CHAPTER 3: GRANDMA, HELP!

Seeing the man's pale face, Zarina shouted, "Are you okay?"

However, the man remained unresponsive. Zarina's hands moved urgently as she carefully initiated the CPR procedure. She pressed down on the man's chest, counting each compression carefully.

"One, two, three, four, five…" she counted as she continued pressing his chest. 

Seeing him still unresponsive, she continued with the compressions, maintaining her focus despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. With each forceful compression, she held onto hope, eager to save him.

After a series of compressions, she paused to give two more rescue breaths, watching intently for any signs of life. 

"Come on, mister breath," she whispered. She could feel the tension in the air, the weight of responsibility on her shoulders. But she didn't stop; she couldn't afford to.

She resumed the chest compressions again. Time seemed to slow down, and her vision began to blur as she worked tirelessly, her hands moving rhythmically to the beat of her racing heart. She refused to accept defeat, refusing to let go of the flicker of hope that she could still save him. 

'Go on, Zarina. Don't stop.' she cheered herself up as she began to feel tired.

As she continued her efforts, minutes felt like hours. And then, in that tense silence, a miracle happened—the man coughed, water spewing from his mouth. Zarina's eyes widened in disbelief and relief.

"He's breathing! Oh! God, thank you!" she exclaimed and her voice was a mix of astonishment and joy. 

She quickly flipped him onto his side, allowing the water to drain from his mouth. He coughed again, this time more forcefully, gasping for air as his body fought to regain consciousness.

Zarina sat beside him, soaked from the water, but she felt immense happiness as she watched him slowly coughing and recovering, with his breathing becoming steadier.

"Oh God, Mister, are you okay?" she asked with concern in her eyes.

With her hands still trembling from the adrenaline rush, Zarina gazed at him.

Draymond finally expelled all the water and slowly got up from the cold ground to sit properly.

Zarina reached out to lend him a steady hand, and Draymond couldn't help but notice her wet clothes and disheveled hair.

He stole a quick glance at her and admired her petite, lovely face. 

"She's beautiful," he thought, his eyes briefly fixated on her.

The sharp pain from his wounded waist surged again, causing him to groan internally, and he lost consciousness once more.

"Hey, mister! Wake up! Please, wake up!" Panic coursed through Zarina as she tried to rouse the man. However, the man didn't open his eyes again.

"Hey! Wake up! You're handsome, and it would be a waste of your genes if you die!" she exclaimed as she attended to the man once more, giving his face a gentle slap and speaking those words loudly.

"Hey, you can't die here. I don't want to be accused of killing you. I'm just trying to help, and you know that" Zarina ranted, but she abruptly fell silent when she noticed blood dripping from his waist.

"He... he was shot?" she recoiled and gasped loudly.

Her eyes widened as she realized he was wounded. She cautiously extended her hand to touch the bloodstains.

Zarina instinctively moved away and rose to her feet abruptly. She had been on the verge of running away, but then she heard his intense coughing.

"Help me, please. Don't leave me here," Draymond pleaded, his eyes fixed on the woman who had started gathering her belongings and appeared ready to leave.

Struggling to make the right decision, Zarina carefully set down her belongings and approached him slowly.

"I... I just didn't want to get caught up in a difficult situation," she whispered as she crouched down.

Draymond managed a faint smile and locked eyes with her. "You've already rescued me from the water and brought me back to consciousness, but I'm wounded, and I still need your help," he said earnestly.

Looking at him, Zarina pursed her lips. "Fine! I can't just leave you here to die," she muttered.

"Thank you, Miss. I won't die, you know, my good looks shouldn't go to waste," he teased, despite the difficulty in speaking, recalling her earlier comment about his handsome appearance.

Zarina's face blushed as red as a tomato, and her eyes widened in surprise.

"What?! Did he just say that... oh my gosh!" she exclaimed, glaring at him.

Misinterpreting Draymond's tease, she swiftly retorted, "Hey, mister! You're almost at death's door, and you're still worried about your good looks! Come on, I'm taking you to the hospital," she said, helping him to his feet.

"Please, don't take me to the hospital. Take me anywhere but not to the hospital," Draymond begged, shaking his head. Before he could regain his balance, he stumbled and leaned against Zarina's chest, losing consciousness again.

"Where should I take him then?" she whispered.

"What should I do now?" she murmured while holding onto the man's large body.

She could smell the metallic scent of the blood still oozing from his waist.

"I should take him home," Zarina decided, pulling him forward while reaching for her belongings with her other hand. She struggled to move him along the highway and managed to hail a taxi. Breathing heavily, she helped him into the taxi.

While in the taxi, Zarina couldn't help but wonder what happened to the man. 

'Maybe he had business rivals trying to kill him. He looked like a businessman at first glance,' she pondered.

'He's handsome even when he looks so haggard.' she whispered as she stared at his face.

'His strong jawline, highlighted by shifting shadows, exuded rugged sophistication.'

'His long, dark lashes rested gently against his cheekbones, creating a striking contrast with his evident alertness. His lips were slightly parted as if sharing the secrets of the night, their natural color indicating vitality during his peaceful sleep.'

She noticed that his raven-black hair fell gracefully, framing his face. The rhythmic rise and fall of his broad chest and shoulders were the only indications of life.

Ten minutes later, Zarina spotted their gate. She promptly said to the driver, "Please drop us off here. Here's the fare."

After handing over the money to the driver, Zarina jumped out of the car. She carefully helped him out and closed the taxi's door. It quickly sped away, leaving them behind.

'Grandma is still awake. That's good.' she thought when she saw the lights on in their living room.

"Grandma, grandma, please open the gate faster!" she shouted for help while carrying the man.

"Grandma, help!"