Listen to There You Are by Zayn

I woke up when I felt something rough on my face. I opened my eyes and discovered it was Tristan's stubble.

How did we end up cuddling on the bed?

I removed my hand that was around his torso and my leg that somehow ended up on him, I prayed he won't wake up as I pulled away.

The door opened when I was about to get off the bed, Doctor Alice's jaw was slightly down as she stared at me.

I was straddling his torso, this was definitely the wrong position to be caught. I opened my mouth to explain but Mrs. Sanchester and Nana arrived, they stared at me wondering what I was doing.

I was so mortified I didn't even know what to say.

"What are you doing?"
I heard Tristan's rough voice.

"Uhm, I was about to get down from the bed."
I told him.

"Then what are you waiting for?" He asked and looked toward the door. He looked back at me and his eyebrows creased at me in question.

"Nothing."
I scowled at him and got off gently.

"What were you doing young lady? I told you no one was allowed in here and that was inappropriate, do I need to remind you this is a hospital?"

And I thought she was nice, I was too embarrassed to look at her. I should have gone home after taking a peek, I felt like a kid being scolded for stealing.

"I'm not complaining."
Tristan said adjusting on the bed to look at her.

"With all due respect, this is a hospital and that was inappropriate." Dr. Alice said trying to maintain a professional tone.

"Have you ever being in love, honey? She was too worried to leave him on his own. Let it be."
Nana said and found her way in, she smiled at me and walked to her grandson.

I saw Dr. Alice jaw harden, she fixed a smile and walked in. Mrs. Sanchester gave me a playful smile and let herself in.

"How are you feeling?"
Nana asked taking Tristan's hand.

"I'm fine."
His voice said otherwise.

"You promised you won't do it again."
Tristan didn't say anything, he just looked away.

"Mom,"
Mrs. Sanchester called with a glint of warning in her voice. I assumed she didn't want her to talk about whatever was bothering him.

"Don't forget you have a baby on the way, a baby that will look up to you."
Nana said softly and gave him a kiss on the head, I felt tears in my eyes.

"I'm glad you're okay, honey."
Mrs. Sanchester said with a smile.

"You didn't have to Tristan, you scared us."
His mom sounded disappointed, she gave him a hug and a kiss. Tristan gave her a small smile and looked across the room at me. I held his mysterious gaze for a while before he looked away and faced his Mom.

Dr. Alice was done doing her rounds, she checked the IV connected to his hand for the last time.

"A nurse will be here in the next thirty minutes to take you for your test. I will take my leave now."
She flashed a sweet smile, a smile I knew I wasn't part of.

I needed to freshen up, I checked my morning breath as I pretended to yawn. Thank God it wasn't as bad as I expected.

"I will be right back."
I told them and went to the bathroom in the room, were visitors allowed to use it? Rules were made to be broken anyway.

I stared at my face in the mirror and checked my pale eyes, there was a big shower in the bathroom. I could rinse my body quickly and return to the room. Luckily for me, there were three towels in the bathroom and extra soap and toothbrush, how thoughtful of them.

I put some toothpaste in my mouth and rinsed my mouth, I didn't trust that toothbrush smirking at me.

I removed my shirt, I stared at my back from the mirror. I rarely wore clothes that left my back open, I didn't want anyone to see the ugly mark on my back that reminded me of my past every time I looked at it.

Ciara didn't know about it and I was glad she didn't, she would have happily told my mom when she was spilling out all my secrets.

No one except Vina had seen it and I didn't want anyone else to see it, I kept staring at it wishing it could disappear. Suddenly, the door opened.

I jumped almost screaming, I turned around quickly to hide my back, Tristan cocked a brow at me as he entered the bathroom.
I was too concerned about my back to care about my exposed chest.

He took weak steps to the toilet ignoring my presence.
I quickly used my top to cover my chest, he didn't look like he cared but I was scared he saw it.
I waited for him to ask about it but he began to pee.

I closed my eyes and tried to block the sound, I opened them when I heard the toilet flush. He walked to where I was and washed his hands. He didn't say anything to me as he left the bathroom.

