Me After Meeting You

“Any patient suffering from mental trauma is someone worth listening to. The primary goal of psychiatric care is not to provide patients with an unachievable state of happiness, but rather to help them build up their own patience and resolve to confront their own struggles.”

“Professor, does that mean that you believe that mental illnesses can’t be treated?”

“No, quite the opposite in fact. Mental illnesses can be treated, as long as we provide these patients with sufficient patience and resolve.”

“Then professor, what if your patient ends up falling in love with you because of that?”

Amber raised her head and smiled at the student who had asked the question, a young pretty girl who immediately hid behind her neighbor upon noticing Amber’s gaze.

Amber Camille was a psychiatrist and at the same time, a lecturer at a medical university. Because of her age, wit and looks, she was very popular among all the students and her lectures every Thursday were almost always filled to maximum capacity. Of course, this meant that she also received all sorts of strange questions at the end of every lecture.

This wasn’t the first time she had been asked such a question and so she was able to answer it handily. She smiling and said, “I think I’d be very happy, because that would mean that the patient’s mind is under a wonderful misconception.”

Someone else followed up and asked, “Professor, do you think that love is a misconception?”

“Rather than that, I’d call it more of a temporary illusion.”

“Have you had such an illusion, professor?”

“No, because l’m already old.”

“Hoo ….” The whole crowd of students playfully booed her comment. “Pretending to be old is shameful!” A bold student even jokingly asked, “Professor, I don’t mind that you’re old, so can i date you?”

Amber smiled as she nimbly shot back. “A date in the lab as my test subject?”

The student who had just asked her about dating quickly recanted with a serious expression on his face. “Love between students and faculty isn’t permitted. Professor, I’ll do my best to work on my self restraint.”

Everyone laughed, including Amber. “How regretful.”

The classroom once again filled with laughter. The bell rang not too long later, signaling that it was time for the students to file out of class. While saying goodbye to her students, Amber packed up her books and teaching materials. But just as she was about to leave, she noticed a male student that was resting his head on his desk, sound asleep.

She walked over to him and quickly prodded him awake. The male student rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked at her.

“Do you want some candy?” asked Amber as she extended her hand, a colorfully wrapped sweet resting on her palm. “I’m sorry that my class made you feel so bored.”

The student looked at her in a daze, as if she were a monster.

Amber smiled, left the sweet on his desk and stepped out of the classroom.

While walking, she received a call.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Amber, where are you?”

The phone call was from Amber’s own professor, Madam Nancy. She was both Amber’s doctoral advisor and a national authority on psychiatry. After retiring, she felt restless about doing nothing and subsequently opened up her own office and lab.

“I just finished teaching.”

“Good. Come to my office.”

Amber left her things in her office and immediately headed over. Madam Nancy’s office was right next to her home and its surroundings were the definition of natural beauty. By her office was a lake, and by the lakeside was a flock of pigeons. The surroundings were filled with vibrant shrubs and blossoms and even more unusually, the water itself was clear and limpid. It was truly a relaxing place to be.

The only problem was that it was a bit far from the school and the evening rush hour only exacerbated the long drive. By the time Amber arrived, it was already late enough that the early winter’s dusk was only being held at bay by the surrounding lights.

She pushed the door open and entered, bringing wisps of the winter cold in with her. Madam Nancy’s hair was streaked with gray and her gold rimmed glasses gave her a classic scholarly air. She was sitting on the sofa in front of her desk, talking with the young man sitting beside her.

Upon hearing Amber enter, both people looked over at Amber. Madam Nancy smiled at her. “You’re here already? It’s cold outside, isn’t it?”

Amber cheerily replied, “It’s fine, just a little windy.”

The two made small talk as Madam Nancy motioned for Amber to sit by her side. She pointed at the young man and introduced the two, saying, “This is the CEO of Axton Group, Ian Axton or Director Ian.”

And to Ian, she said, “This is the young, pretty and creative Dr. Amber Camille that I’ve been telling you so much about.”

Amber knew of Axton Group, a large drug manufacturer. Many of Madam Nancy’s projects were supported by the company.

She just hadn’t expected their CEO to be so young. He was a relatively handsome man and probably not even thirty yet.

However, Amber’s first impression of Ian was not only that he was young and handsome, but also cold and aloof. When their gazes met, it was as if she were but a speck of dust in his eyes.

Having seen all sorts of patients, Amber was very tolerant towards people with slightly unusual behavior and didn’t mind his demeanor that much. Since her teacher had introduced her, she smiled and greeted, “Nice to meet you.”

But Ian kept staring at her, his forehead slowly creasing. “You only have one dimple?”

Amber slightly baffled, automatically replied, “Yes.”

“How ugly!”

This unexpected evaluation left Amber speechless. Nancy also looked on blankly for a moment before laughing heartily. “Your students would probably cry if they ever heard that someone evaluated a professor renowned for her beauty as ugly, haha.”

She laughed so happily that Amber felt a bit exasperated and she said to Ian. “I’m sorry for disgusting you with my ugliness. Do you want me to cover up that side of my face?”

This sparked another bout of laughter from Nancy, but it was as if Ian couldn’t sense the humor in her tone. He expressionlessly looked down at his watch. “Let’s go.”