The air between Rian and Reena felt suffocating.
Reena's back pressed against the mattress, her breath uneven as Rian hovered over her, one hand planted beside her head, the other gripping the edge of the bed. He wasn't touching her, but the distance between them was almost nonexistent. Too close. Way too close.
"Stop lying Little One," he said quietly. Not loud. Not aggressive. But somehow, it made the atmosphere worse. It felt… controlled. Too much to handle.
Reena swallowed her own saliva, forcing herself to look anywhere but into his eyes. "I'm not lying. I really don't know what you're talking about."
A pause. Then, his hand moved, not to grab her, but to tilt her chin up slightly, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Then, look at me when you lie. I want to see how you can lie so easily when you came in my hand so shamelessly that night."
Her breath hitched. "That's not necessary, you pervert! I'm not—"
"You're a terrible liar."
Her fingers curled into the bedsheet. "And you're a stranger who thinks too highly of himself. Don't get full of yourself, you bastard."
For a split second, something flickered in his eyes. Amusement. Dangerous amusement. "Oh, bastard, you say? That's how you saw me now?" he murmured. "Then let's test your memory."
Reena's heart dropped. "What—"
"You don't know me?" he continued, voice calm. "Then why did you kiss me first?"
Silence. Her brain froze. In her mind: Shit.
"I—I didn't… I said I don't even know you… How would I kiss a stranger?" She said, still trying to cover the lie.
" You didn't seem to care that I was practically a stranger to you. You pulled me down," he added calmly, watching her carefully. "Your hands were in my hair. And kissed me like there was no tomorrow.." He looked at her parted lips and leaned closer. "I wouldn't mind reminding you."
Her face burned instantly and she used her palm to cover his mouth when she sensed he might kiss her. "I was drunk!" she snapped quickly, panic slipping through. "That doesn't mean anything!"
"Doesn't mean anything?" He repeated her words under her palm and leaned closer. "Does that mean you remember me?"
Just enough to make her breath catch again, making her entire body tensed. "People do stupid things when they're drunk!" she shot back, trying to push him away slightly. "You should know that!"
His hand caught both of her wrists mid-motion. Effortless. Pinned above her head. "Careful," he said softly. "It's hurting my ego. And then I might do something you may regret."
He didn't sound like he was threatening. But it still felt like one.
Reena's pulse raced under his touch. "Let go of me." She whispered, while she tried to wiggle her hands from his tight grip.
"Answer me first."
"I don't owe you anything!"
A pause. Then his gaze dropped, slowly, deliberately. taking in her expression, her flushed cheeks, the way she refused to meet his eyes. "…You remember more than you're saying, don't you?"
Her breath stuttered. "No… I don't…"
"Yes."
"No!"
"Then answer this." His voice lowered. Dangerously quiet. "Why did you leave money?"
That—
That hit. Hard. Reena froze completely. Her mind scrambled, words tripping over each other, embarrassment flooding her system. "I—"
What was she supposed to say?
Sorry, I thought you were a gigolo???
Absolutely not.
"Okay, Fine! I panicked!" she blurted out instead. "Happy?! I didn't know what to do!"
His grip on her wrist tightened slightly. "You panicked," he repeated.
"Yes!" she snapped, defensive now. "I woke up next to a naked stranger! And I have zero memories of what happened! What did you expect me to do?! Stay until you wake up and have breakfast, pretending everything was fine?!"
For a second, he said nothing. Then, a low chuckle escaped his lips, not loud. But it was enough to send a shiver down her spine. "So your solution," he said slowly, "was to pay me?"
Reena squeezed her eyes shut as she still tried to wiggle her hands from his grip, but it was no use, he was too strong for her protest, "Can you not repeat it like that?!"
"No, because that's exactly what you did. I'm just reminding you, that's all."
"I said I panicked!"
"So, you decided to insult me, by giving me money."
She opened her eyes again, glaring straight at him. "I didn't even know you!"
