CHAPTER 4:

ELARA'S POV:

I was busy cooking beef caldereta when my phone suddenly buzzed on the counter.

It was my rest day, so I had volunteered to prepare lunch and give my mother a break from cooking for once. I turned off the stove, wiped my hands, and reached for my phone.

A message from Lennox appeared on the screen.

Lennox Drevin: Hi, best friend! I just want to let you know that I’m coming home. Did you miss me?

A smile immediately tugged at my lips.

“Lennox, seriously...” I muttered to myself.

Before I could even type a reply, my phone started ringing.

Video call.

I nearly dropped it. Then I answered, and his face appeared on the screen.

“Hello! How’s Canada?” I greeted him. “Have you finally caught yourself a girlfriend there?”

“You’re unbelievable…” Lennox said dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. “You didn’t even say you missed me. I’m hurt.”

“Ewww! Stop being dramatic.” then, I rolled my eyes. “When’s your flight back here?”

“Tomorrow.” he grinned. “Want to come pick me up?”

“Too bad... I have work. If I didn’t, I would.”

For a second, something shifted in Lennox’s expression. A flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes, before he smiled again.

“It’s okay. I’m a big boy now.” he said.

“Good! Have a safe flight.” I said.

“See you soon.” he said back.

That was the last word he said then the call ended. I looked toward the dining area before raising my voice.

“Ma! Eirina! Food’s ready!”

— — —

The next morning, I practically flew out of the house. I had overslept.

“Ma! I’m leaving!” I shouted as I grabbed my bag.

“Take care!” Mama said from inside.

I hurried outside and immediately waved my hand to call a tricycle.

“Just to the corner, please,” I told the driver.

The moment I got off, I started looking for a jeepney. Luckily, one stopped almost immediately.

“Please pass the fare. Elite Coffee Shop,” I said as I handed my payment forward.

By the time I reached the café, I was already running late. I climbed out of the jeepney and hurried toward the other side of the road. I thought the street was clear, so I crossed without thinking much about it.

Then a horn blasted through the air.

Loud. Sharp. Terrifying.

The screech of tires followed. Everything happened too fast.

I froze in the middle of the road.

By the time the car stopped, there were only a few feet between us.

My knees gave out. I stumbled toward the side of the street and collapsed. My entire body trembled as I fought back tears.

I heard the door of an expensive car open and close. Heavy footsteps approached.

Oh my God! I’m dead. Slowly, I lifted my gaze.

And the moment I saw who was standing in front of me, it felt as though someone had poured an ice water down my back.

Rhett Alaric.

Of all people.

The man I had admired for years. The man I used to see only in magazine photographs, staring back at me from glossy pages I had secretly looked at more times than I could count.

For so long, I had believed he would remain nothing more than that.

A face in a magazine.

A man who existed in my daydreams.

And now here he was again.

Standing right in front of me.

Once again, under the worst possible circumstances.

Was fate intentionally making fun of me?

Rhett’s jaw tightened. His eyes were cold, but I could tell he was restraining his temper.

“Get up,” he ordered in that deep, controlled voice of his. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”

I couldn’t move. My arms and legs were still trembling from what had happened, and my heart was beating so fast it almost hurt.

Rhett stared at me for several seconds. Apparently, his patience ran out.

“W-Wait. I can walk—”

“Don’t argue.” his voice was low and firm.

Before I could protest again, he bent down and lifted me into his arms in a bridal style.

My hands instinctively wrapped around his neck. For one horrifying second, all I could feel was how solid his chest beneath my palms and how close I was to him. My heart was already racing because I had almost been hit by a car.

At least, that was what I told myself.

He carried me toward the passenger seat and carefully placed me inside.

The interior smelled faintly of leather and expensive cologne.

Rhett got into the driver’s seat and immediately pulled out his phone.

“Cancel my meeting,” I heard him say, his voice cold and professional. “I’m heading to the hospital.”

I stayed quiet throughout the drive, staring out the window and trying to process what was happening. Only minutes ago, I had been rushing to work.

Now Rhett Alaric was personally taking me to the emergency room.

Life was strange.

The car eventually stopped in front of the hospital.

