VINCE was carefully dressing her wound, and she could only stare at his face as he does that. Chinky eyes, pointed nose, luscious lips… suddenly Lien felt thirsty. How come she didn’t notice how fine he looks when she rides the elevator with him every morning?

“See me tomorrow at five pm. I’ll change the dressing for you,” Vince said after finishing the dressing.

“In the hospital?” She checked the dressing, it looks perfect.

“Here. I’ll be home by that time tomorrow.”

Why does he sound like a faithful husband informing his wife what time he will be home? Dang, he was so soft-spoken she didn’t know if she could ever get mad if ever they fight. Wait. Why? Why was she thinking that way?

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself.

“Don’t leave yet. I ordered chicken and pizza.”

She opened her eyes and turned to Vince, who was now feeding his cat.

“I—”

“I won’t take no for an answer. If you walk out of my house without eating what I ordered I will charge you triple the price of your wound treatment and that whiskey last time.”

She raised a brow. “Are you threatening me?”

Vince sauntered toward the sofa where she was sitting. He stood in front of her with his hands on his sides. Now that she was sitting and he was standing like that, he really looked like an Eiffel tower.

“I can’t let you off the hook when you’re suicidal, Lien. You can stay with me for a little while and maybe you could use me… Ah, I mean I can give you company.”

Lien bit her lower lip and tried her best to suppress her tears. This man is making her cry, really.

“Why, Vince? Why do you have to care for me?” Her voice was hoarse.

“You remind me of my cat when I first saw him in the shelter. He really looks healthy on the outside, but there was this sadness in his eyes whenever our eyes met.” Vince patted her head. “I can see the pain and sadness in your eyes every time I see you, Lien.”

And then, the doorbell rang. They both looked at the door’s direction.

“The food is here.” Vince ran to the door to get his order.

LIEN did not expect that she was that hungry. She finished a box of pizza all by herself. Good thing, Vince ordered two boxes. And it seemed that pizza was not enough, now she was munching the fried chicken. Vince doesn’t mind. He keeps on offering her the food on the table.

She put the chicken bone on the empty pizza box and took a sip of her cola. Vince lied to her earlier. He has cola on his fridge, a lot.

“Lien.”

She looked at Vince. “Yes?”

“You should not drink cola like its water. You might get diabetes.”

She leaned towards him.

“Do you think it would be better to die from disease?”

He knocked his fist on the table. “Look, Lien… you should be grateful that I saved you up there.”

“Why should I?” she laughed faintly. “I’d be happy to leave this realm.”

Vince let out a sigh.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Lien. If you could only wear my shoes even for a day, you’d understand.”

“I’ve been to a hospital many times,” she said before taking another bite of fried chicken.

“And yet you didn’t know how precious your life is. Do you know how many people around the world died at a young age? Babies killed before they could even see the world. Some people suffer from severe disease, and they still want to live,” he preached.

She shook her head. “You don’t know about me, Vince.”

“Then tell me.”

She snorted. “You are such a nosy neighbor.”

“Am I?” He cocked his head.

“Mmm…” she said with a nod. “If I tell you a story, would you tell one too in return?”

Vince crossed his arms above his chest. He leaned against his seat and smiled. “You know to bargain.”

“Of course.” She wagged her brows. “Nothing is free nowadays.”

“But I saved your life, I dressed your wound and fed you for free. So, perhaps a story is fair enough to compensate me.”

“You’re too sly for a doctor!” Lien pouted her lips.

Vince laughed, then stretched his arm to reach her. His thumb brushed the side of her lips. Tiny volts of electricity crept all throughout her body.

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

They might know each other’s name now. They might have a couple of interactions. But compared to her moments with Darren, Vince was still a stranger. And yet he was able to make her feel that way? Is it possible that she got brain damage when they fell into the concrete?

It was strange; it scared her. Lien hasn’t felt that way before. Even Darren, who was with her for the longest time, wasn’t able to make her feel such sensations. But Vince did that!

“Hey, are you alright?” Vince tapped her cheek continuously.

“H-huh?” She looked at him.

“You froze. Did you choke or something?” he asked worriedly. There was a hint of fear in his eyes.

“N-nothing. I-I’m fine. I just spaced out.” She stood up and went to the kitchen sink to wash her hands. “Why do you have to look so scared?” She laughed.

“My mother died of choking,” he said.

She turned to him and found him looking at her intently.

“O-oh…”

“I was only ten back then. We were having dinner, just the two of us. Father called, and they fought over the phone. The next thing I knew, mom already returned to the table, crying. She ate her food fast without chewing. I don’t think it was intentional. Maybe she was overwhelmed from the fight. She choked on her food. I was too young, scared, panicking I couldn’t do anything to save her. I called an ambulance, but when they arrived, it was too late.”

Lien went back to the table and joined him again.

“That is why I promised myself to do my best to save lives. I don’t like seeing people die in front of me.”

Now she fully understood why Vince was like that.

“I saw my mom died too. She hanged herself because she was weakhearted. I thought I was like her, so I decided to end my suffering. But then you came and saved me before I fall.”

“Your life must have been so tough, huh?”

“You bet.”

“Do you drink beer?

“No need to ask.”