Intertwined Love and Deception

Chapter 6

If looks could kill, Paul would be dead by now. As I coughed because of his cruel joke, I reached for the cup of coffee, but it was still hot. My eyes welling with tears, I rose to my feet to find water, but he stood up already, placing the tablet back on the table and getting me a glass of water.

“I’m sorry,” He looked at me with worry as he came to me to hand me the glass.

My body stiffened for a second when I felt his cold hand on my back as he tapped it lightly. Not that it was cold, but it brought tons of electricity tingling my body. This was the first time he got close to me.

“Sai, are you now okay?” He asked, moving back, and when I nodded my head, he walked back to his seat.

I closed my eyes, trying to forget his powerful aphrodisiac smell. I groaned, now complaining to myself why I act like this around him. As he drank his coffee, I glared at him that he had to stop to meet my eyes.

“What now?” He placed his cup down and suppressed a smile.

“It’s your fault,” I growled. “And your hands, they’re cold,”

He smirked, shaking his head. “I was just joking,” He pushed his cup to me. “Blame the ice, Sai.”

I took a glimpse of the cup, and then I pressed my lips as I released a groan. Of course, his hands would be cold because he was drinking an iced coffee.

“Why are you doing this to me?” I uttered, almost crying because of too much annoyance in myself as I reacted worse to his jokes than my grandmama’s scary stories.

“I was trying to help you,” He exclaimed, but his lips did not curve a smile.

“Helping me with what? Your jokes weren’t funny, Paul,” My lips quivered, feeling displeased with my tears that they rolled down my cheeks.

“For someone who doesn’t believe in mythical creatures, in folklores, you’re the one who has rich imaginations, Sai,” He shook his head, standing up. “And your hands, they’re cold,” He repeated what I had said. “You think I’m a vampire?”

My cheeks flushed apple red... no, bloody red because of embarrassment.

He took his handkerchief from his pocket. “I was really looking for this one, and luckily, I found one.”

I lowered my head to look at it closely. I chewed on my bottom lip, wishing heaven would just swallow me. It was a four-leaf clover, and I could not believe he could find one.

“You’re always scared, so I decided to look for one. Druids believed that this didn’t just bring good luck but also magical protection,” He explained. “You can keep that although, I don’t know if you believe in it.” He placed his plate in the sink and watched him open the cabinet to get Max food. He poured the kibbles into his bowl, and Max wagged his tail while eating.

He stared at me again. “It’s oud wood intense.”

“Huh?” I blinked as if he had talked in another language. 

     He shook his head. “My scent, Sayonara,” He looked heavenward and then pressed his lips as if he was suppressing a laugh. “You seemed to like my scent. That’s my perfume,”

I propped my elbows on the table and covered my face with my hands. What has gotten into me? I imagine Jeremy laughing at me.

“I’ll just go to the shop to check if the car’s okay now. I had to bring you to the hotel before you die of your own imagination here,” He said, but before he left, he called me again. “Sai,”

I was forced to look at him.

“I’m not trying to scare you, but please, don’t go out in the woods alone,”

I nodded. “Will something hurt me there?”

He groaned. “The typhoon had done a lot of damage in the woods. There might be some snakes or animals looking for a temporary shelter. I don’t want you to get hurt while you’re under my care.” He explained and then chuckled. “Your grandmama has really done a remarkable way of changing your perception,”

Max tried to follow him, but he whimpered when Paul closed the main door behind him, leaving him with me.

My tears rolled down my cheeks again as I looked at the cloverleaf in front of me. I was so ashamed of my actions that I have thought maybe I could do the same for him. He found this lucky charm, so giving him his own would be my way of saying ‘thank you’ and showing him my appreciation for letting me stay here for the night.

After cleaning the kitchen, I took his handkerchief and carefully placed it in the bedroom. I excitedly went downstairs and opened the kitchen door. It was connected to the backyard where I saw him standing this morning. Max barked, but I ignored him, closing the door behind me to make sure he won’t be able to go out. I didn’t want to lose him in the woods.

I won’t go into the woods. I would never go there.

I had enough imaginations that had mortified me in front of a gorgeous man I have ever met. Who knows, I might find two four-leaf clovers? I would give him one and the other to Jeremy.

Max was frantic because I could still hear him barking even from the outside. Paul was not pulling my chain because he was right when I saw the devastating condition of some trees in the woods. I looked up the window and saw the bedroom I used. He must have gotten it somewhere here.

I bent over and narrowed my eyes as I searched for a four-leaf clover, but it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. There were rows of three-leaf clovers around the lawn, but not a single good luck leaf for me. Now, I felt guilty for accusing Paul of many impossible things.

I stood near the fence and gasped in excitement when I saw the trail going to the woods. Just outside the lawn, I saw more clover leaves. I opened the small wooden gate and stepped outside.

I looked back to the house. I promised I wouldn’t go far. Walking carefully, I bent over and squinted my eyes, looking for a particular lucky clover. I was too focused on the leaves that I did not notice the ground. I tripped over the rock, fell on a puddle on the dirty ground, and held on to the strange-looking tree stump for balance.

“Yeah, some kind of protection!” I snarled as I rose. I groaned as I looked at my dirty clothes and stomped as I walked back to the house, wondering where the washing machine was.

When I opened the door, Max whined, then barked at me.

"I know!” I exclaimed angrily at him. I closed the door because he kept barking at the open door even though I was already inside. He kept pacing while whining. “I’m sorry I made you worried,” I touched his head before walking past him to go upstairs.

“Good luck, eh?” I growled as I switched on the light. There was no electricity yet, but there was water in the shower. I took a fresh pair of pajamas and went to the bathroom. Maybe I could ask the hotel staff for a laundry shop later.

I craned my neck to the shower, which the water was unexpectedly warm. I jerked when the water hit my arms and when I looked at it, I noticed the bruises of my stupidity on stumbling over the rock a while ago. I went back to the bedroom to fix my things, so I would be ready to leave once Paul came back.

It was impossible to dry my hair immediately, so I stood by the window, hoping the sunlight would help me dry my hair as I brushed it. I closed my eyes, enjoying the sunlight. When I opened my eyes, I saw a strange-looking man standing just outside the wooden gate. My eyebrows knitted, and I could not help shivering that I rubbed my arms up and down to get rid of the goosebumps. 

I took the book Paul gave me last night, and then I sat down, crossed-legged, on the bed and flipped the book open. After a while, I squeeze my eyes shut, then open them wide. I raised my hands to massage the temples of my head as I suddenly felt sick. I tossed the book on the side and lay down in a fetal position.

As I was about to close my eyes, I could feel a burning sensation in my chest and pain in my tummy. I climbed down the bed immediately when I felt the tingling sensation at the back of my mouth. I ran out of the room, hoping to reach the bathroom, and just in time, I bent over the toilet bowl and started throwing up.

I groaned as I sat on the floor. I could hear Max opening the bathroom door, and he was still whimpering. As I was about to pet his head, another one seemed to come out of my mouth. I bent over again and threw up.

“Max,” I uttered weakly after throwing up the fourth time. My stomach was still aching and wanting to vomit, but I had nothing to throw out. I closed my eyes and tried to reach the only company I had.

Before I lost consciousness, I felt Max sitting beside me and started to howl.