Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

“LARA!”

“ANDRE!”

Lara’s voice choked when she heard the sound of something breaking, followed by something suddenly entering her room through the window. A strong and foul smell immediately filled the air. Lara was truly terrified because she couldn’t see anything in the darkness.

“Are you okay?” Andre seemed to be embracing Lara, after reaching out his hand towards the bed. The lights went out. They couldn’t see anything, but… Andre could guess Lara’s presence through her voice.

“I’m fine, but… something came in through the window!”

“Wait here, I’ll check it out!”

“Y-yes….”

Lara was still trying to calm herself down as Andre walked slowly towards the window.

“Ah!” Andre was startled as his foot stepped on a liquid that almost made him fall. He quickly grabbed onto anything that could balance his body. Andre then opened the window wide.

“Shit!”

Andre exclaimed in surprise when the moonlight provided a little light to examine something that made them curious.

“What’s wrong, Ndre?” Lara couldn’t contain her curiosity. She followed Andre’s footsteps and approached the window. The moonlight only ended near the bookshelf not far from there. Lara still couldn’t see anything.

“DON’T COME HERE!” Andre shouted breathlessly. He was still very shocked by what he saw.

“What’s wro– AHH!!!” Lara screamed again after seeing a severed dog’s head covered in blood in front of her. The foul and putrid smell she had smelled turned out to come from the dead dog’s carcass.

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Lara instantly fainted. “Lara!” Andre quickly caught Lara’s body, which was almost immersed in the disgusting dark blood spill. The doctor immediately secured Lara on the couch in the living room and reported the incident to the guard who had been on duty.

***

“We’re sorry, Doc. We really messed up,” Briptu Ani apologized the next day, after hearing yesterday’s terror story.

“I was really shocked. Lara fainted, fortunately she wasn’t hurt,” Andre grumbled, staring blankly at another bedroom that could be used. Lara’s bedroom was being cleaned, and besides, Andre didn’t want Lara to go back there.

“We want to leave here, Briptu. Please help us,” Andre said afterwards.

“Where will you go?” Briptu Ani asked curiously. “At moments like this, terror can happen. We should have tightened security,” she added regretfully.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s already happened. I’m just thankful that the troublemaker didn’t harm Lara’s life.”

“Maybe this is related to the ongoing trial. Mrs. Lara will be called as a witness next week. This kind of terror seems to be intended as a blow to Mrs. Lara’s mental state to refuse to testify….”

“And that won’t happen,” Lara suddenly interjected. With a still pale face, she walked into the living room, where Andre and Briptu Ani were talking.

“Mrs. Lara!” Briptu Ani stood up and hugged her. “Are you okay?” she asked worriedly. She didn’t want to disturb Lara’s rest time. Briptu Ani deliberately only talked to Andre.

Lara felt the warm touch of Briptu Ani’s embrace, which made her feel slightly calmer even though she was still trembling. She nodded slowly in response to Briptu Ani’s question about her condition. “Yes, I’m fine,” she replied in a weak voice.

Andre, sitting beside her, looked at Lara with the same concern in his eyes. His gaze was full of the same anxiety as Lara’s. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked with a caring tone.

Lara tried to smile to reassure Andre. “Yes, I’m fine,” she said, although the tremor in her voice revealed the uncertainty she felt inside.

Briptu Ani nodded, understanding that this was a difficult moment for Lara. “You’ve experienced a very frightening situation. But you’re very strong, Mrs.,” she said gently. “We’ll do our best to ensure your safety.”

Andre nodded as he tightly held Lara’s hand. “We won’t let things like this happen again,” he said firmly.

“Exactly as Andre said, Briptu. Let us leave here,” Lara said afterwards.

“Are you sure?”

“We’re very sure.” Andre reassured Lara’s decision. Briptu Ani seemed to think for a moment, not long after, a officer approached her and informed her that their CCTV only captured the presence of a man wearing a hat, before the entire surveillance camera circuit went completely dead.

“Damn!” Briptu Ani looked annoyed. “They turned off the security system. No wonder,” she said angrily.

“It’s okay, Briptu. Let us leave here.” Andre reaffirmed his decision. Being in this house was no longer safe for Lara. If one troublemaker had succeeded in causing a commotion, who could guarantee that there wouldn’t be another troublemaker or even… a murderer?

Thinking about that, Andre suddenly had a headache. He didn’t want to lose Lara again.

Briptu Ani nodded. She understood that the safety and well-being of the victim were top priorities. “Alright, I will arrange for your return immediately. But make sure you remain cautious. We will send patrol officers around your area.”

After ensuring that the repatriation steps had been arranged, Briptu Ani left them briefly to coordinate with other officers. Meanwhile, Andre sat next to Lara, looking at her with a clear expression of concern in his eyes.

“Lara, are you sure about this decision?” he asked with a soft voice, but full of concern.

Lara met Andre’s gaze with a determined look. “I’m sure, Andre,” she replied without hesitation. “We can’t stay in a place that makes us feel unsafe. I want to get away from here before something worse happens.”

Andre gently took Lara’s hand and rubbed it slowly. “I will always protect you, Lara. Whatever happens, we’ll get through this together.”

After preparing themselves, Andre and Lara left the safe house, watched by the officers standing outside. They felt a burden lifted from their shoulders as they left the place and stepped into the waiting car.

The journey home went smoothly. Andre’s car moved at a moderate speed, cutting through the quiet streets. It was already 6 a. m. The orange glow of the rising sun accompanied their journey.

Somehow, Andre felt more comfortable being far from the safe house, as long as Lara was with him.

As the car moved slowly, Andre couldn’t shake off the feeling of anxiety that continued to haunt him. His mind wandered back to the events of last night and the dangers that might lurk around Lara at every corner. Andre had to find a way to prevent similar incidents from happening again in their home.

“Ndre…,” Lara called from beside him. Lara still looked weak and shaken by the recent events. Although she tried to maintain her composure, the tremor of anxiety was still evident in her voice and movements.

“Yes, Ra? Do you need something?” Andre asked quickly while still keeping an eye on the road from behind the wheel.

“Not me, but you. Are you okay?” Lara held one of Andre’s hands beside her. The young man was taken aback, not expecting Lara to reach out to him.

“I… I’m okay,” Andre replied with a thin smile that concealed his worry lines. Lara sighed, knowing that Andre must have a lot on his mind.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Ndre. I’m fine. We’re fine. Just focus on the trial,” Lara finally decided to shift their focus. She knew very well that Andre would surely bear the burden of his own safety.

Lara didn’t want Andre to push himself too hard. “It’s not your fault, okay?” Lara said firmly. Andre would surely blame himself for leaving Lara alone that night.

Misfortune and blessings come alternately without being known. Who can predict destiny?

“Yes, Ra. I won’t dwell on it too much,” Andre finally managed to crack a smile, not just drawing a curve as a formality. Lara’s words ignited his spirit and calmed his heart. He became more confident in always being by Lara’s side and protecting her.

“Because you’re very special, Honey.”