Astra

“Coco, Caelus, behave!” You dragged your whining niece and nephew inside the children's hospital despite their tantrums.

“Nonono! No doctor!” Little Caelus cried, holding on to his little garbage can plushie. “Nooo… Noooooo…” Little Coco sniffles sadly, trying to wipe her snot on her fuzzy brushbuddy toy.

This has been going on for a few minutes already. After your cousin went on a business trip three days ago, these two little angels have been giving you the best time of your life.

And nobody told you that these kids need a check-up!

So with a grumbling sigh, you dragged the two crying children to the receptionist. “Excuse me, these two here are scheduled for a check-up.” you nudged a look down at Coco and Caelus, much quieter now but with a bit of snot running down their noses.

“Coco… Caelus…”  The receptionist chimed, her hands clacked on the keys as she shuffled through the appointments in the monitor screen. “Oh! Coco and Caelus.” 

“They're two separate doctors.”

You blinked in confusion. Two? Seriously?

“What? Why two?” The question came out condescending, but the receptionist just sighs. “We're so sorry, there's been a few shuffles on the doctors lately. But, rest assured, the documents and details of the children submitted are with their assigned doctors.”

The explanation immediately got into you—so to just get this whole appointment over with, you nodded in agreement. “Alright, who are these doctors anyway?”

“Let me see…” The receptionist squinted her eyes. “Miss Coco is assigned to Doctor Qifrey… As for Caelus…” She scrolls her mouse a bit lower. “He's assigned to Doctor Khaslana.”

“And the time?” another few seconds of scrolling.

“Oh Caelus can be taken in now, Coco’s appointment is in thirty minutes.”

With the time determined; gently, you picked Coco up and gave her a gentle smile. “Will you be a good girl and stay here with miss receptionist, Coco?”

Coco nods quietly, her arms tightly held on to her brushbuddy toy. “Mmkay..”

Now that Coco is settled, you placed her down a chair for children and picked Caelus up, his one hand holding on to his garbage can plushie while the other desperately held on to your neck. “I'm scared..”

“It's okay, Caelus.” You gently pat his head and calmly walked to the room labeled ‘Doctor Khaslana || Open’

“Excuse me..” Your knuckles gently knocked on the door, followed by a “Oh come in!” as you turned the knob and went in.

The room was… calming to say the least. The doctor's desk remained near the door, but the room served a little nook for children. Tiny chairs on the corner coming in yellow and purple colors; the nook with a cute wheat field wallpaper, with tiny wooden toys like swords, shields, and spears kept on the corner.

Doctor Khaslana should supposedly be in his chair but he's also there on the nook—tidying up remaining toys. “Please give me a second.” He playfully hummed.

“There.” A second passed as he stood up and turned, only then did you realize that this guy is tall as a tower…

“Good afternoon! I'm Doctor Khaslana.” He gazed at you for quite a few seconds, then finally at little Caelus. “Hey little buddy.” Khaslana crouches to meet the little boy in the eye. “Call me Phainon, alright?”

“Fai…nun..” Caelus shyly mumbles and it seemed to make Phainon laugh. “Haha! Just like that!” He ruffled the kid's hair.

He stood up once more and offered to shake your hand. “A wonderful pleasure to meet you. Let's sit?” He smiles and offers you the seat nearest to his chair.

This doctor has gotta be nuts. You thought, because who honestly would waste such handsome looks for pediatrics?! 

Still, you cannot deny that this doctor is awfully handsome, how old is he–twenty-five? twenty-eight?

“I'm twenty-eight.” Phainon blurts out, while writing on the patient records. “I mean… If you're wondering…” He sheepishly smiles.

You cannot deny the warmth creeping up your cheeks, was this room always this hot? Even with the air conditioner set on a pretty cold temperature, the smile that Phainon just gave you was enough to make you feel even just a teensy bit self-conscious.

“So! Little Caelus…” Phainon darts his gaze back to Caelus who surprisingly, stops looking anxious and is staring brightly at Phainon. “This is my little buddy.” He takes his stethoscope with a grin. “His name is Neikos! Is it okay if me and Neikos give you a little check?”

