37 Biopsy

Use your smile to change the world. But don't let the world change your smile. (Unknown)

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Characters:

(1) Blythe - Yan Shi's other name

(2) Nick - LJ's other name

(3) Luo Shen - Nick's friend

(4) Dr. Fei - Blythe's oncologist in Beijing

(5) Bai Xiao Wen - Nick's right-hand man

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July 18, 20xx

Piraeus, Athens

~~~~

"When did you realize you love me?" he pressed for the second time.

Blythe hid her smile and returned to adjusting her clothes.

"Not telling huh?"

There was a hint of playfulness in his voice as he stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Ignoring the man who was wearing that sly smile on his face as though implying he has concocted an evil plan, she moved to the other side of the room and took out her medical report, hidden at the bottom of her luggage, beneath her clothes and placed them on the bed.

"Answer me first. When did you?" she returned.

At the same moment, she regretted to ask. She realized why was she playing this game. It seemed idiotic. But somehow, she really desired to know.

"107 days, 10 hours, 32 minutes and---" he glimpsed at his wristwatch and added "25 seconds"

She mouthed 'wow.' Then eyed him in surprise. Her brows furrowed trying to remember if they had an intersection in the past.

But no matter how much she wracked her brain, nothing comes up.

His face became gloomy and he voiced out, "April 1"

'April 1? What happened that time?'

Memories flooded in and she gasped, "You were that man covered with blank ink?"

Her eyes landed on his stomach when she remembered his wounds.

He nodded his head slightly.

"Slytherin."

And it never really crossed her mind. She always had the feeling he appeared familiar but she can never place where she'd seen him. It turned out to be him.

~~~~

As Blythe leaned on the hospital bed, this conversation was running in her head.

Frankly speaking, she never wanted to recall what happened at that time.

It was just like any other day. She was all excited on her boyfriend's proposal but it ended up to discovering he and her half-sister were getting married. Which they are now happily married according to the local news online and they are expecting the arrival of their child.

At that time, she left the Yan household feeling hurt and disappointed.

Then, when she returned to the hospital, she was called to the VP's office and was told a patient sued her, wanting her medical license revoked. The day never seemed to get any much better when she collapsed inside the operating room and the next morning, the oncologist's diagnosis shattered her completely. Therefore, she never really wanted to reminisce.

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But who could have guessed that it wasn't really the worst day? When she stopped her car to save a man from being killed, her random kindness became the biggest blessing to her.

She found the person she's going to spend the rest her life with. Till this moment, her happy grin cannot be contained.

She retracted her sight from the medical equipment inside the room and peeked at him. He was talking to his friend at the doorway who he introduced as Luo Shen. But there was no need for introduction as Dr. Shen is a visiting lecturer at NYU School of Medicine and she studied under him for 2 semesters. The two of them were both surprised to meet after 4 years.

As if Nick sensed her intent gaze, he turned his head and gave her a lop-sided grin, exposing his perfect white teeth.

'Handsome!'

Instantly, there was drumming in her chest and warmth radiated throughout her body. One hand instinctively tucked the falling strands of hair behind her ears while the other covered her mouth to control herself from squealing because of excitement.

When she became conscious of her movements, she blushed and looked down.

'Gosh Blythe. Stop it! You are acting like a teenager.' she shamed herself for her embarrassing actions.

******

"Let's not do it."

Blythe had the urge to roll her eyes with his absurdity but bridled her reaction. Nick was the one who made all the arrangements to come to the hospital even though, she had explained that she had the test done and provided him the results. Still, he insisted.

Her reluctance was smothered by what he confessed about his ex-girlfriend who died because of cancer. Upon understanding where his worries were coming from, there and then, she softened and assented.

Hence, the last two hours she had imaging tests like X-ray and CT scan. When she handed her medical records to the Dean of the oncology department, there was confusion on his face. Because what Blythe provided, contained her oncologist's original notes. As it is against hospital policy to give the patient his/ her full records.

She had to explain that her doctor in Beijing, Dr. Fei dispensed them for reference since at most, she's getting her treatments overseas.

Due to this, the serious looking Head no longer necessitated Blythe for lymph node biopsy(a). Instead, he required her to undergo bone marrow biopsy (b) and aspiration(c).

"Let's go home," he repeated when she was quiet.

Instead of answering, she clasped his palm. She can feel it was shaking. It conveyed the feeling that he was more afraid than she was.

She smiled reassuringly and told him, "It's not painful and it will be quick. Don't worry."

Her husband realized that instead of being someone she could rely on, he became the one depending on her. He heaved a sigh for the nth time and calmed himself.

The sound of opening doors made them check who arrived.

They both saw Luo Shen with a woman in a white coat walking in, followed by two nurses.

