CHAPTER 002: He's Crazy

[RAELYNN'S POINT OF VIEW]

Daphne does a fantastic job in patching him up. He's stripped of his clothes, with only but his underwear covering his lower half and his upper body is wrapped securely with a bandage. He lies on my bed with his chest rising up and down undisturbing.

Daphne and I stand at the edge of the bed with our arms across our chests. We watch his unconscious form silently.

“What do you think is going to happen when he wakes up?” Daphne thinks out loud. 

I shrug. “I don't know. He doesn't have a criminal face." He looks too handsome to be a criminal.

His jawline is chiseled. His brows are thick. His nose is straight. His lips are full. His hair is a shade of black. His body is muscular with toned arms, chest and shit, his abs. He looks like a man who just ambled out of the front magazine. I immediately tear my gaze away. 

Daphne cast me a look. “And what do you know about criminal faces? This guy has no wallet or a cell or an address on him; that’s more reason to believe he's was probably a criminal who stole some fancy clothes and got shot running away from the police and you found him on the verge of death and brought him here, and because of you I get dragged into this mess.” she ends her rant with a dramatic sigh.  

I nod, impressed at her vivid imagination. 

She throws her hand in the air. “Damn it, our peaceful lives are over. And I'm so damn hungry!” She turns and walks out of the room.

I step closer and study his face. His skin is so clear and smooth. His beauty is unreal. Daphne is just being melodramatic, there’s no way someone as beautiful as this is a criminal, perhaps I am just being naive and he could be a serial killer and now I am endangering Daphne and me by bringing him here. God, I hope she’s wrong and the police aren't searching us right now. Our lives have been peaceful since we left the orphanage eight years ago.

*~*

Three days passed and there was no sign of consciousness from our guest. I've changed his bandage twice without getting a stir of response from him yet his chest goes up and down softly and peacefully. Daphne claims it because he's lost a lot of blood and it might take days before he regains consciousness and she wants him gone as soon as possible.

While he lay there on my bed, Daphne and I continued with our lives—she as a waiter and me as a delivery person in the same restaurant. We have been fortunate to get a job. 

However on the 5th day, I stride into my bedroom to find him awake, sitting with his feets off the bed while the sheets fail miserably to cover the too obvious bulge in his black underwear.

Promptly, his head snaps over and my amber eyes meet his shady grey ones. For  a moment it feel like time stopped as our eyes lingered on each other longer than normal till I breaks the contact with a clear of my throat and put on a smile. I ignore the way blood rushes to my face and stains my cheeks with a blush. I notice his body again. Shit!

“You are awake. Finally. We were starting to think you've kicked the bucket.” I flips my working bag to the corner of the room and slowly approaches. His gaze shifts down to his body and a second later, he looks at me with an eyebrow raised. “I’m sorry about that. Your clothes were stained with blood but don't worry, I have them washed and kept neatly.” I hurry to explain when I I shouldn't. Why does he care about his clothes and body when he just woke up from the verge of death? Maybe he is a man who cares a little too much about his physical appearance and I have stripped him of his pride?

“You saved me?” His voice is raspy and the timber is unmistakable. I don't know why it sends a shiver down my spine. Then he suddenly hisses in pain when he tries to move his hand.

“Careful!” I cry out and reach his side in a moment. I place my hand over his to help me but I immediately realize what I'm doing and withdraw my hand. I clear my throat and look at anywhere and everything but him. Gosh! I don't know why I am acting like a girl in front of her crush and this is a bloody stranger!

He probably thinks I am some silly and naive girl with a loose screw. “You should be careful when moving your hand, you have lost too much blood and refused to go to the hospital.” I take a step back and hold my hands behind me. 

“Do you know who I am?” 

Instantly, a scowl graces my features. “Am I supposed to? There wasn't a wallet and an id on you, so no, I don't know who you are. And if you are wondering, this is the east side of Harlem; I found you bleeding out in the alley; my friend and I patched you up.”

Suddenly, he stands and the blanket falls from his body. I try not to look at his upper body seeing how tall and broad he is. I take a step back. “You saved me; how should I repay you?” He takes a step towards me. I notice how his eyes roam my body just as he gets closer and closer and a glint shines his eyes that makes me gasp out loud. I put my hands out in front of me to stop him. “You keep looking at me, do you perhaps want my body as payment?”

What the hell?! Maybe he's a male hooker? Who am I to judge? “You don't have to repay me or my friend, you can leave as soon as you get better.” I flash him a nervous smile and tries to leave his line of sight but he seizes my wrist in a firm grip.

“I don't have any money to offer you.”

Is he deaf? I just say I don't need his money. Perhaps he has lost too much blood and lost some of his senses? I wiggle my hand out of his strong grip. “I don't need your money.  You can leave if you are feeling better now. I don't even need to know who you are.”

I tries to leave again but this time, his arm wraps around my waist and pulls me to his chest. I gasp out loud when my hands land on his chest. “What are you doing?” Maybe he’s a rapist? The thought makes me panic and I push my way out of his hold.

“You are pretty,” he says. My mouth hits the floor. Have I perhaps saved a mentally ill person and now he’s going bonkers? Shit! What the fuck have I done.

“Rae!” Suddenly, I hear my name from outside before the door abruptly opens and Daphne peeks her head in before she enters.

“What are you doing?” 

I don't respond, instead I grab her hand and pull her out of the room and lock it behind me. 

“I think he’s crazy.”

“Huh?”