Messing

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CHAPTER ONE

MESSING

♡

Basically.

According to her,

She's the biggest bitch in her own life.

As slowly, her eyelids fluttered like fragile silk in a breeze before the darkness that veiled her vision smoothly melted away, surrendering to the soft glow of returning sight. As her eyes opened fully, they were met with the sight of a ceiling, creamy white, bathed in a gentle, almost ethereal light that felt almost like a soft touch.

She gazed upward in quiet wonder, eyes half-lidded, as though waking from a dream. But then, like a breeze through still air, the questions came—sharp, uncertain. Where was she? How had she come to be here? And more curiously still... whose bed cradled her now, beneath this gentle light and stranger’s ceiling?

Her gaze drifted across the room, first settling on the bed where her body lay cocooned in silken sheets, then gliding to the four walls that enclosed her in unfamiliar calm. A strange stillness lingered in the air, gentle, scented, and too perfect.

She was in a hospital.

At least, that’s what the machines softly humming nearby suggested.

A hospital?

"What the holy fucking shit I'm doing at the hospital?" She muttered under her breath, confused, seeking for clarification.

But this wasn’t the a typical ward. No. This room whispered of wealth and exclusivity. The walls were painted a muted smoke-green, divided by a single, elegant stripe of warm beige that ran parallel around the room. Every element was curated—velvet armchair in the corner, a polished walnut table set, soft golden lighting glowing overhead. Even the scent, lavender and linen felt intentional.

It felt more like a private suite in a luxury hotel than any hospital she had ever known.

And then she noticed it; the absence of chaos, the presence of silence, and the unmistakable aura of precision. Everything was pristine, impeccably arranged, and overwhelmingly elegant.

This was a VVIP room.

Her eyes widened in stunned disbelief. A sudden jolt of confusion surged through her, and with an instinctive gasp, she pushed herself upright. The silk duvet slipped along her legs as they curled beneath her, and one hand moved behind her, pressing lightly against the mattress for support.

A brief wave of dizziness washed over her; soft, spinning, fleeting before her world steadied once again.

This time, her gaze swept across the room with cautious wonder, heartbeat faster than earlier. There was something unsettling in its beauty. The space was elegant yet unfamiliar, luxurious yet strangely cold. It felt like a place designed to comfort but not reveal.

She blinked slowly, questions pulsed in her chest like a second heartbeat:

What happened to her?

How did she get here?

Who brought her?

When… and why?

How long have she been here?

Her eyes lingered on every detail of the muted tones of the room, the polished gold accents, the quiet hum of machines, the fresh flowers arranged too perfectly on the nearby table. Everything was elegant, yes, but lifeless, rehearsed, almost too deliberate.

A flood of uncertainty surged within her, but she silenced it with a slow breath. No answers would come through panic.

She closed her eyes and leaned back against the headboard, forcing herself inward, past the noise, past the confusion, searching for a flicker of memory. A clue. A face. A name.

She attempted to remember the missing pieces of the event that happened in her life in several hours. She dove into the silence, scanning the fragments of her mind like broken glass, each one holding a sliver of the truth.

It all began when she pulled into the university’s private lot, her beloved car gliding to a stop with the grace.

Her sweetheart — a blood-red BMW — gleamed under the morning sun like freshly spilled wine, rich and vivid. It wasn’t just a vehicle to her. It was her third love, a lifeline in the form of leather, steel, and speed. Her fingers brushed over the steering wheel one last time before she stepped out, the scent of its interiors still clinging to her like a familiar perfume.

Aayesha took a long breath and stepped into the campus. The day had a weight to it, an odd pull, as if it knew something she didn’t. Her eyes quietly searched the crowd as she walked, scanning the movement around her with a hopeful anticipation.

And then, she saw her.

A familiar silhouette among unfamiliar faces. The person who had unknowingly stolen her entire heart — not romantically, but in the truest, most irreplaceable way.

Her best friend.

Her Rhea.

Aayesha’s lips curved into a soft, radiant smile, one that seemed to bloom straight from her chest. There was never any doubt: even if she hadn't shown up today, Rhea would’ve waited endlessly, skipping lectures without hesitation. That was the kind of loyalty she carried; fierce, stubborn, and unwavering.

