After School in the Doctor's Office...
Jin carefully placed his important research papers into his briefcase for a second time. Today he had to take on the task of talking to Irene about Angela being able to work with them in the clinic on the weekends. He would be lucky if he didn't have to practically beg; his grandmother was a little weird about letting non-family members getting a job with them.
"Hey Grandmother, I had to talk to you about something." He said, not looking away from his papers.
Irene looked over at him, the usual frown covering her face. "Yes?"
Jin gulped. "I was wondering if we could talk about Angela..." He trailed off, hoping that she would get the hint.
Irene looked interested. "That's the same exact subject that I was just going to ask you about, in fact. But you go first."
"O-okay...." He stuttered. "Um... I was wondering if she could work with us on the weekends at the clinic....?" Irene didn't respond. "I talked to her about it and she seems to be really interested in it."
Irene sighed and closed her eyes, a sign that she was upset. "Jin."
"What?"
"You do realize that the girl... just turned 18 recently, right? I took a look at her school records when I brought her in yesterday."
"I'm just socializing- It's good for yourself." Inwardly he cringed. Reality had slapped him in the face. He knew she was young, but his mind couldn't accept the fact that sh was only eight-teen.
There was a quiet knock on the door and Jin quickly turned around, hoping to see Angela, but instead his girlfriend, Anissa.
"Hi Jinny." She said, a calm smile over her face.
Jin frowned and looked down. "Hey 'Nissa." He said, his voice coarse. She walked over to him and gave him a quick peck. He cleared his throat and looked over to his grandmother.
"Jin, only if you think it's a good idea." She said, grabbing her purse and heading out of the door. "I'll see you this weekend." Jin nodded and after the old woman had left, he looked at Anissa.
"What did she mean by that?" She asked, a little worried."
"Oh... Just family issues." He lied and looked away from her.
"I'd like us to talk about our relationship." Anissa said, changing the subject.
"...Go on."
"Well... I was wondering if... we could-"
Angela walked into Jin's office, cutting off Anissa's sentence. She was ready for her ride home from the white-coated doctor. When she noticed Anissa in the room, she felt hurt and heart instantly sank.
"Hey Angela. This is Anissa, my girlfriend." He said, regretting the last two words. Anissa waved and smiled.
"O-oh yeah, her. We worked with each other for a little bit when I first came out here. Nice seeing you again!" Angela said, stil a little hurt, but trying not to let out her emotions. She didn't know that Jin had a girlfriend. Now there was no chance for them to be together.
"Okay I'll see you later 'Nissa, I have to drive Angela to her home." Jin said, closing his briefcase.
"Wha?" Anissa said in disbelief.
"I live kind of far away... and all I have is my bike." Angela shrugged. "Dr. Jin offered to give me rides until I can drive a car."
"Oh." Anissa looked over to Jin, her eyes down. She embraced him, then left, a bit of energy taken out of her.
Angela looked at where she left guiltily. Jin looked over at her and smiled. "Don't worry. Let's go." He said happily. Angela didn't know what he meant by "Don't worry".
In the car....
"So... you have a girlfriend I see." Commented Angela without even thinking.
"Yeah..." He trailed off. He was a little annoyed that Anissa had come in without calling to confirm with him. Anissa had always done that.
She sighed to herself. "Did you ask Irene about a weekend job?"
"Yeah. She said that it was my decision. Just come at nine A.M. so we can get started... You know where Meringue Clinic is?"
"Oh! I can ride my bike there! It's not nearly as far away as this school." Angela said, rolling her eyes. The school was miles farther compared to the clinic. She had to walk there from Sundae Inn the very first day she had come to the island, but it was during school hours and nobody was there.
"Good. Remember to eat a full balanced breakfast before you come every day, 'kay?" Jin advised, obviously concerned over the girl's health.
"Yes Dr. Jin." She giggled.
Angela's house...
"Care to come in? I can make us some tea. " Angela offered.
"Do you have a lot of homework to do? I'd hate to be such a burden."
"Nonsense, I don't have that much." She lied. She had piles of homework to catch up on from being gone for one day.
"Then sure, if you don't mind." Jin said happily as he exited his car. "Wow."
There were innumerable rows of crops on the front plot of land in front of the barn. Jin knew why she would be in such a hurry in the mornings. Such a small girl couldn't water so many crops in such a short amount of time. The barn behind them was rather large; Jin was sure that there were animals in there. Angela saw him glimpsing at the barn.
