Click here to read the plot summary (spoilers alert!)
“I’m sorry, did you just curse at me?”
A middle-aged woman with smoky eyes stood in front of the counter, an overweight Chihuahua drooling in her fat arms. People in the clinic turned their attention to Hugh and the woman.
Stunned into silence, Hugh immediately shook his head with a polite smile. “No, ma’am. I didn’t.”
He actually did. It wasn’t to the woman, it was his girlfriend, Anne, breaking up with him over text.
The woman cocked a painted eyebrow, and Hugh felt sweat dripping down his back.
“Ya, you wouldn’t want to lose your job, now, right?” She chuckled and turned around to the customers. “Right, everyone?”
The quiet burst into hysterical laughter. Their pets barked, meowed, hissed, and chirped. All at once, the room was filled with happy tunes.
Debussy’s Clair de Lune played in the background. Eeriness crawled up his spine yet his professional and trained smile remained.
“I’m very happy with your service,” she drawled.
After the woman filled out her satisfaction survey, she left with her dog in tow.
Anne wrote. Hugh, I need a man who can afford my life.
Hugh typed. I cannot lose you…
A bulky man, Eddie Brown, interrupted his unfinished thoughts. Gently, he asked, “Hey dude, my dog Ralph has been inside for fifteen minutes already. How long do I have to wait?”
Anne sent another text. Hate to tell you this, I don’t think you can.
“I’m afraid I don’t know. Dr. Nguyen is trying his best to remove the tumors.”
Eddie leaned in, his sudden movement pressurized the atmosphere. “Would you please tell him to hurry up? I’ve got a date.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
Eddie nodded, then shuffled back to his seat.
Hugh’s phone buzzed again. I hope you find someone better.
Hugh continued. …Baby, can we talk? I’ve been saving up…
Before he could finish the sentence, Eddie returned. “Hey, any news?”
A flash of lightning struck across Hugh’s mind. He drew a deep breath and his thought took hold of his mouth, “Mr. Brown, as we have told you, tumor removal usually takes about two hours. Please wait patiently.
His face was strained by smiling. Strong pulses pounded upon his chest rapidly.
Eddie snorted. “You mean I’m being impatient?”
Hugh inhaled sharply, barely catching his words. “No, sir. I didn’t say that. Please be seated.”
Eddie lifted his shoulders and grinned at Hugh, teeth flashing. “I’m being ridiculous for asking about my dog?”
Hugh’s head buzzed; fists clenching. The silent stalemate stretched on.
An old lady carrying her spotted cat interrupted. “Eddie is just worried! Must you be so hard on him?”
Another well-suited young man stood up. “Why the attitude?”
Others joined the intervention. Noises were stacked on top of Hugh and he was overwhelmed by their polite insults. He couldn’t justify himself.
“All of you STOP!”
The room fell into silence. Hugh heard himself panting after his first outburst in 10 years. Many pairs of eyes stared at him, agape.
His phone broke the stagnant quietness with Anne’s message. That’s all. Goodbye, Hughie.
“I’m…deeply…sorry…” he paused for a moment to catch his breath, “I didn’t mean to…”
Eddie didn’t respond to his stutter. Instead, he coolly took his phone out to scan the survey code at the counter.
“Sir, I’m sorry. I really am.”
Hugh bowed again behind the counter, but Eddie kept on typing.
“Sir, please. I need this job.”
Tick, tick, tick.
“Sir, please forgive me. I can’t have a record.”
Tick, tick, tick.
“Sir, please… please… please!”
Unconsciously, Hugh grabbed Eddie’s phone and smashed it to the ground, shattering it to shards.
A collective gasp echoed among the customers. The piano in the background arrived at the climax, the fast arpeggios in forte. A Golden Retriever barked at Hugh.
Hugh looked up and met Eddie’s blank gaze.
“Mr. Receptionist, you are in deep trouble now.”
Hugh looked around, a few people were holding up their phones towards him. Hugh was mortified. Live-streaming an outburst means that in seconds…
A white car bearing a circular logo pulled up outside. A man and a woman with all-white suits marched in. The man reached his hand out from a distance, “Mr. Hugh Anderson, please be calm. We need you to come with us.”
“I wasn’t angry…” Hugh took a few steps back to his counter until he fell into his chair. “I was just telling him…”
Someone stepped out of the surgery room. Dr.Nguyen removed his mask and asked, “What happened?”
“Doctor, help me,” his tears were about to burst.
The woman replied in a flat tone. “Doctor, your employee was hostile to this customer. We have the right to bring him to our center.”
“No. Doctor, tell them I’m calm, I’m nice. I don’t have a record—”
“—Hugh. Someone already filed a complaint against you.”
“What?”
“Mrs. Blossom.”
Hugh couldn’t believe his ears. The lady with the Chihuahua.
I’m very happy with your service.
Her voice echoed in the soft and flowing notes. Her genuine smile was deceptive, almost hurt to see.
“We don’t tolerate hostile behavior in our clinic. Take him.” Dr. Nguyen waved his hand. He didn’t even bother to give him a glance.
The duo approached Hugh in synced steps. Hugh was still dazed, lost in thoughts. Anne dumped him, the lady betrayed him, a customer taunted him, the customers reported him, and his boss abandoned him, all because he accidentally showed emotions.
They walked him out of the clinic and gently pushed him into the floral-scented car. The familiar aromatic scent blurred his thoughts as his eyelids became heavier than ever.
When he rested his head on a pillow, he saw the logo again, printed on the dividing glass.
“Live in Peace. Obliterate Rage.”
They were going to tame his rage.
***
Three months later, Hugh came out of rehab with his luggage.
The rain stopped. The sun had never been this warm.
His earpiece played Clair de Lune, just like what they advised him to do. Composure was all he needed to feel.
A car sped by and splashed water all over him. Hot air emitted by the car swallowed him. His earpiece fizzed, and a static hum hurt his brain. The music went slightly off-tune.
Tasting the filthy water, Hugh smiled. This time, he smiled from his heart.
He now lived in a peaceful state. He no longer felt…
What was the word again?
END