Aayesha always said she didn’t deserve it, but Rhea held her with such quiet certainty, it was impossible to leave or want to.

With a laugh bubbling up from her chest, she broke into a small run. “Rhea!” she called out, her voice threaded with joy, and threw herself into an embrace that felt like a homecoming.

Rhea had always been her second love. A kind of love that required no explanations. No performances. Just being.

There were only two people in Aayesha’s life whose closeness never triggered her phobia — only warmth. Only comfort. And Rhea was one of them.

But just as Aayesha melted into the hug, Rhea pushed her back with an exaggerated clap and raised an eyebrow.

“Well, Miss Aayesha,” she said with mock drama, her lips twitching into a smirk, “congratulations! You’ve officially shattered your previous record for being late.”

She gulped softly, her lips curving into a hesitant grin as she replied with mock grace, “It’s my pleasure, Miss Rhea,” leaning into the teasing with a playful glint in her eyes.

The other woman tilted her head, arms folded across her chest as she continued in the same light, dramatic tone, “So, what miracle brings you here now, hmm?” she tone was firm.

Aayesha parted her lips, ready with an apology, but Rhea raised a finger dramatically and cut her off, her voice laced with mock sorrow. “You know... because of you, I missed my lecture today.” She wipped her invisible tears. “I literally begged you yesterday — begged — to arrive on time. Didn’t I?”

Aayesha's mouth slowly shut.

Because Rhea had. For forty-five minutes straight. Pleading, pouting, bribing her with food and guilt-trips all at once. And now, here she was late again.

She inhaled deeply, bracing herself to explain but the truth was simple... she overslept. And if she admitted that...

No. Absolutely not.

Not after all that begging.

Her heart gave a nervous flutter, and she quickly dismissed the thought.

Rhea, still holding her theatrical stance, narrowed her eyes and gave her a playful glare. “But look at you.”

Her voice dropped just enough to be heard by the curious ears around them because of course, people were watching. They always did. Aayesha and Rhea weren’t just close, they were the duo. The untouchables. The kind of friendship that glowed so fiercely, it was impossible not to notice.

And today, that spotlight made Aayesha feel twice as exposed.

With a strained laugh, Rhea muttered, “You really can’t make it, can you?” But then, without warning, her tone shifted, sharp and cutting.

“It was just one day, Aayesha. One day! And you couldn’t even show up for your best friend?” Her voice rose. “I swear, sometimes I pity myself for calling you that. If this is how it starts, I can only imagine how the rest of the days are going to feel.”

Aayesha froze, her eyes wide, lips parted in disbelief. The words stung more than she expected. It was one thing to have frustration simmer inside but to hear it out loud, and in front of others it felt like direct attack.

And maybe... maybe Rhea wasn’t entirely wrong.

Aayesha knew she didn’t mean to hurt her, but her struggle with sleep—her need for it—was slowly turning into a weight the other girl carried too.

Rhea took a breath, her shoulders rising and falling. Aayesha thought the storm had passed, but it hadn’t.

“And just because I couldn’t come over to your place anymore,” Rhea added, her voice quieter now but still laced with emotion, “you’re going to treat me like this? Seriously?”

Aayesha let out a soft sigh, tired of the drama but too fond of her to argue. “After college,” she said flatly, “We’ll eat whatever you want. My treat.”

Rhea blinked, the edge of her expression softening. “Really?” her face glowed as child smile.

Aayesha gave a simple nod.

Still pretending to sulk, Rhea avoided her gaze and mumbled, “Okay. Deal.” She raised her thumb.

Aayesha chuckled and tapped her own thumb to it, sealing their silent pact. “Shall we head to our lecture now?”

Rhea shot her a pointed look, chuckling. “Exactly which lecture, madam? Have you even looked at the time?”

Aayesha glanced at her phone. 9:45.

The lecture had ended fifteen minutes ago.

She winced, eyes narrowing as she whispered under her breath, “Oh shit.”

Rhea caught it, lips twitching into amusement. “Let’s just forget it.”

Aayesha let out a small laugh. “You’re right. Since the next class isn’t for a while... shall we visit the canteen?”

Rhea gave an approving nod, and the two headed off together, their laughter melting into the buzz of campus life.

