Chapter 10 - Body Heat

"HERO, where's Kath? Why didn't you, two, come home together," asked his Aunt Belen when she saw Hero coming home alone as she was closing the eatery.

"She said she would stop by somewhere first," he replied. "Besides, Auntie, she doesn't want me to wait for her nor walk home with her. She's afraid someone will see us together."

"And thinks you're a couple?"

That's not it, he wanted to tell his aunt but he just kept it to himself. Max had warned him not to get too close to her. Part of him wanted to believe that she just wanted to be alone like any gangster did, but another part of him was saying Max just didn't want to cause him trouble. He knew she's going to meet those guys in the library. He wanted to stop her but what good would it bring for him? She would just be annoyed. Besides, what could he do if he went there with her? He already stopped fighting. He would just become a burden to her, just like what Vince said last time.

"Maybe," he answered with a short laugh in order to stop his aunt's prying.

But she wasn't convinced. "Why don't you two get along, huh?"

"Auntie, I'm not the one with the problem. It's your beloved little darling who has an attitude problem and is hard to get along with," he exonerated.

"Stop badmouthing her," she scolded him. "Now, get dressed, and let's have dinner. I'll just finish tidying things up here and will go to the kitchen right away."

"'Kay," he simply answered to cut the argument. There's no point telling his aunt what he thought about Max. To her, Max would always be that sweet little darling named Kath that she used to babysit and she had loved very much.

He quickly changed his clothes and went to the kitchen. It's past six o'clock when they finished eating but there's still no sign Max. He urged his aunt to rest ahead, promising her that he'd wait for Max.

"Make sure she eats before she goes up to her room," she ordered before leaving him in the living room, where he decided to study while waiting for Max.

"Yeah, sure," he nodded.

He looked up at the wall clock again. Max was surely fighting again. He could tell because there was not a day when she came home without cuts or bruises, whether she's early or late. Even if he would reprimand her or stop her, she would not listen to him. He would rather just wait when she came. Besides, it was not the first time she came home late, neither was it the first time he had done some cover-ups for her whenever his aunt would ask where she was or why she had not come home yet. And he scolded himself every time he did that--and he didn't really know why he'd been doing that for her. Maybe because she had saved him once. Gratitude. Yeah, right.

So much for thinking about Max, he read the books he had borrowed from the library and tried memorizing the trivia written on them. When he got tired of reading, he just copied the rest of them.

Moments later, he suddenly heard a crackle from the door. Someone was unlocking the doorknob of the main door. Max then entered and was shocked to see him.

"Where have you been?"

"Why are you still awake?"

They asked each other almost simultaneously.

"I'm still studying. And you?" he replied.

"None of your business," she replied coldly as she was about to get past him after locking the door again. But she suddenly lost her balance and fell. Thanks to his adrenaline rush, he quickly caught her before she landed on the floor.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked her.

She did not answer.

He was about to lay her down on the sofa when he felt something wet in his hand behind her shoulder. He adjusted his grip on her to see his hand and was shocked to see blood on it. He immediately checked on her. He saw the blood-stained part of her uniform being torn off with some blade, probably a small knife. When he looked closely at her, he saw severe bruises on her face and both arms.

His mouth tightened and his fist clenched upon seeing how badly-shaped she looked. He suddenly remembered Dana. How horrible those guys had been to do such a thing to a woman! Rage surged up his heart and he felt a sting in his eyes.

"Hero..."

He was snapped back to his senses when he heard her softly whisper his name.

"Just stay still. Don't move," he ordered before leaving her shortly to get a basin of warm water and a clean face towel. He also grabbed the medicine kit from the cabinet. Being injured and had several cuts more than a hundred times, he had become an expert in treating himself so as not to go to the hospital anymore. He was thankful she behaved herself while he treated her so he was successful in stitching her would. Still, her body was so weak, it's a miracle she was able to get home.

"I'm okay," she said, barely conscious and struggling to stand up. He could not bear it anymore. He picked her up and carried her to his room. He took off her shoes and socks before carefully laying her down on his bed. He supported her shoulder so that she would not cry out in pain.

She tried to protest but he rebuked her. "Sshhh...I won't do anything to you. Just get some rest."

"Hero? Hero, what's that noise?" he heard his aunt called.

He immediately went out and left Max inside for a moment. He saw Belen coming out of her room.

"Oh, Auntie, it's nothing. I just dropped my belongings while putting them away," he replied with a short laugh.

"Has Max arrived yet?"

"Yes. She already went up to her room," he lied.

"That's good to hear. Turn off the other lights and go to sleep."

"Yes. You too."

He picked up his belongings from the table. He waited for her to enter her room before he going to his. Max half-sitting half-lying, leaning her back on the headboard back and was looking at him.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"I'm hungry," she said softly.

"Okay, wait here." He put his things on the study table and went out again to go to the kitchen. He took the food prepared on the table for Max and brought it to his room. "Here. Eat this. It's not hot anymore but it's still delicious."

"Thank you," was her weak reply. She began digging in but had a hard time holding the cutlery.

His forehead creased as he was watching her. It was an annoying sight, and pathetic as well. He had no choice but to feed her. When she was full, he put away the dishes and put them back in the kitchen. When he entered his room again, he was already asleep. He sighed with relief.

12:30 AM. That's the time on his phone screen. It's way too late and he's already really sleepy. He grabbed a comforter and lay it on the floor, followed by extra pillows and a blanket. He felt nostalgic as he lay flat on his back in that soft fabric.

"It's been a while," he said to himself.

He checked up on Max once more before going to a deep slumber.

"Hero! Hero, wake up!"

"Dana!"

He woke up from his own scream as he felt a weak hand shaking his shoulder. He suddenly turned to see Max looking over him.

"Are you alright?" she asked, looking worried.

"Y-Yes. Do you need anything?"

"I was awakened by your noise. I thought you're having a nightmare."

"I'm sorry. How are you feeling?"

"I'm getting cold. Can I turn off the aircon?"

His brows met. There was no aircon in that room, only a ceiling fan. And it's not that cold for him.

He looked at her again in disbelief but was shocked to see her trembling in cold. He immediately got up and turned off the ceiling fan. When he touched her forehead, she was having a high fever. And that explained it all.

"Wait, I'll bring you a medicine," he said.

"Don't!" she stopped him "Just...stay here."

He took his blanket and wrapped it around her. "Is it still cold?"

She just nodded. "Please...sleep here...beside me."

"H-Huh?" He was hesitant, yet he did not complain. He lay down on the bed next to her. He was still drowsy and wanted to sleep again, but he could not leave her that way. He did not want to wake his Aunt Belen up, either.

"It's...c...o...l...d."

He began to panic as he did not know what to do. Confused, he hugged Max to comfort her. She squeezed herself so that his body was wrapping hers. His heartbeat went wild. Even with a blanket in between them, that did not stop him from feeling the warmth of her body and that made him feel delirious, more delirious than Max.