I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED him because he was wearing a black leather jacket and his regular black ball cap. He was also wearing black sunglasses, so no one would recognize him until he removed his shades and cap.
He felt my presence, so he turned to me and slightly lowered the sunglasses to looked at me.
"W-what are you doing here?" I stuttered.
"Visiting your father." He looked up at me again.
I barely glanced at the closed door before him. I also noticed the fruit basket he was carrying.
"I was just taking care of something outside. Ah, do you want to come in?" I asked him.
He stood up. "I've waited here for almost two hours and you will ask me if I want to come in?" He clenched his jaw as if running out of patience with what I did.
I look down for a second and suddenly throw him a smile. "Come in."
Because I didn't want to be rude, my smile remained as I waited for him to enter. If possible, I don't want to get pissed because I could feel Calixto's sweet lips on mine until now.
The bright ambient light of the room gave a cold and awkward feeling to us. I sat down on the couch and looked up at him.
"Sit down," I pointed to the single sofa, but he preferred to sit next to me, something I was very nervous about.
"How is he?" I tried to have a calm conversation with him while he stared directly at Dad, who was still hovering all over his body.
"He's still recovering and hopefully he'll wake up," I said softly as I started to take off the backpack I was carrying and set it between us for no reason for us to be close. I don't want him to think it's okay for me to be close like this.
"I'm sure he will. And I'm praying for his fast recovery." He quickly glimpsed at me and crossed his arms on his chest.
"Yeah." I nodded. I still can't say the word thank you to him, especially as we were enveloped in silence again.
"About my offer to you to be my personal assistant, I think it would be better if your father wakes up first and then we talk."
He turned next to me, so I did the same, which seemed unbelievable.
He then threw me a curious look. His brows furrowed together, lips twitched a bit. I couldn't help but stare at his handsome face. There was something in him that I want to indulge in and to feel.
"Well, I guess that would be easy for you to decide when I need an answer." He just shrugged his shoulder, regardless of my lingering moment.
He looked at me again before smiling. He then shows off his clean and white teeth when he threw me a smile.
I blinked my eyes and cleared my throat. I also adjusted my seat to erase the strange feeling.
"I want to know your answer when your father wakes up. I know it won't take long before he wakes up," he audibly said. I looked back at him like a magnet because of his gentle voice.
My chicks turned red when he noticed my gaze. It was as if I wanted to jump out of my seat and hide behind the sofa to avoid embarrassment.
"So I'll go ahead. Maybe I'll come back tomorrow."
To my shock, I couldn't move as he caressed my red cheek.
"Nice, you're better off when you're not complaining." He leaned closer to me and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.
My lips parted. I felt my cheeks grow warmer.
He went out of the room, but I could still feel his lips on my cheek. And what I don't understand was that my attraction to him was getting harder and deeper.
***
It's been a week since I've been able to return to work. Because I've switched to the night shift again, several co-workers feel compelled to speak with me.
There were rumors that Calixto and I have a relationship. They said that I dare to be absent and change shifts because my boyfriend is Calixto. If only the rumors they were spreading about me were accurate, I'm confident I'll be pleased by chance, but that wasn't the case.
After that kiss, we didn't go out again. We went back to normal as if nothing had happened.
Sometimes I just think that maybe Jacky was right. If Calix really likes me, he must have flirted with me a long time ago. But why do I still rely on the uncertain things that happened to us?
"Dad, I'm already here." I kissed his forehead and go straight, sitting on the couch after my shift last night.
It's good that nurses patiently watched over my father sometimes when I was at work.
Dad had a sister in the province but couldn't visit because she has a kid studying in college. I didn't expect her either to come here.
I could no longer change my clothes. I went straight to the sofa and closed my eyes firmly. I got a few more minutes, my body was exhausted, but my mind was still awake.
Until I heard some growl that made me open my eyes.
"Dad?!" I got up quickly to peek at him, and I was delighted to see he's awake.
"Dad, you're awake!" I said out loud and quickly pressing the emergency button on the side of his head before hugging him tightly.
"Dad . . ." I couldn't help but say as tears welled up in my eyes. I felt his hand caressed the trunk of my hair which made me cry even more.
"Cherry . . ." he said in a hoarse voice.
"Yes, Dad. It's me!" I took one of his hands and placed it on my cheek.
He smiled at me, and my heart was full of happiness.