voice I so desperately wanted to silence with my lips. Her laugh caused me to squint, "What's so funny?"

"Your modesty and your humility."

I watched as she walks over to me and tilts her head in curiosity.

Don't walk to me...I hate you. I hate what you do to me, now...

Her new expression caused me to stammer embarrassingly, "S-stop that! I'm neither those things you know?!" My heart was pounding as her chest press against mine. For so long, I allowed her to see me vulnerable, but I refuse this time to be vulnerable towards her. Unfortunately, I couldn't help but find myself breaking the shell of my aloof behavior at the sound of her laughter.

Such purity. Such innocence. Why was I the way I was? It's easier to reject her. Wasn't it?

"I've always seen you as my equal. Even now, I can see you were lying about not loving me. You at least like me or else you wouldn't still be here. Yes...I came in with the high morale of you. But, who hasn't? You're one of the greatest surgeons in the medical world. I've studied your research logs. I've read the books you wrote. I think every intern glorifies the ground you walk on. But...I think it's because of our friendship that I see a different side of you. A side of Dr. Jackson that the world doesn't see," she admits.

My eyes gazed into hers quietly as my hand involuntarily rest against her cheek to stroke it apathetically.

Knowing that I saved her life doesn't upset it. It sparks my ego if anything. It makes me want to give her more, allow her to drown in this newfound gratification I've obtained from this information, but at the same time, I hated it all so much.

"Tch, I know how the world sees me. It's what keeps me going. For years, I've enjoyed knowing the statute I hold. The way I conquer the world with my very own two feet as if I've taken the god of medicine down with my moral hands. I just...hate for you to see me like that. I've lost patients before you know?"

She smiles in amusement, "You didn't lose me though..."

My eyes widen as her lips pressed against mine for a quick peck before looking at me. Never in my life, a woman held my tongue like this. It was like nothing I've ever seen before. She should be crying, yelling how she hates me and never want to see me again.

How is she so CALM? Can she easily read me as a massive liar and an overgrown slut for her?

"Did I make you uncomfortable? Or, do you want to continue your little game of not liking me?" she coos playfully, clearly not affected by my 'disdain' in her.

"I'm sorry for what I said. I don't blame you for my life. For the end of my marriage. I...I don't blame you for any of it. I was just upset, I...forgive me for putting you in this jar with Lisa. You wouldn't lie to hurt me, but to protect yourself. I can trust you. I just feel like if I found reasons to blame you for stuff, I wouldn't feel the way I do. I know I can trust you, I feel...I feel..."

Her arms wrap around my waist as I look away from her in shame. My reaction to my ongoing rambles caused her to kiss my cheek before whispering, "I like this new remorseful Michael. You know it's okay to be vulnerable, right? You told me before...that surgeons, they don't show their emotions, their feelings, well, I want you to show me your feelings. I want to hear what you're thinking right now. Tell me. I don't bite, you know?"

I close my eyes for a moment as I breathe slowly in thought.

I just want to take you to your bed and kiss every inch of your body to hear your silky voice echo a sweet 'Michael' as I rock my hips against you...just to deliver jolts of sensation to your body as you beg me to give it to you...harder and faster. Or are you the type of submissive girl who loves the feeling of long, deep strokes? I want my face to hide under the crevice of your neck as my teeth graze alongside your skin like a predator marking its prey as I know it would send such electrifying signals to your spine, causing your back to arch under my body. Or are you more of the dominant one? Would you like to be the one to have my vision impaired from the blissful utopia you send to me as you rock your hips on top of me? I'm never afraid of being your prey as you should know you have me wrapped around your finger like the vixen you are.

I finally answered as I shook off the thoughts, "I just feel lightheaded..." She releases herself from my body as I open my eyes to see her in the open kitchen, filling a glass with some water. I watch as she walks back and hands me the cup of water that held the lukewarm water as I drunk it hastily.

"Thanks," I exasperated.

She nods before taking the glass from me as I lean over and place a kiss on her cheek gently. Her head turns to mine as she sneaks another peck to my lips.

"I'm sure you were aiming here, huh?" she teased.

I release a small smile as I look at her tiredly. "No, I wasn't. I was...just being polite. Bold of you to assume that I like you like that," I admitted.

All she did was laugh thinking this was all a little game between us. It was, of course, an amusing little game. Little did she know, I don't like her.

She sets the glass on the table before grabbing my hand and walking me to her bedroom. Just the sight of the crimson red room caused a nauseous feeling in my mouth as I ask dryly, "What are we HE—"

She laughs as she pushes me back into the bed. The curtains were closed in the darkroom as I didn't know what was next. Was she going to yank my clothes off? Or murder me in cold blood?

