Chapter 8 Tom

• "Elle!"
• A voice interrupted Elle's footsteps, made her stop in place, and forced her to turn her head to know who had called her name. And she recognized the figure. A man in a long white coat was walking towards her. The bespectacled man ran slightly to arrive quickly in front of her.
• "Tom," Elle said, calling for the man's name. "Where were you from?" She asked, finding Tom walking in the same direction as her while carrying a shopping bag in his left hand.
• She was now in front of one of the big hospitals in London. She aimed to enter the building. So, it quite surprised her to find Tom outside his work area. The doctor's coat he was wearing showed that he should have been at his work hour.
• "Bought some snacks," Tom answered, raised the bag he was carrying, then showed its contents to Elle.
• Elle's head automatically moved to look at Tom's groceries. Actually, not too much. There was only a large milk box, one bag of chips, two chocolates, and three medium-sized pieces of bread. Those were indeed very filling. She wondered why he bought all those foods. "Do you intend to eat these for lunch?" she said randomly.
• "Yes."
• Automatically, Elle looked up to look at Tom. Her last sentence was purely a guess that led to jokes. She did not expect what she said to turn out to be true. "Why not eat a proper lunch in the canteen?" She asked again. Elle knew the hospital she would visit had a canteen to accommodate the employees' breakfast, lunch, and even dinner. And as a worker there, Tom had the right to enjoy the facilities. It was better than buying food outside.
• "Last night, I had to stay up late to do surgery. So I'll eat this and use the rest of my break to sleep."
• Elle nodded, a sign of understanding. As a doctor, they required Tom to always be ready whenever the call came. Whether it was midnight or early morning, he couldn't protest. Tom had to carry out his duties, which saved his patient's life. "You should also pay attention to your meal. Don't just think about your patient." Her response sounded like a satire. But that was how it was. She wanted the doctors to pay attention to their health, too. How could they save patients if they were also in unhealthy conditions?
• "Then, will you prepare a healthy lunch for me?" Tom said it in a joking tone.
• "You can come to my restaurant. I'll ask them to make proper food for you." The meaning of the word 'they' was Amy or the people who work in her restaurant. Yes, instead of agreeing with his words, she offered something else she could promise. The restaurant was open to anyone, including Tom and also her other friends.
• "But you won't be there, right?" Tom asked something, almost sure. He could not meet Elle there because she had referred its management to others.
• Elle paused for a moment after hearing that. Tom's words were not wrong. Since deciding to hand her restaurant management to Amy, she rarely visited it. If it wasn't to meet Amy, her best friend, or another appointment, she had no reason to just cross the area where her family established the restaurant. The place was too familiar for her and always ended up causing pain in her chest. She missed her father and mother.
• "You can call me," Elle suggested. She maybe was not always in her restaurant. But if someone wanted to meet her there, then she would come.
• Tom seemed to think about her idea. He observed her beautiful face, then said, "Okay. Deal. I'll be there as long as you want to accompany me."
• Elle chuckled in response to his conditions. It was bizarre. Why did her offer turn into a prerequisite? But, alright. She did not want to question it. "Okay, Okay."
• Tom smiled, satisfied after obtaining approval from her. "By the way, what are you doing here? Do you want to meet Frank?" he asked, changing the topic.
• "No. I want to meet Brigitta." Elle answered briefly. Her purpose in visiting the hospital was to meet her doctor, Brigitta. Neither Frank nor Tom, even though those two men took care of her a few years ago.
• A wrinkle was created on Tom's forehead. Some worries appeared on his face. "What's wrong? Did something happen?" The anxious tone was heard in his voice.
• Immediately, Elle shook her head to dismiss all his assumptions. "No, no. It's just a regular consultation. It has been a long time since I did it," she replied quickly. She knew Tom cared about her. Therefore, she did not want to make him worry because she was okay.
• A sigh of relief came out of Tom's lips. She was right, wasn't she, if he cared about her? The frown on Tom's forehead disappeared, along with the disappearance of the worried expression behind his rectangular glasses. Honestly, Elle often found a more mature impression every time she looked at his figure, even though they were only four years apart. Maybe his responsibility as a doctor forced him to show the image of someone trusted.
• "But it looks like Bri isn't in the hospital. I haven't met her this morning. I heard she was attending a seminar," Tom said, conveying the information he knew.
• "Oh, I see," Elle responded, looking slightly disappointed. Her efforts ended in vain.
• "You haven't made an appointment?"
• A shake Elle gave in response.
• "We better ask first. Maybe I was wrong." Elle's nod answered Tom's offer. They then walked into the building to go to the desk in the hospital lobby closest to the main door. "Zee, can you check doctor Brigitta's schedule?" He asked, replacing Elle, who stood a step behind him.
• The nurse named Zee looked for a moment towards Tom and Elle, then replied, "Wait a minute, Doc. Let me check first." She checked her computer for a while. "The consultation with doctor Brigitta today started at one."
• "Oh, okay. Thank you."
• "You're welcome, Doc."
• Then Tom turned his attention back to Elle. "You heard it herself. Bri will be here at one in the afternoon. "
• "Yeah, I heard it," Elle replied. The answer she gained had remained the same. She could not see her doctor immediately.
• "So, what will you do?"
• Elle shrugged her shoulders. She thought of her day after one plan failed. Elle should have confirmed with Brigitta first, as Elle had known a doctor's schedule could change at any time. But she still just came without notice. "Go home. I'll come here tomorrow," she decided, finally. Leaving the hospital was the first thing she would do. She could not only sit and wait when the consultation would start in three hours. She would be bored.
• "Thank you, Tom. Also, for you, Zee," she said goodbye before leaving them.
• "Wait, Elle," Tom called before Elle turned her body. He raised his shopping bag, took something from inside, then handed it to her. "For you." He cleared up his act. "I always think of you every time I see this chocolate," he added.
• Elle looked at the chocolate that Tom handed her. There was doubt in her eyes before she took over the food from his grasp. "Thank you, Tom. I will go now. See you later." And with that word, she ended their accidental meeting.