Operation Hemorrhoid: My Best Friend's Brother is My Surgeon?! Chapter 2

I swear I didn't want his Starbucks. I was just thirsty.

But when I awkwardly asked for a cup of water, he looked at me with scrutiny.

"Want coffee?"

"No!" I defended. "Just water."

He pushed his own thermos toward me.

"Drink this."

What? I'm not Zoey. I can't just use his cup...

I blushed. "Do you have a disposable cup? I can pour some out."

"No. Just drink."

He didn't look up. Voice calm. Like it was nothing. But my limbs went weak.

Zoey said he was a germaphobe. He's a doctor! Why is he so casual?

Take it or leave it?

He glanced at me again. I panicked and grabbed the thermos.

I sat down, unscrewed the lid, poured water into the cap, and sipped like a bird.

I'll wash the cap later, I thought.

"Sarah, Zoey says you draw comics at home since graduation?"

Ethan suddenly spoke. I almost choked. Stuttered for a while, face burning. "Just... drawing for fun. People liked it, so I went full-time."

"Hm. That's good."

His casual approval made me dizzy.

Good? Besides Zoey, nobody says that.

My mom nags me constantly. "Get a real job with benefits! Why draw cartoons at home?"

I started as an assistant in college. It didn't pay much.

It's a passion industry. You do it because you love it.

My mom thinks a degree is a golden ticket. But I struggled in Hangzhou for a while.

When my webcomic started getting traction, I moved back home.

Honestly, it's a bit embarrassing. Relatives always ask, "Sarah is still mooching off her parents? How much can drawing make? If it's not $3000 a month, get a job."

Especially my aunt, who compares me to my cousin, Jinny. "Jinny works in real estate! She makes $10k a month! Can drawing compare?"

And my aunt, who looks down on everyone because her daughter married rich.

Anyway, reality bites. Even when I started making $10k a month this year, my aunt said, "So what? Jinny has insurance and a pension fund. What does Sarah have?"

My dad supports me, though. He drives a taxi and brags to everyone. "My daughter is an artist! She bought me a new phone!"

They say don't show off to those closest to you. They're the most jealous.

But my mom wants to save face.

My grandparents always favored my uncle and aunt.

They gave all their savings to my uncle when his son was born.

When my dad had appendicitis, they visited once with a carton of milk.

But when my uncle broke his leg, they gave him $5000.

No logic to bias.

When I was little, I was at my grandma's with my cousins. Four kids. They boiled three eggs.

They realized I was there and said, "Oops, Sarah is here. We only cooked three."

They ate. I watched.

When my dad came to pick me up and saw that, he teared up. He carried me out.

"Let's go home. Dad will cook for you."

That night he boiled five eggs. I almost puked eating them all.

He said, "Don't tell Mom."

Poor Dad. The egg incident must have triggered his own childhood trauma.

My mom felt the unfairness, but she loved me. She bought me blueberries for my eyes and cacti for radiation.

Compared to relatives, my friends like Zoey are great.

"Sarah is a famous artist! Get her autograph now before she's huge!"

I was lost in thought and laughed out loud. Then I saw Ethan standing up, leaning against the desk, watching me.

Those dark eyes again.

Scalp tingling. I stuttered, "W-what time is it?"

He smirked. "You have a phone."

I looked down. 10:24.

"Why isn't Zoey here? I'll wait outside."

I tried to walk past him, acting cool.

He blocked my path.

"Why are you so afraid of me?"

So close. So tall. The pressure... His voice was deep, magnetic, and teasing.

I went numb. Didn't dare look at him. Laughed like an idiot.

"Misunderstanding, bro. Not afraid."

"Good. Otherwise, I'd think you did something guilty and were afraid to face me."

He stared straight at me. I blushed to my heels. My brain short-circuited.

Just then, the door opened. Zoey, my savior!

She wasn't alone. Chase was with her.

Chase was there when the hemorrhoid exploded. According to Zoey, he cried like I was dying.

When I was hospitalized, while others brought fruit, he brought roses.

He comforted me: "It's okay, Sarah. Everyone gets hemorrhoids! I won't look down on you."

I raged. "Why would you look down on me for that?!"

He grinned like a fool. "Who knew a fairy like you could get hemorrhoids? I thought you didn't even poop."

"Anyway, hemorrhoids or not, you're still perfect to me."

Everyone laughed. I was so mad my butt hurt.

"Get... OUT!"

Anyway, Chase and I go way back. His dad owns auto shops. He used to be a punk, but now he's a decent mechanic.

Zoey says he loves cars.

Our group has six people. We hang out a lot.

Chase said, "Let's grab lunch, then see Fast & Furious 9! It's awesome!"

Zoey and I agreed.

Zoey politely asked Ethan, "Bro, wanna eat with us?"

"No time. You guys go."

Expected. We ignored it. But then he smirked and dropped a bomb.

"Buy tickets for the evening show. I'll join after work."

WHAT?!