"And now you do."
That shut her up. For a moment. Silence stretched again between them. Heavy. Uncomfortable. Charged.
"…You've been avoiding me this entire time," he continued, quieter now. "Even now."
"I'm not avoiding you," she muttered weakly.
"You're not even looking at me."
"…That's because you're too close." That slipped out before she could stop it.
Rian paused. Then, very slightly, his lips curved. Not a full smile. But something close. "Is that a problem?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"…Because it's weird!"
"And yet," he leaned just a fraction closer, voice dropping, "you had no problem being close that night."
Her brain short-circuited. "THAT WAS DIFFERENT!"
"How so?"
"I was drunk!"
"And now?"
"…I'm not!"
"Pity you, Little One."
Her eyes widened. "What?!"
Before she could react further, the door suddenly opened. Ashley's voice cut in, "Reena, I—" She stopped in mid-step. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene, Rian was pinning Reena down on the hospital bed, her hands held above her head. The scene made Ashley blink her eyes.Once. Twice. Even a third time. But she was still confused why this Mr Whoever is pinning her best friend on the hospital bed.
Rian immediately stepped back. Like nothing happened. Like he hadn't just been pinning Reena down seconds ago. Composed. Calm. Untouched.
Reena shot upright instantly, pulling the blanket closer around herself like it could protect her dignity. "Ash!" she blurted, way too fast. "You're back!"
Ashley blinked again. Once again. Twice again. Her gaze shifted between them. Her gaze seemed suspicious. "…Did I interrupt something?"
"NO!" Reena answered immediately.
"Nothing," Rian said at the same time.
Ashley narrowed her eyes. "That's a very synchronized answer… interesting." She slowly walked in, placing the receipt on the table, still watching them like she just walked into something very questionable. "But why do I feel like I just walked into a crime scene?"
[
"Because you're dramatic," Reena snapped quickly.
"Because it seems like something definitely happened," Ashley shot back.
Reena opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again, nothing came out.
Rian, on the other hand, simply adjusted his sleeves slightly, completely unfazed. "We were talking," he said calmly.
Ashley raised a brow. "Talking? With that tiny distance?"
"…He was just asking questions," Reena added quickly.
"Yeah," Ashley muttered, sarcastically. "I can see that. He was just asking questions in that tiny distance." Her gaze lingered on Rian. Still suspicious. Still unsure. But she didn't push further. At least, not yet for now.
Ashley crossed her arms, shifting her attention fully to Rian now. "So, you, Mr Whoever…" she said bluntly. "What exactly were you asking her?"
Rian didn't even blink. "Questions."
Ashley gave him a flat look. "Wow. Very helpful."
A pause. Then she stepped closer, standing protectively beside Reena's bed. "Look, mister, whatever your name is, thank you for bringing her here. Really and truly. But I think we can handle things from here."
Reena nodded quickly. "Yes. Exactly. We're good. Totally good."
Rian's gaze moved to her. Lingering. Knowing. It made Reena's stomach twist. "…Are you?" he asked calmly.
Reena stiffened. "Yes."
A beat. Then—
"Fine." The word came easily. Too easily. Rian reached for his coat, slipping it on with unhurried movements, like none of this mattered. But before he turned to leave, he looked at her again, straight into her eyes. "I'll come back," he said.
Not a question. Not a 'maybe'. But a statement.
Reena's heart skipped. "…You don't have to," she replied quickly.
"I know." That was it. No explanation. No hesitation. Just certainty. Then he walked out. Then, the door clicked shut behind him.
Soon the room was filled with silence. A heavy one. But it didn't last long as Ashley spoke up.
"…Okay," Ashley said slowly, turning to her. "Start talking."
Reena groaned and dropped back onto the bed, dragging her hands over her face. "Can we not—"
"No. We cannot not."
"Ash…"
"Who. Is. He."
Reena peeked at her through her fingers. "…A stranger."
Ashley stared at her. "…Try again."
