Chapter 10

I punched his arm, disappointed at his answer. But his hand grabbed my wrist, stopping it midair.

“The doctor needs to check your temper. It’s short and hot.”

I smirk before settling my lips to his. I felt his lips lifting upward against mine. The kiss turned into a full blown make out.

Nile was careful that he didn’t brush my wound. He placed both of his hands to my neck, thumbs brushing each side of my face, while I held on to the lapel of his suit. My other hand brushed his chest towards the back of his neck sliding towards his hair, brushing it with strange addiction.

“Oh my god. What the hell?!” We flinched at the sound, parting ourselves in haste.

“Fuck.” My arm automatically wrapped my belly.

“We should really call the doctor now.” Nile said in alarm. Quinn and Belle raced to my side in haste. Tyler offered to call the doctor when Nile was having second thoughts to leave me in spite of their presence.

I groaned as the pain didn’t subside. “Oh my god, Kur. You really made us worried. You’re going to be the cause of my heart attack.” Quinn started her sermon as Nile helped me lie down.

“I don’t know what time is it but I didn’t sign up for an early lecture. “

“Ha, ha. Funny, Miss Kunoe. I’m sure heaven or hell didn’t accept your cheesy joke.” Quinn retorted. Her hands placed on her hips. Belle only chuckled at our antics.

“It’s 2AM. She couldn’t sleep thinking about you. She dragged Tyler and I to see you.”

“Aww~, I’m touched.” I pressed my hand above my heart. Her hand raised ready to smack me but soon realized that I was not in the condition to receive violence.

She sighed while sitting on the other side of my bed. “We were really worried, Kur. I don’t think I’m up losing my best friend before my wedding.” Sadness etched in her voice. My arm stretched welcoming her for a hug. She laid her head on my shoulder as I wrapped my arm around her. Belle smiled genuinely at us.

“Sorry. It wasn’t my plan for that to happen you know. I didn’t know the man was that desperate to kill me.”

“We settled everything while you were sleeping- Nile settled everything while we were watching over you.” She corrected herself. She then suddenly gasped and sat up.

“Quinn.” I groaned.

“Why the hell were you two kissing?” She screeched.

Thankfully, Tyler and the doctor saved us the moment.

---

A week later, the doctor signaled an okay for me to get discharged. I didn’t tell them that I left on my own. I went home, took a shower and changed and left again right after. I was looking for the man who saved me that night. He was an officer coincidentally on patrol that night and he happened to witness the crime. I went straight to the police station to see him. Luckily he was on duty.

Nile saved me the headache of facing Wilson and his thugs. As long as they were faced with justice, that’s all that matters. It’s useless for me to seek revenge or bear a grudge. I almost did die though. Perhaps I should bear a little grudge. I changed my mind.

The officer’s name was Nolan Hill, a middle aged man who had two beautiful daughters and a glowing pregnant wife. He even showed me a picture of his family. I could see how he loves them so much. I admired him even more. As an exchange for what he did for me, I gave him a check that was worth five thousand bucks. He refused it at first. He said it was too much but I didn’t take no for an answer. I told him it wasn’t payment. It was what he deserved.

When he let me see his family photo, I figured he needed the money. His wife is pregnant. He had two growing daughters, I think he more than deserved it.

After hugging him and bid our goodbyes, I was off to my next stop.

Lying in the hospital’s bed made me think about the past. The past that I wanted to visit so much was my old friend, Colton. I haven’t visited him for three long years. I don’t know how he’ll react when he sees me again. He was managing his café an hour from here. I hired a cab because walking was not an option.

The café’s name was Hana. It was the name of his dead wife. He was a widower at the age of twenty-one. They married early when they found out that Hana had little time to live. She had a very weak heart and that led her to death. I was a witness of their love story considering Colton was my best friend since high school.

The door jingled reminding them that another customer had come. The café was not that busy and had little customers which was expected since it was in the middle of the day. The people were either at work or at school.

It didn’t take long after I sat on one of the empty tables that a waiter came to serve me. He was a cute teenager, making me wonder why he was not in school at this hour. He seemed to be a really nice young man. “Is the owner here?” I asked instead ignoring his question for my orders. He answered a yes with politeness. “Well, I want him.”

The kid blushed with my response which made me chuckle in amusement. He scurried away nonetheless to call his boss.

A moment later, his familiar deep voice woke me up from my reverie. “Should I close the shop since you finally graced me with your presence?”

I grinned and lunged at him for a hug. His arms went around me and tightened his hold. “God, Rose. I thought you had forgotten me.”

The nickname brought me down to memory lane. He started calling me Rose when he found out that my middle name Rozi was translated as rose. Surprisingly, he met the woman she loved with a flower name as well.

We then let go of each other after our long hugging session. “Never.” I teased.

Colton motioned for us to sit. “So… why now?” He asked as he finally settled.

“Why now what?” I asked him back with forced ignorance.

“You’ve been gone for three years. You never came here even once.”

I shrug. “Pop some bottle there, will ya?” I nodded.

His eyebrows narrowed. “I thought you’re over it.” He said in concern.

“Don’t worry. I now have self-control.”

He shook his head. “If you require that then this will be a long night for us.” He smirked playfully.

He did close his café early even though I told him not to cause I’ll surely wait for him. Instead he let his staff go early. It was unnecessary but I appreciated it since he was keen that I was here.

We started our conversation with how are you’s, updating each other’s lives for the three year gap we didn’t meet or contact each other, up until the present. I told him about our recent project that was the biggest we ever handled and was putting me under pressure. Colton, on the other hand, was still focused on his café and still single.

“What about men, Colton, are you dating any?” I joked. My eyebrows wiggling, teasing him. He only laughed at the question.

“Don’t be stupid, Rose.”

“What about that boy, you pedo?” He laughed even more. He then drank the contents from the bottle. “You know I’m available.” I wiggled my eyebrows.

He rolls his eyes. “Please. I’m not interested in albinos.”

“What the fuck, Colton. You’re hitting below the belt.”

Colton laughs at his own joke. “You were the only who’s indirectly calling me gay.”

I shrugged in response. I don’t remember the first time he teased me with that word just because my hair was platinum blonde and my skin was on the paler side.

I pout. “If you’re single for the rest of your life, I’m not going to care for you.”

His smile suddenly died down which made me look at him seriously. “You know Hana entrusted me to you.” I sat upright in response. “You’re my best friend, Rose. She knew you’re the only one who could take care of me. But I don’t want to deprive you of finding love from others.”

Hana did say that to me too before she died. She wished for us to love each other because she knew me. She knew I cared for Colton.

“I know.”