She looked deep into his eyes and she could get that he meant it. His request was not only serious but sincere as well. So nodding her head, she said,

"Yes, I promise."

Dr. Nelson looked at her for a while and then picked up his phone and texted Dr. Oshana.

"Hey there! Dr. Nelson here. Do you have some time slot open that I can have today evening?" - Dr. Nelson.

The moment DO. Oshana saw his message on her phone, she became all ecstatic and why wouldn't she be? Afterall Dr. Nelson was one of the hottest doctors in New York and she had a big-time thing for him. So even though she had patients lined up in the evening, she replied,

"I am free after six today. Anything in particular that you would like to discuss? Any particular case of interest?" - Dr. Oshana

The way he had asked and the Dr. Nelson that she knew, she was unequivocally sure that it was something about discussing some case because of the reputation Dr. Nelson carried. He was known as a very reserved man in his fraternity although he was the total opposite with his ways in which he behaved with Akira.

"It has nothing to do with any case of any patient." - Dr. Nelson

When she saw this message, she left the patient that she was attending and called Dr. Nelson directly.

As his cellphone buzzed with the call, Akira got a bit tensed as she wasn't sure if Dr. Nelson would be able to handle it. He was a nice sort of a guy so she had no idea if he had in him to pull this up.

Dr. Nelson raised his palm a bit, indicating her to relax as he picked up the call.

"Hello."

"Hello, Dr. Nelson. Sorry if I interrupted, but texting is really not my forte."

"Neither it is for me, but assuming that you would be busy, I thought it was the best option. I didn't want to disturb you in any way you know."

Akira smiled as she heard him speak because she knew that he was drawing her. Slowly but in a very adept way. So relaxing her posture a bit she leaned back on her chair to enjoy the show.

"Oh, that's really thoughtful of you."

"Oh come on. You would have done the same."

"Maybe? But first of all, I would have needed a rock-solid reason to call you for that."

Then taking a deep breath Dr. Nelson said,

"Well, I have a pretty small reason. Unfortunately, it's my birthday today. Every year ever since ... Every year I find a reason not to celebrate. But I am done with that. I don't like hanging out with anyone who will keep asking me questions about my scarred past. So I thought maybe I could have a drink or two with you. Only if you are open for it."

"I would love to."

She answered without skipping even a second in between.

"Then I will pick you up sharp at five forty-five from your clinic."

"I will be waiting."

"Thanks for agreeing to celebrate this day with me. It means a lot to me Dr. Oshana."

"Call me Oshana and I will say yes for anything that you ask Dr. Nelson."

Dr. Nelson heard her and took a deep breath and said,

"See you soon."

And then he disconnected the call.

Akira smiled and said,

"Well, that was way smoother than I expected."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I mean the way you messed her up by telling it's your birthday today. Genius !!! Now I am pretty sure that you will be able to pull this off. I will better run now and make the necessary arrangements."

Saying that Akira got up from her seat to leave.

Dr. Nelson looked at her happy face and got up. He wasn't sure how to put it so he said,

"I didn't mess up with her."

"What do you mean?"

"It's really my birthday today."

Saying that he slightly tilted his head and looked at her. He could see the happy shades departing from her face as he spoke.

"I am so sorry. I didn't know."

"I do not expect you to know when my birthday is Akira."

Saying that he smiled but she could see the pain in his eyes. She realized at that moment that everything that he had just said, was the truth. All these years after Alita, he had actually never celebrated his birthday and here she thought that he had plated a nice cover story.

Taking a deep breath, she looked at him and said,

"Happy Birthday Jaby."

Absorbing those words and that face of hers, he suppressed all the pain that he was feeling at that moment and said,

"Thanks, Akira."

Continuing looking at her. he said,

"No need to worry about arranging for the truth serum. I have a friend ..."

But his voice just trailed off as he was embraced tightly in her arms.

For a second, he lost the touch with the present. For a second he forgot what pain was.

"Happy Birthday"

And saying those words she detached from him and walked out of the room.