Days slowly passed in the hospital, one after the other, until the quiet white walls and the smell of antiseptic started to feel almost normal.
Finally, the day came when Raisem was discharged.
I should have felt nothing but relief, yet my mind kept drifting back to that strange moment when Austin injected something into Raisem's drip and he slept for hours without waking.
It had bothered me at first, but nothing bad happened afterward. Everything remained calm and peaceful.
Still… the thought lingered somewhere in the back of my mind. But today, none of that mattered.
We were going home. I was so happy that my chest felt light. Raisem had recovered well, though he still needed rest. While he waited outside, I walked to the small coffee shop across the hospital street to get something warm to drink.
The shop smelled sweet and comforting, filled with the scent of milk tea and sugar.
"Boba tea please," I said.
The man behind the counter nodded and began preparing the drink. I watched as he sealed the plastic cup and slid the straw through the lid before handing it to me.
I dug into my pocket, pulled out the few dollars I had, and paid him.
As I stepped out of the shop and started walking back toward the hospital entrance, I suddenly stopped.
A thought crossed my mind. What if Raisem likes it too? I turned around immediately and went back there.
"Another boba tea," I said.
The man looked a little surprised but prepared another one quickly and handed it to me.
This time I walked back toward the hospital holding both cups carefully in my hands.
When I reached the courtyard area outside the hospital building, I saw him. Raisem was sitting casually on a low concrete pillar beside a small flower bed.
Raisem sat there like he belonged in the scene.
His long legs were crossed slightly at the ankles, one hand holding his phone while the other rested lazily on his thigh.
He looked… ridiculously handsome and my cheeks grew warm and I realized I had been staring.
I began walking toward him slowly, still watching him like a fool.
Then suddenly, I tripped.
My foot caught against the edge of the pavement and my body tilted forward.
Before I could fall, a pair of hands caught me firmly.
"Are you okay?" a young man asked in concern.
I blinked in surprise and quickly steadied myself.
"I'm so sorry for the stress. Yes, I am fine," I replied with a small smile.
I didn't even realize that his hands were still holding my waist to support me.
From a distance, a pair of eyes was watching the scene closely.
The young man seemed to realize the same thing and quickly stepped back.
"I'm sorry," he said hurriedly before walking away.
I adjusted my grip on the drinks and walked over to Raisem.
He looked at me without saying anything and I held out the drink toward him.
"Here," I said.
He still didn't speak. So I gently pushed the cup toward him and placed it between his thighs so he could hold it.
Then he suddenly asked,
"Who was that man?"
"The man?" I blinked in confusion. "I don't know him. I was about to trip and he helped me," I blurted out.
"And he had to place his hands on your waist?" Raisem said, raising his eyebrows slowly.
I frowned slightly.
"Do you want the boba tea or not?" I asked, trying to divert the conversation.
He didn't answer immediately. After a moment he took the drink and finally took a sip.
I watched him quietly and smiled. Gosh… he's so adorable.
Just then his phone rang. He stood up and walked a little distance away to answer it, his voice low as he spoke. I assumed it was business related, so I didn't bother listening.
A moment later, my own phone started ringing. I checked the screen. It was his personal assistant, Jason, I answered.
"Hey Jason," I said.
"Miss Henderson," he replied.
But his voice sounded strange, low and weak.
"What's wrong with your voice?" I asked with concern.
"l'm currently in the hospital and was admitted lat night. I've been trying to reach the boss," he said. "I can't pick him up at the hospital today. Please, can you drive him back home?"
"Drive Raisem back?" I asked in surprise.
"Yes, please. You can drive, right?" he asked.
"Yes, I can. It's not a big deal," I replied.
"Thank you so much."
The call ended. I slowly lowered the phone.
The truth was… I didn't really know how to drive well.
I knew the basics. At least enough to move a car. It shouldn't be that hard… right?
Besides, Raisem just recovered. There was no way I could let him drive. I had to take responsibility.
Determined, I walked to the parking area and got into the driver's seat of his car.
I took a deep breath and started the engine.
Okay… calm down Ara.
You can do this.
I slowly shifted the gear and began reversing the car towards Riasem. I didn't even realize he was already sitting on the pillar.
Unfortunately… I forgot to check behind me.
The car suddenly moved backward faster than I expected.
Outside, Raisem was still sitting on the pillar near the flowers, scrolling through his phone.
Then he heard the engine.
He looked up. And saw the car coming straight toward him. His eyes widened.
"Woah, what are you doing?! Do you want to kill me?!" he shouted, jumping up instantly.
The car stopped abruptly just inches away from him. My head popped out of the window.
"I am so sorry!"
Raisem stared at me in shock.
"Ara?!"
"I'll be the one driving! Jason got admitted!" I shouted back.
Raisem walked toward the car with disbelief written all over his face and opened the passenger door.
"There is no way I am letting you drive me," he said loudly.
"Why?" I asked
.
"So you can run off into a cliff and kill me?" he replied flatly.
I felt a sting in my chest.
"Why are you so mean? I was just trying to help."
"No. You are trying to kill me. Give me the keys."
"No, I can't let you drive. Just calm down. I can drive," I insisted.
He stared at me for a long moment. Then he leaned back into the seat and groaned softly, clearly still tired from the hospital.
"Fine."
My face lit up.
"Yes! Let's go." I reversed again without even checking the back .
CRASH.
The car lightly bumped into another parked vehicle behind us. We both froze.
Then slowly turned to look at each other.
"I hope your car has insurance," I said softly.
Raisem closed his eyes, already frustrated.
I began driving again, this time extremely slowly.
Both hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.
Raisem stayed silent the whole time. After a while I glanced at him.
"How's my driving?"
"Horrible," he replied immediately.
"Ouch… that hurts."
"Take a turn by your left," he said.
I frowned.
"Why?"
"We're going to Jason's house. I need to get an important file from him."
I nodded and turned the wheel carefully.
Soon we arrived at Jason's apartment building.
It looked simple and quiet. The kind of place a single man would live in. The hallway was silent and the air felt oddly still.
Raisem walked ahead confidently and typed the passcode on the door. The door opened.
And what we saw next completely froze me.
A woman was on top of Jason on the couch, both of them tangled together.
"Yes baby, give it to me! Yes, yes, yed— I'm almost there, let's do it together!" she screamed loudly.
They were having pleasure. My brain stopped working.
I screamed instantly and jumped backward, hiding behind Raisem.
The woman shrieked and quickly grabbed a blanket to cover her chest as Jason's eyes widened in horror.
"Boss!" he gasped.
Raisem slowly raised one eyebrow.
"So this is the hospital you were admitted in?"
"It's not like that! I was discharged!" Jason said nervously, struggling to explain.
I covered my face, completely traumatized.
"I'll be outside!" I said quickly before turning and running out of the apartment.
My face burned with embarrassment as I rushed down the hallway, my heart beating wildly.
I had definitely not been prepared to see that.
"He even lied just for this."