After enduring the rest of their dry, dragging lectures, they finally parted ways. Rhea left with her brother who had come to pick her up, and Aayesha, as always, took off with her sweetheart.

But instead of going home, she turned toward the post office. That long-awaited parcel had tested her patience enough.

She parked outside, stepped out but froze in the middle path.

A soft gasp left her lips.

Across the street, in the middle of the crosswalk, a small child had fallen. He sat on the asphalt, clutching his knees, shoulders trembling as he cried. No hand reached for him. No adult nearby. Not even a curious glance from passersby help him.

The traffic light was mercifully red for now.

Her heart dropped.

Without a second thought, Aayesha sprinted toward him, weaving past a few indifferent pedestrians. She knelt before the boy, her knees pressing against the warm road, ignoring the stares

“Shh... it’s okay, baby,” she whispered, gently helping him to his feet. Her hands scanned him quickly, checking for any bruises or cuts. Nothing obvious.

Still, her heart ached. She offered a soft smile and asked, “Are you hurt somewhere, baby?”

The little boy, teary-eyed and sniffling, shook his head, so adorably, so innocently, it almost brought tears to hers.

She smiled in quiet relief, her heart melting at the boy’s cuteness. Gently brushing a hand through his soft hair, she looked into his innocent eyes and asked softly, “Baby, what are you doing here all alone? Where are your parents?”

Her knees pressed firmly against the warm road as people passed by, some casting curious glances, others simply walking past, indifferent.

The boy raised his tiny hand and pointed toward a nearby shop. She followed his gesture, eyes scanning the storefront, then looked back at him. He was already watching her as if silently asking for reassurance.

“Don’t wander off like that, little one,” she murmured, ruffling his hair again. Her voice took on a tender seriousness. “I know you’re a big boy but if mummy and dadda aren’t watching you the way they should be, it still doesn’t mean you go off on your own, alright?”

She took both of his small hands gently in hers, anchoring him. “You should always stay with them. Promise me, okay?”

He nodded slowly, his voice soft, “Okay, miss.”

Aayesha chuckled at his sincerity. But before she could say anything else, he suddenly pulled his hands from hers and dashed away. Startled, she turned to see where he was going.

He ran straight toward a woman near the shop entrance and wrapped his arms tightly around her legs, calling out, “Mumma!”

Aayesha took a relief breath, her lips curved into a warm, contented smile.

The woman — pale and clearly distressed, dropped to her knees in an instant, gathering her child into a desperate embrace. Her expression, once full of worry, softened with relief. A man likely her husband joined them, crouching beside them and wrapping his arms around them both.

The unfamiliar moment felt adorable in her eyes, chest tightly shrieked in it.

“Baby, don’t ever leave us like that again, okay?” the mother’s voice trembled with fear as her world almost slipped from her palms.

The boy, noticing her tears, lifted his tiny hand and wiped her cheeks with his fingers. “I’m sorry, mumma, please don’t cry,” he pouted, his little face mirroring her sadness.

Then, the boy turned and pointed toward Aayesha. “That miss helped me. She told me never to leave your side again.”

The parents turned to her.

The woman locked eyes with Aayesha and silently mouthed, thank you.

Aayesha smiled gently and mouthed back, It’s my pleasure.

The small family offered her a grateful nod before walking away together — safe, reunited, whole.

They completely disappeared, Ayesha turned but halted mid-step, as if pulled by an invisible string. Her body froze, and a strange chill gripped her spine.

"That voice... was that his?" she whispered, brows drawn in confusion. Her eyes lifted and the world around her seemed to blur.

Across the street, not far from where she stood, was Abhinav. Not just her university crush, her almost-daydream. But today, he wasn’t alone. He was walking beside a girl. Fingers intertwined. Smiles shared. Joy radiating off them like sunlight.

Ayesha’s heart thudded in her chest.

No... no, no, no...

She stared, unblinking.

"What is he doing here? And with her of all people? She looks so familiar."

The realization clawed at her, bit by bit. That girl. She wasn’t a stranger. She’d seen her before. Maybe in Abhinav’s class. Maybe in passing in the university.

But what truly shattered her wasn’t recognition.

It was what came next.

