Chapter 72 Who are the strangers?

Chapter 72 Who are the strangers?
Milie's POV

I didn't remember when I fell asleep.

The last thing I remembered was Alan lifting me effortlessly from the chair and placing me on the bed.

Then we had talked for what felt like hours, lying on our sides, facing each other, until exhaustion finally won.

...

"Mils..." A warm hand brushed against my cheek. "Mils... wake up."

I frowned, burying my face deeper into the pillow.

"Mmm..."

"Come on."

"No..."

"We have to leave."

"I don't."

"You do. We need to reach before college."

"I vote we skip college, please."

"You don't get a vote."

I groaned dramatically. "Alan..."

"Hmm?"

"Let's stay here a bit more."

He laughed. "I'd love to. But unfortunately, life exists."

I rolled over, refusing to open my eyes.

"Fine… Then five more minutes."

"Nope."

"Ten."

He chuckled. "No, Mils."

"Fuck off, Alan."

"Did you just tell me to—"

"I absolutely did."

He chuckled again, and a second later, I suddenly felt weightless.

My eyes flew open. "What are you doing?!"

He had picked me up as though I weighed nothing.

"Putting a sleepyhead where she belongs."

He then placed me on my feet in front of the bathroom door. 

"You..." I pointed a finger at him. "...I will kill you."

"Sure." He folded his arms. "After I take you home safely." 

I glared at him. He looked entirely too pleased with himself.

"Why are you like this?"

"Like what?" 

"So responsible? So annoyingly disciplined."

He pretended to think. "To impress girls like you."

I rolled my eyes so dramatically they almost hurt.

"The world survived before you became Mr. Perfect."

"It did. I know."

"Yeah, and it'll survive if you also miss one day of college."

He smiled. "Of course. But I’m more concerned about your classes." He touched my nose. 

I twitched my lips. 

"Also I promised your mom I'd bring you back safely."

"You talked to my mom?"

"Yup, yesterday."

I gasped. "Traitor."

He placed a quick kiss on my forehead. "I prefer being a responsible boy."

"I prefer being reckless."

"And I literally love that version." He pinched my nose. "Never change, Mils."

"But you... With me? Might definitely change a bit."

He chuckled. "I doubt I've already."

"Now, come on. Come fast, okay?" 

"Yes, boss."

I watched him walk out of the room before finally dragging myself into the shower.

Ten minutes later, the smell of pancakes, bacon, and freshly brewed coffee pulled me downstairs.

Grandma looked up immediately. "There she is."

"Morning, darling." She hugged me before I could even reach the table.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Not really. Who leaves this early, Grandma?"

"Alan." Grandma chuckled. "He is always an early bird."

"He never allowed his Dad to sleep on weekends. He had all his plans set for the entire day."

Grandma chuckled, but sadly. Alan instantly distracted himself with food. 

"From today, Alan boy has a new name… Mr. Discipline." I tried to make things lighter again, and Grandpa supported me, laughing. 

"Yeah, that's too apt." He laughed again.

I caught Alan looking at him. Something softened in his expression, but only for a fraction of a second. 

Breakfast passed with easy conversations, and I saw Alan being Alan for the first time. 

For a moment, he was not my protector, not a funny guy, not a responsible son.

But someone's grandson, a small boy he used to be years ago.

He relished his Grandma's food like a child, as if he had craved it for all these years. 

And somehow, I loved him even more.

When it was finally time to leave, Grandma hugged me tightly.

"You'll come back?"

I smiled. "If he'll bring me."

She immediately looked at Alan.

"I will." Alan smiled.

Grandma hugged him next. She didn't say anything, just held him longer. 

By that time, I hugged Grandpa. "It was really nice meeting you."

"Same here, dear." He smiled warmly. "You please take care of this boy."

"I will." 

"For all of us."

"I promise."

When Grandma finally let go of Alan, I noticed her wiping away tears while Alan simply gestured toward the car.

His expression was neutral.

"Ready?" Alan asked as we settled in the car. 

"Yeah."

I looked back one last time before he drove away. 

Grandma was still standing on the porch, waving.

Finally, I looked at him long after the house disappeared from our view. 

"You okay?"

He smiled without taking his eyes off the road.

"Yeah."

"You?"

"I think..." I smiled softly. "...I just gained another family."

His fingers found mine over the center console. He squeezed my hand gently.

"Thank you."

I looked at him. "For what?"

"For bringing me back here."

"You brought yourself."

"You just reminded me why I should."

I rested my head against the seat. "Don't say thank you, Alan. You owe me a lot more."

"No account keeping between us. Always remember."

I smiled, shaking my head. "Right."

Nearly two hours later, the familiar streets came into view. 

My stomach tightened. Reality, college, and Daxton- everything we'd left behind was back. 

"The first thing I need to do now is to talk to Daxton."

Alan slowed the car as we entered our neighborhood, but by the time he stopped, his expression changed. 

I followed his gaze. Across the street, three unfamiliar men stood near the entrance of our houses. 

They weren't talking much. They were watching both houses. 

"Alan..." 

He didn't answer. His grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"Do you know them?"

"No."

"You look like you do. They are now staring this way."

"Stay here."

"What?"

"I'll just check."

I frowned. "Alan.. Who are–."

"It's nothing."

"Then why are you getting out?"

He opened the door anyway, but before he could get out, his phone vibrated.

His eyes dropped to the screen.

For the briefest second... I saw the name, 'Milie's Dad.' 

"Dad calling? My Dad?"

Alan looked toward me, and immediately exited the car to answer. 

He lowered his voice. I couldn't hear what he was saying.

So I exited too, and walked beside him, only to hear. "Yes, uncle, I'll take care of them."

"Alan… What's Dad—" As he turned and found me, his eyes widened. "What the hell, Milie?" 

"I asked you to stay inside." He snapped at me. He was angry, really angry, and I never saw him like this. 

He didn't care about Dad's call, and instead made me sit back in the car. "Alan, what's going on?"

He glanced at the men, and then back to me. 

He exhaled, his anger now completely gone. "I'll explain to you later, okay?"

He then cupped my face and looked into my eyes. "You trust me, right?" 

I stared at him for a while before nodding hesitantly. "I do."

"Then, just be a good girl. Alright?"

I nodded again. He kissed my forehead before heading right to those strangers.

My heartbeat stumbled. "Who are these men? What was Dad and Alan talking about? And why is he hiding from me?"