The hum of the air-conditioner was the only sound in Fahlada's office as she reviewed charts on her laptop. She was halfway through an email when the door creaked open, and Ros slipped inside like a shadow.
"Ros?" Fahlada arched an eyebrow.
Without answering, Ros shut the door firmly and leaned against it, chest rising and falling as though she'd just outrun someone. Her eyes darted anxiously, clearly desperate not to be found.
Fahlada blinked, torn between amusement and confusion as she wondered what could have made Ros so anxious.
"What on earth are you doing?"
"Hiding," Ros said flatly, as if that explained everything.
"Hiding? From who—?"
A knock cut her off. Both women froze; Fahlada's mind raced, sensing Ros's fear was not imagined. Ros mouthed a silent 'don't answer', but Fahlada, unable to resist figuring out the situation, ignored her and opened the door.
Tan stood outside, calm as ever, though his eyes darted past Fahlada to the guilty figure inside.
"Is she gone?" Ros asked, stepping forward like a fugitive waiting for a signal.
Tan gave a short nod. That was all Ros needed; she bolted past them, vanishing down the corridor.
The office fell silent again. Still holding the door, Fahlada looked at Tan with a mix of disbelief and irritation, unsure whether to confront him about Ros's panicked entrance or simply walk away, since Tan often seemed to have inside knowledge about these disruptions.
"What…," Fahlada said slowly, "just happened?"
Tan pressed his lips together, debating whether to speak or stay silent.
"Sorry, I can't tell you."
Fahlada crossed her arms, unimpressed. Her silence was sharp enough to make Tan shift uncomfortably. Finally, he sighed in surrender. 'Can't really hide a secret from Fahlada.'
"Fine. From what I know, Ros was hiding from Bow."
"From Bow?" Fahlada repeated, incredulous.
"Why on earth would she be hiding from her own girlfriend?"
"That," Tan said, raising his hands in defeat, "I honestly don't know. You'd better ask Bow herself."
Fahlada sat back in her chair, staring at the door Ros had just fled through. Whatever this was, it was definitely not over.
__
Later that day, the two of them slipped out of the hospital and made their way across the street to a small restaurant tucked between a pharmacy and a bustling coffee shop. Bow was already there, scrolling on her phone, and the moment she looked up and spotted Fahlada walking in beside Tan, her eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Well, well," Bow smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Didn't expect the workaholic queen to descend from her throne and eat with us mere peasants today."
Tan chuckled. Fahlada rolled her eyes as she slid into the seat.
"Careful, Bow. Keep talking like that, and I might just take my lunch back to my office."
"Oh, please," Bow teased. "The day you choose us over your spreadsheets is already a miracle. Let me bask in it."
"Miracle?" Fahlada shot back with a faint smile. "You act like you're being blessed."
"Of course. Do you know how many doctors would kill to have the great Dr. Fahlada grace their lunch table?" Bow placed a hand dramatically over her chest. "I feel honored. Truly."
"Honored enough to pay for lunch then?" Tan quipped, earning a laugh from both women.
They didn't say it out loud, but the change was there… Fahlada's mood seemed lighter lately, as if she were making an effort to be more open with her friends. She wasn't as sharp-edged, not as quick to bristle or snap. For once, it felt like they were sharing an easy lunch with her, not walking on eggshells around the hospital's famously unshakable head.
Bow smirked, tilting her glass toward Fahlada. "See? She laughs now. A few more lunches with us peasants and she might actually start acting human."
Fahlada shook her head, but her smile lingered as the menus arrived, and the light banter continued while they placed their orders.
But once the waiter left, Bow's tone shifted.
"By the way," she began, turning to Fahlada, "I thought I saw Earn at the hospital earlier. Is she alright?"
Tan glanced up curiously. The unexpected question made Fahlada's posture tighten, but her voice stayed even. "She's fine. Just a regular check-up."
"Nothing serious?" Bow pressed.
"Nothing serious," Fahlada echoed, offering a small smile. She didn't mention that the appointment was directly related to their IVF plans. That wasn't for anyone else to know, at least not yet.