Abhinav leaned in and gently kissed the girl’s cheek.

Right there, without hesitation, without shame. The girl flushed and looked down, bashful, while Abhinav just smiled wider, like nothing else in the world mattered.

Ayesha’s breath caught in her throat.

Her hands clenched at her sides as warmth rushed to her face—part disbelief, part heartbreak, part something she couldn’t name.

Her gaze lingered on them, on their silhouettes as they laughed, strolled, and finally disappeared into the crowd. Gone, just like that.

Her chest tightened.

She wasn’t in love. Not really. She hadn’t dared to dream that far. But somewhere deep down, she had admired him—his voice, his kindness, his presence but never as a future partner. Even if she was given a chance to think everything felt unreal like they ain't meant to be true.

She was happy for him but somewhere she was sad for herself because she spent her time on him and beside it, she was a woman with an overthinking mind. And even if her feelings weren’t strong enough to break her but this moment bruised her.

Her lips parted, but no words came. Only a tear.

Silent. Unexpected. Cold.

"There’s no need to cry over this," she scolded herself gently, trying to hold onto logic, trying to stay grounded.

But fate wasn’t done.

Out of nowhere, a man brushed past her in a rush, bumping her shoulder hard enough to throw her slightly off balance.

"Sorry!" he muttered and kept moving.

She blinked in realisation. Looked around.

And her stomach dropped.

She was standing in the middle of the road.

What...?

When had she crossed? When did her legs move?

How did she end up here?

She turned frantically. Her heart began to pound. Lights flashed. Horns blared. The red traffic light flickered to green and within seconds, the cars began to roll forward.

One. Two. Then many.

The hum of engines roared in her ears. Tires screeched. The wind lashed her face. She spun in place, looking for a way out, searching for something, someone.

But she was alone. Panic raised. Her knees weakened. Her vision blurred. She staggered back, then forward, trapped between lanes, unable to move as the rush of metal and speed closed in.

Her breath caught stuck somewhere in her throat. Her chest ached. Sweat slid down her temples. Her limbs trembled, frozen by fear.

She was desperately trying to escape the chaos around her, moving back and forth in an attempt to find a way out. She scanned her surroundings for an escape route, but her panicked mind clouded her judgment.

As the weight of anxiety settled in, she bent over, resting her hands on her knees, struggling to catch her breath. The air was thick with dust from the vehicles, making it even harder to breathe. She coughed and rubbed her chest. Her eyes began to be heavy.

A loud horn blared. Her eyes widened in fear, her head turned to see the unexpected event going to unfold in seconds. A vehicle speeding toward her. A rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins. It felt as if her heart might stop at any moment seeing the scene. 

Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered, broken and small, "I don't want to die... not like this... not before I see my mother." Yet, she felt utterly powerless as the vehicle drew closer. Overwhelmed by fear, she shut her eyes tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The chaos surged. The noise swallowed her whole.

And her body gave in, collapsing inward, her strength failing until suddenly...

A hand.

A firm, commanding grip latched around her waist, yanking away from her death.

She collided right into someone’s arms.

Solid.

Warm.

Real.

And safe.

A source of comfort, which she desperately needed. Burying her tear-streaked face into a stranger's chest, she clung tightly, sobbing uncontrollably, not daring to open her eyes. Her body forgets the fear and lets herself stay in someone's touch.

A deep, cold voice pierced through the storm in her mind. "You’re safe. Nothing happened to you. So stop crying like a fool."

The words, sharp yet grounding, jolted her. Her ragged breath slowed as reality slowly crept back in. Her limbs were intact. She wasn’t hurt. Just trembling.

Startled, she realized – she was clinging tightly to someone, too tightly. A shiver ran through her spine, stomach flipped.  Her eyes dropped, and a wave of heat flushed her cheeks as she tried to step back from an unfamiliar embrace.

But he pulled back, his arm tightened around her waist, firm and protective. "Are you mad?" he snapped, his voice low and edged with tension. "Can’t you see or hear what’s happening around you?"

His words stung, but not out of cruelty or out of urgency. Out of frustration.

She felt, his heavy, burning gazes upon her–sharp and unwavering. He tilted his head, captivated by her innocent eyes and delicate features. He was enchanted by her beauty and the warmth of her brown eyes.

