Dr. Panya who had been compiling data from his own department in the down low called for a meeting with Prof. Arthichard and Wanfahmai after their work hours. They were discussing and highlighting the common denominators that they could find from the data. Wanfahmai mentioned that it would be great if they could also have access to the obstetrics and gynaecology department information as foetuses would be the most vulnerable group in this situation. She also further suggested to collate data from the hospital’s renal & hepatology department since the kidneys and liver are organs that are highly susceptible to such toxic exposures. They were deep into the discussion when Wanfahmai’s phone rang,

“Hello?”

I’m here…

“What?! Did we actually make an appointment to meet?”

Do I really need to do that, Ice?

“I’m busy at the moment…”

So, you just want me to go?

“Hmmm... Give me a moment…” said Wanfahmai as she covered the mouthpiece to her phone before she spoke, “Is it okay if I were to take my leave?”

“Yeah~ Sure… We are practically done anyway… And about what you said, I’ll try to figure something out… And I’ll try to use my length of service at this hospital to charm them for the said data…” stated Dr. Panya just to end an intense discussion on a lighter note. However, for Prof. Arthichard on the other hand, he simply said, “It’s him, uh?” To which Wanfahmai nodded before she thanked the both of them and left to get her belongings from her office,

“P’Arthit… Give me like ten minutes… And I hope you didn’t park at a place where you shouldn’t be parking…”

“You don’t have to rush… I’m here at the carpark…”

“Okay… See you…”

When she finally gathered her belongings, she ran into Prof. Arthichard at the lift lobby.

“Prof… Has Dr. Panya left too?”

“Yeah… He has…”

“I hope he’s not mad at us…”

“Mad at us for?”

“We… I mean I… Basically just added to his workload…”

“He’s fine… He’s more than willing to help… He wouldn’t agree to it from the get go if he doesn’t believe in it… You can’t force him to do things that he doesn’t want to do…”

“That’s encouraging to know…”

“You don’t have to worry, Wanfahmai… We are here to help…”

“I know… You, Prof… Has always given me good advice… And I really appreciate that a lot… But Prof, one more thing… Please don’t forget to assist Dr. Panya in charming the doctors from the other departments since you have a lot more time to spare than he does…” teased Wanfahmai as they both stepped out of the lift together, which surprised Arhtit since it was the first time for him to see them together besides the family event. Even though he has been meeting Wanfahmai on and off, he had never bumped into his older cousin at the hospital. Prof. Arthichard minded his own business as he walked towards his car after saying goodbye to Wanfahmai. Arthit’s eyes were locked at Arthichard before his attention was taken by Wanfahmai,

“Let’s go, P’Arthit…” as she opened the door to his car.

They finally drove off and this time Wanfahmai wanted to eat at a roadside vendor.

“Are you sure, Ice?”

“Yeah…”

“It’s my treat this time and you wanted to eat here?”

“I don’t really care, P’Arthit… I just want to eat some good Phad Thai and some Som Tam…”

“Okay okay… Let’s have that then…”

They placed their order and was waiting for their food when Wanfahmai passed him a piece of tissue,

“P’Arthit… I’m sorry that you’ll have to suffer with me just because I insist on eating at this place…”

“It’s okay, Ice…”

The food and cold drinks were served to their table in a jiffy and they began tucking in. While they were eating, Arthit’s curiosity finally got the better of him,

“Ice…”

“Yes?”

“Hmmm… Who was that man that you were talking to just now?”

“Just now?”

“Yeah, at the lift lobby…”

“Oh, you mean my professor?”

“He’s your professor?”

“Yes…”

“You’ve known him for long?”

“Yeah… I think…”

“You think?”

“I mean professionally I’ve known him for as long as I’m involved in the field of medicine… He even taught me back in medical school… Why P’Arthit?”

“Nothing… You didn’t mention to me before about him…”

“Should I? I mean he’s just another colleague of mine… And he’s only a visiting Professor at this hospital… Because he’s overseeing a clinical trial…” replied Wanfahmai nonchalantly as she continued to take another bite before she continued, “By the way P’Arthit…”

“Yes?”

“Did you have a good day at work today?”

“I think I did…”

“Really? I presume you managed to increase the wages of your workers?”

“Not everyone though… I just managed to do that for one hotel… Since they have been performing well, it was an easy case to make… To convince for a pay raise… I wish it was a full on roll out to be honest…”

“Hey~ P’Arthit… It’s a good start… I’m sure trying to convince something that’s common sense to a bunch of shareholders whose focus is solely on profit is not an easy thing to do… You did well… Give yourself credit where credit is due, P’Arthit…”

“How about you then? What have you been up to? Being the hero that you are?”

“Hero?!”

“Yeah… Hero… You’ve been saving lives… I think it’s amazing…”

“Oh P’Arthit… You’re exaggerating with the hero bit…”

“Oh… So, you can issue compliments to others but won’t accept one yourself? I think the advice of ‘give yourself credit where credit is due’, you should heed it as well…”

Wanfahmai laughed upon hearing what he had to say, “It’s easier to dish it out though… It can’t be help!”

“Anyways P’Arthit…”

“Yeah?”

“Since you are involved in the property market, will you be able to find out who owns a building?”

“Of course!”                             

“Does it apply to factories as well?”

“Sure… Why not?”

“Really? Is it an easy information to get?”

“Why, Ice?”

“There’s a building that I am interested in…”

“You want to purchase a building?!”

“I’m not rich like you, P’Arthit… So, no… I am not…”

“Then?”

“About a month ago I went back to my hometown…”

“What?! You went there without telling me?”

“Why should I? It’s my hometown… Not yours…”

“I mean… I can be the one to offer you a ride… I did that twice… Remember?”

“Then for what purpose did I purchase a car for?”

“Still… I’ll get worried…”

“Thank you for your concern, P’Arthit… But I’m not a kid!”

“If you say that then… There’s nothing I can say… So, what were you talking about earlier?”

“Oh ya~ I went back to my hometown… And there’s a huge factory there… So, I was wondering who’s the owner because they practically cordoned the area…”

“Cordoned? Is it a government building?”

“I’m not too sure… I was just wondering if I could find out since I can’t really see from the s