To divert the conversation from herself, she leaned in with a sly grin and prodded, "Anyway, speaking of check-ups… care to explain why Ros is avoiding you like the plague?"
Bow blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"She barged into my office this morning and hid from you," Fahlada said matter-of-factly.
"Tan can back me up."
Tan nodded, suppressing a grin.
"She was practically ready to dive under the desk."
Bow groaned, dragging a hand down her face.
"Unbelievable. She's… avoiding me. I don't even know why."
"Your girlfriend is avoiding you, and you have no clue?" Fahlada asked, half amused, half skeptical.
"None," Bow admitted with a sigh. "One day she's fine, the next she's dodging me like I've done something terrible. And I can't get a straight answer out of her."
Fahlada and Tan exchanged a look. Whatever this was, it seemed Ros wasn't the only one hiding something.
"You did something," Fahlada said dryly.
"Yeah, you definitely have," Tan chimed in, smirking. "Think hard, Bow."
Bow frowned, drumming her fingers against the table.
"I did send her a message, and she told me she's fine."
"In my experience, fine usually means not fine." Fahlada delivered it like a pro, and Tan shot her a knowing look, nodding as if to say, 'Yep, that's true.'
Bow groaned, sinking back in her chair.
"Great. So now I'm playing a guessing game with my own girlfriend."
Just then, the waiter arrived with their dishes, the warm aroma filling the table. To lighten the mood, Tan's eyes sparkled with mischief as he remembered something juicy to gossip about. "Well, speaking of mysteries… did you hear what happened with the interns last week?"
The table erupted in giggles and murmurs as they dug into their food, the earlier tension fading. Their laughter carried them out of the restaurant and back across the street toward the hospital, a gentle return to the daily routine.
As soon as Bow spotted a familiar movement near the entrance, her eyes lit up. "Ros!" she called, breaking into a jog. Without waiting, she darted after her, leaving Fahlada and Tan to trail behind.
Tan shot Fahlada a teasing glance and gave her a light nudge. "Okay… spill it. You can tell me."
"Tell you what?" Fahlada asked, feigning ignorance as they walked side by side.
"You know, about Earn." Tan pressed, voice teasing but insistent. "I'll know eventually, so just tell me. I'm dying here."
Fahlada sighed, hating to keep things hidden, especially from her two closest friends, but she had made a promise to Earn to keep it confidential until they were ready to share the news.
"There's nothing," she said lightly, making an effort to brush him off.
"Come on," Tan insisted, his grin softening. "Please. I'll keep it a secret, I promise."
Her resolve weakened. How could she say no to those puppy eyes Tan was giving her? He had been around them since the very beginning, and it just felt right to tell him. She looked at him, then let out a small, almost nervous laugh.
"Alright," she admitted, her voice low but full of warmth. "Earn… and I are planning to have a baby again, so…"
Tan froze mid-step, eyes wide, a mix of shock and excitement crossing his face. "Wait… what? Seriously?"
Fahlada nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yes. But we're keeping it quiet for now."
Tan hugged her tightly, feeling a genuine surge of happiness. He remembered how sad the couple had been when Earn had a miscarriage, how it had changed Fahlada. Now, seeing the light return to his friend's eyes and understanding the reason for her brighter mood, he couldn't help but feel genuinely happy for them.
"Thank you, Tan."
Tan stepped back slightly, still beaming,
"Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. I won't say a word to anyone. But seriously… this is amazing!"
Fahlada felt a warm relief wash over her, glad to finally share good news with one of her friends.
Just as they reached the hospital corridor, Bow appeared at the far edge, shoulders slumped and eyes downcast, looking utterly defeated.
"She took off quickly. I think she doesn't really want to talk to me."
Without a word, Fahlada and Tan moved toward her, each placing a hand gently on her shoulders. "Hey," Fahlada said softly. "It's okay."
Tan added with a reassuring smile, "We've got you, Bow. Don't stress too much."
Bow looked up, her expression softening slightly as she allowed herself to be comforted. For a moment, the three of them stood there, shoulders touching, a gentle solidarity forming between them amid the chaos of the hospital.