CHAPTER 5

Atarah Klyte

“BUT how?” Akisha asked.

Why does she even want to know? She’s way too curious. What is this—jealousy? Tss.

“Ask her,” Rare replied with a teasing grin.

Ugh! I hated that grin of his. It irritated me so much.

But I can’t deny that He’s so Hot!

“Gotta go. Just tell Daddy for me. I’m feeling dizzy,” I said to Ate Akisha instead, completely ignoring her question.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Rare raise one eyebrow, but I pretended not to see it and hurried away. Before I could get too far, though, I heard him speak again.

“I’m an exchange doctor currently working at St. Calisha, where your sister also works, and she happens to be a close friend of mine.”

What? He knows me because we’re “close”? And wait—oh my God! Did he recognize me from the hospital? He mentioned St. Calisha!

I shook my head and practically ran out from the hotel. Once outside, I headed straight to the parking lot.

I hurriedly rummaged through my bag for my car keys. The moment I found them, I suddenly felt something tickling my foot, so I looked down.

“WHAAA!” I screamed, jumping around in panic. My things slipped from my hands.

A rat! A rat! Sh-t!

Because of my panic, I accidentally twisted my ankle. I shut my eyes tightly as my balance gave way, expecting to crash to the ground any second.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I felt strong arms catch me.

When I slowly opened my eyes, I immediately pouted and burst into tears. Yes, it was dramatic, but I couldn’t stop myself—from the stupid rat and the pain in my ankle.

“Hey, shhh. Stop crying,” the person who caught me said softly.

Even through my blurry vision, I knew it was Rare.

Suddenly, my feet left the ground.

He was carrying me—like a bride.

“What happened?” he asked.

I didn’t answer until he gently sat me down on a bench.

“What happened?” he repeated, leaning closer. He wiped my tears with a handkerchief he pulled from his suit.

I stopped crying, suddenly feeling awkward. Wait… why is he even here?

Did He run too?

“Th-the rat,” I stammered, feeling his breath brush against my face.

“Uhm, lean on me.”

For some reason, I obeyed and leaned back against the bench. He moved his face away slightly, then lifted my injured foot and placed it carefully on his thigh before slowly removing my heels.

“Endure it. It hurts at first, but it’ll feel good later,” he said in a husky voice.

“Huh?” I asked in shock.

That sounded suspicious! Pervert!

“Nah,” he said, shaking his head with a grin as he began gently massaging my foot.

“A-ah—ouch!” I whimpered.

“Pardon me. I’ll be gentle.”

I almost choked on my own saliva as certain memories suddenly flashed through my mind.

AHHH! Why is my brain so dirty?!

I squeezed my eyes shut as the pain from his massage intensified. After a few minutes, however, the pain gradually faded and turned into relief.

“Ah!” I yelped when he suddenly pressed down.

But after that, the pain was completely gone.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and moved my foot.

No pain.

It felt completely normal again.

Wow. Is Hw secretly a massage therapist?

Well… he is a doctor after all.

When I glanced at him, I caught Rare staring at me coldly.

Embarrassed, I lowered my gaze. “Ahm… thank you.”

I reached for my heels, but he grabbed them first.

“No. Don’t wear these. Wait here.”

His face had suddenly turned serious.

“O-okay,” I said.

He walked away, and only then did I finally breathe properly again. I pressed a hand to my chest.

Why is my heart beating so fast?

A few minutes later, he returned with a pair of slippers. Men’s slippers. They were a little big—Nike.

“Here. Sorry about the size. Wear them.”

He placed them on the ground, his hand briefly brushing my arm.

“Wa—” I tried to refuse.

“Just wear them to avoid worse inflammation,” he said firmly.

I had no choice but to nod. He was right.

He even helped me put them on, making me secretly bite my lip.

“I’ll take you home,” he suddenly said.

“What?” I asked, surprised.

“I’ll drive you home,” he repeated in Tagalog.

“Nah, no need. I’ve already bothered you enough,” I said shyly.

“I insist. What if your foot starts hurting again while driving? You might lose control of your speed or brakes.”

“Why do you even care?” I snapped.

Wow, self. You’re really giving attitude to someone who just helped you?

“Hard-headed as f-ck,” he muttered coldly.

“What?” Did he just curse at me?

“Tss. Just tell me your address,” he said impatiently.

“I can handle it—”

“Ahhh! Put me down!” I protested, but it was too late.

He had already lifted me again in a bridal carry.

“Tss.”

He ignored my protests and continued walking.

I stared at his face.

He was ridiculously handsome. His features were perfect, but what caught my attention the most were his lips—thin, red, and beautifully shaped.

Sexy.

I swallowed even though my throat was dry.

Those lips looked dangerously tempting, almost as if they were whispering: “Kiss me. Taste me.”

