Chapter 23: Luis’ POV

Stranded with no money and a cracked phone, I didn't dare to stop walking despite the rain starting to hit harder than a drizzle.

I continued forward because, despite my lack of direction, I'd visited Chen's house countless times—enough to know my way back alone—and that was what worried me.

Because I knew my way back, I also knew how long I still had to go.

I continued with my desperate thoughts and occasional shivers and sneezes until I reached a roundabout fountain.

Here, cars were busy minding their own business, and I couldn't help but hope in my mind that I'd run into a good Samaritan who wasn't a trafficker or an offender.

I needed to get home safe, alive, and in one piece.

I was contemplating how to go about crossing the road when a car suddenly zoomed past me and splashed water on me.

My desperation to reach home almost dissolved into frustration at that moment, and I'd have broken down in the middle of the road if he hadn't started to reverse just as I was in the middle of crossing.

Having decided to cross to my right with the help of the streetlight, I looked left, right, and left again and was in the middle of sprinting across when I felt a bump at my side.

I lost my balance and fell, terrified that I'd be crushed the next second when the car suddenly stopped.

"Oh my goodness, what have I done?”

The driver ran to my side, panicked as he held my arms.

With a groan, I sat up.

“I’m sorry.

I’m really sorry. I was in a hurry to get home and… I’m rambling… Can you get up by yourself?” he asked, and I shook my head.

Pain and shock wrecked my body, and I just didn't know how to function at that moment.

“Oh my god, let me get you into the car first,” he said and helped me, now carrying me the same way I had carried Chen home.

His hand draped over my shoulder, except he had his arm wrapped around my waist to reduce the weight on my legs.

After that, he parked at the side of the road.

“Are you okay? I’m really sorry. I’d just come back from work and was called back for some emergency, so I was just pissed and really wanted to hurry back home.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah, it’s okay,” I managed to croak after settling down from the shock and realizing that I wasn't in any major discomfort and didn't feel any injury.

The car had stopped before he hit me, so the only reason I fell and took so long to recover was that I was in too much shock and had a panic attack from being overwhelmed by all those emotions.

“Oh, I’m so glad. Are you injured anywhere? I don’t stay too far from here. How about I take you home to get some rest for a minute before driving you home? Or is your place really far? Or do you stay really far from…”

“Wait, calm down for a second. I can only answer one at a time,” I said with a small smile at his genuine kindness.

After what had just happened at Chen's place, my mind really couldn't handle any more negativity or scoldings.

“Okay, so… do you live close by?”

“No,” I shook my head.

“Are you comfortable coming to my place? It’s just a few streets from here,” he said, and I nodded. “Yes, sure.”

Because if I decided to go home at this moment, then I would have to go through the front door and explain why and how I was in the state I was.

I’d have too many questions and no emotional support.

“Okay,” he said and keyed the car.

We drove in silence until we got to his place.“I hope you don't mind, I live alone,” he said as he helped me in and turned on the lights.

“Whoa, this is pretty good for someone who lives alone. Your place is so neat and organized,” I said as I settled into the couch, only to shoot up to my feet.

“What’s wrong?” He seemed startled as he jumped backward himself.

“I’m sorry, I just realized that my body is all wet and it could get the couch smelly,” I said as I rubbed my arms to get the chill out.

“Oh, it's fine,” he said with a shaky laugh as he pushed a door open to take out a towel, which he threw at me. “Use this while I get you a pair of clean clothes to change into,” he said before entering the room.

Leaving me to myself.

I decided to relax without letting any thoughts into my head because the moment I did, I just knew I'd break down into a mess.

So instead, I walked around the living room as I dried my hair and admired the art on the walls.

He seemed to be an artistic person, as he had different collections of random things.

“That’s a Chinese vase. I got it from my previous employer. He was Chinese,” his voice came from behind me, startling me.

“Oh,” I swallowed as I dropped the vase onto the shelf.

“Here. It’s a pair of jerseys. I've had them for a while now. I hope they fit,” he said as he handed them to me.

“Thank you very much,” I felt immensely grateful to this savior. I could have had pneumonia and died without clearing my name with Chen, but he saved me even though he splashed me with dirty water and almost ran me down with his car.

“Rolland,” he said, and I snapped out from my trance of gratitude only to realize that I was staring.

“Uhn?”

“Rolland, that’s my name. You can go change in the bathroom,” he said as he pointed to another door.

“Ohh. Thank you very much, Rolland. My name is Luis,” I said with a small smile.

“Oh, that’s cool. Caribbean?”

“No, no, my mom was Mexican,” I said.

“Oh. I'm Irish. You can put your clothes in the dryer,” he said as I turned around and found my way to the bathroom.

It was also clean in there, and if I thought it would be minimalistic, I couldn't be more wrong because of the number of skincare products arranged on the shelves stacked on the walls.

“Wow,” I gasped as I started to undress.

“You're done? I hope you like tea,” he said as soon as I came out of the bathroom.

“Yes, thanks,” I said and joined him at the counter in his dining area, where he was pouring tea into cups.

“Ginger and chrysanthemum tea. It's good for the cold and can help you relax your nerves,” he said as he placed the cups on coasters.

“Thanks a lot. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to wait till my clothes dry before leaving,” I said as I sat across from him and took a sip.

“Wait, what? You still plan on moving this night? Do you have a ride?” he asked, shocked as he placed the kettle on the table.

“Ahh… no?”

“Well, I'm not about to ride in the rain this night. So if I’m not making you feel uncomfortable, please stay the night. You can take the bed; I'll take the couch over there,” he nudged towards the couch in the living room.

“What? That’s too… no, I’ll take the couch if anything,” I insisted, and then he burst out laughing.

“At least it’s settled that you’ll be staying the night, and I honestly want to know why you didn’t take a rain check before coming out in your briefs,” he said as he took his cup to his lips, paused a moment, and then took a sip.

“Then why aren’t you asking if you’re curious about what I was doing in the middle of the road without my trousers on?” I asked when the silence was starting to turn awkward.

The occasional sipping sound from the cup wasn’t helping at all.

He set down his cup. “Well, we are strangers to start with, so it’ll be wrong for me to pry. And while I’m curious, I think it’s best for me to let you do that at your own pace,” he said calmly.

“And if I end up not saying anything?”

“Well, it’s your own story. I just wanted to make up for the accident I caused.” He was speaking, but it was like angel wings with pixie dust were flapping at his back.

How can someone be so kind?

I sniffled back tears.

“So, do you want to tell me? Remember, it’s okay if you don’t want to. We all have secrets to keep,” he said, but I shook my head.

“No, I want to talk about it. That’s if you don’t mind, of course,” I said, and he offered a small, reassuring smile.

“While I might not be a therapist, I’ve been told I’m a great listener. Let’s grab some snacks and talk more relaxed in the living room,” he said as he turned around and opened the fridge.

“Oh, I needed this,” I thought to myself as I grabbed our saucers and headed for the living room.

The Simpsons animation was playing on the TV as I took the one-seater couch.

He settled bags of chips and some cupcakes on the table before settling on the three-seater couch to my right.

“You can trust that what you say here remains here. Let’s raise a toast,” he said as he raised his teacup. I did the same.

“A toast to seal our confidentiality agreement,” he said as our glasses clicked, and I burst into genuine laughter for the first time in a long while.