“God, this looks bad!... All this blood!”

“Shhh. It's okay, sweetie. It's Just a scratch.” Akram soothed as we entered the taxi he'd just stopped.

“Stop it! You're the one injured and you're comforting me?” I glared at him in disbelief.

My heart was beating so hard I'd swear the cab driver could hear it. I bit my lips to keep calm until we arrived home. It was a short drive, but my head was spinning at the sight of Akram's blood dripping down his arm.

To my surprise, Akram bursted into laughter as soon as we left the cab and got out on the sidewalk. The sleeve of his shirt was soaked in blood. He pressed a spot on his left upper-arm and looked amused for some insane reason.

“You're laughing?! Are you crazy?!” I squeaked and covered my mouth.

“I told you I've heard that one before.” Akram continued to laugh, lifting his arm up.

“God! Are you sure you're not in shock?”

“Shock? You should ask the other guy.” Akram winked. He seemed to be enjoying himself.

“Holy cramp! What were you thinking? Trying to get yourself killed?” I asked, skittering next to him to enter the elevator.

“I’ve always wanted to try that move.” Akram pulled his eyebrows together, lifting them up in that cute puppy look.

“That's not even funny! You should've gone to the hospital. God, this is too much blood!” I put my head between my hands. The extensive, gory stain on his shirt was driving me crazy.

“Trust me. It's not as bad as it looks,” Akram tried to assure me. “It's a superficial cut and the bleeding just stopped.”

“Don't you dare play it down to make me feel better,” I warned him, pointing my finger in his face.

His twitching features showed how hilarious he thought this situation was.

“Hey! Mel, I'm okay. I just need a shower to clean it up and you'll see,” he almost cooed as if I were a crying baby.

“How do you know? It could be just the adrenaline and you could be…” I broke off, curling my hands into fists and trying to hold back my stupid tears as the elevator travelled up to the seventh floor.

It's all my fault! All of this is because of me!

“My father's a doctor, remember? I know a few things,” he assured.

My breathing sped up and I crushed my lips while Akram fumbled for the keys with his right hand, his slashed arm resting across his chest.

“Give me the keys,” I commanded, snatched the keys from his hand, and unlocked the apartment door.

We entered and I slammed the door shut and locked it behind us.

Akram stood in the middle of the hallway, watching me with a crooked grin.

“Why didn't we go to the hospital? You could be wrong. You might need stitches, or surgery, or... ”

“You forgot you're afraid of hospitals?” He tilted his head.

He remembers?

I stared at him for a moment, bewildered. “Still... I wouldn't have let you go alone.”

“Really?” Akram's smile softened. His cinnamon eyes twinkled with a breathtaking glow. There was absolutely no time for his irresistible charm at the moment.

“Sweet potatoes! Stop distracting me!” I pressed my temples, and looked around frantically. “You should rest… and… drink lots of fluids. You've lost so much blood.”

I lunged at Akram and gripped his good arm, pulling him toward the bedroom. I didn't stop to look at him when I heard him clear his throat

“Mel, um, what are you doing?” Akram asked and I ignored him.

“Sit.” I pointed my finger to his bed.

His eyebrows furrowed, but he complied. “Mel, I…”

“Take off your shirt,” I ordered.

“I'm sorry, what?!” Akram's eyes went round, his face flushed.

“You have a first aid kit?” I asked in high-pitched urgency, my hands shaking from the tension. No reason for his bashfulness right now.

“In the bathroom.” He pointed out and started to get up. “I'll just… I've got this.”

“Don't you move.” I stopped him, laying my hands on his shoulders to sit him back down.

He let out a breath and slumped back on the bed, hands on his knees.

I ran to the bathroom, fetching the first aid supplies from the cabinet and a clean towel. I washed my hands, drenched the towel in warm water and wrung it out.

When I got back, Akram was still in the same spot, staring at the floor, his forehead puckered.

I scurried towards him.  “Are you in pain? H-how do you feel?”

“I'm fine.” He lifted up his gaze, extending his hand. “Let me do this, please.”

“Why are you being so stubborn?” I huffed.  “I don't bite, you know.”

“I know that.” A semi-smirk peeked through his face.

“Then let me help you,” I pleaded.

It was ironic that he'd said the exact same thing to me yesterday and I'd been the stubborn one.

“All right.” He took a deep breath and began to fumble with the buttons of his shirt with one hand.

Without thinking, I leaned in to help him.

“Melody,” he murmured, shaking his head.

My cheeks heated up. It was a natural reflex to aid him, but I didn't want to make him more uncomfortable.

Slowly, he peeled off his blood-stained shirt  and winced when he slipped off the sleeve from his wounded arm.

