Unspoken Wounds That Never Healed

Chapter 5:A Night With A Stranger

Classes were usually fun—especially when Mr. Andrew lectured—but today felt... off. Maybe it was the weather. Or maybe it was him. That boy. I couldn’t get him out of my head.

"Aurora. Miss Aurora," Mr. Andrew’s voice sliced through my thoughts.

He looked directly at me, brows furrowed. “Are you paying attention?”

I straightened up and nodded quickly. “Yes, sir.”

He held my gaze for a moment, then continued with the lecture. I tried my best to focus, but my mind kept drifting. The class dragged on longer than usual. When it finally ended, I slipped out to get some fresh air and clear my head.

Why was I thinking about him so much? Was I... hypnotized?

Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice someone in front of me until—bam—I collided into a firm chest. A very firm one. My heart nearly leapt out of my chest.

I looked up and froze. It was him. The guy with the black SUV. His face was as cold and unreadable as ever, like some stone-carved Greek god.

Trying not to stare, I stepped back. But then he spoke.

“Do you… want this?”

He held up a charm bracelet, silver with little blue gems that shimmered under the sunlight. I blinked in confusion.

“Why would I want that?” I asked, pointing at it skeptically.

Without another word, he pulled me closer by the waist and slipped the bracelet onto my wrist. His touch sent shivers down my spine. He leaned in, his breath grazing my ear.

“If you don’t want it,” he whispered, “you can throw it away.”

My cheeks flushed a deep red. “W-what?” I stammered.

But before I could ask anything else, he was already walking away. I stared after him, flustered and confused.

What was that? And why was he even near my department?

Later that day, all my classes ended and it was time to head home. I hopped on my bike like always, hoping a ride would help me think clearly.

It began to drizzle.

Then it poured.

The rain came down fast, soaking my clothes within seconds. I tried to pedal faster, but hit a speed bump and flew off my bike, scraping my knees as I hit the ground.

I just sat there in the rain, wet and miserable, feeling like a lost child. Everything felt overwhelming. I wrapped my arms around my legs, trying not to cry.

Then, out of nowhere, someone held an umbrella over my head. I looked up.

It was him. Again.

His expression was unreadable, but his actions were anything but cold. “Why are you here?” I asked. “And why are you helping me?”

“There’s no harm in helping a damsel in distress,” he said, casually lifting me off the ground.

My heart thudded wildly. I didn’t want to accept help from him, but I was trembling, soaked, and hurting.

Then he said, “There’s a hotel nearby. We’ll go there and spend the night.”

My eyes widened. “There’s no way I’m spending the night with you,” I muttered.

He rolled his eyes. “Me neither. But I’m not letting you ride your bike in this storm. What if you get sick? What would happen to me then?” he added, tapping my forehead lightly.

I hated how my heart fluttered.

At the hotel, I sat awkwardly at the reception while he handled the booking. My clothes clung to my body, and I was freezing. He returned and said, “They’ll take us to our room now.”

Our room?

“Wait—are we sharing a room?” I asked, my voice rising a pitch.

He smirked. “Do you need your personal space, my lady?” he said sarcastically.

“Yes—” I started, but he cut me off.

“Unfortunately for you, and fortunately for me, there’s only one room available. So stop making a fuss.”

I glared at him. This guy had to be the most infuriating person I’d ever met. And yet… I didn’t pull away when he took my hand to help me up. I didn’t protest when we entered the elevator together. I didn’t even say a word when he handed me a warm towel once we got into the room.

Something about him was dangerous, magnetic, mysterious.

And the charm bracelet on my wrist? It shimmered, even under the dull hotel lights, like it had a story of its own.

I didn’t know who he really was or what he wanted with me, but one thing was clear:

My life was no longer going to be as ordinary as it once was.