Another surprising feat as Caelus nodded eagerly, the persuasion proved to be effective as the little boy hands you his trash can plushie and extends his arms to Phainon, demanding uppies.

“Good job!” Phainon pats Caelus’ head, as he begins simple check-ups.

“You're really good with kids.” You expressed your awe over his amazing skill of making kids safe.

“Thank you, they did say I'd make a great dad.”

Phainon snickers softly, giving you a subtle glance as he focuses back to Caelus; still quiet and behaved.

It didn't take long for the check-up to finish, Phainon asked you basic questions about Caelus’ growth, appetite, and his sleeping habits.

“Very well, he doesn't have any complications.” Phainon puts his stethoscope to rest and smiles at Caelus. “Good work!” He raises his hand to give the boy a high-five.

“Since you've done so well, have a candy.” Phainon takes a tiny candy from his sweets jar and hands it over to Caelus, the little boy smiling with glee. “I'll talk to your mom for a second, okay? Look at those toys, wanna play with them?” Phainon coos and points to the children's nook, and without a sliver of hesitation, Caelus runs to the nook and starts playing with the toys, giving his garbage can plushie a toy sword.

The statement caught you off guard. A mom? You've heard a lot of misconceptions but you've never had anyone assuming that you're these two little kid's mothers..

“They're so adorable.” Phainon chuckles and gives you his full attention. “So what were we saying?–ah yes right.” He fixes his posture and looks you straight in the eye. “Caelus has no complications, give yourself a pat in the back, you're a great mom.”

“Oh I'm not his mom.. I'm his aunt.” You immediately protested, trying to brush off the awkwardness you felt after hearing his assumption.

“Oh really?” As if that reply made Phainon's face beam in joy. “Not mom?? Just aunt???” He double checked with a question, his face seemed to soften and lean closer. And to answer him, you nodded, a joyous grin elicited from his face soon after.

“Wonderful!–ahem..” He bashfully clears his throat. “Since Caelus has no problems, I won't have to give a prescription for anything.” He takes a prescription paper and writes.

“Here. Open it when you get home.” Phainon hands you the paper, both your hands lingered with a touch when you took the paper from his large hands.

“Thanks..” That familiar heat went up to your cheeks once more, to save yourself from embarrassment, you cleared your throat and called the little boy. “C'mon Caelus, it's time to go.”

Caelus gets up and grabs his plushie, clinging back to you as he gives Phainon a big wave. “Buh bye Fainun!” He hails as Phainon returns it with a cheeky grin. “Bye bye little buddy!” 

When the doors went shut, you silently squealed in relief. That has got to be some kind of punishment. You've seen a share of handsome doctors in your life but Phainon? He knows he's hot.

Out of desperation to keep yourself intact, you slapped your cheek and moved on.

Now that Caelus is done, it's Coco's turn. You walked back to the chair you made Coco sit in. “Hey Coco it's time–” 

Coco is nowhere to be found, the chair left abandoned as the panic starts to seep in. Where could Coco have gone?

“Coco? Coco!!” You call out, eyes frantically searching and prancing around while Caelus starts to get anxious. “Coco??” The little boy calls out as well.

A few seconds passed with no response anywhere until finally… “Auntie!” A little squeak caught your ears.

You snapped your head to the direction of the voice and saw Coco, smiling with her brushbuddy in her hands. A taller man held her in his arms, smiling gently as he approached them.

“Oh, are you Coco’s guardian?” The man asks, eyeing you intently from head to toe. You spared him a look and checked the tag on his coat. Qifrey.

“I'm Coco's doctor.” Qifrey puts Coco down, the two little children reuniting and hugging. “Waaah! Coco!” Caelus whines. “It's okay Cae! Mister Qifrey took care of me!” She tugs on Qifrey’s coat.

“You shouldn't be leaving children unattended like that.” Qifrey added, his tone laced with disappointment. “I am deeply sorry… But thank you for taking care of Coco too..” You looked at Coco ashamed.

Qifrey was right, you should've just brought Coco inside with Caelus during his check-up. They're both children, even if this was a children's hospital, you shouldn't leave a child unattended.

