9 I don't want to owe to you

Back to the present…

Neil reached back to his office. But all he could think was the woman whom he had helped. He didn't even change his clothes which had been wet all this time. Partly because he was anxious in the situation, partly because he was immersed in being with the baby, and also partly because he had lost his mind for a while.

'Linda'… that was the name that kept ringing in his mind. He just couldn't concentrate on anything other than that name. It was as if her voice had become a repeated symphony in his mind's broken tape recorder. The moment when she had her baby in her arms and the motherly features that beautified her otherworldly features were like a video playing before his eyes, even now.

'Arghhh!! I'm going crazy.'

Neil pulled his hair in frustration… frustration over the fact that he was thinking about a stranger woman so much and also because of the feeling that he had been feeling ever since he saw her. He felt odd. Quite odd actually. It was as if he had gone crazy. Something felt wrong but still so right in his being. In his mind, there was a turmoil which he couldn't point to.. on his own.

He heavily sighed and then called up his assistant to bring him a new set of clothes and deliver them to his office and attached resting room.

Hanging up the phone, Neil made his way to the room undid his tie, and tiredly got rid of his clothes while he took his towel and went straight to the bathroom. Standing in the shower, he let the cold water fall on his face, with water making its way from his handsome face to his neck, then his chest, and that hard work abs …and lower.

He felt a bit cooled down while being in the shower, but the feeling was still bugging him. Finishing his bath soon after, he went back to the bedroom and changed into his new set of clothes. The white shirt, with black pants and a black overcoat along with a black and red checked tie, he looked quite dashing.

Going back to the office, he had by then successfully distracted his mind from all the chaos and let his mind be concentrated on the matter at hand– his work.

The next day.

Neil found himself standing in front of the hospital room of Linda as he helplessly just sighed at himself. Last night, after finishing work somehow and being tired.. he still couldn't sleep. It was as if his sleep was miles away from him. He completed all of his pending work and some more office paperwork.. but even when it was after midnight, he didn't feel sleepy. So he tried to let music help him... but to add fuel to his nonsleepiness, a love song played up and in this way, he almost couldn't get any sleep.

With dark circles beneath his eyes, he opened the door handle and came inside the room. There he saw, the baby sleeping peacefully in its baby bed but Linda was nowhere to be seen. That's when he heard the sound of the shower going off and the rustling of clothes.. meaning a person was in there and maybe changing. Neil's face couldn't be any redder and when he thought of going back and waiting outside.. he had only turned when the door of the bathroom opened and Linda seeing him.. surprisingly called his name, "Neil?"

Neil's heart almost burst out of his chest at her sweet voice. He stopped in his tracks and very hesitantly turned over his shoulder to make sure that she was not naked. She wouldn't have waited long for him to turn around and check if she was in clothes or not, but still as a gentleman, he tried to make sure to avoid the awkwardness. He finally sighed in relief silently and turned around when he was sure that she was clothed as he now faced her.

"Ummm …. I was passing by the hospital on my way to the office but I thought to drop by, so here I am."

Neil gave a nearly awkward smile as he said the whole sentence in one breath. Linda chuckled and shook her head as she made her way towards him and stopped when they were at a decent distance from each other. Linda then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she said,

"Neil, I want to thank you for being there at the hardest time of my pregnancy and for helping me out with the hospital fees." Neil abashedly looked away to prevent Linda from noticing his ears turning red.

He looked back when Linda continued, "And.. I want to pay you back with any favor. Since we don't know each other much, it would be really good if you could tell me your favor with me or any work I can do to pay you back."

"There's no need for that. I helped because I wanted to and there is no need for you to –"

Linda cut him off as she said, "But I insist …. please. I don't want to owe to you. So please tell me what I can do for you."

Seeing that sincere expression on her face, Neil suddenly felt a pang of pain in his heart. He felt as if she wanted nothing to do with him after paying back to him, but how could he let go of her so easily when she was the reason why he couldn't sleep nor could he concentrate without her?