Chapter 14
1/1
“I don’t know you,” Candace insisted as she tried to make a quick escape.
Zayne followed her and said, “Don’t worry. I won’t tell Mr. Hamilton that I ran into you. I just want to help you as a friend.”
Candace recalled how she still owed Zayne 2,000 dollars. She halted her footsteps and said, “Please keep my identity a secret. Give me your bank details. I’ll transfer the money I owe you into your account.”
Zayne handed his phone to her. He was all smiles when he replied, “Don’t worry. I’m not in a rush to get the money back. Let’s exchange numbers. You can call me whenever Jamie is feeling unwell.”
After Candace added her number to his contacts, he continued, “The academic symposium I’m participating in will only start in the afternoon. I’m free in the morning, so I can guide you to the clinical examination department.”
“Alright, thank you,” Candace replied.
Zayne accompanied her throughout Jamie’s checkup. He even won a small toy car from the claw machine for Jamie, causing the infant to break out into a little dance to express his happiness.
Before they bid farewell to each other, a solemn look appeared on Zayne’s face. He said, “Candace, I chose to study medicine because of you. Do you remember?”
“Because of me?” Candace asked, bewildered.
“I can’t believe you. You even wrote the words on my arm back then, but you forgot all about it!” Zayne rolled up his sleeve, wearing an upset expression. “See for yourself!”
Candace’s eyes widened to the size of saucers when she looked at his right arm.
was powerful but elegant, and it was obvious that it was her handwriting.
“heal those in pain” was printed on his arm. The penmanship
As she gazed at the familiar phrase, she suddenly recalled an incident in her past. When she was ten years old, Candace was admitted to the hospital because of her leukemia. She had made friends with a young boy who had broken a leg while playing basketball during her stay.
Her hospital buddy would visit her every day to cheer her up. Sometimes, he would catch butterflies and give them to her. Other times, he would give her a piping hot cinnamon roll that was fresh out of the oven.
Her new friend eventually incurred Shawn’s ire. Shawn would threaten to beat the boy black and blue whenever he saw him and didn’t allow the boy to get close to her.
One day, when Candace was lying in bed and resting after a surgery, her hospital buddy snuck into her ward through the window. He gave her a box of butterflies and said, “Candace, I have to go now. This box of butterflies is for you. I hope they can bring a smile to your face!
“When I grow up, I’m going to become a doctor. I’m going to invent the best painkiller in the world so you’ll never have to endure the pain of being ill ever again!”
Candace had praised the young boy’s ambitions back then. She had even solemnly written the words “heal those in pain” on his arm with a marker.
“A doctor’s duty is to heal those in pain,” Zayne said as he brushed his fingers across the words on his arm. His voice was hoarse when he murmured, I’ve never forgotten what you told me, Candace. I studied as hard as I could so I would always be at the top of our year, hoping that you would remember me when you saw my name on the rankings.
“I also released butterflies for you, hoping that you would notice me when you saw them.” His expression turned gloomy before he continued, “But you had forgotten all about me. You only had eyes for Shawn.”
“I’m sorry.” Candace looked at him apologetically. “Shawn told me that he was the one who released the butterflies, and I trusted him,”
“I’m the one who released those butterflies! That scoundrel!” Zayne exclaimed angrily. “During our first year, when you came to watch the basketball tournament, I had planned to tell you about the time we spent together when we were kids, but Shawn got in my way.
“He was punished because of the fight that broke out between us. As for me, I was forced to transfer schools. I never got a chance to see you again.”
Tears beaded at the corners of Zayne’s eyes and rolled down his cheeks. His voice was colored with pain when he said, “I was so angry when I saw how Shawn mistook Yelena for his girlfriend. I wanted to beat him to a pulp.
“But you were unwilling to give up as well. You chased after him for eight years, hoping that he would recall your past together.
“If only I were able to Invent a medicine that repaired the nerves in the brain sooner. You wouldn’t have had to endure all the pain he inflicted on you. You’ve lost so much weight after suffering so much hardship.”
It’s alright. All the pain I’ve suffered will heal with time. I’ll get better eventually.” Candace wiped the tears from her eyes and murmured, “Then, if there’s a chance in the future, can I watch you play basketball again?”
“Okay.” Zayne agreed with a bright smile.
