"Have you packed everything?" Marlene questioned.

"Yes, I have. I'm finally discharged! I get to go home," I exclaimed with relief.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me about this until today."

"Well, I didn't want you or dad to be worried."

"Telling us after it happened worries us even more because we weren't able to help." She sighed.

"Well, I'm sorry. I'll tell you as soon as something serious happens. Alright?" I said, and she shook her head as she smiled. She drove me back to the apartment, dropped me off at the front then left. As I walked to my apartment room, I passed some of the tenants who also lived here.

"Hi. You're Julia, right?" I nodded. "I'm Collin's younger brother, Damien. I heard you were hurt. Here's a welcome back gift," he said and handed me a fruit basket.

"Oh, thank you very much, Damien. You look just like your brother," I commented and smiled. He nodded, and I could see his face get red. He then scurried away. As I started walking again, another person came to me.

"Hey, Julia. I'm Collin's old colleague/friend, Libby," the woman declared. "I baked some brownies. Please take some." She handed me a nicely decorated, transparent bag with four brownies in it.

"Thanks." I smiled. "Uh, do you know where Collin is?"

"He's out right now. He'll be back by tonight," she answered then left. As I reached my door, the door opposite my apartment room opened.

An older man appeared. "Oh, hello. Julia, right?" he asked, and I nodded. "I'm Collin's uncle, David. Here, I knitted you a scarf. You should keep warm." He smiled and gave me a well-knitted, red scarf.

"Oh, thank you. It's beautiful." I looked at it. "You like knitting?"

"It's just his hobby," Perilla interrupted whilst holding a box. Another gift?! My hands were full already. "Don't take this any other way. I'm just giving you this because I don't want it anymore," she stated, noticing me staring at it and shoved it in my hand.

"As if," David scoffed and walked away.

She ignored his comment. "I'm warning you. If you ever put Collin in danger again, I'll kick you out and make you pay all his medical bills," she added sternly.

"May I ask something?" I asked.

"Go ahead." She rolled her eyes.

"Do you..have feelings...for Collin?"

"Excuse me? You must be out of your mind! That's ridiculous!" she replied angrily.

"But it seems as if you do."

"I'm his aunt. He's like my own son. I'm looking out for him. I don't want to hear any more of your nonsense, young lady!" she exclaimed and stomped away. Well, I'm glad that was not the case. So the reason she seemed to hate me was that she cared for him; I seemed like a threat to her. That made more sense, I guess.

I entered my apartment room and set everything down. Why were people giving me gifts? I barely knew them. I looked at the box Perilla gave me and opened it. Inside was a purple gem necklace with matching earrings. They were beautiful. I guess she was not all bad.

The sun was setting outside, and I was taking some rest after catching up with some work. Someone knocked on my door outside. "Julia? It's Collin," he said. I got up from the bed to open the door.

"Hey, what's up?" I asked. He looked at me then averted his eyes, and I could see his face get red. I looked at myself and noticed that my black camisole was showing my cleavage, so I pulled it up to my collar bone and kept it there by pressing it down with my hand. "Sorry," I apologized, embarrassed. This time, my face was bright red.

"It's alright," he stated. "I brought you some flowers." His hand, which was behind his back before, appeared with a beautiful bouquet of tulips.

"Oh my god! You didn't have to! They're beautiful." I caressed the pink petals.

"It's the least I can do." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Wait, were you the one who asked the tenants to present me with gifts?"

"Guilty as charged." He gave a sheepish smile.

"Oh, thank you so much! That's so sweet of you. You really didn't have to," I remarked and gave him a hug. He hesitated for a while then returned the hug. God, this felt wonderful. He smelled like roses, and it was so warm.

"Uh, Julia?"

"Oh, sorry..." I let go of him. "I got carried away. You just smell so nice..." My voice faded away at the end when I realized what I just said. "I meant your cologne is nice. Erm, I'm not weirdly sniffing you or anything. It just so happens I can smell it." I gave a nervous smile; he laughed at my uneasiness, and I pouted.

"You're so adorable," he commented and cupped my face with his hands, startling me. I backed away with a flushed face. "Sorry for suddenly doing that."

"I thought you had something to tell me after I got discharged," I stated as I remembered what he said.

"Yes, I did. I'm glad you remembered," he responded then came closer and took my hand. "I wanted to tell you how I felt about you," he added nonchalantly.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"I'm saying that I like you," he confessed, smiling.

"Uh, I like you too. You're nice, and you're a great landlord. You help your tenants and-,"

"No, Julia. I love you," he interrupted.

"You what?" I stared at him with furrowed brows.

He laughed heartily. "I love you, Julia. I love everything about you."

"W-Wait, please let me process this," I replied and turned around, rubbing my temples. I then did a 180-degree turn, encircled my arms around his neck, and planted a kiss on his cheek. "I love you too," I confessed with a wide smile on my face. My actions shook him for a while, but he quickly snapped out of his stupor and closed the distance between our lips.