The sun shone brightly overhead as I finally reached the medic camp, its white tents fluttering gently in the warm breeze. I'd been planning this visit for days, mentally mapping out every step, every word I might say, and imagining how it would feel to be here , to offer help, to learn, maybe even to heal in some way myself. The journey hadn't been long in distance, but emotionally, it felt like miles. There was something both humbling and exhilarating about standing at the threshold of a place where people came seeking care, comfort, and sometimes a second chance. My heart pounded with a mix of nervous energy and quiet determination. This was more than just a volunteer effort; it was a calling I couldn't ignore any longer.
back to Asher's pov:
I arrived at the medical camp organized by Elaina's college, where I was warmly welcomed. The entire process was conducted with great professionalism and efficiency. From the moment I stepped onto the campus, I could sense the dedication and effort that had gone into preparing for the camp. Representatives from the organizing committee guided me through the necessary formalities, ensuring that everything was clearly explained and properly documented. Signing the contract marked the beginning of my involvement with the camp, and I look forward to contributing meaningfully to the cause and supporting the medical services being provided to the community. My eyes were scanning the crowd, searching intently for one person in particular, Elaina, the flame of my quiet obsession. The bustling atmosphere of the medical camp faded into the background as I moved through it with single-minded purpose. Volunteers and attendees tried to engage me in conversation, their greetings and small talk brushing past me like whispers in the wind. I offered polite excuses, nodding distantly as I slipped past them, all the while my gaze darting from face to face, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Every heartbeat seemed to echo her name, driving me forward through the sea of unfamiliar faces.
And then I saw her, everything else seemed to stop, as if the world had paused just for that moment. She stood there in her white doctor's coat, the fabric gently cascading down her slender frame, accentuating the elegant curve of her waist. Beneath the coat, she wore a cream-colored turtleneck that hugged her figure in all the right ways, effortlessly blending professionalism with a quiet, captivating beauty. She was leaning over a patient, fully absorbed in her task, her expression soft and kind. There was something deeply genuine in her smile, one that came from the heart, not just the lips. As she spoke, her dimples appeared like delicate indentations carved by joy itself, and she blinked slowly, almost dreamily, with the calm assurance of someone completely in her element. It wasn't just her looks that held me frozen in place, it was the warmth she radiated, the quiet confidence in her touch, the way she made the world feel just a little bit gentler. I snapped out of my trance when someone accidentally brushed past me, murmuring a quick apology. I gave them a distracted nod, barely registering their face, my eyes still fixed on her. Almost instinctively, my feet started moving, carrying me closer to where she stood. The rest of the room, filled with murmurs, movement, and the clinical buzz of a medical camp, faded into the background.
By the time I reached her, she had just finished tending to her patient. She gently patted the elderly man's shoulder, offering a few reassuring words before turning to place her clipboard back on the table. Then, as if sensing my presence, she looked up. And there it was, that smile. That impossibly bright, soul-stirring smile that had the power to momentarily dissolve the chaos around us. Her face lit up with unmistakable warmth, and those dimples I had secretly memorized from a distance made their effortless appearance again. "Hii!! Asher," she said, her voice full of excitement and familiarity, as if my presence had just made her day. "Are you here to check out the medic camp?" She took a few steps toward me, her enthusiasm so natural it pulled a reluctant smile from me too. There was something about the way she said my name, like it mattered, like I mattered, that made it impossible not to feel seen. She makes me smile in the way, no one else could or would. "Yes, Elaina. I thought I'd stop by and see how things are going here," I replied, doing my best to sound casual—like my heart wasn't pounding in my chest just from being this close to her.
I tried to keep my voice steady, masking the flutter of nerves beneath a practiced calm. My hands stayed loosely in my pockets, and I forced myself to hold her gaze, even though everything in me wanted to look away and gather myself. "How have things been at the camp?" I added, hoping the question would anchor the moment in normalcy, even though nothing about standing in front of her felt ordinary. "Well, all is well. All thanks to you!!" She said with a smile. I just smiled and shook my head. "You are exaggerating it." "Anyway," I said, quickly shifting gears, hoping to steer the moment away from my obvious nervous energy. "Why don't you check my health while you're at it?" I added with a half-smile, trying to keep my tone light and teasing. For a second, her playful expression softened, replaced by a flicker of genuine concern. Her brows drew together ever so slightly, and her eyes scanned my face as if she were trying to figure out whether I was joking or if something was actually wrong. "You okay?" she asked, her voice laced with quiet worry, already stepping a little closer, instinctively slipping back into her role as a caregiver. That natural shift, how quickly she moved from lighthearted to attentive made something stir in me. I hadn't expected her to take it so seriously. But then again, that was Elaina, always tuned in, always present.
"Well, the problem is in my heart," I said, keeping a serious expression on my face. But in truth, that wasn't the case at all. Elaina's concern was immediate, her brows furrowed, and without hesitation, she stepped closer, the worry in her eyes unmistakable. She gently placed her hand on my shoulder and asked a few questions, her voice soft but urgent. "What happened? Are you feeling any pain? How long has it been going on?" Before I could say much more, she slipped the stethoscope from around her neck and pressed its cold metal diaphragm to my chest. The moment it touched my skin, my heartbeat betrayed me, thudding faster and harder than before. Her presence was overwhelming in the gentlest way. The scent of her lingered in the air, clean, familiar, and comforting, mixed with a faint trace of sweat from a long day of work. It wasn't unpleasant.... in fact, it made her feel even more real, more human. As she leaned in, focusing intently on the rhythm of my heart, I couldn't help but wonder if she could hear the truth in its quickened pace. Because the real problem wasn't with my heart physically. It was emotional, invisible. And she was the reason it was racing. "Well… ever since I met you, it beats so fast whenever I'm around you."
There. I said it. My voice cracked slightly at the end, and I instantly regretted not rehearsing it in the mirror like some lovesick teenager. A faint blush crept up my cheeks, and I swear even my ears were turning red. I wasn't sure if I was embarrassed or just short-circuiting from how close she was. Elaina blinked. Once. Twice. She looked genuinely confused, like I'd just told her the Earth was flat. "What?" she asked, blinking again, her stethoscope still pressed against my chest like she was expecting it to start playing a romantic song. I cleared my throat, suddenly hyperaware of how ridiculous I sounded, but too far in to back out. "You heard me. That rapid heartbeat? Not a medical emergency, it's just you. You're the condition. I think you're... heart-fluttering syndrome or something." She stared at me, wide-eyed, and then, she laughed. A soft, genuine laugh that made my chest tighten in the best way possible. "Oh my God," she said, shaking her head, "Wasn't expecting that from you~" I grinned, sheepishly. "It's chronic, I think. Terminal, maybe. Unless, of course, the doctor agrees to dinner as a form of... treatment." Elaina rolled her eyes, but the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth gave her away. "You're unbelievable," she said, but her voice had softened, her hand still resting gently on my chest.
"And yet," I said, heart pounding louder than ever, "still alive. Thanks to you, Doc."