Reena sighed dramatically. "Okay, fine. He's not a complete stranger."
"Oh my God." Ashley dragged a chair closer and sat down. "So you know him."
"…Not really."
"Reena."
"I met him once. That's it."
"Where?"
"…The club."
Ashley blinked. "Wait—" Realization hit. Her eyes widened. "Don't tell me—"
Reena turned her head away.
"…Reena."
Silence.
"…REENA."
"YES!" she snapped, sitting up abruptly. "It's him, okay?! He's the one, okay?!"
Ashley froze. "…The one you—"
"Yes!"
"The one you—"
"YES, ASHLEY!"
"…Paid?"
Reena covered her face again. "Why do you keep bringing that part up?!"
"Because it's the most shocking part!"
Reena groaned into her hands. "I hate my life…"
Ashley leaned back, trying to process everything. "Okay… okay, wait. So the guy you thought was a gigolo… is actually—what? Some random guy with a scary face and attitude problems?"
"…Basically."
"And now he found you?"
"…Apparently."
Ashley stared at her like she had just unlocked a new level of chaos. "Your life is actually insane."
"I KNOW!"
They sat in silence for a moment. Then, Ashley's gaze shifted to the roses. Still sitting there. Too perfect. Too intentional. "You know what? Let's talk about this instead," she said quietly.
Reena followed her gaze. Her expression fell slightly. "…Yeah."
Ashley stood and walked toward the table, picking up the note again. Her fingers tightened around the paper. "This isn't funny anymore, Ree."
"It was never funny," Reena muttered.
Ashley exhaled slowly. "He knew you got into an accident. He knew you were here. That means—"
"He was there…" Reena finished softly.
A chill ran through both of them. Ashley turned to her. "This is serious. Very serious. This is serious, Reena."
Reena looked down at her hands. "…Maybe it's just a coincidence."
Ashley gave her a look. "No."
"…Maybe he followed the ambulance?"
"No."
"…Maybe—"
"Reena." Ashley's voice softened, but it was firm. "Someone is watching you."
Silence. Reena's fingers curled slightly into the bedsheet. "…I don't like this," she admitted quietly.
Ashley nodded. "Good. Because you shouldn't."
A pause. Then, "We need to report this." Ashley suggested.
Reena's head snapped up. "What?"
"To the police," Ashley said clearly. "This is stalking. Harassment. It's not normal."
Reena immediately shook her head. "No."
Ashley frowned. "Excuse me… What do you mean by no?"
"I mean—not yet."
"Not yet?!" Ashley repeated, disbelief clear in her voice. "Reena, this guy literally said he's watching you!"
"I know!"
"Then what are you waiting for?! An invitation?!"
Reena flinched slightly. "Ash—"
"No, I'm serious!" Ashley stood up again, pacing slightly. "First the roses, then the note, now this? He knows your name, your location, this is not safe!"
"I just…" Reena hesitated, her voice lowering. "…What if it's nothing?"
Ashley stopped, turned to her. "That's exactly how bad things happen."
Reena looked away. "I don't want to make it a big deal if it's just some weird admirer," she added quietly.
Ashley stared at her for a long second, then sighed in resignation. "…You're scared."
Reena didn't answer. That was enough. Ashley's expression softened slightly as she sat back down. "Ree… this isn't about overreacting. It's about being careful."
"I know…"
"Then let's just report it. Even as a precaution."
Reena shook her head again, slower this time. "…Give me a little time."
"For what?"
"I don't know… to think."
Ashley didn't look convinced. Not at all. But she didn't push further. Not yet. "…Fine," she said after a moment. "But if anything else happens, anything, you're not arguing with me. We're going straight to the police."
Reena nodded slowly. "…Okay."
Silence settled again. But this time, It felt heavier than before and more dangerous.
Reena's gaze drifted back to the roses. Bright red. Beautiful. And completely unsettling.
Somewhere out there, someone was watching. And she had no idea who.