Yeah, he had the right to feel awkward. I knew that was the worst thought ever at this particular moment, but he looked even more handsome in his sleeveless undershirt.

Brushing off my shameless thought, I sat on the edge of the bed beside him and began to wipe the dried blood off his skin. There was a two-inch long incision on the side of his upper arm and thankfully it wasn't deep. It looked clean and it didn't bleed anymore.

Holding my breath, I dabbed the wound with the wet towel, lightly tracing the lean curves of his toned arm and ignoring the butterflies in my stomach.

Akram's eyes closed, his chin pointed up while he took slow deep breaths.

“Does it hurt really bad?” I asked in a hoarse whisper.

“Nope,” he said without opening his eyes.

“Don't lie! It hurts like hell.” My eyes welled up. It was like I could feel the sting in my own heart.

“All right.” He smiled and opened one eye. “It hurts like a little boo-boo.”

“Shut up! Just shut up! You almost got yourself killed for me. How could you?” My voice broke and I pulled my hands away.

“I'm sorry. But I'd do it a hundred times over,” he admitted fervently.

“Argh!” I grated, fighting my frustrated tears harder. “No, you wouldn't! I'll die if anything happened to you.”

He would not do this to me! Akram has got to stay safe! What's the point of my life if he gets hurt for my sake?

Akram blinked and stared at me silently, his humorous expression gone, replaced with a warm pool of tenderness pouring from his eyes.

Gnashing my teeth, I evaded his gaze to spread antibiotic cream on his injury and began to bandage the wound with plaster and gauze. My hands were steady at the moment, which surprised me.

“Have you done this before?” Akram asked. I glanced up and he was scrutinizing my face with a gentle look.

“No,” I said huskily. “I took a basic online course. I thought it would come in handy.”

“You're incredible.”

“Ha!” I scoffed.

“Thank you,” he breathed.

“Just… don't, okay?” A lump clogged up my throat and I averted my face. “You have no idea what I've gotten you into.”

“I think I know... And I don't mind.”

“You don't mind getting killed? You don't mind going to jail?!” I screeched.

“It's my job.” He tipped his head to the side. “I'm your bodyguard, remember?”

“Well, you're fired!”

“You can't do that.” Akram smirked. “You're stuck with me.”

“I think it's the other way around.” I grimaced.

“It's an exceptional honor.” He beamed and his mesmerizing eyes creased at the corners.

I whipped my head in frustration as I finished wrapping up his arm. Just when I was done, the awkwardness of the moment sank in; Akram -sans his shirt- and I were sitting on his bed with only two inches separating us.

As if he could read my mind, Akram sprang up and took a couple of strides to the door, before he turned around half-way.

“I, uh… I'll go get a clean shirt.” He scratched his brow, and scooted outside.

As soon as he left, I brought my palms up to hide my face. Heat of embarrassment crawled up my neck and my heart played offbeat.

Oh snap! I just told Akram to take his shirt off!

Hey! I had to… He was injured and I had to. It's not like I wanted to check him out.

But I made him uncomfortable, didn't I? He'll probably shun me from now on.

It took me a few minutes to collect myself and get up.

I headed outside to the kitchen and explored the cabinets for the groceries we'd brought yesterday. It was midday and Akram needed to be nourished immediately after this bloodshed.

Pursing my lips skeptically, I grabbed a pack of ready mac and cheese and followed the instructions on the box. It wasn't that nutritious, but a glass of milk and a quick tomato and lettuce salad would make it passable.

While setting the table, my mind wandered back to that horrible event we had just been through. Akram had to understand that it was all because of me. Because of my messed up history at the shelter. Because of this curse I'd been carrying all my life that attracts rotten luck. It was madness that he took it upon himself to be my guardian. Although, to be honest with myself, I'd never been luckier in my life.

“Hey!”

I placed the bowl in my hands on the table and turned around. Akram was wearing a fresh white tee and grey sweats, his damp hair glistening in the light from the kitchen window. He must've sneaked into the shower when I was busy cooking.

The bandage on his arm peeked from under his short sleeve and made my eyes water a little.

“You cooked?” Akram squinted, noticing the food on the table.

“Eat.” I motioned to the food and pulled the chair for him.

“Yes, ma'am!” He bared a playful smile and took his seat, picking up the fork with a swift motion.

“And drink your milk,” I added, sitting at the opposite side.

A mortified look showed up on his face. “Mel, I stopped drinking that since I was two.”

“You'll drink your milk and finish the salad or else…” I chewed my lip, thinking of a way to convince him. “Or else I'll have to leave.”