I breathed out in relief, maybe he didn't see it---I mean I was quick to turn away.
I really hoped he didn't, I wore my shirt back and rinsed my face before leaving the bathroom not bothering about the shower.

Adrian was in the room when I returned, he gave me a big smile and came to hug me.

"Morris told me you didn't leave." He told me with a scowl.

"I dozed off," I told him.

"I brought breakfast."
He pointed at the takeout on the table. Mrs. Sanchester was already feeding Tristan, I tried not to laugh at the way she was feeding him like a baby.

Tristan looked mortified at her action, he tried to collect the food from her but she won't let him.

"I will drop you off on my way to work, you don't have a choice. You need to rest."
Adrian told me while I ate, gosh I was starving. I drank the iced tea when I was done eating the chicken sandwich and cheeseburger.

"Thanks."
I told him with a satisfied grin. He smiled, waving it off. I badly wanted to take a picture of him right now. The way he was sitting and the way his two-piece suit looked good on him with that haircut, I stopped myself from reaching for my phone.

I took a glance at Tristan, our eyes met instantly. I looked away quickly and gulped down a bottle of water.

The look on his face was unreadable. Why did I keep feeling like he saw it?

☆
Tristan was discharged a week later but he wasn't allowed to return to work.

I made it my job to check on him once in a while, he didn't spend much time in his room but in his study and the kitchen. I ha noticed how much he enjoyed cooking.

If Tristan saw what was on my back then he didn't care. He had not asked me about it---not like we talked about anything or conversed like normal people.

Adrian came over on Saturday, he spent half of the day with Tristan briefing him on everything going on in the company while I was on the phone with Vina who wanted me to sneak into the garden where Adrian and Tristan were engrossed in a deep conversation, so she could stare at Adrian from our video call.

The things you do for your best friend.

I left my room after my stomach cried out in hunger. I decided to go downstairs for Dinner, Morris usually came up to call me when Dinner was all set but it was almost 8 pm and I had not seen him. The Dining was empty as I walked to the room. Did I miss Dinner? I heard a clattering sound from the kitchen.

"Morris?" I called, walking into the kitchen.

"He is off today, is his granddaughter's birthday," Tristan said.

I paused at the doorway to the kitchen and watched him as he chopped some vegetables like a skilled chef, I couldn't even hold a knife as he did.

"Hungry?" He asked taking a glance at me.

I was starving and there was no denying he was a good cook.

"Who says no to food," I said and walked to the marble island, I took one slice of the cucumber in a glass bowl and watched him as he mixed the salad.

"Did you go to culinary school?" I asked.

"Yeah, my dream was to own a restaurant, but, I had to take over my father's company," he said, bringing out a frying pan.

I felt my mouth watering at the sizzling sound of cheese and black cod, the spices filled my nostril. I leaned on the counter and watched him till he was done. It was fascinating watching how he set everything neatly and gently on a plate like it was delicate. 

He placed the plate in front of me and gave me a fork.

"Would you like anything to drink?"

"No," I said. He nodded and turned to walk away. He paused and leaned on the counter for support, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He looked weak from all the work, I knew he wasn't fully recovered yet. Too bad he chose a girl that could not cook.

"Are you okay?" I asked. I stood up and walked to him. He was still holding the edge of the counter for support. He gave a firm nod and tried to stand on his own, I grabbed his arm to provide some support.

"Jeez, you're burning up," I said immediately I touched his skin.

"It's fine, I missed my morning medication."

"I think you have a fever," I said and pushed myself up on my tiptoes to touch his forehead.

"I will be fine," he said and tried to pull away but I held him back.

"I have an idea, my mom always used it for me and my sister when we get a fever," I said.

"What?" he asked looking down at me.

"Let's go," I held his arm and helped him out of the kitchen to his room.

"So?" he asked when we entered his room.

"You have a bathtub right?" I asked and he nodded.

I walked to his bathroom and filled the bathtub with cold water. I called him to the bathroom when the bathtub was full up to my satisfaction.

"Is not too cold right?" he asked and I smiled in response.