Swallowing, she looked around ignoring his eyes lingering upon her, which she caught by her side-eyes, her neck titled both sides as her wet lashes fluttered like fragile wings.

A wave of dizziness swayed through her again, but this time, the chaos returned to her senses. The screech of horns, the blur of headlights, the rush of movement. She was still on the road. Still in danger.

She was still in the middle of the hustle but this time she wasn't alone; a saviour standing with her, holding her, his fingers flickering on her, protectively – offering her a sense of comfort.

He stood beside her—this stranger who had yanked her out of harm’s way. Who now held her as if he wasn’t letting her go until he was sure she was safe.

She lifted her face toward him. Her fluttering lashes, damp with tears. The curve of her mouth. Her warm brown eyes, still wide in confusion and before she caught the glimpse of his face, his intense gazes. Black dots began to spread around her vision , she felt the world pause.

She blinked hard, gently pulling his hand from her waist. The warmth of his touch lingered on her skin, but her body overwhelmed and uncertain ached for space.

She raised her face again to thank him, but black spots danced across her vision.

Her knees gave out.

And before the ground could catch her, he did.

His arms caught her limp form effortlessly. “Hey, hey.” His voice dropped to a softer register, urgency slipping into worry as he brushed her hair from her face.

He tapped her cheek lightly. “Don’t you dare to faint on me now.”

Her eyes didn’t open.

But she felt him. His touch. His voice. The safety of his arms. After that she fell in the darkness.

The flood of memory crashed into her like a violent tide. She shot upright, her spine snapping straight. Her eyes widened with shock and disbelief as fragments of the past collided in her mind. Her hands flew to her head, fingers entangling in her hair, gripping hard as if to anchor herself to the present. Her breath caught. The room spun. Confusion twisted through her like smoke, thick and suffocating.

A scream tore from her lips, raw and fractured. "Ahh... He touched me yet why did I not feel the fear?"

The question rang out into the silence, desperate and echoing. She clutched her hair tighter, as if squeezing it might force the truth to surface.

"Perhaps–" she whispered, breathless, "–perhaps I was already standing at the edge of death and that nearly numbed everything."

Her voice trembled, but her chin lifted. She nodded sharply, clinging to the thought like a lifeline. "Yes, yes, what else could it be?" she murmured again, nodding once more, as if trying to seal the logic inside her soul.

But her thoughts lingered again on him. Who is he? Did he bring me here? Was he rich? Kind? Dangerous? What did his face look like?

Her mind overflowed with questions, chasing a face she hadn’t even truly seen.

She shook her head, and pondered, "Why was I so preoccupied with thoughts of him? Cause he had saved my life, even though I hadn’t truly seen him."

That’s what she told herself.

But deep down her heart whispered something else. She knew it was just an excuse.

Rising from the bed, she slipped on her shoes just as a nurse entered the room.

"I’m feeling better," she declared before the other woman could say. "I wish to discharge myself. Where do I settle the bill?"

The nurse approached her with a reassuring smile. "Your medicine, ma'am, and the gentleman has already taken care of the bill."

Curiosity raised, she inquired, "Do you know him? Is he waiting outside?" She longed to express her gratitude to the man who had saved her.

The nurse shook her head gently, replying, "No, ma'am. I don't know him, and he left after you were admitted."

As the nurse exited, she hummed softly, lost in thought. After a moment, she sighed, gathered her belongings, and stood up to leave.

While she opened the door, she unlocked her phone and noticed a flurry of missed calls and messages from her mom and Rhea. Glancing at the time, her eyes widened in shock. "Oh no! It's 10:15! How long have I been unconscious? I need to get home fast. Shit! She’s definitely not going to kill me today."

Had she really been unconscious for five hours, or had they given her something?

As she stepped out, she collided with someone, exclaiming, "Oh my goodness, why wasn’t anything good happening with me today?"

The individual called out her name, "Miss Aayesha," and she turned to see a doctor standing before her.

She inquired with curiosity, "How do you know my name?"

How did she know her name?

The doctor gestured towards something, and she noticed her ID card. "I saw your name there," the doctor explained.