"Oh, there aren't any animals in there... I haven't got the finances to purchase one yet. But in my coop I plan on getting a few silkworms. Their silk is worth a LOT."
"Interesting....." Jin thought out loud. He was forming a plan.
The two approached the door and Jin held it open for her.
"Thank you."
"You're very welcome." He said, smiling.
Jin saw the interior of the house. The walls were painted a simple white with a floral wall paper at the top on all borders. She had a small kitchen with only a pot and a mixer. A refrigerator was in there too.
"Pretty nice place you have here."
"Thanks. You can take a seat at the table if you want. I'll get some herbal tea cooking. Do you like blue herbs?" She asked.
Jin's eyes widened. "Y-you have some? Where did you find such a thing??" He was surprised at the question.
"I found them in Praline Woods yesterday. Their tea is a little sweet actually."
"Sure.... I'll take a fe- I mean a blue herb tea please." He stopped himself, not wanting to be rude. Blue herbs were the most rare and valuable herbs and Jin hadn't seen any for a long time. If only he could get his hand on a few of them....
"What kind of medicine do blue herbs make?" Angela asked while pulling them out of the refrigerator.
"Um... You'll learn that kind of stuff when you work at the clinic. All herbs make different kinds of medicine. Each with different effects and tastes."
"Do you think I could learn how to make some of those medicines?"
"I don't see why not. It would help you learn to take better care of yourself, that's for sure."
Angela felt like she was going to get another lecture. "I do take good care of myself."
Jin chuckled. "With those skinny thighs-" He tried to stop talking, but he couldn't help himself, that's what he was looking at at the time. Angela blushed and looked at the pot. He couldn't believe that he had said such a perverse thing to a young girl. He could only hope that she hadn't taken it like that.
Angela grabbed a couple of cups and poured the tea. The silence in the room was awkward. She didn't know what to take from what he had said. Without thinking, she grabbed the sides of the pot that was extremely hot. She let out a quiet cry, and much to her dismay, Jin had heard.
"Are you okay?" He demanded and walked over to her side. He investigated her hands and noticed that they were very red. He turned off the stove and led her over to the table. "I'll go get some burn ointment from my first aid kit."
"I have ice in my freezer, I can take care of it." She said, walking over to the kitchen.
"Ice will only make it hurt more. Ointment will take down the swelling." He said and walked out the front door.
Angela quickly poured the tea before he got back and placed the light pink cups on the table without thinking of the pain in her singed fingers. By the time she sat down, Jin came back in holding a small tube of medicine. He shook his head.
"What?' She asked. "It's not that bad!" She shouted, refusing to let him see her fingers.
"Angela, it could get infected. I would prefer to get this over with than for you to have to come into the clinic so I have to extract the infection. That could be even more painful." He threatened. Jin didn't want for Angela to get hurt, even if it was just a little burn. "But she's being so stubborn!" He thought. She didn't have to make such a big deal over a little burn.... Or maybe.... It was a hint.
He took off the cap and placed a small dab on his finger. He grabbed Angela's hands one at a time and rubbed in the medication. Much to her relief, it felt as if her hands were cooling off, even better than ice would have done.
"Thank you... Dr. Jin." She said in defeat. He just gave her a smile and nodded.
"Not a problem. I believe what I said before that might have had something to do with it.... Sorry." He apologized and took a sip of his tea.
"It's... okay. How is it?" She asked, trying to shrug off what he had said.
"It's surprisingly sweeter than any of the others. No sugar added?" He asked in disbelief.
"Not at all."
"Mmmm... It's very good. Thank you."
Angela smiled. She had a feeling that she had some luck with him. Just a little. But she wouldn't let her feelings get he best of her. She always felt happy when around the Doctor. Maybe it was fate that was trying to bring them together by her getting burned or the falling into the sewers that morning. Maybe... Just maybe....
"Angela?" Jin asked. Angela opened her eyes and looked at him, surprised. "I would suggest that you get some sleep tonight. I'm going to head home so you have time to finish off that mountain of homework, okay?"
Angela nodded, more tired than ever. She had never fallen asleep that fast in a day dream before.
Jin stood up and put his empty cup into the sink. "I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow at 7AM. Just please be sure to eat a breakfast." He begged, hoping that she was listening.
"Yes Doctor. I'll see you later then." She stood up and gave him a quick hug before he left. After the door closed behind him, she let out a heavy sigh.
"I guess I need to have a little chat with Anissa....." She said.
