Do you want me to rub it for you?

Do you want me to rub it for you?
“Mr. Leon!”
Leon stopped walking.
He had been leading Carissa across the campus parking lot, their hands still close, when the voice cut through the air. Both of them turned at the same time.
Kristal was coming straight toward them. She held a rolled paper in her hand, but that was not what caught Carissa’s attention.
Carissa swallowed hard. Kristal looked… too good.
Her jeans hugged her long legs, showing every line. Her plain blue shirt was tucked in, neat, but the top buttons were left open just enough to draw the eye. Even Carissa, a girl, could not help staring for a second. Any guy would lose his head looking at her.
“You wait in the car, okay?”
Leon did not stop moving. He guided Carissa forward again.
Only a few more steps and they reached his white Jeep, parked under a wide tree. He opened the passenger door and gave her a look that told her to get in and stay there.
Carissa obeyed, sliding into the seat. From inside, she watched. Kristal’s face looked tight with anger. At one point, her eyes moved toward Carissa with clear dislike. It was not even hidden.
Leon reached for Kristal’s hand and tried to pull her a little farther away from the car, like he did not want Carissa to hear everything.
“Mr. Leon, you promised to have lunch with me today!”
Kristal clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed.
Yesterday, she had messaged him about lunch, and he agreed right away. No hesitation. But now, just ten minutes before lunchtime, she saw him walking side by side with Carissa like that.
“I will still have lunch with you,” Leon said. His voice was controlled. “I just want to take Carissa back to her flat first. She is not feeling well.”
Kristal let out a short laugh. The sun above them felt nothing compared to the heat building inside her.
“Why do you care so much?” she shot back, her voice rising without shame.
Leon let out a long breath. They were still on campus. People were already looking. Did she not care at all?
“You even know where she lives now?” Kristal continued, her tone dripping with mockery. “How often do you go over there, huh?”
That did it. Leon’s hand curled into a fist. He had been holding himself back, but that line crossed it.
“Enough,” he said. His voice was not loud, but it carried weight. “Do not say things like that about Carissa.”
“So now you are choosing her over me?” Kristal snapped.
She had thought she meant something to him. Something special. But right now, it did not feel that way at all.
“I am not choosing anyone,” Leon replied, his patience finally running thin. “But you have no right to talk about her like that.”
That was it. His voice came out harder than he meant. Kristal went quiet for a second, clearly taken aback. Leon lowered his gaze.
“Sorry,” he muttered.
Kristal shook her head slowly, like she could not believe what just happened. Then she turned and walked away. Leon did not go after her. He just stood there for a moment… then let out a breath like something heavy had lifted. Ignoring the stares around him, he walked back to the car. He got in, pulled the seatbelt across his chest, and stared ahead.
“Sorry I took long, Car,” he said.
He did not look at her. His face still held the leftover anger, and maybe he did not want her to see it.
“I should be the one saying sorry, sir,” Carissa said softly. “She probably got the wrong idea because of me…”
Her head stayed down as she spoke. Leon glanced at the side mirror, then turned the wheel and pulled the car out.
“There is nothing to misunderstand,” he said.
Carissa pressed her lips together. That answer only made her feel worse. From the way Kristal looked earlier, there was no way she was not hurt.
“I should have just gone back on my own,” Carissa murmured.
Leon turned his head toward her. His left hand reached out and lifted her chin gently, forcing her to look at him.
“Do not think about it,” he said, his voice softer now. “I am not bothered by it.”
For a second, Carissa forgot how to breathe. Then he looked back at the road. But his hand stayed there, holding her chin… then lightly teasing her skin, making her almost laugh if she did not hold it in.
“Do you want to eat first,” he asked, “or go straight home?”
“Maybe… we go back to campus?” Carissa said. “I have a class in ten minutes.”
Leon shook his head right away.
“Your face looked pale earlier. Just go rest. You can come back tomorrow when you feel better.”
There was no arguing with that tone.
Carissa went quiet. She did not know what to feel. Part of her wanted to give in. Part of her was scared to want more. And getting upset did not feel right either. He was helping her, caring for her. How could she complain? When they reached her flat, Leon walked her inside and straight to her room.
“Change into something more comfortable,” he told her.
While she did that, he moved around the small kitchen area, making ginger water. His mother once told him it could help ease stomach pain.
A few minutes later, he stood at her door with a warm cup in his hand. He knocked.
“Car, are you done?”
A soft sound came from inside, so he opened the door.
“Drink this first,” he said.
He sat on the edge of her bed and helped her sit up. She could have done it herself, but he did it anyway.
“Wait, it is still hot. Let me cool it a bit.”
He picked up a small portable fan from the table and pointed it at the cup. Carissa turned her head when she heard a phone vibrating. Her eyes went to her own phone, but the screen was dark.
That meant it was not hers.
“Sir, I think your phone is ringing,” she said.
Leon ignored it.
He set the fan aside, picked up the cup, and brought it to her lips.
“Drink.”
Carissa took a sip.
“Good, right?” he asked after she drank half.
A little bit of the drink stayed at the corner of her lips. Without thinking, Leon lifted his thumb and wiped it away. Such a small thing. But Carissa’s chest reacted fast, her heart beating harder than it should.
“Sir… your phone,” she reminded him again.
Leon clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed. He set the cup down, reached into his pocket, and pulled out his phone. Carissa’s eyes moved without meaning to. She saw the name on the screen.
Kristal Beverly.
“Why are you not answering?” Carissa asked carefully. “It might be important.”
Leon looked at her. His gaze was deep, serious.
“Right now, your health matters more than lunch with her.”
That was all it took. Carissa felt it deep inside her chest. She could not even look away from him. After a moment, Leon broke the eye contact first. His eyes moved down to her stomach.
“How is it now? Does it still hurt?” he asked. “Do you want me to rub it for you?”
There it was again. That care. That attention. It pulled at her without asking. And before she could stop herself, Carissa nodded.
“Okay,” Leon said quietly. “Come here. I will just move your shirt a little.”