His eyes widened in shock mixed with humor. “I can't believe you're twisting my arm.”

I crossed my arms and showed him my most serious face.

“You'll leave me alone in this condition?” He pouted and gave me his killer puppy look.

“I will if you don't listen to me.”

Akram sighed and held the glass of milk, clearly trying not to laugh. “Can I at least add some instant coffee in this?”

“Coffee isn't good for you right now,” I opposed.

“Oh, Lord!” He tipped his head back and wrinkled his forehead in comical annoyance. “When did you become so bossy?”

“When you decided to become my personal commando.”  I waved my arm in frustration.

“You're punishing me for defending my lady?”

“I'm just mad that you want me to lose you!”

An abrupt moment of silence shrouded us. Akram's lips parted, then he pressed them shut and his throat moved. That gaze he gave me was nothing I could put into words, but my heart responded with a soft flutter, my cheeks flushed and my eyes escaped his. There was something too intense, like an emotional wave flowing between us that scared the hell out of me.

“I… I think I know who he is,” I mumbled.

“Who?”

“The blind jerk.”

“You do?!”

“I think he's Tina's brother.”

“Oh!” Akram's frown deepened. “And he thinks you…”

I nodded.

“How come?”

“Vivian!”

Akram dropped his fork  and pressed the sides of his head.

“You're not eating,” I droned, picked up the fork and poked it into the bright-orange gooey mass.

Akram's eyebrows jerked up when I brought the food to his mouth.

“Okay, okay… I'll eat.” He held his hands up and took the fork from me. In a few minutes, he scarfed up most of the food. He washed it down with the milk, with his eyes screwed shut. My guess, he was also holding his breath.

“You have a white moustache,” I said biting down a twitchy smile.

His face contorted and he wiped his mouth.  “I told you I've been weaned, but you didn't believe me.”

I coughed a fleeting chuckle. Akram was being too cute for this situation.

“How do you know it's her?” He asked, back to serious mode.

“She said she could accuse me of causing Tina's...” I shuddered and wrapped my arms around me. “I was the last person who saw her alive.”

“How did Tina…?”  Akram didn't need to finish the question.

I gulped. “Drug overdose.”

“And, of course, Vivian provided that.”

“That's only one of her vices.”

“That guy looked intoxicated too.” Akram noted, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

“Really?” I stared into space, trying to recall that horrific moment. My ability to think had been paralyzed then.

A flash of a different memory hit my brain all of a sudden.

“Akram! I think I've seen this guy before today!” My voice trembled, fingers clenching around the edge of the table. “Yesterday, when we went shopping… Oh God! I think he was following me! I remember the red hair clearly. It made me think about Tina. Oh God! How long has he been after me? Does he know where you live? He could try to hurt you again!”

My body rocked back and forth as snippets of the memory made my chest tighten up.

“Melody, breathe!” Akram's demanded, brushing my white knuckles and I realized I was hyperventilating. “I don't think he'll hurt anyone for a long time. He's not even good at it.”

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. “We have to make sure. I can't let this happen again.”

“This guy is not the one we should worry about.” Akram crossed his arms on the table, leaning forward. “We need more evidence against Vivian.”

“The cop said they'll check the tapes.” I massaged my temples in an attempt to elicit some kind of a brilliant idea.

“He meant the street cameras. How about the ones inside the café?” Akram suggested.

“Yeah!” My head snapped up. “Asha told me everything was recorded.”

“That means the tape will support what we told the police.” He nodded in confidence.

I exhaled. “God, I hope it's enough to condemn her.”

“We'll work this out. I promise.” Akram granted me a reassuring smile. He got up, picked up his dishes and took them to the sink.

BEEP!

I jumped at the vibration on my hip. I had charged the cellphone in the morning, slipped it inside my pocket and completely forgotten about it.

It must be Ash!

Propping myself against the table, I stood up and drew out the phone to check the text message.

Asha's name popped up on my screen and made my lips curve slightly. She couldn't wait for the gossip. I pressed the message open, but it wasn't what I'd expected from Ash… not even close.

My mouth went dry as I slumped back on the kitchen chair and my limbs went cold. I squeezed the phone in my stiff fingers bringing it closer to my eyes. The words were outrageously clear.

<< OMG! MELO! A cop just called Auntie and said the café was vandalized! What's going on???? >>

****

Hello dear ones

So this is an update. I hope you enjoyed reading ;)

*Who do you think did this to the cafe?

*Will the police report take it's course or Mel will be a suspect?

*How do you think Akram will do to get them out of this situation?

Please share your thoughts. I'd love to know what you think.

Much love

Most_bay