"I'm Dr. Peterski," she stated and smiled with meaning to Nick while she extended a hand.

But the married man ignored the outstretched palm.

There was that embarrassed look on that beautiful female doctor but she tried to conceal it.

Being aware of the sidelong glances the hematologist gave her husband, Blythe chuckled silently.

'What can you do Blythe? Your husband is a hunk.' she reminded herself.

Dr. Luo Shen cleared his throat to remind the other woman of what she was supposed to do. Only then, did Dr. Peterski signaled her assistants to prep up.

Blythe positioned herself to lie on her left side and relaxed her mind.

When the doctor was about to lift her blouse to expose her back, Nick glared to Luo Shen and gestured him to leave the room.

Luo Shen lifted on brow and mentioned, "I've seen more than that."

But when Nick's expression never wavered, he left while shaking his head in amusement. He lamented, why did he bother himself to rush to Athens because his friend said so.

***

Blythe kept still and waited for them to put a dot on her back where the iliac crest is adjacent to. The iliac crest is the border of that winglike bone in the pelvis. It is where a large amount of red bone marrow is found.

The antiseptic scent of colored chlorhexidine assailed her nose. Blythe noted that it was being applied around the marked skin. It was followed by the rustling sound of a wrapper being opened.

Two seconds later, there was that prick on her lower back as they injected the anesthetic. Another 5 seconds passed before she felt the stung from the small incision the doctor made. Though that part of her body is numb, she's well aware of what's happening.

A needle was inserted and 2 ml of her blood was taken for sampling. Followed by, squeezing in a bone marrow aspiration needle to puncture the iliac crest. As soon as she perceived it, there was a dull pain on her posterior.

Blythe bit her lower lip to stop herself from wincing. The sting continued when they used a 12 ml syringe to extract the spongy tissue.

Nick who was watching the whole process felt his heart twinged and observed her. He went to his knees and whispered to her, "I'm here sweetheart."

In an attempt to distract her, he opened his wife's palm and tried to scribble something on it.

His finger wrote these three characters 我 爱 你 which reads as wo ai ni.

This managed to change her uncomfortable countenance and the corner of her mouth turned up.

*****

Completing all the procedure, the Dean of the oncology department promised to expedite the process and will inform the result the next day. Because Blythe already knew the extent of her illness, she simply nodded.

Thirty minutes later, they were inside a black Maybach.

Bai Xiao Wen was driving while Luo Shen took the passenger's side. The couples were at the back.

The whole drive to Pan International Hotel - Athens was quiet. Instead of staying at his grandparents' property like the rest of the family, Nick opted to stay away from them. The Hotel was situated within Athens Riviera, a coastal suburb of Athens. It was one of the places he enjoyed staying at every time something brings him to this place.

Bai Xiao Wen slanted his eyes at the two people in the backseat. His boss was holding his wife who was asleep.

It was only yesterday that Nick called and ordered him to fly to Greece without an explanation. These past 4 weeks were hectic due to moving the head office of NL Industries in Beijing. He has given him the task of overseeing matters there before his brother, Gavin Li returns to the city to temporarily take over.

It made him wonder because he sounded different on the phone. He was sighing constantly like he was on a bind.

This morning, he explained that his wife is ill and he needs time to take care of her. Hence, Nick wanted him to manage the overseas division of the company in Paris, forgoing the original plan.

Learning about Blythe's illness, Bai Xiao Wen was speechless.

He agreed to the arrangements. However, being Nick's right-hand man for more than 10 years, he had the inclination of reminding him to forget the whole idea of marriage. Not that he's against with Blythe but he didn't want Nick to go through the same grief the man experienced before.

It took more than a year for him to recover and move on. What if he suffers again?

However, seeing the extent of Nick's protectiveness towards his wife, rationalizing will be useless. So in the end, he decided to keep quiet and noted it down to keep this news away from the Li family's ears. Although his boss never mentioned a thing, he's certain it was this one that was plaguing him.

***

While Nick paid attention to his wife's comfort on his arms, he contemplated whether he'll tell his family about her illness.

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Tidbit of Info:

(a) lymph node biopsy - is a test in which a lymph node or a piece of a lymph node is removed for examination under a microscope.

(b) bone marrow biopsy - removes bone with the marrow inside to look under a microscope.

(c) bone marrow aspiration - removes a small amount of bone marrow fluid and cells through a needle into a bone. This process only takes the marrow. It is usually done first before the biopsy.

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Extra:

Blythe: ???? Stop making me an idiot! ????????????????

TC: ????????You've been one the moment you fell in love.

Blythe: ????????Undo it.

TC: Nah ah! My readers will kill me for your fickle-mindedness. ????????

Blythe : ????????