Zenon's Game Chapter 170

"We've been told that the next available doctor's slot is at 10AM today," I said, "Is there anyone Jake could see earlier?"

Waiting in a hospital for another seven hours did not sound like fun.

The nurse explained, "He hasn't broken his jaw so this isn't an emergency. The bandage may be overkill but it's good to limit movement until the doctor sees him. You're welcome to stay in the waiting room or go home for a few hours."

"But the bleeding has stopped, right?" Annika asked, "Maybe we should stay here just in case."

"That's up to you, but I'll ask that you wait in the waiting room," she told us, putting the rest of the bandage roll away before leaving to see her next patient.

There was a very tense silence as Jake sat in the center of the room with half his head wrapped in what looked like toilet paper.

Zenon told his brother, "You look good, Jake. You got a Little Miss Bo Peep vibe going on. It suits you."

When I thought Jake looked like a watermelon before, he really looked it now. His face became an even brighter red as it took all his willpower not to attack his half-brother in the hospital.

"Can you try to care, Zenon?" I asked my boyfriend, "Try harder?"

"You're acting like he's seriously injured. He's fine and brothers fight," Zenon said, checking his phone, "Excuse me one second."

"What?" I exclaimed, raising my hands in the air as he walked by.

He smirked again – that damn smirk – and kissed me on the forehead before he walked out of the room.

Annika watched him leave before she commented, "How can he look like an angel but be so much trouble?"

I wasn't aware he looked like an angel.

Zenon Albert is a handful, but without him, the mood in the room dampened. We were all exhausted and emotionally drained. The clock was ticking past 4AM.

Jake insisted he didn't need the bandage and that we should go home.

But now we had to wait for Zenon.

They expected me to know where he went and who he was calling at this hour. As if I would know. I'm his girlfriend, not telepathic.

A few minutes later, the door opened, and Zenon reappeared with an explanation, "I was on the phone with Axel."

"Did that have to happen right now?" Annika asked, stressed and frustrated by his lack of attention, "Jake is injured and I'm guessing Axel's not a doctor?"

No. Axel is not a doctor.

I told Annika, "It's his best friend. Let's calm down on all the anger between-"

Zenon kept the door open for someone behind him. He said, "Axel's not a doctor, but his mom is."

In walked Dr. Thomas. In my mind, she's a supermom.

Axel has casually mentioned how his mom resuscitated a boy in the Maldives after he almost drowned. Or how she works here in the ER, saving people before coming home at all hours of the night.

Not to mention the grotto she built in the basement of her house.

"It's an honor," I curtsied.

What is wrong with me?

I saw Zenon standing behind Dr Thomas and shake his head.

Dr Thomas simply smiled and turned to meet Jake and Annika. Maybe she was used to it?

Annika nervously curtsied, copying me, "Is this how you greet doctors in this country?"

"No, but it makes us feel great," Dr Thomas joked, "Zenon called my son to say you were here. I don't have long but I thought I'd come by to make sure you're OK."

"Thanks," Jake nodded.

She started to undo the bandage around his head to better inspect his jaw. She was asking him questions about what happened, while I walked up to Zenon and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

"You look pretty pleased with yourself," I grinned, sliding my arm around to squeeze him.

He smirked, turning his attention fully on me, "It's better than hanging out here for another seven hours."

"Come on," I laughed, "You were never going to wait here."

"I would if you were."

My little heart fluttered at that.

"So this is your brother, Zenon?" Dr Thomas asked, while she was inspecting the coloration on Jake's jaw, "I never realized there were more than the two of you."

She was referring to Charlotte and Zenon. Mr and Mrs Albert had known Axel's mom for most of Zenon's life and never once mentioned his first family.

"Half brother," Zenon answered curtly, and I felt his hand tense up over my body.

The door opened again, and a second doctor walked in, dressed in pale green scrubs, with a clipboard and a white lab coat.

Dr Thomas stepped away from Jake and placed her hands on her waist. "Axel, you're my son. You don't need to wear a disguise to get into the hospital."

"I do if I want to get past reception and into this room," Axel answered, peeling the lab coat off him.

He closed the door and bumped fists with Zenon in greeting. Zenon must've given him the room number and, for some reason, Axel decided to dress in scrubs.

"You're not allowed in this room," she told him, like it wasn't the first time.

I could see the family resemblance. They both had a mischievous air to them because Dr Thomas was scolding her son as if she secretly would've done the exact same thing at our age.

"But I'm family," Axel said.

"When we say only family is allowed, we mean the patient's family," Dr Thomas answered.

"He is family," Zenon said, his arms still wrapped around me.

Dr Tayor exhaled and gave up, "Of course you'd say that. The two of you are as tight as glue."