Her heart had already started racing....

Her heart had already started racing....
Carissa woke up around nine in the morning. Sunlight slipped through the curtain and fell across her face, making her squeeze her eyes shut. She lifted her hand to block the light, trying to hold it back for a few more seconds. Then she heard noise outside her room.

She pushed the blanket aside and got up. The moment she stepped out, she smiled when she saw Leon at the sink, busy washing a pile of dirty plates.

“Wow, Mr. Leon,” Carissa teased as she walked closer, eyeing the pink apron tied around his waist. “What is going on this morning? Washing dishes this early?”

Leon glanced at her and smiled. “You are awake,” he said casually.

He nodded toward the pantry table behind him without turning. Carissa followed his gaze and saw two sandwiches and a cup of coffee, steam still rising from it.

“I made breakfast for you. Go eat first.”

Carissa’s eyes widened. He actually made her food.

“Now I am really suspicious,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

Even though it was a day off, this was not normal. Leon did not just wake up and cook without a reason. Usually, she had to push him before he did anything like this.

Carissa crossed her arms and looked at him from behind, studying him closely. “Tell me the truth. What do you want? You only act this nice when you need something.”

She understood him too well.

A memory came to her immediately. A month ago, he helped her with her college work out of nowhere. Later, he dragged her to Mrs. Juni’s house across the street. That was when she found out he had run over the woman’s expensive flower pot with his car earlier that day. They both ended up getting scolded.

Since then, Carissa had learned to be careful whenever he suddenly became nice.

Leon stopped what he was doing. He turned around and leaned his back against the counter.

“I just want you to forgive me,” he said, his voice more serious now. “I am sorry for making you upset yesterday.”

Carissa stayed quiet for a moment as she looked at him. She could see the regret in his light brown eyes. He had not even showered yet. He looked just like her.

“You annoy me every day,” she said after a moment, her tone still sharp. “So why are you apologizing now and making sandwiches? It feels strange.”

Leon let out a small laugh.

Carissa picked up the plate and looked at the sandwich closely. “What if you put something in this?” she said. “What if you added something strange?”

“There is nothing in it,” Leon said with a grin. “I made it with love, not anything strange.”

Carissa rolled her eyes.

She sat down at the pantry table. Before taking a bite, she looked at him again. He had already gone back to washing the dishes.

“Did you eat already?” she asked.

“No. I was waiting for you to wake up. But you can eat first.”

Carissa let out a soft breath and placed the sandwich back on the plate.

“I will wait for you,” she said, resting her chin on her hands as she kept watching him.

“Instead of just watching me, you should help,” Leon said without looking at her.

Carissa turned her head away at once. That request, she refused.



They both fell onto the long sofa, their bodies tired and covered in sweat. They were still breathing fast.

They had just finished cleaning the entire flat together, just like they always did on their days off. They cleaned everything inside, and Leon also cleared the weeds outside using a grass cutter he borrowed from Darla, the tenant upstairs.

Carissa’s phone vibrated on the table.

She quickly grabbed it and smiled when she saw the message.

It was from Chaka.

Chaka: Are you free tonight, Car?
Chaka: Let us go out

Carissa did not want to keep him waiting, so she replied right away.

Carissa: It depends
Carissa: If you do not know where we are going, I would rather stay home and rest

Chaka: Then I will just come and rest with you

Carissa let out a small laugh. She knew he was not serious.

Carissa: Be serious Chaka: I am serious  Chaka: Do you not want to go out with me? She was about to reply when Leon spoke.

“How was your hangout yesterday?”

Carissa paused and turned to him. “It was fun. I met a lot of new people.”

Leon clicked his tongue. “Be careful, Carissa. Do not get close to guys who do not behave well,” he said, sounding slightly bothered. “And do not agree if any guy asks you to do something strange. Except me.”

He finished with a proud smile. Carissa suddenly remembered something. About Chaka asking her out.

“What if a friend asks me to go out..”

Leon sat up straight immediately. “No,” he said quickly before she could finish. “Especially if it is just the two of you.”

Carissa frowned. “Why not?”

Leon let out a long breath. “Because I am worried about you,” he said. “What if something happens to you? What if you feel sick or faint? Only I and Angelina understand your condition.”

He paused, then added, “And Alvero.”

Carissa turned her body to face him fully, her eyes lighting up a little.

“But what you told me before might actually work,” she said. She lifted her hand and stared at it. “Yesterday, I touched some of Alvero’s male friends, but nothing happened to me.”

Leon’s jaw grew tense.

“What kind of touch?” he asked.

“Just a handshake,” Carissa answered, leaning back against the sofa.

Then suddenly, her hand felt warm.

She looked down and saw Leon holding it.

“Sir?” she said, confused.

Leon raised a brow. “What? Your friends can hold your hand, but I can not?”

His tone carried a hint of annoyance.

Carissa scratched her head, confused by his behavior.

“Your hands are nice,” Leon said, running his thumb over her palm. “It is a waste if random guys touch them.”

“You are also touching them,” Carissa replied.

Leon laughed and lightly pinched her cheek. “I am not a random guy, Car,” he said. After a short pause, he added, “I am your guy.”

Carissa went quiet.

Her face went still for a moment, then slowly turned red.

“I was just joking,” Leon said casually, pulling her back to reality. “Do not take it seriously.”

He laughed and messed up her face playfully, not realizing what his words had done to her.

The warmth on Carissa’s face faded, replaced by annoyance.

Her heart had already started racing, but now it felt like he had played with it.

“Watch it!” she snapped, pushing his hand away.

She stood up quickly. “Your jokes are not funny!”

Without waiting, she walked into her room and slammed the door behind her.