"It will really help, trust me," I said laughing at the expression on his face.

He began to take off his shirt, I looked away as he undid his pants. I took a glance at his taut torso from the tall mirror mounted on the wall and looked away quickly.

He left his boxer on and walked to the bathtub. He entered inside and sat down, I stood on my knees in front of the bathtub.

"Shit!" he cursed at the temperature of the water.

I dipped one hand inside and moved closer to him, I placed my cold hand on his forehead and he shivered at the coolness of my hand. I told him to lay down inside but he refused, he was so adamant about it.

I sighed and stood up, I took off my long woolen jacket and stepped inside the bathtub in my thin strap sundress.

"I guess we have to do this my way then," I said reaching for the shower sprinkler, I turned it on and sprinkled the cold water on him, he gripped my arms as I sprinkled it on his head. I tried not to laugh at how scared he was of the cold shower.

I checked his temperature as I sprinkled more cold water on him, it was getting better. I brushed his wet hair back. My dress stuck to my body like glue and I tried not to shiver at the cold water, goosebumps grew on my skin. Tristan let go of my arms and looked up at my face.

"Better?" I asked turning off the shower sprinkler.

"Yes," he said and I smiled.

"Just stay for one more minute then you can come out," I said and stood up. I stepped out of the bathtub, shivering at the cold.

I grabbed a big towel, I caught Tristan staring at me from the mirror. He looked away and stared at the ceiling. I looked down at my wet dress and discovered it was transparent from the water that soaked me. My black pantie was visible, my pad-free bra made it impossible to hide my aroused nipples.

"I need a hot bath, you can come out now. Sorry about the wet floor, " I said and left the room.

A little kindness hurt no one.

×××

Adrian showed up on Monday to work on something with Tristan. I had an exam in the morning that made me peachy the whole day, I almost finished a whole bowl of ice cream from anger.

Adrian decided to watch a movie with me when he was done with Tristan, we both agreed on a rom-com.

I had my head on his laps while he tried to braid my hair which made my scalps hurt.

"I have to go, I'm running late."
He said when we were almost done with the movie.

"Where are you going? The movie is almost over."
I asked sitting up, he stood up and finished his drink.

"I have a date by 7:30."
My heart sank, it felt like a bucket of cold water was just thrown on my face.

"A date?"
I tried to make my tone sound casual.

"Yeah, have any advice? I haven't gone on a date since I was twenty-four."
He sounded excited.

"Who is she?" I asked feeling jealous.

"A friend I have been seeing for a year now."

"Hmm."
I toned biting on my lower lip, it hurts.

"Any advice?"
He asked again with his hands tucked in the pockets of his red hoodie.

"Just be you."
I said and faked a smile.

"Thanks."
He gave me a kiss on the cheek and left. I leaned on the sofa for support, Adrian just left me for a date, he was going on a date.

I guess he didn't feel the same way about me, but the way he looked at me, the smile, and how much he cared about me, there was no way Adrian wasn't attracted to me.
It was just a date right? It might end up disastrous. I knew we were never gonna work but I expected it to last a little longer.

My shoulders sagged, I took a glance at the movie we were watching and frowned.

I grabbed one throw pillow and screamed into it. I turned off the TV and walked to the wine cellar, some alcohol would do me good right now. I was frustrated about my exam score and now Adrian was no more a free man.

I returned to the living room and sat on the floor, I poured myself some drink and played my favorite song on my phone.

I wasn't sure of the amount of alcohol I had taken before someone came to sit next to me on the floor. I turned to look at Tristan with hazy eyes, his scent surrounded me.

I poured myself more drink and sang along to Pink's song. I was waiting for him to say something but he was quiet, I wasn't in a good state to engage in a conversation anyway.

I leaned back and placed my head on the seat behind me, the alcohol was working.

"Do you always drink like this?"
I heard him ask and I felt his eyes on me.

I obeyed my subconscious, I knew at this point I was vulnerable and he might decide to ask about what he saw on my back, that was if he saw it.

We were both quiet for a while and I was starting to enjoy it till he spoke again.

"I'm ready to tell you why I said all that in the church."