Chapter 76 - Moving On I

Dr Xiao Zeng presented an application to the Dean of City Hospital.

"I want to transfer departments." He said handing over the document.

"Why? Is there any particular reason?" Dr Jiang glanced over the application through his spectacles.

"There are personal reasons, Sir. I assure you, there were no hospital-related issues." Dr Xiao Zeng politely stated. His pact bond with this hospital still availed for a year and a half more. So the least he could do to avoid a certain someone was to change departments.

Dr Jiang nodded. "Alright. There are vacant positions only for the General Surgeon post. But mind you, the salary and recognition will be lesser than the current one."

Dr Xiao readily accepted. "Except the Emergency Ward, anything will do, Sir."

The Dean placed down the application on his desk, "Dr Xiao, are you sure about this? We need a valuable surgeon like you in the Casualty and Emergency department."

"Yes, Sir. I am sure about it. Sorry for being a bother." Zeng was firm on his decision.

"Alright, I assume this is a well thought out decision and not a rash one." Dr Jiang said, signing the application. He was saying this not only as the Dean but also as a senior doctor who was once Zeng's supervisor. "You will receive the transfer notice soon. But if you ever decide to change your mind, do let me know."

"Yes, Sir."

Within a few days, the departmental transfer documents were ready. When Xiao Zeng told his apprentice intern, Wu Fanxing, about the transfer to the General Surgery Department, he almost cried.

"Why are you leaving, Sir? Is it because of me? Did I do something wrong or annoy you in any way? Did I make a mistake in the surgery? I am so sorry, please don't leave because of me."

Dr Xiao chuckled at the naivety. "It's not because of you, Fanxing. So don't worry." He patted the little intern's head. "Dr Lee Kuan will be replacing me. He was my batchmate in college. He's both, a good person and a good doctor. You'll learn a lot from him."

Seeing the intern's sad face, Xiao Zeng reassured, "Remember, if you have any problem, I will be just two blocks away. You can always come and find me in the General Surgery Ward."

"Yes Sir." Dr Fanxing nodded with a smile.

Dr Xiao Zeng took his leave bidding all his colleagues from the Emergency Ward goodbye. After moving to the General Surgery department, he initially struggled to fit in but soon adjusted. He drowned himself in work. He shared everything with his parents over the phone. They were worried about him but he told them that he can manage himself and is better than before.

One day, during his break, Dr Xiao Zeng was sitting on the terrace bench drinking coffee, spending some time alone in peace. It felt like the man has aged a lot over the past week. He kept looking at the weak sun who would soon dip down for the next twelve hours before rising again. The sunset was not only beautiful but also soothing.

"Hey, handsome!" Zeng turned around to see the owner of the voice. Dr Meng Zaria came in, smiling.

"Hi." He got up and hugged his friend. "I didn't see you for months. Is the workload too much?" He asked her knowing how hectic her schedule usually was as they sat back on the bench.

She sighed, "Don't ask. The children are not giving me a break. How I wish they never had to be operated on! Cute little things." She said referring to the kids in her ward. Dr Meng Zaria was a Paediatric surgeon. They have been friends since their intern days. They both clicked fast as either of them were interested in their same respective genders. Xiao Zeng felt fortunate to have her as a friend who knew his true self, not the facade that he showed the society.

She asked, "What about you? How's your insomnia? You were taking the pills, right?"

"Ah, it's getting better now. The dose is reduced and I am sleeping better than before." Zeng reassured her with a smile.

He had insomnia since three years. He couldn't sleep for more than one hour without having a nightmare about a certain someone. As suggested, he had been taking pills for the same and since he closed his heart for the turmoil in the past few weeks, it was getting better.

"Good thing. A few weeks more and you'll be all good." She smiled. "By the way, how are things with your boyfriend... um... what was his name again? Yul, right?"

Zeng was a bit startled at the sudden mention of that name. He looked away and gripped the coffee can tightly with both his hands to prevent them from shaking.

"We broke up."

Zaria's eyes widened in shock, "What! Seriously?"

"Yeah." He nodded pursing his lips.

"Oh dear God!" She was genuinely surprised. "I never expected it to happen. I thought you guys were doing pretty well. It's the first time my intuitions were wrong. So what went wrong? Did he cheat or something?"

"No way. He didn't." He immediately ruled out that option. "It was all me." He clarified. "It was getting too much for me to handle and I wasn't sure for what the future might hold for us." Looking at the horizon far away, he said, "I couldn't understand him. Things began to fall apart and we began hurting each other. There was no meaning in continuing such a relationship."

"Oh dear, I am so sorry." She side-hugged him, rubbing his back soothingly. "It must be a hard time for you. You are a strong guy, you'll overcome this." She said sympathetically.

Zeng bit his lip to control his emotions. He breathed, "I never knew moving on was this difficult." His voice cracked as he held back his tears. "Yul still has a life to go back to, which this society accepts. Meanwhile, I will be stuck here, without him. But it's all in the past now. I have moved on." He reassured himself, nodding.

Dr Meng Zaria joined him looking at the beautiful sunset.

"Things are not easy for people like us, Zeng. At least, your family supports you. My parents still refuse to see my face ever since I came out of the closet. They consider me dead. Xuan Lu jie is all I have got now."

Zeng knew how fortunate he was that his parents accepted him wholeheartedly. Zaria's parents, on the other hand, had cut every connection with her when they came to know that their daughter is a lesbian. They had even forgotten that they once had an eldest daughter. Zeng knew those times were really hard for Zaria and he was genuinely happy for her when she got together with the girl she loved. This lovely couple had been together for seven strong years.

At least, they will have a happy ending.

They kept gazing at the pink sky as the sun disappeared beneath The horizon.

Dr Meng Zaria's phone beeped, signalling her break time was up. Zeng's would last for another ten minutes.

"Well, then," She got up, her hands in her apron pockets. "I might introduce you to someone new. Tell me when you have moved on completely."

"I have moved on." Zeng asserted.

Zaria chuckled. "You don't look like you have moved on." She sympathetically patted his shoulder with a smile and walked away leaving behind a bewildered Zeng.

"What did she mean by that?" He asked himself, confused.