"You said we had surgery at midnight. It's 4 pm, and it's obvious that you were lying about having somewhere to go, so stay here with me. We can take a nap together before our surgery tonight," she explained as I watch her get in the bed beside me.

"But why I have to sleep with you? You know, I don't like you, and you're annoying me!" I answer irritatingly.

She chuckles as her head laid on my chest as it once did back when we slept on the couch together.

"You are such a liar, but I guess I'll keep playing along. Your stubbornness is amusing as well as you know, I'm stubborn as well. Remember when we were sleeping on the couch? I know you enjoyed that, just like you will enjoy this nap with me," she mutters quietly.

I spat out while closing my eyes as my arms wrap around her body protectively, "This is will be the worst nap ever, ugh. I think I'm going to have nigh— Cleo?"

She was snoring quietly as her head nuzzled into my chest while caused me to release a calm sigh.

Her legs rubbed against my hip while her hand rests on my clavicle.

As she rested, I smile softly as I was the reason that she was in my arms right this second. She was alive and breathing and so full of life. I did that and because of that, she was in love with me.

But, how do you make someone fall out of love with you?

You don't give them your time. You break them down with your actions and words and seem to remind them that they're not of importance to you. Your mind gazes at the thought that instead of giving little things, you would buy out everything to keep "love" going. Sex, money, Love? That the "I love you" that you get from time to time is just the words told for their self-guilt for ripping your heart out and stepping on them. Love wasn't a virtue yet responsibility to another.

I did that with Lisa. How are you so certain I wouldn't do that to you? I don't deserve you...why can't you see this? Eventually, in our little game, you will see that about me.

Momentarily, I close my eyes, erasing the self-doubts from my mind, and fell asleep as well.

BZZP BZZP BZZP BZZP!!

My eyes open at the sound of the beeper as I notice Cleo was gone from my body. Worrisome, I start to look around the room as her head popped out from the side of the bed, startling me.

"What the fuck..." I muttered.

She laughs at my obscenity before showing me her beeper.

"It fell under the bed, I had to crawl under there to get it. Good morning, sleeping beauty, slept well?"

"I was sleeping well until that damn beeper, you know."

She stands up from the floor and sits on the edge of the bed to look down at her beeper. "Amuse me. There's no need to be so grumpy. I know you're still upset with me, but I can't help to say you're so handsome when you're sleeping and dreaming about me," she teases. I huff angrily, denying her claims, "I didn't dream about you. I don't dream about annoying, stubborn women."

"Ohhh, oh yes Cleo! Mmph. Do you want to tell me what that's about? Certainly wasn't about our surgery, oh, don't tell me Dr. Jackson has sex fantasies about his little intern he DOESNT like?" she continues as she pries for answers.

My eye twitches for a moment as I grab her by her wrists and slam her down onto the bed. She looks at me, stunned, as I was on top of her. Her cherry blossom and jasmine tea perfume filled my nostrils as I whisper in her ear seductively, "I don't like you. I don't have sex fantasies about women I don't like, which is you. I only saved you but don't think that means anything else than me doing my job, pretty girl."

My newfound dominance caused her to chuckle lightly.

"Mm, you are something. Are you always this rough with your interns you don't like, Dr. Jackson? If so, I feel really special right now. Certainly, that means you favor me a bit over everyone else, huh?"

I release my grasp from her wrists, allowing her to sit up on the bed. Instantly, I found myself laying on my back, as she was on top of me this time. My lips curl downward into a smile as she straddles my body, sending me off the edge a bit.

"What are you doing? You're a menace you know?"

Her small, petite hands cup my face before she presses her lips on mine for a short yet meaningful kiss. Once she pulled away, I lick my lips quietly before muttering, "That was such an awful kiss."

If anything, I was seeing stars from an innocuous kiss from this woman. How blissfully annoying.

She cheeses as her finger pokes my cheek, "You're blushing you know? Michael, be serious, now. What are we to each other? Do you hate me?"

I squint at her questions as I searched for the words.

I hate the things you make me feel. I hate the thoughts in my mind when I think of you and me.

"If I hated you, I surely wouldn't let you have me in this position this long and what are we? Well, I'm your boss and you're my intern, yet we are friends as well," I replied flatly.

She slowly slides from my body, allowing me to sit up in the bed. If anything, she seemed embarrassed from our prior positioning. My hand reaches over to caress her cheek, reassuring her that I was just teasing, but she didn't seem affected much.

"Hey, let's get going before we are late. We only have fifteen more minutes, let's go," she demands.

"I don't take orders from damn interns."

Cleo.
OR Room 3.
00:29

"Clip here, and clip."

