"Ara, you need to get up, Ara get up now."
The voice kept screaming into my ears after the fall from the railings, sharp and desperate, clinging to me even as everything blurred.
Before I could fully understand what was happening, we both crashed into water.
The impact was brutal.
Cold slapped my skin, knocking the breath out of my lungs as the pool swallowed us whole, and for a second, my mind went completely blank.
My body sank, dragged by clothes soaked heavy, ears ringing with a dull, underwater silence.
Luck was really on our side.We fell into the physiotherapy pool. If not, there would have been shattered skulls and splashed brains everywhere. The thought crept in even as panic fought for space in my chest.
My guardian angel was really at work, and she didn't slack.
Above the water, muffled screams echoed. Shapes moved closer, shadows breaking through the surface as people rushed toward the poolside. But something else pulled at me, stronger than fear.
I saw him. Inside the pool, he was sinking.
His body was going farther away from the surface, limbs loose, eyes shut, like he had already decided to let the water take him.
Bubbles escaped his lips slowly, drifting upward while he drifted downward.
"No," I thought, terror punching hard against my ribs.
I wasted no time and swam towards him, my arms cutting through the water with desperate force. My lungs screamed as I reached him, my fingers grabbing his collar, twisting the fabric tight in my fist.
I shook him, trying to bring him to consciousness, but his head only rolled back lifelessly.
Nothing happened.
My heart hammered wildly as fear flooded me. I wrapped my arm under his shoulders and pushed upward with all the strength I had left.
The surface felt so far away. My muscles burned, legs kicking frantically as my lungs begged for air.
Finally, we broke through.
I gasped violently, sucking in air as water streamed down my face. Without stopping, I dragged him toward the pool's edge. The nurses hands reached down, strong grips helping pull his weight out of the water.
I was able to pull him out instantly.
His body landed heavily on the floor, pale and motionless, water pouring from his clothes and hair.
I knelt beside him, chest rising and falling too fast. The nurses, security guards, and doctors surrounded us almost immediately, voices overlapping, feet moving quickly around us.
"Check on him, is he still breathing?" one said.
"Are they okay?" another said.
I stood still beside him, frozen, staring at his unmoving body on the floor. My ears rang, blocking out most of the noise around me.
My mind drifted back to the moment I had seen it— the thin line of blood dripping from his nose before he let go of me.
I couldn't get it off my mind.
Something was wrong. Something wasn't normal.
Before I could think further, the sharp pain struck my head again, sudden and blinding. I groaned, clutching my head tightly as my knees weakened.
A hand held me close before I could fall.
It was Dr. Austin.
"It's okay?" he said softly as I stared into his hazel eyes, searching for reassurance I desperately needed.
"His he going to be okay?" I asked, my voice breaking, tears spilling freely down my face.
Before I even heard an answer, a stretcher rolled in. They lifted him quickly, efficiently, placing him onto it. The wheels squeaked softly as they pushed him away.
He was wheeled into the emergency ward, I guess.
"He had a bleeding nose before he let go of me?" I said in fear and worry as I held onto his hands, my grip tight like letting go would make everything worse.
"Bleeding nose?" he asked with shock and concern, his brows pulling together.
"Laura, please guide Miss Ara back to her ward," Austin said, gently letting go of my hand.
"How did you know my name?" I asked in shock.
"Please take her," he said softly and walked away, his back already turned, urgency pulling him forward.
The nurse carefully dragged me to my ward. I didn't argue. I followed like a chick, numb and obedient. She sat me on the bed, adjusting the sheets, setting a drip for me with practiced hands.
I watched her bring out an injection and inject the drip. Within seconds, my eyelids felt heavy. I dozed off quietly into darkness.
******
It was past midnight when I finally woke up.
The room was silent except for distant hospital beeps and the low hum of electricity.
My body felt weak, but lighter. My head felt clear, the headache gone like it had never been there.
I exhaled slowly. I was tired of sleeping in the hospital. All I wanted was a speedy recovery.
Then I noticed something strange.
The cotton curtain next to my bed was drawn, like it was protecting someone else.
