Loving Him

Chapter 10

The room that Levi and Mike occupied was spacious, with a bed that Levi estimated to be a king size. It could easily accommodate multiple people. The sliding door led to a wide veranda. Just like the rest of the house, the furnishings had an antique charm.

Curiosity struck Levi, prompting her to take a glimpse of the veranda. As she slid open the door, she was taken aback to find herself facing the sea. The cool breeze and the invigorating scent of the ocean greeted her. She was captivated by the view, closing her eyes and savoring the refreshing air.

With a smile on her face, Levi decided to return inside. However, she couldn't spot Mike's figure, causing her brows to furrow. When she directed her gaze towards the bed, she noticed Mike lying there, sprawled out.

Annoyed, she approached him, wearing a wry smile. "Don't tell me I have to sleep on the floor. And where do you expect me to sleep?" she sarcastically questioned him.

"I'm tired, Levi. Can you give me a moment to relax?" he complained, shifting to the side and hugging a nearby pillow.

She rolled her eyes at his response and walked towards him, still wearing a smirk. However, before she could say anything, there was a knock on the door, indicating that their food had arrived.

Levi opened the door and was left speechless by what she saw. The man standing there was incredibly attractive and had a magnetic presence. No words escaped her lips. It felt as if her tongue had been pulled down, accompanied by the pounding of her heart.

"Hi, I'm Elias Alcocer, but you can call me Eli to make it easier for you," the man introduced himself, extending his left hand towards her.

"Are you alright?" Elias asked, snapping Levi back to reality. "Berlin told me that you had a flat tire, so you'll be staying at my grandmother's house for the night. By the way, here's the food. I offered to bring it here so you could rest. Berlin mentioned that you're here with your spouse," he explained, and Levi regained her composure upon hearing the last part. She wanted to correct him, but before she could, Mike called out her name.

"Levi!"

She inwardly sighed and quickly expressed her gratitude to Elias. Taking the cart with the food from him, she sincerely thanked him for his kindness. She was grateful that they had encountered such friendly people. If not, who knows what could have happened to them on the dark road.

"Oh, by the way, thank you. I'm Levi Velez. It's nice to meet you, Eli," she replied with a hint of shyness as she addressed Elias, who was still looking at her.

He smiled and bid her farewell.

Levi closed the door and pushed the cart towards Mike, who was now seated on the bed.

"Here, let's eat. Luckily, the owner's grandchild is really kind," Levi said with a smile.

"Grandchild? Are you saying that the hunchbacked woman is the owner's grandchild?" Mike couldn't believe it and pondered deeply.

"No, not at all! The hot guy I was talking to earlier, he's the owner's grandchild. He's the one who brought us this dinner. You know, he's really nice and incredibly good-looking," Levi casually mentioned to Mike, trying to downplay her excitement. She didn't want him to think she was being too flirtatious again.

"Good-looking? Nice? You're saying that after just meeting him? Are you sure he's actually nice?" Mike sarcastically retorted.

"Perhaps, but let's not argue about it. I know you're just feeling jealous, so come on, let's eat," she casually replied to Mike, a smile lingering on her lips. However, deep down, her mind was constantly distracted by Elias' handsome face.

"You're grinning like a fool. It's as if you've been possessed by an evil spirit," Mike remarked, bringing Levi back to reality as she chewed her food. Her smile instantly vanished. She hadn't realized she had been smiling.

After they finished their meal, Levi took it upon herself to return the cart downstairs. She hoped to catch a glimpse of Elias. However, she couldn't even catch a glimpse of his shadow.

The entire house was quiet, likely due to its vastness. She made her way to the kitchen and placed their dishes there. Deciding to wash them, she completed the task and returned to the room they shared with Mike.

As she opened the door, she was greeted by a freshly showered Mike, his back turned to her. She was certain he hadn't noticed her arrival, as he didn't bother to turn around.

She couldn't help but openly admire Mike's attractive physique. He had a body reminiscent of Adonis. She noticed that his hair was still damp. When he finally faced her, she was taken aback. She involuntarily swallowed, furrowing her brow as she gazed at him.

"What are you doing there? Aren't you going to take a shower?" Mike questioned Levi who seemed lost in thought. Levi secretly found herself smiling.

"No, I don't want to. It's better if I smell bad so you won't be attracted to me. It's safer that way," Levi retorted with a hint of sarcasm before heading straight to the bed. She grabbed some extra pillows and placed them in the middle of the bed.