Understanding, she nodded and asked, "Okay, but why did you call me?" Her expression shifted slightly as the doctor replied, "I need to discuss something regarding your health."

A frown crossed her face. What could be wrong with her health? Was her phobia getting worse?

With confusion, she asked, "About my health?" The doctor nodded, prompting her to inquire further, "What is it that you wish to discuss?"

The doctor began to speak, her phone rang. Glancing at the screen, she saw her mom's name and felt a wave of terror wash over her. She knew she had to get home right away.

Turning to the doctor, she offered a sincere apology, "I’m sorry, doctor, but I must leave."

The doctor pressed on, "But this is important..."

Once more, she expressed her regret, "I truly apologize, doctor. I promise to return tomorrow, but I cannot stay to talk right now," and she began to walk away.

But, she froze in her tracks as the doctor’s words pierced through her, "You have cancer."

Her mind raced with disbelief. "This can't be true. How could this be real? Maybe I misheard. Yes, I must have misheard." She thought.

Turning back, she asked with a hopeful smile, "Could you please repeat what you just said? I think I might have misunderstood,"

The doctor reiterated, "You have cancer, Ms. Aayesha." A chill ran down her spine.

In shock, she stammered, "What? How? I mean—"

The doctor, maintaining a calm demeanor, reassured her, "Please, don’t panic. It is treatable. It’s only in the first stage, so there is hope. However, I need to discuss some important matters with you. Can we?"

She nodded, following the doctor to her office. There, the doctor inquired about her medical history and explained her current health status in detail.

After a thorough discussion, she left the doctor's office and the hospital, carrying the weight of her diagnosis.

♡༻༺❁༻༺♡

It was past midnight and she was sitting alone on a bench in the dark, empty park nearby her house, She didn't return to her house after leaving the hospital cause she didn't feel; she has the strength to face her mother, so, she had come straight here instead, to find some peace from her turmoil thoughts.

She had texted her mom, saying she was with Rhea and would return home late and make Rhea aware about it cause her mother definitely called her and asked about her daughter's whereabouts, in that case, Rhea didn't mess up the situation. As Rhea asked her questions, Ayesha already hung up the phone, yet her mother had called her nine times over the past three hours, with no response from her.

As the tenth ring of her mother called faint, then she turned her head from her phone screen, laying beside and roaming her eyes, felt awkward stillness around her.

She gulped, the park had been empty then too, but not as dark as it was feeling now. A cold breeze swept through the area, and jolted her body from coldness, the tall trees around her cast long shadows across the ground.

She clenched her eyes as it was burning because of continued crying, but now there is no trace of tears left on them; they are dried up, with that a headache to disturb her. She leaned back as her body tried; mentally and physically.

She gazed upward, captivated by the moon, which peeked shyly through the veil of clouds, emerging only occasionally. The stars were absent tonight, hidden away by the thick blanket of gray.

She whispered in dry voice, "The moon is lonely tonight," allowing herself a moment to appreciate its presence before her thoughts spiraled back into the depths of her sorrow.

Now, she stared at the moon, no longer admiring but lost in the weight of today’s events. So much had unfolded in a single day.

1.] The shocking revelation that her crush had his crush.

2.] A stranger had saved her life when she almost lost it, yet she hadn’t even seen him and expressed her gratitude.

3.] The most devastating blow: the recent diagnosis of cancer, a truth she had only just uncovered.

4.] And now, she was left wondering if her night of tragedy had come to an end or if there was more to come.

In a mere span of a day, her world was turned completely upside down. While regarding her crush event doesn't affect her cause she doesn't have strong feelings for him, the rest of the events felt utterly unbelievable and unimaginable.

Her existence took a sharp turn from joy to sorrow, as if she were plummeting into a void where everything seemed to go awry. She felt helpless, questioning why it had to be this way?

Is it the end of her?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the glow of her phone, illuminating the dark night. It was her mom's call again. How could she share the truth, the diagnosis with her? She lacked the courage to do so, and she doubted she would ever find it. Her mother had already endured so much; she couldn’t bear to see her mother lose her smile.

Taking a few deep, calming breaths, she sat straight, reached for her phone, but her focus shifted sharply a shadow that suddenly appeared before her, making the surroundings feel even darker and chilling the air. Fear gripped her as her heart raced and her arms trembled.

