Next morning
Eve's POV

"Open up, Nathan," He shook his head in refusal as I held the spoon full of soup near his pursed lips. "You need to eat. Okay, just this one for me?" 

He opened his mouth and I shoved the spoon into it. "See, I swallowed it," He said assuringly. I put the tray away and sat back on the edge of the bed. Nathan heavily sighed and rubbed his hands together, slightly tensed.

"Hey, are you okay?" He looked over to me, smiled and nodded. I still knew something was troubling him. "Sure?" I further went on to ask. 

"Eve, I think I should tell you this," I nodded. He held my hand in his. "You know, the doctor… um, you know… she… I know her. But, from like long ago," He scoffed nervously.

'So that's why he acted that way!'

"What was it between you two? Because the way you acted when you saw her… it seemed... intense?" I asked, quite unsure. 

"Well, she was my girlfriend like what? Two years ago? But I caught her cheating and we went our separate ways. I left that city and came here to start afresh. I really don't know how she managed to find me…" He looked down at my hand as he spoke.

"I understand every…" I couldn't finish off before Nathan spoke.

"No, Eve. You don't understand. She can be dangerous, Eve. Very dangerous. I need you to be careful around her. Please," He now looked me in the eyes. He was somewhat… scared. 

"Dangerous? How?" I too was now scared. He squeezed my hand and nervously cleared his throat.

"Before I left to come to this city, she told me so much and those were also one of the reasons I came here."

"Why, what did she say?" He remained silent. "Nathan, please talk to me," His quietness made me terribly anxious. 

"She…said… she told me that she'd find me anywhere I'd go and she'd make sure that if she can't have me, no one else can. She found me, Eve and now I'm scared of what she's going to do next..."

"Oh..." It was all I managed to say. 

"She can hurt me but I don't want you to get hurt. I want you to be safe and I wish we could just get out of this place and she'll never see us again and I…"

"Nathan, take it easy. No one's going to hurt me. I'll be fine," He looked away. "Look at me. I'll be fine and maybe we'll get out of here soon because your injury isn't major," He smiled but I still knew he was worried. 

"Just be careful around her, please. I… I need you by my side," I moved closer to him and embraced him in a tight hug.

"I'll always be here. Always," He wrapped his arms around me, warming me up even in the cold room.

"I got into the accident after I saw her yesterday," He said after he had pulled away.

What?! 

"What are you saying?" I asked as I was very confused.

"She requested for a painting to be delivered at her house. I honestly didn't know she was the one but to my greatest surprise, she was. After almost 3 years? It was all too much for me and I just ran into a tree," He chuckled. "I ran into a tree," Then he laughed.

Wait, what's funny?

"Why are you laughing?" I couldn't help but join him as his contagious laugh filled the room. He stopped and shrugged then continued laughing.

All of a sudden, there was absolute silence. "You were so serious when I was speaking. I just couldn't help but laugh, sorry."

"Stop laughing," I whined as he started again. "Stop, stop, stop…" I hit him repeatedly but it didn't affect him.

"Okay, okay. I won't laugh anymore." He held his lips between two fingers. Then I heard him say something under his breath.

"What? He just stared at me. "Why are you looking at me like that? 

"You want to know why? I nodded. You really want to know? I rolled my eyes and nodded again, this time more intensely. "I said you're cute, like very cute." Then he shifted his head to the window.

"Nathan…" He turned to gaze at me but he remained still. "You're so cute yourself," I pinched his nose and stood to my feet. "I'll have to go back to campus."

"No, you can't leave me here." 

"I'll be back before you know it. I'm just going to have a shower and get something to eat. I'll be back soon, I promise."

"Pinky promise?" He childishly asked as he held his little finger out. 

"Pinky promise," I hooked my finger with his and kissed his forehead before I walked to the door and finally headed out.