ra''s instincts were on high alert as she suddenly stood up, ready to make a quick exit. But with the room shrouded in darkness, she had no clue where the


    door was.


    The man wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin resting lightly on her shoulder. His voice was calm, but there was a faint hint of something like wounded pride. "Did I make you ufortable?"


    Her back went rigid, and she pressed her lips into a thin line. "Not really, it''s just... we''re not exactly close, and this feels a bit..."


    "You really yanked on my hair earlier, it hurt."


    ra went quiet, feeling the urge to just drop to her knees and beg him to stop talking.


    Today''s mishap was just a tiny blip. Once she stepped out of this room, it would be best if they both just forgot it ever happened. There had to be something in whatever he gave her earlier that clouded her judgment, making it easy for him to kiss her for what seemed like hours.


    Well, it all started with her joking about wanting something unconventional,pletely setting herself up for this mess.


    She kept her silence while he took her hand and ced it on his face. Though she couldn''t see him, the sharp angles beneath her fingers suggested he was quite handsome.


    "You said you''de back next time. I''ve been waiting ages for you, seriously."


    ra froze. Had she really booked him before? That couldn''t be. Wasn''t she head over heels for Simon not that long ago?


    His grip tightened, and she could feel the weight of his breath, heavy and urgent.


    ra felt a pang in her chest. She could never shake off her habit of trying to save those she thought needed rescuing.


    Earlier, in Dn''s office, she couldn''t bear to see him defeated by his leg injury. And now, in this strange situation, she didn''t want to leave this guy heartbroken either.


    She lowered her head and slowly pried his hands from her waist, like it was a slow-motion tug-of-war. Eventually, he seemed to give in and released her.


    The air around them felt suddenly heavy, as if this half-baked encounter painted her as the viin.


    She quietly adjusted her dress, not saying a word, and he was silent too.


    After what felt like forever, the tension got to her, and she promised, "You can drop by and see me sometimes."


    The chilly atmosphere melted instantly, like winter giving way to spring. He grabbed her hand again, seeking reassurance, "Really?"


    ra had thought it over. She was single now, with no lingering ties to Simon or anyone else. Spending a bit of her energy on this man seemed harmless enough.


    "Yeah."


    No sooner had she agreed than he pulled her back into his arms. He hugged her so tightly, she could barely catch her breath.


    People have a sixth sense for certain things, and she could feel the storm of emotions inside him, threatening to overwhelm him.


    If she had been here before, had she made vague promises then, too?


    Her head ached with the thought. Too many things were unclear, and each new piece of the puzzle was like rediscovering a part of her past she didn''t remember.


    His lips brushed against her earlobe again, "I''m really d."


    ra wanted to pull away, but after the long kiss they''d just shared, backing off now would seem silly.


    How did things get so tangled up?