Chapter 41

The sun is bright as I wake up. My head hurts as if a giant stomped his feet on it and I find myself gazing at a handsome face.

As I groan in pain, I realise that this is the first time in a month that I have been able to sleep without nightmares. The feeling of being wrapped in these arms is not bad.

I lie there, reluctant to get up and leave his arms. It's fine for me to sleep for a while more. Closing my eyes, I snuggle into his chest again.

***

Panda King has never felt more on edge than he is feeling now. Pretending to be asleep when she woke up, he had closed his eyes but he felt her stir within his embrace and his heart beat erratically.

After a month of not seeing or hearing from her, Tin Gold has lost weight and looks more lifeless. He has never seen her without the light in her soft brown eyes like she is now.

As his worries increase, so do his many unanswered questions.

What exactly happened to you Tin?

His lips softly touch her forehead. He can no longer deny his feelings for her.

***

*Tina*

The second time I wake up, the bed is empty. The warmth from before is no longer there. Where has he gone? My headache is still here.

It's already eleven. I need to find a way to let Dad and Mint know that I am here so they don't worry. I can't burden them with anything else.

After showering, I walk downstairs, still wincing at my headache.

"Have this." Panda King says, handing me a bowl of porridge and some medicine tablets.

I glance at him in question. "What's this?"

"Have your medicine for the headache." He explains.

I frown, "How do you know I have one? Are you psychic?"

He grins, "Maybe."

"Hey, can I borrow your phone later? I need to let my dad know that I'm here." I say.

Pan looks at me weirdly, "Why? Where's your phone?"

"Have you forgotten how you kidnapped me yesterday?" I ask, rolling my eyes as I eat.

He looks embarrassed, "Alright then. I'll let you use it."

I smile, "Thank you."

"Don't you remember how you attacked me last night?" Pan smirks in amusement. I frown, did I do something weird?

"W–What do you mean?" I ask uncertainly but as he stares at me, my drunken actions replay inside my mind and I groan loudly. Don't tell me I actually touched his face and jumped on his back? I feel like there was something else I did too but I can't remember it.

"You almost took me." He protectively covers his chest area with his arms and forms his mouth into a kiss. "Have you forgotten?"

My eyes widen as I suddenly remember. I kissed him. Not once but twice! Is this the end of the last shred of pride and dignity which I have been holding onto?

"Th–that was because I was drunk! I had no control over it!" I protest as my face turns red. Why do I always humiliate myself like this?

Pan smirks and steps closer to me, "You're dangerous when you're drunk." He lifts my chin with his hand, "Don't drink when I am not around Tin."

Blushing, I glare at him. Is he teasing me? Well, I can play this game too. "Are you jealous?" I grin and seductively trail my finger down his face. "I can drink whenever I want to. You're not my father."

I see him visibly gulp and his Adam's apple bobs in his throat as he widens his eyes. Oh, is he not enjoying this anymore?

Bringing my face closer to him, I reach towards the side of his neck and place my mouth near his ear as I whisper into it, "Cat got your tongue?"

"Mmmm... st–stop." He stutters quietly. Did he just moan?!

I grin and stare up at him, "You started this first."

"If you don't want me to take action, you shouldn't stick so close to me like this." He winks and places his hands onto my hips, abruptly pulling me up from my chair and towards him until our bodies are practically glued together.

I thought I had him but has he just begun his attack?!

"I'm your bodyguard, if I don't do my job, who will?" I say, trying to keep my cool as I place my hands on his chest.

"What if you move a few steps forward from being my bodyguard and instead," His smirk hasn't left as he tilts his head, "be my lover?"

My face is scarlet as I digest his words. Is he crazy? Why is he flirting with me in the first place?! Or is it my fault for playing along with him?

Smiling, I use my hands which are on his chest to push him away a little. "In your dreams Panda King."

***

As I swallow the painkiller to ease my hangover, I recall the surveillance footage we collected that day.

"What happened with the police case?" I ask curiously.

Pan smiles, "Of course I had enough evidence to go against Theodore Emmet."

"Thank goodness."

"He paid his way out though." Pan says unhappily.

"He what?!" I ask in shock. If he is out of prison he will definitely want revenge against Pan.

"People like him can do anything with money. That's what makes them scary." Pan says.

Afraid at what might happen, I grab Pan's hand mindlessly. "I'll protect you Pan so don't go anywhere far from me. I don't want to lose anyone else." I choke up as I speak.

Pan's ocean blue eyes fill with concern as he stares at me but he quickly masks it with a grin, "You care about me so much Tin?"

I nod and turn my face away from him, before realising. Hurriedly, I protest, "Of course not. I am simply doing my job." I lie.

My heart is beating faster with anxiety. Theodore Emmet won't let Pan go so easily. I don't want to lose him. 

***

"You're back Tin!" Wade Rider's loud voice says as he walks into the mansion. "I came as soon as I found out. How have you been? I haven't seen my love for a whole month."

"Wade!" I glare at my white haired friend. I knew he wouldn't stop teasing me after he discovered my true identity but calling me his "love" in a place where Panda King can hear is courting death.

He grins and wraps an arm around my shoulders. "Why did you go missing for a month Tin?"

"Personal matter." I mutter. Not in the mood to explain.

"What's up? Are you PM–"

I pick up the cushion from behind me and throw it at his face.

"Shut up Wade!" I hiss angrily.

"Sorry, sorry Tin." He says quickly, "How long are you going to stay here like this? There is no secret in the world Tin. People will find out the truth one day."

I know what he is saying is true but I am not ready to face the hatred, disgust and anger which will come from the person whom I care about the most if he finds out I lied to him.

"I know Wade. But I'm scared." I admit. "I'm scared of how betrayed he will feel. He will definitely feel disgusted with me and hate me. I don't want to see that."

Wade looks at me with sympathy in his red-pink eyes and sits closer to me. "If he hates you, I'll still love you." He pulls me from my waist and side hugs me.

"Hey! You're just taking advantage of the opportunity to hug me!" I laugh as he pretends to kiss my cheek.

"Why would you undermine my love like that Tin?" He pouts, making me laugh more.

"Who is..." I stop as my eyes catch sight of Panda King, standing on the other side of the room.

When did he enter?

His ocean blue eyes seem to glance over me and they land on the arm around my waist. I gulp nervously and pat Wade's hand to hint at him to remove it.

"Pan! You came in like a silent lion rather than a panda." Wade jokes awkwardly as he quickly splits away from me.

"If I had come in like a panda, I wouldn't have noticed you two like this." He mutters but I can hear every word.

Wait, when did he come? Did he hear everything?!

My eyes widen in horror. I hope he didn't hear anything.

Wade grins and stares at Pan, "What do you mean my dear friend?"

Pan grunts and scowls at him before sitting on my other side. He hasn't mentioned anything so he can't have heard right?

"Are you jealous that Tin and I are close?" Wade smirks.

My face heats up. How do I shut his mouth?

"Who's jealous? You're the jealous one!" Pan shouts loudly.

Both Wade and I gape at him. Why is he angry?

"It's a full house." Liana's voice says cheerfully as she skips inside.

I smile in greeting at her and Wade nods.

"If you're not busy, can you teach me that pasta recipe you were going to show me last time Tin?" She says.

I nod. She has given me a perfect excuse to leave. "Sure."