What the hell is happening to me?

“Done checking me out?” he asked with a raised brow.

Oh my God! I had been staring at him.

He placed me gently in the passenger seat of my car.

“Now tell me—what’s your address?”

“Akarion Condominium. Do you know it?”

“Yeah. That condo belongs to my uncle,” he replied casually.

Wow. So his family really is that rich.

“Just sharing?” I said sarcastically.

“Isn’t it obvious?” he replied irritably.

I rolled my eyes and leaned against the window.

Suddenly, he leaned closer.

“What are you doing?” I asked nervously.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he moved closer until I instinctively closed my eyes.

But instead of a kiss, I felt him fastening my seatbelt.

When I opened my eyes, he was smirking.

So embarrassing.

“Just drive already,” I muttered.

He started the car.

Then suddenly—

He leaned again and kissed me.

My eyes widened as he bit my lip, forcing my mouth open before his tongue slipped inside.

Heat rushed through my body.

I tried to resist, but my body betrayed me. I responded to his kiss without realizing it.

“D-mn, I missed the taste of your lips,” he whispered before kissing me again.

Just then—

His phone rang.

I pushed him away, gasping for air.

“Answer your phone,” I said, avoiding his gaze.

Instead, he ended the call.

“Hey… can we continue?” he asked bluntly.

My jaw almost dropped.

“Are you crazy? Just drive. I’m tired.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, placing his hand on my thigh again.

“Stop. Just drive.”

“Ah… yeah. Sorry.”

The rest of the ride was silent.

Thirty awkward minutes later, we arrived at my condominium.

“Thank you,” I said as I removed my seatbelt.

“No problem. And… sorry for what happened earlier.”

“Let’s just forget about it.”

He nodded and prepared to leave—but his car didn’t start.

“Oh sh-t, I think I just ran out of gas,” he said awkwardly.

“Seriously? The nearest gas station is far. You can stay in my condo for now.”

Nice one, self. What kind of idea is that?

“Sure, thanks for your offer. Appreciate it, baby..” He’s smirking!

I bit my lower lip, resisting the urge to slap myself for my stupidity. Why did I just invite a complete stranger into my condo? What if he kills me? What if this is his way of getting revenge on his ex—my sister?

Well, now that I had already offered my place, did I even have a choice anymore? Could I still take it back? No. That would be too embarrassing. I had already said it, and there was no way I could swallow my words now.

Whatever happens, happens. If this guy ends up stuffing me into a suitcase and throwing me somewhere, then so be it!

He gently supported me as we walked, carefully guiding me forward. I couldn’t help but glance up at him—and then stare a little longer than I probably should have.

Seriously… he was ridiculously handsome. The kind of handsome that made it almost impossible to think badly of him. His sharp features, the calm confidence in his posture, even the way he carried himself—it all made him look like someone straight out of a magazine.

How could someone that good-looking possibly be dangerous?

Right?

Yet a tiny voice in my head kept whispering that looks could be deceiving.

Still, I couldn’t deny it.

He was way too handsome for me to seriously suspect him of being a murderer.

Inside my condo, I offered him water while he sat on my couch watching TV.

“I’ll just take a shower,” I told him before heading to my room.

But when I tried to remove my dress, I couldn’t reach the zipper.

“What the—!”

Frustrated, I collapsed onto my bed.

Knock knock.

“Hey Ath, are you okay?”

“No.”

I opened the door.

“I can’t unzip my dress.” while pouting.

“Let me do it.”

I turned around, and he slowly pulled down the zipper.

A shiver ran through my body. I felt his hands in my back.. Oh god..

“Done.”

“Thank you.”

“Next time you’ll need to pay. A kiss is enough though,” he teased.

“What?”

“Just kidding, baby. Go shower.”

Did he just call me baby? So annoying! HeMs such a flirt!

After finishing my shower, I stepped out of the bathroom and immediately noticed how heavy the rain had become. The sound of it pounding against the windows was so loud that it filled the entire condo.

Seeing how hard it was raining made me feel even more uneasy. A troubling thought suddenly crossed my mind—there was a big chance he might end up staying the night.

The idea alone made my heart race.

But then again, I couldn’t possibly send him home in this kind of weather. My conscience wouldn’t allow it. The rain was pouring mercilessly outside, and the streets were probably starting to flood.

Besides… it would be such a waste if someone as ridiculously handsome as him ended up drowning out there.

I sighed quietly, shaking my head at my own thoughts.

Seriously, what kind of logic was that? Still… I couldn’t deny it. Part of me was already preparing for the possibility that he might really have to stay the night.

And now… because of the heavy rain and a flash flood warning outside…

“Maybe… you should just sleep here tonight,” I said hesitantly.

Oh no.

What if we ended up f-cking each other because of the cold weather?