I clip the thread as Rose continues to stitch the small incision Michael made onto the patient, who was knocked out on the table. It brought a sense of relief that she was here working with us. With her here, Michael's stupid game came to a halt, I think. He was professional and clear to the point when it came to the surgery with the added fact that this was an open heart surgery procedure.

We couldn't risk our "game" killing a damn patient.

My eyes watch as we stared at the open hole in the patient's chest, which revealed their heart and organs. The heart continues to beat slowly yet irregularly as I lick my lips nervously.

If anything, I was nervous about this, as I've never done anything like this before.

Michael gently prodded his tool around the beating organ before looking at me. "Don't tell me the little intern has cold feet over a heart?" he mocks.

"I'm just...nervous. Isn't everyone?"

He scoffs, "No. Open Heart Surgery was the easiest thing I've accomplished as an intern. Ha, even in medical school."

Rose huffs, "Not everyone is perfect."

"In surgery, you should be perfect or you can get the hell out of here. I don't waste time with imperfect people," he snaps, clearly upset with how Rose was trying to defend me, as he turns on the bypass machine.

The machine starts to boot up as the internal wheels began to move, absorbing blood and continuously flowing that blood into the patient.

He sighs as he grabs another tool from Deborah before leaning into the thoracic cavity to pry at the weakened arteries.

"Ah, I found the source of the arrhythmia. Deborah, forceps, please. Cleo, can you hold the heart to the side while I do this?"

I obey his command as I gently lift the patient's heart as he starts to fix the weakened artery that was possibly the source of the arrhythmia.

Rose asks, "Dr. Jackson, open heart is normally for cardiologists? How are you so well versed in the field?" He continues to work before sighing, "My father was a cardiologist. I tend to watch him a lot plus I was a Trauma Surgeon in the ER for a while. This kind of stuff isn't new to me nor a tough procedure to perform. I hope both of you are learning something from this." Eventually, he finishes the job before looking up at me, "You can drop the heart now."

I gently put the lifeless muscle back in its spot as the bypass machine was doing its job for now.

"How long you're going to keep the bypass rolling?"

He answers harshly, "Shush."

I sigh at his rudeness as he examines the field one more time before asking me to turn off the machine. Once I turn off the machine, the patient's heart began to pump again, but this time, at a normal beating time.

Rose scoots closer to me before asking, "Hey, I can close up, give m—"

"No, I think it would be best for CLEO to close up," Michael interrupts.

Rose looks over at him then back at me as I nod submissively, trying to not continue this ongoing bitterness. "I got it, Rose, just hand me the suturing materials," I ask politely.

"You know, whatever stick up your ass, you don't have to be so mean," she grumbles at Michael. My eyes widen at Rose's anger towards Michael as he squints at her. "I'm getting tired of you butting into MY business with Cleo, you know? I could have you fired just like that" he answers coldly.

"Well, I'm tired of you being a DICK to my BEST FRIEND," she counters.

I sigh in defeat at the two of them as Deborah chimes, "No need to be so fussy everyone! We just had a great surgery right?" As she tries to calm the two of them down, I continue working on closing the patient back before Deborah pushes them to recovery.

Once the patient was gone, Rose angrily removed her gloves and mask, tossing them to the floor before storming out of the OR.

She was overly pissed for her to lose her cool like that.

My eyes turn to Michael as I slide my bloody gloves off as well before slapping his chest. He reacts with a series of chuckles devilishly, pretending to not know what he did, "What?"

I frown at him before ripping my mask off. "You're an asshole for that! If you're going to be mean, be mean with me, not her." He takes his mask off, so I could see the unremitting grin on his face. He was enjoying this.

"You see, I was playing our game, and she butted in. I don't like when people who are not in my game tries to add themselves in," he explained with no sense of regret.

I shake my head before looking away embarrassingly, "Well, I don't want to play your problematic game! Not if you're going to be mean to Rose!"

"You don't have a choice in the matter, and I know you like our game. I see how your eyes light up at my teasing and mischief. It would be so sad that our game ended so soon when I was just getting warmed up. All you have to do is tell your friend to back away."

My head turned back to him angrily as I growl in annoyance, "You see I was playing along for a little while, but now you're just...Stop being an asshole. I'll keep playing if you be nice."

"So demanding, tch. Fine."

I squint my eyes at him, studying his calm expression, as his arms wrapped around his chest. There were so many questions left to ask but I wondered why and how to win at this game. It certainly struck my interest at this game. I wasn't ready to give up as a participant in something so sinister without gaining my prize. So far, wiping the smirk off his face seems to be a start in the right direction.

Was this Michael's way of testing me before lowering his guard? A way to see if I'm a suitable partner for him? How do I win? So many questions yet so few answers.

His head turns to the door of the OR before walking in that direction to leave.

"Where are you going?" I asked in suspicion.

