Lost in Paradise

Chapter 18

After her appalling reunion with Natalia Dioson, Nadia went straight to her favorite pub in the city.

Nadia’s coincident meet-up with Natalia turned her day into a devastating one. All the memories she’s been working hard to forget came back in an instant. Especially those days when Natalia has done something to separate Nadia and Joshua. Those days when Joshua protected their relationship and choose her over his mother. Those days when Joshua proved how much he loves her that made Nadia fall in love with him even more. All those precious memories came back and placing her in agony again. So Nadia ran to her lame defense mechanism once again–drinking. Nadia is not really an alcoholic by nature. But she relied on alcohol since Joshua left her, it somehow gives her comfort. She never gets used to it though, so she gets drunk easily.

She’s drinking a glass of white wine when she heard a noise of shattering glass. She turned her gaze into it and saw that there is a commotion happening. It seems like there’s a fuss among drunkards. There’s a group of people throwing their fists against one person. People near them are getting involved so the fight is getting worse. The pub’s security immediately steered the situation.

Nadia’s mood was ruined so she decided to just leave the pub. She took her bag and went to the counter to settle her bill. She’s on her way out when she noticed the person who was beaten by the group of drunkards. He ended the fight with his face bloodied and battered. He’s now sitting on the floor totally wasted and securities trying to help him up. The man looks familiar. Nadia looked at him closely and was shocked to realize that the man is Nikko, the Nikko she met in Ivana, the first local she met in the town and the first person who helped her.

Nadia immediately approached Nikko. She told the securities that she knows him and she will take care of everything. She left them her business card and told them to call the number if Nikko has anything to settle. Fortunately, the pub decided not to call the cop since the situation was immediately handled and the other party already left the scene. They just let Nadia took him.

Nadia is now supporting Nikko to walk. He’s heavy and can barely control his body so they fell. Nadia decided to call 911 so he can be treated. She took her phone and dialed the number when Nikko stopped her.

“D-don’t do it... I hate hospitals” Nikko muttered tipsily

“What are you saying?.. look at your face!” Nadia exclaimed

“It’s no big deal... j-just take me anywhere I can rest” Nikko asked.

He’s reek of alcohol, she could smell it from his breath as they’re so close with each other.

Nadia helped the man up and supports him while walking. Fortunately, the pub’s parking lot is just a few steps away. She placed him in her car and drive him to the first place to come in her mind.

~~

Nikko is now sleeping soundly. Nadia brought him in “Lost Girl’s Gallery”, the art gallery she co-owned with Rebecca. There’s a sleeping quarter inside her studio so she decided to bring him here.

Nadia is now treating Nikko’s injuries. Luckily, a medical kit is always available in the gallery as part of their contingency, and Nadia has a small knowledge about first aid. She’s trying to be careful while applying medicine because she might wake him up, but she thinks he’s too tired and wasted to pass out like this that perhaps made his body numb.

Nadia realized that she’s too close to the man that she could hear his deep breathing. She distanced herself a little and saw the man’s features. She started to appreciate his beauty. He has long eyelashes beneath his bushy eyebrows. His lips are pinkish and kissable. Nikko owns a manly jaw and a perfect shaped chin. He also has a pointed long nose. His skin is fair and white. Nadia priorly opened the first two-button of his shirt as he got some wounds there as well. So she could see that he got a muscular chest enough to say that this man also has a beautiful physique.

“Pull yourself together Nadia”

Nadia mumbled as she slightly slapped herself.

Nadia realized the situation and she suddenly felt awkward. She’s now too shy to touch Nikko’s body where there are injuries.

While Nadia is battling with her demureness, she suddenly noticed a tear rolled down his cheek. That moment on she figured out, he’s like this because of something deep. Perhaps, this man is going through something painful. She knew it more than anyone, because she was once like that, relied on alcohol to forget of something.

“What a lame reasoning” she thought.

Nadia’s phone suddenly rang. She immediately went outside the room because the noise might wake him up. She found out it was Rebecca. She suddenly remembered their promise to meet-up.

“Are you on your to the gallery?” Nadia asked as soon as she answered the call.

“Yeah... you?” Rebecca responded.

“I’m here already. I have something to tell you. Come quickly!”

“Yes ma’am!”

Rebecca immediately hang-up.

Rebecca arrived soon. Nadia told her everything that happened earlier. Why she came back to Manila? Her coincident meet-up with Natalia. And how she ended up meeting Nikko who is now resting in her sleeping quarter. Nadia also told Rebecca about her experiences in Ivana and how she know Nikko, and that she’s indebted to him that’s why she helped him.

Rebecca was so thrilled with Nadia’s story that she wanted to hear more. Rebecca forced Nadia to go with her on the sleeping quarter so they can check on him. They saw Nikko still sleeping.

“Besh!” Rebecca whispered.

“Why besh” Nadia replied.

She’s anxiously waiting for Rebecca’s next words because she might criticize her decision to bring him here.

“Is he single? Goodness, he’s so hot” Rebecca muttered with sparkling eyes.

Nadia sighs. She thought she’s gonna criticize her.

“Let’s let him stay the night. He must be okay tomorrow morning” Nadia muttered.

“Of course... I mean, look at him he’s injured and too wasted“ Rebecca responded.

“Are you sure you’re done giving him first aid? I’ll do it if you can’t” she added.

“Enough... Let’s go outside before we wake him up.” Nadia countered while pushing Rebecca outside the room.

They continued talking in Rebecca’s office at the gallery.