Braze's phone vibrated in his pocket as he angrily strutted out of the amphitheater. He pulled it out, very annoyed, because it won't stop buzzing even after trying to switch it off for a few times with his finger inside the pocket.
His eyebrows narrowed as he saw the name. It was the lady vet.
" Hello... " He immediately put his air pods on, thrusting the phone back inside his pocket again.
" Oh, Hi Braze! How are you doing? " She asked.
" All good. Thank you... and you? "
" Good good. All good. Umm... I called to share very important news. I think I have been able to draw some similarities between your conditions and an old patient... I was just checking his blood behavior when it struck me how similar it was to yours. I can't give you all the details over the phone. Can you please come down to my office? " She asked.
" Now. Right now? " Braze looked at his watch. It was way past school time. The campus was deserted. It was well past afternoon.
Layla returned to her files. She was busy studying the report when finally Robert stirred.
" Sooo... Robert. You are finally awake. How do you feel?"
She smiled and asked.
" Dizzy. I feel a bit dizzy but good. "
Layla smiled before walking up to him and rubbing his forehead with some liquid that had a smell like ethanol.
" That's what I am living for. All I want is for my patients to feel good. Will you be able to get back home? Should I call a cab? Should I call that brother of yours? He conveniently vanished again. He is always missing when you need him. "
She tried to joke but there was a dent in her pitch.
" I can go by myself... " Robert stood up and nodded before leaving. " You still love him. Don't you? "
He asked before closing the door but Layla shot a paper ball at him which made him immediately duck.
His eyes fell on the monitor and the reports, scattered all over Layla's desk.
" I will be going then. Thank you. " Robert closed the door behind me, wondering if he saw it right. There were definitely more than one person's stats on the screen. He had no idea Layla treated other humans, apart from him.
He was walking out through the main exit when someone brushed against his coat. He barely noticed. His dizziness was making it difficult for him to call a cab.
" Do you need any help, sir? "
The boy who had earlier bumped into him had come back.
" I need to book a cab. " Robert helplessly said because he didn't want to have to go back to Layla for help.
" Here. Let me book one for you from my phone. Where are you headed? " Braze asked.
" The WatchTower,13 Denze Street.... '' Robert uttered with difficulty, grabbing the floor for support. He was on his knees and fighting to stay put.
" It's on its way sir, just five more minutes.... sir... goodness.... what do I do.... " Robert was about to fall on the ground face first but Braze caught him.
As soon as he leaned over Braze images flickered through his mind. Blurry, hazy images of a distant place. A place that he had seen himself many times in his dreams. He tried to focus on it but he was neither in his right mind or in the right state.
" Thank goodness... Here... your ride has arrived... " Braze lifted his weight and thrust inside, balancing the door and his body quite efficiently.
" Drop him carefully. He seems like he is very sick. Here, let me pay... Don't know if he even has his wallet on him... "
Braze shut the door behind him after handing over the cash to the driver before walking back to Layla's cabin.
" Oh, Hi Braze... Come take a seat... How have you been feeling? You did not get back after that day. I was starting to get worried... she smiled... "
Braze smiled back.
" I am doing much better. Thank you. My senses are much more stabilized. I think I'm finally starting to accept who I am and starting to understand the changes in my body.... "
He explained sitting down on the bed( the one that Layla used for check ups )
" Oh no! Not there... Sit here. I wanted to show you something... Here... come closer, take a look. "
Layla clicked on several slides on the screen as Braze went beside her and bent down to look at what she was pointing at.
"Take a look at this. Your superhuman blood type, which,let's say,we identify as Type X, is strikingly similar to another patient I have been studying." She zoomed in on a particular presentation.
Braze leaned in closer to the screen,
"Really? How similar are they?"
Layla ,zoomed in on a graph,
"See these genetic markers here? They're almost identical between you and this other patient. It's as if your mutations are related."
Braze seemed really intrigued.
"Who's this other patient? Do they have the same abilities as me?How long have you been studying that person? "
" Umm... I have known him for quite a long time... but he doesn't show similar abilities like yourself... You and him don't have much in common other than the way your blood reacts to different elements and stimulants... " She clicked on another folder as she was browsing through the files but it seemed she didn't mean to. She quickly shut the entire pc down in an attempt to hide that one file that popped out. Braze would have not even noticed the file but her clumsiness, nervousness and desperation made it more obvious.
" Well... that's what I wanted to talk to you about... " She tried to smile, trying to diffuse the awkward air.
Braze smiled back and nodded.
Both looking away and then trying to stand up together.
Braze hit Layla's face accidentally with his head, which instantly caused a direct impact on her lips.
It immediately swelled up and began to bleed.