He turns back to me to propose a deal to me, "I guess I could muster the courage to apologize to your friend. Under one condition, you can't quit our game."

I nod my head, "You have a deal. I have no desire to quit before winning." He laughs hysterically before shaking his head, "I admire your confidence. It's amusing to me. Who knows, you might surprise me, girl. Also, you owe me breakfast."

I watch as he walks out of the OR.

Rose.
Vending Machines.
01:21

"Ugh damn you!"

I watched as the bag of M&Ms got caught onto the iron spiral of the vending machine instead of being released after I paid for the snack. My arms pushed against the vending machine, in hopes, of shaking the machine and getting the snack, but it was no use. I wasn't strong enough to get the machine to budge.

I stared at the bag of M&Ms behind the glass in frustration before a foot kicked on the machine, causing the snack to fall.

"Thank you," I muttered without looking at who kicked the machine. My hands reached into the outlet to grab the snack as I turn around and saw Michael.

I shook my hand in the air, out of frustration, "No, I'm not doing this with you anymore!"

"I'm sorry, I was out of line."

My eyes widen at his words as I asked harshly, "Did Cleo force you to do this?! If so, I don't accept your shitty apology."  My anger caused him to give me that infamous shitty grin.

"Partially, and the other reason is that I didn't expect you to get so heated. I was just playing."

I fold my arms, not convinced, "You were mean to her." He shakes his head while smiling as his smile grew, "I wasn't. She knows when I'm being mean. I was just being sarcastic and maybe a bit of an ass."

"That's an understatement. Did you two fight for this shift of behavior?"

His smile disappears as he gives me a confused expression, "Fight? Huh? No, no. It's the opposite, I- I'm just giving her a hard time. We are...sort of playing a game." I raise my eyebrow while opening the bag of M&Ms, "What type of game?"

"Seeing how long it takes to see Cleo tick her button at me. She's unusually calm. Her calmness...makes me like her even more. Ugh, can I be honest with you?" he asks.

I shrug while eating an M&M, "Sure." I watch his mannerisms as he fidgets with a pen he's holding in his hand.

"I like Cleo, no. Adore her. She told me something personal about her life, and I don't know if hearing that was a trigger that I'm falling in love with her. But, we've known each other for such a short time? How does that happen? I mean I'm not even divorced from my soon-to-be ex-wife. It's irrational and naive to say, but I don't like spending time with her. I love it. I enjoy her presence."

His eyes looked up to me with the uttermost sincerity.

"I think you should tell her that, instead of giving her a hard time for these feelings she gives you," I admitted before popping another M&M in my mouth.

He growls in frustration, "I can't! Just imagine what everyone would think to see an attending such as myself with an intern?! How unprofessional it would be. It's even more complicated than that as I found her to be an addiction and distraction to me. Everyone knows me. My tough and stern attitude in the field, I cannot allow others to see me...soften to a woman. I'll rather just quit my job and be damned from the Earth than it all goes to flames. I lost my wife to my own egotistical desires, granted...I don't want to hurt Cleo. I'll rather find ways for her to hate me."

My eyes widen slightly at his anger. I mean it wasn't a surprise that Michael was getting a divorce, but his statute was huge. You would think he didn't have such emotions, possibly from his own experience as a surgeon. The job never required emotion. Hence, he never seemed to show any signs of distress or weakness, especially during work. I guess even Cleo would seem to be a distraction to him.

The thought of being in love with her probably was eating him alive because with love comes emotions, and emotions weren't big on his list as a surgeon nor person.

I chuckle at his hyperbole, "My, to see my mentor getting eaten alive by emotions. Honestly, I have to accept your apology because this is interesting. Now that's something me and Dante could eat popcorn to."

His head snapped to me with a death glare, "Y-you! You better not tell a soul, you hear me! Not a single one."

"Fine, I won't. Just...I'll kill you, resuscitate you back to life then kill you again if you hurt my best friend."

"I don't plan to. But remember, not a soul," he reminded.

I watched as he stormed out of the lounge.

꧁ Don't forget to comment and like! ꧂

A/N: Sorry for taking so long with the updates, I will do a better job. I want to recap saying that attendings can date interns or residents. It's slight frowned upon because like attendings have more life experience, etc versus an intern that just started out. Now, it's it's a medical student, it's just awkward because attendings are normally like 30+ while medical students are like early 20s. I just wanted to clarify that, haha. Also, adding on, Cleo knows Michael likes her. He's just stubborn yet cares about his reputation more than his feelings. Eventually, one day he will learn to get back intact with his emotions. She's just calm and not afraid of his own tactics to push her away from him. Michael, on the other hand, is frustrated that his own tactics isn't working against her. Please enjoy and happy reading!