Before I could object, Rhett was already opening my door.

He lifted me again.

My face burned. Surely I could walk, maybe?

A nurse immediately approached us when we entered the emergency department.

“Prepare a stretcher,” she announce.

A doctor came over. “What happened, sir?”

“She suddenly crossed the road,” Rhett answered, direct and emotionless. “I’m not sure if I hit her.”

I quickly interrupted. “No, Doc. He didn’t hit me. I swear!”

Rhett didn’t even look at me.

“She still needs tests,” he said. “I don’t want to be blamed for something I didn’t cause.”

I stared at him.

His tone was unbelievably cold and arrogant. And yet there was something heavy beneath his words that I couldn’t quite understand.

“I-I understand,” I murmured.

One look from him was enough to make me wish the hospital bed would swallow me whole.

— — —

ELARA'S POV:

Nearly an hour passed while the doctors ran tests and took X-rays. Thankfully, nothing was broken. No fractures and no serious injuries.

When the doctor finally left, Rhett spoke.

“Here.” then extended a gold card toward me.

I stared at it.

“Withdraw whatever amount you need. Consider it compensation for the trouble.”

“What? No, sir. That isn’t necessary. I—”

He glanced at his wristwatch and turned away. “I have to go, Miss. You should be more careful next time.”

And just like that, he left.

I watched him walk away before I could even think of a response.

“Tsk! So grumpy,” I muttered under my breath.

My attention returned to the gold card in my hand. It was actually gold. Everything about that man had to look expensive. Even his smile probably cost a fortune. The man apparently didn’t know how to smile.

When I got home, I immediately messaged my boss and explained what had happened. There was no way I could report to work anymore.

So much for today’s salary.

— — —

Lennox arrived at our house not long after, carrying a bag of fruit.

“Where does it hurt?” he asked the moment he saw me.

His concern was obvious.

“I’m fine,” I assured him. “I was just shocked by what happened. The doctor said all the test results were normal.”

Only then did he seem to breathe properly. “Good. I thought something serious had happened to you.”

“I’m okay. You should be resting instead. You just got off a flight.” 

“Don’t worry about me.” He sat down beside me. “You’re the one I’m worried about right now.”

I rolled my eyes. “You really are the king of drama.”

He gave me a look, though a smile was already forming on his lips. “I can’t afford to lose my best friend who still doesn’t have a boyfriend.”

“Wow!” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Just because you collected women in Canada, you think you can brag now?”

I pinched his side.

“Oh! Hey! That hurts!” he twisted away from me, laughing.

“Have some snacks first, Lennox,” Mama interrupted as she entered the living room carrying a tray of cupcakes and juice.

“Thank you, Tita,” Lennox replied, suddenly looking much more behaved.

We spent the next few hours talking, laughing, and catching up.

Eventually, Lennox stood to leave.

“Thank you again for the snacks, Tita.”

“You’re welcome. Take care on your way home.”

Once Mama had left the room, I gave Lennox a teasing grin. “Be careful. Someone might get heartbroken if that precious face of yours gets scratched.”

He smirked. “Please… I know you’d be the first one crying, Elara.”

Then he winked.

I grimaced dramatically. “Yuck! Please… My crush is way more handsome than you.”

“Oh, really?” he challenged. “And where is this mysterious crush of yours now?”

I tried to hide my excitement. “I saw him earlier.”

Lennox frowned. “You saw him? Today?”

“Mm-hmm.” I hummed.

He waited.

I smiled. “He was the one who almost hit me with his car.”

Lennox’s eyes widened. “What?!”

His voice nearly echoed through the room.

“Wait... Is this the same guy you told me about before? The one you saw in the magazine?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

Then I remembered seeing Rhett up close again, and the ridiculous excitement came rushing back.

“I didn’t expect him to be even more handsome in person.”

Lennox rolled his eyes. “Tsk! This is getting dangerous.”

I raised a brow. “What?”

He leaned back in his seat. “At this rate, he might not only run over your body. He might run over your heart too.”

I laughed softly and turned toward the window. The sky stretched quietly beyond the glass.

“Too late,” I murmured. “I think he already did.”