Me After Meeting You

“That’s impossible.” Amber laughed.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“But what if it happened?” Ian was unexpectedly insistent on this point and looked at her intently. “Would you continue treating him?”

Amber was unable to follow his logic and was still confused at how the subject had suddenly changed from a patient suffering from Cotard’s syndrome to a patient getting into bed with their doctor. But she could see what kind of answer Ian wanted, so she responded, “No.”

Ian laughed lightly. This was the first time Amber had ever seen him laugh. His lips curved slightly up and his eyes were without any sense of warmth, but his mien had an unexpectedly handsome coolness.

After that, Amber ate dinner patiently. Ian’s behavior seemed similar to that of a robot with a pre-programmed routine, he wouldn’t do anything else before finishing a given task.

For example, with regards to this blind date that seemed unfathomable to Amber, Ian instead seemed determined to check all the boxes. Once the duo left the restaurant, Ian said, “Next in the schedule is watching a movie, taking a walk or drinking at a bar. Which do you want to do?”

His businesslike tone left Amber’s lips twitching. “Hmm, can i skip all of those activities?”

“Then let’s go drinking.” His matter of fact tone had already made the decision for her.

Snapping his fingers, Ian signalled an approaching taxi to stop. He pulled the door open, waiting for Amber to get in. This series of actions was really quite smooth, Amber noted silently.

She hesitated for only a few seconds before getting into the car. Reflecting upon it later, Amber dismissed her actions as the occupational habit of a doctor, Ian’s actions dripped with oddities and such oddities boasted a near instinctual attraction for psychiatrists.

Despite saying that they were going to a bar to drink, Ian instead brought Amber to La Marquesina, a famous local nightclub. He was on his phone inviting people all throughout the drive, so by the time they arrived, the private room was already filled to the brim.

Upon seeing their arrival, those people all stood up and greeted Ian. Some called him Director Axton, some as Chief and some, like Nancy simply as Ian. But without exception, everyone noticed Amber, who was standing behind Ian. Someone who seemed to be on very good terms with Ian even directly asked, “Who’s this young lass?”

“My partner.”

The room fell quiet and Amber almost tripped over her own feet. She stumbled, only regaining her balance after grabbing Ian’s sleeves.

Her fingers even accidentally brushed over his hand and the warmth of his skin caused her heart to skip a beat. As she lifted her head, she saw that everyone’s gaze was focused on her hand, which was still holding on to Ian’s sleeve. Her fingers were fair and delicate, but who knew whether the germophobic Mr. Axton would suddenly become infuriated and cut her hand off.

Somewhat discomfited by all the attention, Amber silently withdrew her hand, patted Ian’s sleeves down and pretended that nothing had happened. “Mr. Axton’s just joking. My name’s Amber and I’m a doctor.”

Ian didn’t refute her, merely looking at her once before taking his jacket off.

The room was a little warm. Meanwhile, Amber tried to convince herself that Ian’s behavior wasn’t because he resented her for wrinkling his sleeve.

But the truth was that he did, because he immediately threw the jacket at her. “Return it to me after you’ve washed it.”

Amber was left speechless once again. Was this a form of selective germophobia? Where he can have lunch outside, but not bear someone else’s touch?

Ian turned and walked away as Amber was busy diagnosing Ian in her mind. The man who had just asked her who she was smiled at her. “Hi, Doctor, I’m Ansell Walton, one of Ian’s friends.”

Amber nodded at him. “Nice to meet you.”

“Sit here.” The man called Ansell led Amber over to a seat, directly next to Ian. Amber made sure to stay as far away from him as possible this time.

The atmosphere in the private room quickly grew rowdy again, the young men and women clumping together as they sang karaoke. Next to Amber, Ansell asked Ian. “Ian, what do you want to play tonight?”

Ian lounged on the sofa as he looked at the singing people with a supercilious look on his face. He pointed at ber and said, “Whatever, as long as you take care of her.”

Ansell smiled. “Are you trying to let your partner see what your world’s like?”

Ian reiterated, “Anything’s fine.”

Ansell still smiling, then turned to look at Amber “What do you want to play, Doctor?”

Amber actually didn’t want to play anything. She didn’t enjoy partying and almost never thought of drinking, going to bars or singing karaoke. But since she was already here, when Ansell asked her, she also replied, “Anything’s fine.”

Her answer was really quite careless and was something she would regret countless times in the future. But she had no choice, that was the unfortunate answer she had given.

And so Ansell called a bunch of people over to play a simple game of guessing dice with her. To Amber this wasn’t anything challenging, but the key point was that she hadn’t played before.

This meant that before she could fully grasp the trick behind the game, she had lost and was subsequently forced to drink some alcohol. The alcohol consisted of a vibrant liquid in a beautiful glass cup, on top of which faint flames were dancing. Before this, Amber had never drunk any liquor but beer, being both a studious and obedient girl.

She didn’t know how strong this alcoholic drink was and she didn’t think much of it upon seeing its beautiful appearance and so she downed it in one gulp.

Then, she collapsed.

An almost instantaneous collapse, right as she finished the alcohol.

The last thing she remembered was the man called Ansell exclaiming beside her, “Damn! Is her tolerance that low?”