Curiosity got the best of me.
I stepped down quietly, my feet cold against the tiled floor. Slowly, I walked toward the next bed and pulled the curtain aside.
Then I saw him again.
The man who saved my life… or should I say the man who almost killed me before he let go at such a crucial moment.
He lay there softly, chest rising steadily, ginger hair spread against the pillow. His skin looked smooth, almost unreal, like milk under the dim light. I stepped closer without realizing, drawn in.
I leaned in, my face close to his, studying every detail.
"He his so handsome," I muttered.
Suddenly, two eyes snapped open and locked onto mine.
"Shit," I scramed out.
He groaned slightly, blinking like he was disoriented. When he noticed the drip on his hand, his face darkened. Without hesitation, he reached for it, trying to tear it off.
I ran towards him instantly, grabbing his wrist.
"Don't tear it off, it could hurt you," I muttered with care.
He shot me a disgusted look, sharp and dismissive, like I was nothing but a pest. He tore the drip off anyway and blood immediately gushed out.
I screamed.
"Damn it," he said casually and grabbed the curtain, wrapping it roughly around his bleeding wrist.
All I did was stare, heart racing.
He walked past me toward the door and tried to open it. He pulled harder but nothing happened.
"Did you lock the door?" he asked, frustration thick in his voice.
"No," I whispered softly.
"Do you know where the key is?" he asked again.
I stared at him, worry tightening my chest. I had no idea why the door was locked or where the key was, but I said nothing.
He groaned angrily and banged the door loudly.
I flinched in response. Then a cellphone rang.
I rushed toward it, but before I could pick it up, he pulled me aside and grabbed it first.
"Open the damn door," he screamed.
"I'm sorry bro, you're not leaving the room until you receive full treatment and you are cleared. You're under observation so enjoy the night," Austin said from the call.
"You must be crazy, what right do you have to lock me up here with a dumb memory loss thing," he said loudly.
The words hit harder than I expected.
"Enjoy your night Raisem," Austin said.
"His name is Raisem, that's unique," I said with a smile but I remembered what he called me, so the smile faded.
"Austin, just let me out," he said.
"I have a surgery in the next 1 minute. Enjoy," Austin said and hung up.
Raisem groaned and threw the phone to the ground in anger.
Why was I being locked up with this man?
He was handsome, yes, but he felt dangerous.
I swallowed hard and noticed his wrist again, soaked in blood.
"Your wrist," I said softly.
He looked at it, cursed under his breath, then slumped into a chair.
I sat quietly on my bed, staring at him.
"What?" he said harshly.
"Thank you for saving my life," I said, even though he almost killed me.
A loud, sarcastic, devilish laugh filled the room.
He smirked and stepped toward me slowly, like a predator closing in. My heart thudded wildly as his footsteps clicked against the tiles.
He ran his hand through his hair before speaking.
"You think I saved your life?" he threw the question at me.
I didn't respond.
"Did you tell anyone about the bleeding nose?" he asked.
I stayed silent.
"I asked a question or did you also have a memory loss about that?" he said, raising his brows.
"Please stop talking about my pain, I don't like being mocked," I said loudly, holding his gaze.
He smirked and moved closer until he stood right in front of me.
"I asked a question and I deserve an answer," he said coldly.
"No," I lied. Fear crawled through me. What if he killed me? We were locked in.
Suddenly, a knock interrupted us and a paper slid under the door.
Raisem picked it up, scoffed, and returned to his chair. He read quickly, then tore the papers into halves without hesitation.
The sound made my chest tighten.
Was he just bad-tempered… or something worse?
Yet, something about him pulled me in.
I watched him, sensing a softness buried beneath the anger, a man pretending to be cold.
He stood and walked toward the bathroom.
Curiosity wouldn't let me rest.
I moved to the table and saw documents spread across it—women's photos, personal details.
His search for a woman to give him an heir. Then at that moment, I knew what I want and I'll go for it.
My heart skipped as I heard the door knob rattle.
I stepped away quickly.
"I have an offer?" I said.
"What offer?" he asked.
"I heard you need a woman? Can I be the woman you need?"