JACK
The next morning, as I walked down the hospital hallway, heading to my office to prepare for the day, my mind was still tangled up in last night. Memories of Veronica's laughter, the way she looked at me, and even our small, yet meaningful exchanges kept replaying in my head. I must have had a distant look because I didn't even notice Dr.
Deena stepping right in front of me until I almost bumped into her.
With a sly grin, she blocked my way, crossing her arms as she raised an eyebrow.
"So... you're the talk of the town this morning," she said, her voice dripping with mischief. "Who was that stunning lady you were with last night?"
I chuckled and tried to sidestep her, brushing off her question with a casual whistle. But she matched my pace, walking alongside me, clearly determined to get her answers.
Ignoring her attempts to pry, I walked a little faster, but just as I thought I was in the clear, Dr. Jared appeared beside her, smirking as he gave me a knowing look. 
"Looks like you're in an unusually good mood today, Jack," he observed, joining Deena's playful interrogation.
"You two are crazy, you know that?" I rolled my eyes, realizing there was no escape.
Deena laughed, nudging Jared as if to say, See? I told you so.
"We're just looking out for you, that's all! You seemed... smitten last night."
I tried to play it off, shrugging as I kept my focus ahead.
"Well, it was a nice evening, that's all." But I couldn't help the small smile that crept onto my face, betraying how much I'd actually enjoyed my time with Veronica.
"Ah, that's what we call a 'yes,'" Jared chuckled.
"Alright, we won't press... too much. Just let us know if there's anything we should plan for. A wedding, maybe?"
I groaned, feeling my cheeks heat up.
"Alright, alright, that's enough," I said, finally giving them a little push as I walked past, pretending to be exasperated. But deep down, I knew their teasing had only confirmed what I couldn't ignore. I was, undeniably, in a very good mood.
I couldn't resist anymore—I pulled out my phone and quickly dialed Veronica's number. After just three rings, her voice answered, warm and cheerful. 
"Good morning," she greeted, and I felt an immediate lift at the sound of her voice.
Just as I was about to ask her plans after work, another voice, distinctly male, chimed in from her end. 
"V, I brought your usual breakfast," the man said casually. A pang of jealousy hit me, tightening my grip on the phone.
Before I could stop myself, I asked,
"Who's that?" But Veronica didn't answer me right away. Instead, she spoke to the man, her tone friendly. 
"Thanks, Ric," she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. "What about you and the others?"
"Yeah, we already ate," Ric replied, sounding completely at ease. I rolled my eyes, feeling irritation bubble up at the casual familiarity in their conversation.
Veronica's voice came back to me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Sorry, what were you saying, Jack?"
I took a breath, trying to keep my voice even, but my curiosity—and maybe jealousy—got the best of me. 
"Who was that guy, Veronica?" I repeated, my tone firmer this time.
She let out a small laugh, seemingly unfazed.
"Oh, that's Ric. He's a colleague of mine."
"Ah, how sweet of him to bring you breakfast," I said, unable to keep the sarcasm from slipping into my tone.
She just chuckled, clearly amused by my reaction. 
"He's just a thoughtful coworker, Jack. Don't read too much into it," she replied lightly, as if brushing off my jealousy.
"So, why'd you call, Jack?" Veronica's voice softened with curiosity.
I hesitated, my words stuck on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to say I missed her, but something held me back. Instead, I took a breath and went with a safer offer. 
"Would you like to come over to my place for dinner tonight?" I asked. "I'll cook for you."
There was a pause before she answered, but her reply was casual and warm.
"Yes, I'd love that," she said, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
Just then, I heard a woman's voice on her end.
"Atty. , Mr. Smith is here," the woman announced, pulling Veronica's attention away.
She came back to the phone briefly, her voice brisk but kind.
"Alright, I've got to go. Text me your address, and I'll see you tonight."
"Sure, I will," I replied, feeling a bit lighter already.
"Looking forward to it," she added, and then she hung up.
As I hung up the phone, I barely noticed Dr. Jared leaning casually against my office door, giving me a look of amusement mixed with pride. He was one of my closest friends, and he knew me well enough to read between the lines.
"So," he began, a teasing grin spreading across his face. "When are you introducing this mystery woman to the rest of us?"
I rolled my eyes, trying to keep a straight face.
"Don't get any ideas, Jared. We're just... getting to know each other."
Jared chuckled, clearly enjoying himself.
"Sure, sure," he said, drawing out the words. "But Deena and I are taking bets on how long you'll keep her all to yourself."
"You two have way too much time on your hands." I shook my head, but a smile crept onto my face. 
"We're just looking out for you, Jack," he said, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "But hey, if she's special enough to cook for, then she's definitely special enough for us to meet."
The blaring sound of the hospital speaker interrupted us, snapping us back into action as the words 
"Code Blue, Code Blue" echoed urgently through the halls. Jared and I exchanged a quick, serious glance, and without a word, we both sprang into motion.
I grabbed my coat and hurried toward the location, my heart racing, knowing every second counted. As I approached the patient's room, nurses were already prepping the crash cart, checking the defibrillator, and attaching the patient to the monitor.
"Vitals?" I asked as I entered, my tone all business now.
"Blood pressure dropped sharply. Heart rate is erratic," a nurse replied as she checked the IV lines.
"Let's start CPR," I ordered, moving to the patient's side as one of the residents began chest compressions. The ventilator was set up quickly, and we coordinated each step—compressions, checking for a pulse, adjusting medications.
"Charge to 200 joules," I instructed, my voice steady as we readied the defibrillator. The monitor showed no rhythm, so I took a deep breath and called out, "Clear!"
Everyone stepped back, and I pressed the paddles down. The patient's body jolted slightly, but the monitor remained flat.
"Resume compressions," I directed, keeping a close eye on the monitor. Jared worked beside me, administrating epinephrine to help stimulate the heart. Seconds felt like minutes, but I focused on each detail, every step.
After another round, the monitor beeped, finally showing a rhythm. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding as the team stabilized the patient, adjusting the ventilator and double-checking the vitals.
Once we were sure the patient's condition was stable, I stepped back, letting the nurses handle post-care as I took a moment to catch my breath.
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