Middle Child Syndrome - Chapter 153

Chapter 153: Ch 153: The burden lightens
 

Fey had thrice warned Rika about her stretching before the older beta decided it was not worth verbally speaking to Rika anymore.

It was startling when Fey reached out to grab Rika’s hand and hold it tightly in her own, but it felt worth it when it helped Rika’s heartbeat calm down instantly.

The anxiety brewing around Rika’s mind slowly started to lessen as well, and Rika couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, her whole body relaxing. The weight on her chest seemed to lift, and she felt a calm she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

She finally noticed that the medic had been on stand-by all this time, and he was ready to intervene in case Rika hurt herself too badly.

“It is fine! It is a given that you are nervous right now. Feeling such emotions makes you human, so there is no need to feel embarrassed by your subconscious actions.”

The medic, sensing Rika’s distress, quickly offered words of encouragement. His voice was steady and reassuring, conveying hope Rika desperately needed to hear.

Rika only blinked at the medic, looking blank. She did not need encouragement, but hearing these words was not bad either.

The hospital was a hive of activity, with patients and doctors bustling about. Feeling numb, Rika passed them towards the upper floors, the urgency weighing heavily on her mind.

She was led to a white room and made to wait in there.

“Please sit here for now. Someone will contact you soon regarding your doctor.”

The omega nurse had taken over the beta doctor’s job as they had made themselves comfortable in that medical hall.

It was common practice to have omegas run these jobs since their pheromones were calming.

But Rika quickly backed away when the omega reached for her.

“Hey, it is alright. Everything will be okay from now on. We will help your friend feel better and cure you as well. Just trust us and-”

The omega tried to reach out and grab Rika’s face. It was likely a gesture of goodwill and an attempt to make Rika feel better.

But this action felt too much like the one that traumatised Rika, and she could not help but visibly react and slap that hand away.

“Go away! Please, go away and leave me alone. I don’t want another person in this room with me.”

Rika knew it was a selfish request, and she was aware that the doctors noted her reaction and recorded it for further treatment.

But even being treated like a guinea pig did nothing to make Rika feel better.

If anything, it made her feel even worse about her condition, and she wanted to rage.

The Omega nurse did not know what to do. No one had reacted this strongly to her before, especially a trauma patient.

She was pretty young and had not dealt with many troubled people who were panicking. So, she quickly looked toward the doctors to get a clue about what to do.

But even the doctors seemed to be at a loss.

It was their first time dealing with a beta patient who did not want to face an omega’s comfort.

“Tsk, out of the way, girly. It’ll be best that I handle my patient’s case. You being here is causing too much trouble to myself and my patient.”

Doctor Kureha walked inside the room hastily.

She tried not to show it on her face or in her actions, but she was anxious to look at Rika and see what kind of progress had been made in her condition.

The omega nurse looked hesitant, and even the doctors of this well-established hospital tried to interfere.

But the head doctor who brought Rika here stopped them before they could do anything.

“Dr. Kureha, we will leave your patient to you. Please keep us informed about anything you might need for her.”

The doctor spoke these last words before he left.

The old doctor chuckled at the stubborn doctor, who seemed strait-laced and slightly blunt at times. He reminded Kureha of her old times.

But the doctor was not here to reminiscence about her old days. She was here to care for her patient, who needed expert assistance.

“Let me look at you, girl. Face me right now, and let me see your eyes.”

Doctor Kureha grabbed Rika’s face and made her look up. Rika had not even realised that she had turned her face to look down all this time.

“Hmm, it doesn’t seem you have any physical injury apart from your arm and all the stretching you did. Your nails are well taken care of, so even that damage is not massive. Then, what about your mental health? Should we start with that?”

The doctor asked, and Rika felt off balance. She did not want to talk about what had happened, even if necessary.

“Well, kid, start talking. I got the gist of the situation while coming here, but I need to know the specifics. Tell me your feelings and how the situation made you feel.”

The doctor asked, but Rika did not want to speak. But she did not know when she opened her mouth and spewed all the words inside her chest.

Her eyes were moist when she finished, and her heart felt warm.

Rika had never vented to someone like this before, but the old indifference she received from the doctor felt nice.

It was…different from most people’s fake concerns. I felt fulfilled by this.

When she was finished, Rika’s body and mind felt lighter. She also felt calmer than before.

Doctor Kureha made a few notes on her pad while examining Rika’s condition. But even with all this, she never interfered in Rika’s talk and let Rika finish whatever she wanted to say.

It felt…liberating in a way Rika had not thought for a long time. She finally felt like she could be herself, speak her mind in front of the doctor, and not be judged for it.