Thousands of thousands come in one shot.

She couldn’t see his face, nor could she gauge his height as he bent down, resting his hands on his knees, inhaling deeply. It felt as if he was stealing her breath away, leaving her lungs feeling empty. She was captivated by him, unable to blink or look away.

Dressed in a black shirt, trousers, and a loosely tied tie which he loses more to take breaths, he seemed to embody darkness itself. His presence was darker than his attire, as if the color black was crafted to serve him.

His messy hair fell over his forehead, and with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, she could see his veins hands. She was so mesmerized by him that she momentarily forgot she was alone in the park.

As her phone stopped to ring, the last flicker of light vanished, leaving her enveloped in his consuming darkness.

She stood frozen in place, her gaze locked onto him without a hint of movement. Don't know what she was thinking and trying to find out about him.

As his breath steadied, his cold and seductive voice reverberated through the stillness, "I know I'm handsome and perfect, but..."

He straightened his posture, his eyes searching for her face, trying to catch a glimpse of her, but it was obscured by the shadows of the night. His piercing, icy gaze locked onto hers. She was dressed in a blue t-shirt and black trouser jeans, she felt a shiver course through her at the mere connection of their eyes; it was a mix of fear and danger that her mind recognized, yet her body betrayed her, refusing to move.

He narrowed his eyes and began to twirl the black ring on his index finger with his other hand with amusement. Noticing her unwavering stare, he remarked with a smirk beneath a surface, "Staring at me isn't good for you, darling," his voice is rich and deep sin.

Heat rushed to her cheeks, turning them a deep crimson as she felt her body ignite with warmth. Quickly, she averted her eyes and swallowed hard, trying to soothe her dry throat, the resonance of his chilling voice still echoing in her ears, especially the way he had addressed her.

Darling!

He was the first man to ever use that term with her. No, not just the first man—he was the very first person in her life to call her that.

She took a moment to regain her composure, feeling both astonished and angered by his words. Meeting his gaze once more, she reminded herself that she wasn’t weak, that she wouldn’t be intimidated by a stranger, she would do the same thing with him as she had with others in her past.

but there is a difference between him and them, he wasn't trying to come close to her and doing anything wrong which harmed her, just staring at her with a safe distance. He was managing to send shivers down her spine by his dark eyes only.

She still couldn't make out his facial features due to the black mask he wore. Gathering her courage, she shot him a sharp look and demanded, "Who are you? How dare you address me in such a manner?" Her lips quivered, but her anger fueled her resolve.

He growled in response, "How dare you speak to—" but his words faltered as her phone lit up again, the ringing sound echoing in the stillness around them. Her face glows in that light.

Raising an eyebrow and tilting his head, he appeared taken aback, a smirk playing beneath his mask. She silenced her phone, maintaining their intense gaze. With the same fiery, she retorted, "Who are you to dictate how I need to speak?" She grasped the meaning behind his unfinished sentence.

Amusement danced in his eyes as he observed her, and in a deep, resonant voice, he asked, "Do you wish to know me right?" He shook his head as he spoke.

He began to advance toward her, his voice chilling and laced with temptation, "I’m someone you shouldn’t have encountered tonight, yet here we are, darling." He emphasized the word "darling," and sent a shiver down her spine. Though his face was covered, she could sense the smile beneath the mask.

Again the same word, and it bubbles her anger, but she is in a fucking situation everywhere she needs to control her. It was midnight, and she was alone in this eerie park since he arrived. If anything were to happen to her, no one would know. Looking at him, she recognized the danger; he was not a good person—definitely someone capable of murder, who would dispose of her without a trace.

She had to keep her mind in sense.

Her heart raced, palms slick with sweat as he drew nearer. Now she could see his eyes—what she initially thought were dark, were in fact a deep, forest green, both beautiful and terrifying. Her legs trembled as she instinctively took a step back, and without a moment's hesitation, she turned to flee. But before she could make her escape, an arm encircled her waist from behind, firm yet gentle.

She was lifted off the ground, her back pressed against a rock hard substance, his warmth sending chills down her spine. His deep, husky voice brushed against her ear, "Did you really think you could get away? When I was here."

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