“No worries, but you should be saying that to Coco.” He glances at Coco who pats your hand. “I'm okay auntie… Thank you! Mister Qifrey is very nice!” The little girl assures you and pats your leg after.

“Shall we come in?” Qifrey offers, walking you to the room and opening the door for you. Although that action was quite confusing, doctors aren't exactly opening doors for you. Then why is he doing so?

You brushed off the confusing action and held Caelus and Coco's hands as you walked in—Caelus surprisingly tame now and sits quietly beside Coco after Qifrey offers a chair.

Unlike Doctor Phainon's room, Qifrey’s looked majestic. Stars and magic motifs plastered all over the walls; a little wooden table on a children's nook with small drawing papers and pencils labelled ‘magic pens’. Little story books on a purple shelf with fantasy themes and different colored dragons for book covers. The nook also comes complete with a velvet colored rug and little toys scattered on the floor.

“Ah pardon the mess… I just had one of my patients come in earlier and play with it… “ He smiles in embarrassment. “Ah Tetia, seriously…” He mumbles and fixes his seat.

“Alright, Coco is the patient, right?” At the mention of her name, Coco gets up and smiles “Yes! It’s me!” 

Qifrey takes his stethoscope and looks gently at Coco. “Let's check you up, okay Coco?” His voice envelops the room, soft and gentle.

Carefully, Qifrey checks all of Coco’s vitals, heartbeat, height, and several questions about her wellbeing.

“For an auntie in charge, you're taking care of your nephews and nieces quite well.” He hums while writing on the patient record. “Coco is free of any complications.”

“Though I must say she's quite the fast learner, independent too.” Qifrey observes Coco who is now playing and drawing little circles on the drawing paper, copying the sigil on one of the dragon story books while Caelus stared at the book, drool slowly dripping.

“Ah yeah, she really likes to draw too.” You chuckle, attention also seemingly drawn to Coco. 

Qifrey puts his pen down. “So you are aware.” The sound of his desk opening caught your ears, turning to look at him, he wrote on a small piece of paper and handed it to you.

“I’ll give you this, just in case you need a chart of how you'll track Coco’s growth.” He swiftly slid the paper on to your hands, his slender fingers intertwining with yours as he dips the paper in, eye contact with yours never breaking even for a second.

Qifrey offers you a flirty smile, his fingers slowly stroking your palm he pulls away.

The stare made you bashful, on equal par with the charming smile that Doctor Phainon gave you earlier.

What is up with handsome doctors in this children's hospital? Do you need the word ‘handsome’ in your resume to be qualified?

“Coco, it's time to go.” Qifrey stands up from his seat, leaving you flustered and confused as he approaches Coco and Caelus. “Is it time already?” Your niece pouts, but all Qifrey did was give a smile.

“Unfortunately, yes. I also have other little kids to take care of.” He picks Coco and Caelus up like they weighed nothing. “I gave your auntie something, ask her sometime if you want to talk ‘kay?” 

Coco nods over his explanation, Caelus on the other hand stares back at you. “Home?” he asks.

“Yes, home.” You took Caelus from Qifrey's arms and held Coco by her hand with her brushbuddy in her pocket when she's placed down.

Qifrey holds the door open for you to walk out of “Thank you, Doc.” you offered a shy smile and walked out.

“Doctor Qifrey is so cool!!” Coco exclaims while walking down the hallway to the elevator. “He's so nice!”

Caelus wriggles out of your arms and walks beside you, holding your hand. “Doctor Fainun! Cool..!” He exclaims.

You can't help but laugh at the cute reactions your little nieces and nephews expressed. It seems that their doctors really caught their hearts and minds.

When you got home, the ‘prescription’ paper that Doctor Phainon gave and the note Doctor Qifrey handed you immediately crossed your mind.

While Coco and Caelus sat in the living room watching television, you opened both papers in unison.

[xxxxxxxxxxx It's my personal number, call me if you have any questions about Caelus… Or me <3 -Phainon Khaslana, Caelus]

[Here's my number if you ever want coco to talk to me, you're welcome to do so as well. xxxxxxxxxxx -Doctor Qifrey, Coco's Pediatrician]