Lifesaver

Chapter thirty-eight

"Do you know what happened, Anna? I had a night baptism." 

Anna could not stop laughing as he spoke. He had to be the most hilarious person she'd ever met. She'd laughed so hard that she'd forgotten that she was crying before he came.

"Oh, how my priest would have been happy. If he was there, he'd have leapt for joy because..." He suddenly moved closer and whispered in her ears. "I'd been shying away from that immersion- not my thing." He straightened again before proceeding.

"But, look where running away got me. It had to happen right in front of the faces of very influential persons and of course, it was all thanks to the very clumsy waiter who collided with me." He said, not laughing at his jokes.

"Needless to say, I forfeited my chance to talk to the queen of the night. I didn't want her to see me soaked to the skin. I was just very unlucky that day." He said adjusting the frame of his pair of glasses. 

"I'm sure that the queen of the night wouldn't have even bothered. She really needed a friend that day- a friend to talk to." She said, showing her very cute dimples.

"So, how did the whole encounter thing happen?" She suddenly asked, curiosity killing her.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" He said out of the blue and Anna could only grin. "But are you sure that you don't mind me continuing? I mean- considering the whole- you know- emotional distress and all," he suddenly asked, creasing his forehead.

Anna waved him off, assuring him that it was fine. His questioning eyes pinned hers as if to ascertain if it was really fine for him to continue what he was saying.

"You have my word. It's totally fine. I really don't mind." She shrugged. 

"Alright, if you are so certain that it's completely alright. So, I was dripping wet, remember? I tried washing off at the restroom, but it got worse. Water made me completely sodden. Left with no option, I decided that a change of clothes wouldn't be that much of a bad idea. I take extra clothes in my car. You never can tell, anything could happen, just like how the unexpected happened to me that day." He glanced at her again.

Anna smiled and nodded at his words. 

"I was headed to the parking lot, where my car was when I suddenly heard screams." His eyes searched hers as he spoke. 

Anna paused, her heart was thumping so loud in her chest as she remembered the thudding sound of the strange man's feet as they approached her. 

"A woman's shrill outcry for help caught my attention. She sounded very terrified." Anna swallowed as he continued, her throat suddenly felt dry. 

"And?" She probed further. 

"Well, it happened so fast, one moment I heard the cry, the next moment, I heard a sudden crashing and a loud thud followed. I moved to where the sound came from and saw you lying helpless on the floor." 

"So- does that mean that you were the one who brought me to the hospital?" She asked, narrowing her gaze. 

"Well, I had to act very fast. I did call out your name but it appeared that you were already unconscious. So, I had to hurriedly bring you to the hospital."

"So, I guess you were the one." She mumbled as she averted her gaze.

"Did you say, 'the one'?" He questioned, raising his eyebrow.

"Yeah, I kind of saw someone faintly before I passed out. So, I guess it must have been you." She said, nodding her head.

"Oh..."

"Jaden, thank you so much for saving me. I mean, if you weren't there, I couldn't even imagine what would have happened. I owe you my life." She said, holding his hands in her rather small one.

"It's no big deal. Anyone would have done that." He said, running his fingers through his hair. "Let's just say that I was helping an insentient damsel." 

"Still, I'm really grateful you came just in time." She gave his hand a little squeeze.

"Well, if you are that grateful, treat me to lunch today." She saw a glimmer in his eyes as he spoke. He probably was a gastronaut. 

"Deal." She said, stretching out her hand to seal the deal. He took her small hands in his immediately.

"Deal." He said, nodding as he chuckled.

After a few moments of laughter, Anna suddenly wore a serious expression. 

"I have a question, Jaden."

He cocked his head, gesturing for her to proceed.

"I'm just curious. Did you- by any chance see his face? I mean- the man who was following me. Did you see what he looked like?"