Mike erupted into loud laughter upon hearing Levi's response. Levi brushed it off and swiftly covered one of her ears with a pillow, closing her eyes until she drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

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Mike was the first to awaken, roused by a knock on the door. Still groggy, he remembered what had transpired between him and Levi the previous night. Startled, he sat up and turned his gaze towards Levi. He couldn't help but swallow hard when he saw her smooth thigh exposed. He approached her, gently pulling the blanket to cover her leg. Almost inadvertently, he found himself on the verge of discovering the truth, unaware of her restless sleeping habits. His eyes lingered on her face, and he couldn't help but smile when he noticed her slightly parted lips.

Resisting the temptation, he restrained himself from caressing her rosy cheek. She appeared delicate and innocent. In her sleep, she seemed so vulnerable. His gaze then shifted to her pinkish lips, which seemed to invite him to kiss her. But he held back, afraid that his words might be laughed off.

He carefully tucked the blanket around the sleeping Levi and he slowly rose from the bed, making his way to the door. Opening it, he was greeted by Elias, the man who had knocked.

The two men engaged in conversation. Elias informed Mike that his car was now fixed, as the mechanic had replaced the tire.

Expressing his gratitude, Mike thanked Elias, who accepted his appreciation graciously. Elias invited him to have coffee and talk, but Mike declined, as he needed to return home with Levi. Thankfully, Elias understood Mike's unspoken concern. Mike feared that his mother would worry excessively about him and Levi, and he wanted to spare her any further distress.

Due to Levi's deep sleep, Mike had no choice but to lift and carry Levi. He wondered why she took so long to wake up. Carefully, he placed her in the front seat and adjusted it to ensure her comfort.

Afterwards, he swiftly settled into the car and started the engine. Glancing at the slumbering Levi, he couldn't help but shake his head in amusement. She looked utterly adorable. She resembled an angel in her sleep.

Due to Levi's greasy sleep, Mike had no choice but to lift the slumbering girl. He couldn't help but wonder why she took so long to wake up. He carefully placed her in the front seat and adjusted the seat to ensure her comfort.

Afterward, he swiftly entered the car and started the engine. He stole a quick glance at the sleeping Levi. He couldn't help but be amazed by her appearance. She looked absolutely adorable, like an angel in her sleep.

After a few hours of driving, Mike noticed Levi stirring. She slowly woke up, rubbing her eyes and yawning.

"Good thing you're awake," Mike said.

Levi sat up suddenly and glanced around.

"Are we heading home?" she asked, still feeling groggy.

"Yes, but before that, let's make a stop at a restaurant. I'm famished. How about you?" Mike asked, his attention focused on the road.

Levi looked at him and quickly wiped away a trace of sleep from her eyes.

"I'm hungry too. Did you carry me? Thank you," she replied, still feeling a bit sleepy.

"Who else do you think would have carried you? Should it have been the owner of the house?" Mike teasingly remarked.

Levi's eyes suddenly lit up as she remembered the handsome Elias. "The owner? Did you see him?" she asked excitedly.

Mike glanced at Levi, noticing her smile once again, a smile that he couldn't quite comprehend. He felt irritated when she mentioned Elias as if she had a liking for him. He wasn't naive enough to not realize that the two of them had already met; he had been observing Levi's behavior since last night.

"Do you have a thing for that mestizo guy? Remember, Levi, you're going to marry me, in case you've forgotten," Mike reminded her, his irritation evident. Levi frowned at his words.

"I know, why is it not allowed to have a crush on someone like Elias?" Levi retorted, equally annoyed with Mike.

"It's not allowed, so don't waste your time dreaming about it. He won't even give you a second glance," Mike replied.

"You and your rules. Just admit that you're jealous. I know that my beauty captivates you," she playfully teased him.

"That's just hunger talking. It's better if you get out of the car now so we can have breakfast," he said to her, as they coincidentally stopped in front of an Italian restaurant. They parked in the designated parking lot before stepping out of the car.

Mike made sure not to leave the keys inside the car. Levi simply followed his lead. As they opened the sliding door of the restaurant, it was impossible to miss the attention that Mike's charisma drew from the women present.

Levi raised an eyebrow at the women who were trying to act cute around him. Irritated, she grabbed onto Mike's arm.

"Don't complain, I'm just looking out for you from those women trying to get your attention, as if they're beautiful," she softly whispered into his ear.

Mike was taken aback by Levi's sudden whisper, it had a different effect on him. It sent a surge of electricity through his body, awakening a dormant warmth. He turned to look at her, noticing her raised eyebrow. She was observing the women who were vying for his attention. He couldn't help but smile at Levi's comment.

Levi decided to find a seat in a secluded corner. They placed their orders promptly, and their food arrived without delay. The two of them eagerly savored their meals, clearly famished.

After a few seconds, someone called out Mike's name. Since Mike had his back turned, it was Levi who caught sight of the approaching woman. Levi was almost taken aback when she recognized the woman who had caused Mike's sudden change in behavior. It was his ex-girlfriend, Yuna Lim.