Chapter 3

The dense maple tree was adorned with fairy lights that twinkled like stars in the night sky. The warm glow of the lights cast a magical aura over the couple standing beneath it. The guy, who stood tall and proud, had cupped the face of his beloved girl, who was a few inches shorter than him, making them look like a match made in heaven. He had chiseled features and a jawline that could cut glass, but the look in his eyes was gentle and loving.

As he stared at his lover, his soft lips formed a line, and his thumb rubbed against her soft cheek. "Can't you see it in my eyes?" He whispered in a silky, hushed voice. The girl's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice, and she felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She spoke, but her voice quivered, "See what?"

The man chuckled softly, then leaned in, touching their foreheads together. "That I am in love with you," he whispered before planting a tender kiss on the tip of her small nose. The girl's heart swelled with happiness, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. “I think i need to take a closer look.” THe girl bit her lip after saying those words. They stood there, lost in their own world, 

"And cut!" The director's voice boomed from behind the camera, and the two actors broke their embrace, turning to face the crowd watching them shoot the scene. Orion looked at the girl who had just played his lover, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Great work," he said, The girl was still caught up in the emotion of the scene. She blushed, her cheeks rosy and warm. "You too," she responded, feeling a little lightheaded from the intensity of the moment.

Orion's manager rushed over with a bottle of water, and Orion took a long sip, only to have the liquid get stuck in his throat when his manager revealed that he had received a call from the hospital. "Hospital? And you're telling me about it now?" Orion's voice was sharp and edged with worry.

"It wasn't anything serious. They were just calling because the test results were out," the manager explained, but Orion was already rushing toward the exit in lightning speed, leaving the director and the crew in his wake.

"Cooper! What's going on with Orion? Why did he leave so suddenly?" The director turned to Orion's manager, his frustration palpable.

Cooper scratched the back of his head nervously, feeling guilty. "Something came up, so he had to leave. I'll make sure to tell him to meet with you in his free time," he said apologetically.

The director nodded, patting Cooper on the back. "Don't worry too much about it, and make sure he eats something," he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, before walking away. Cooper gave out a heavy sigh before heading after Orion because he didn;t have the car keys. 

In the dimly-lit parking area, Orion paced around his car, frantically attempting to get a signal on his phone to call the hospital. But his efforts were in vain as the screen showed 'No Signal'. Frustration written all over his face, Cooper arrived, and Orion gave him a stern look but refrained from scolding him further. He let Cooper unlock the car and open the door for him before starting the engine.

The moment the phone picked up, Orion immediately asked, "Hello?” His finger tapped impatiently on his thigh as he stared out of the window, watching as the scenery shifted from the dark and confined parking lot to the open roads.

“Hello this is Savan Speaking. Doctor Atlas is on round so he won’t e able to get to the phone. How may I be of your assistance?” 

“Isn’t this number supposed to be Doctor Silver’s?” Orion questioned. 

"Doctor Silver is on vacation. Doctor Atlas Mercury has taken over instead," replied the woman on the other end of the line.

Orion's irritation was palpable as he exclaimed, "How could he go away like that without prior notice? What about his patients? What happens to them?" Cooper was on edge, knowing how Orion's temper could escalate.

The woman calmly reassured him, "Like I said, sir, Doctor Atlas has taken over, so you don't have to worry about anything. If you have any other questions, please visit the hospital branch. Thank you." With that, she ended the call.

Orion let out a frustrated huff before tightly closing his eyes and resting his head against the seat. "This is so unprofessional!" he grumbled under his breath.

Cooper tried to soothe him, "Everything is okay, I'm telling you. It was just a reminder call, nothing serious."

But Orion was too angry to be pacified. "Shut up! I'm still mad at you!" he snapped.

As Cooper drove, Orion's frown deepened, and he was on the verge of exploding. Suddenly, the car slowed down as they encountered a roadblock, and the tension in the car escalated.

“What’s going on?” Orion asked with a sense of urgency in his voice.

“There’s been an accident,” Cooper replied with a sad tone. Orion opened his eyes fully and looked ahead. His ears had picked up the sound of sirens, but he hadn't paid much attention to it. However, now it made sense as they approached a scene where a cargo truck had flipped, causing the massive container to fall onto the road and block the way. A car had been crushed beneath it, and emergency services were trying to clear the scene.

“I hope there weren't any serious injuries,” Cooper said, sounding genuinely concerned. Orion, on the other hand, turned away from the scene and began searching for an alternative route.

“Reverse the car. I don’t have time to wait for this mess to clear up,” he stated impatiently, tapping his phone screen nervously with his finger. He revealed his lock screen, which displayed a picture of a woman with fine wrinkles on her face, smiling beside Orion, who was looking at her with affection. It was his favorite picture with his mother, and he cherished it dearly. His mother was the only person left who could bring out the warm and gentle side of him that he had grown to keep hidden from the rest of the world.