❦ . ❦ . ❦

The familiar bland, white interior of the room. And a great sense of déjà vu. Those were the two things that greeted him upon having his consciousness back, but unlike the first time he'd woken up in the same place, Laurence instantly figured out where he was.

Not in hell. Yet, after every ill-fated incident that had fallen upon him, he was convinced he might as well be in a different version of it.

The few memories before he'd fainted washed over him, reminding him of why he was in the hospital again. The text messages. The land that had gone to rack and ruin. The attacker. And Isaac's cry before and after he'd passed out because of mental and physical exhaustion.

"Rence!"

The emotional feminine voice calling out his nickname almost made Laurence laugh since everything felt like a replay of an episode of his life series, which was a comedy and tragedy rolled up into one.

Jade ran to the bedside before Laurence could turn his head to verify he'd gotten the speaker right. Behind Florence's older sister, Camila stood with reddish and glassy eyes.

The two women were prompt to assist him when he tried to get up, although his body gave the signs it was unnecessary. He didn't mention he could move fine on his own, and instead sent Camila and Jade an appreciative smile.

While he observed the Villena women's worried expressions, Laurence remembered how scared Isaac had also been when he'd found him being assaulted. It occurred to him that his life was no longer only for him to care; he now had some people who would be upset if he was hurt.

Bringing his hand to his face, he touched the gauze on his left eye and cheek. His mouth twisted into a mirthless smirk at the idea that the unfortunate marks seemed to have been replicated even in this current body.

And yet, it didn't dismay him. If anything, he found an odd comfort in the knowledge that the wounds would leave permanent scars, similar to the one he'd gotten from the burn on his original face. He would be happy to accept it if it was a way to preserve an aspect identical to his previous life.

His gaze went to the door in time for another person to enter. Laurence met the older man's unwelcome presence with a frown.

Ralph Villena stopped at the foot of Laurence's bed and studied his appearance. "You look alright," he said with his usual apathetic air. "I knew your mother and older sister were overreacting when they informed me, crying that you had gotten into trouble again."

Laurence gritted his teeth and did not bother to hide his glare. He noticed Jade was making the same displeased face.

"In any case, you only have yourself to blame for wandering in that godforsaken place. What kind of unspeakable rendezvous were you getting involved, and you have to be present there? You were fortunate that your good friend, Isaac Ruiz, came to your rescue on time." Ralph Villena's mouth contorted into a sardonic smile. "Like a knight in shining armor."

"Ralph."

Laurence jerked his head, surprised by the graveness he'd never heard Camila use in her speech before. What stunned him more was the older woman's glower in her husband's direction.

"Not now. Your son had just gone through a dreadful experience. The last thing he needs is this unsympathetic sermon from a family."

Ralph cast his wife a long stare. With a shrug, he walked out of the room, but not before saying, "This is why he's grown into a recalcitrant."

As soon as the Villena head left, the three remaining people did not speak, letting the thick atmosphere abate.

"How are you feeling, dear?" Camila asked after a beat, her demeanor reverting to its default tenderness.

"I'm..." Laurence trailed off, aware that he would never come off convincing if he told them he was okay. "I'm gonna be alright. Don't worry."

Camila's weak smile confirmed his assumption.

"Rence, can you..." Jade said in a trembling voice. She rested her hand on Laurence's arm. "Can you please tell us what really happened? What were you doing in that place? Who was that man who attacked you? Why did you have to meet up with someone like that? What did he want?"

The older Villena woman patted her daughter's shoulder and relayed gentle advice not to overwhelm Rence with the questions.

"I'm sorry." Laurence stared at the white blanket covering his legs. He fisted his hands resting on his lap.

As much as he felt bad for these women and understood they deserved clarification, he didn't think he had the energy to discuss that awful incident with them at the moment.

Laurence scanned the room, his gaze lingering at the door. He'd been expecting the sole person he wanted to talk with to appear soon until he remembered the guy was a busy corporation leader. That punk would not have all the time in the world to hang out in the hospital and wait for him to wake up.

Even as he recognized Isaac had to prioritize his job over him, Laurence could not help the disappointment from sculpting a downward curve on his mouth. He returned his attention to the pair of women, who had anticipation for his answers drawn on their features.

Apologetic, he said, "Somehow, my mind's a mess and I'm tired, though I just woke up. Is it okay if I ask for a li'l more space and don't wanna talk about it for now? I'll tell you everything when I'm ready. In the meantime, I want to be left alone to think."

Silence was the solitary response to his request, and Laurence wondered if he had been too cold for saying those words. He contemplated Jade more than Camila because he found it easier to read the younger woman. As he examined her closer, he interpreted something else from the lines between her brows and the lack of enthusiasm in her eyes. She was worried, but not just about the recent physical assault on her younger brother.

Laurence reached for the woman's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, sis, remember what I told you before about how the universe may have something amazing in the store for me, that's why I'm still here after all the terrible happenings?" he said, despite his own uncertainty about what plan did the gods or whoever the director was in this entire stage play have for his life. He could no longer comprehend whether the world wanted him to die or to live. Or perhaps, suffer in between. "I still meant everything I said then. I'll stay, I'll keep surviving if it means I have to see all of it through the end. Even now, I'm very grateful I escaped that near-death experience. I'm glad that I'm alive."

Jade reciprocated Laurence's gesture by folding her fingers around his hand too. Through her soft expression, she sent the message that she got it.

Minutes passed, and the two women granted him space for a little while. Camila told him she would go home to cook some of his favorite food and bring it to him later for dinner. She stepped out of the room first.

Jade followed her mother and then paused by the door. "Oh, by the way, Rence. Your boss, your... friend, Isaac Ruiz? That man, he cares a lot about you, doesn't he?"

"Yeah?" Laurence replied, unsure where this was going. "Yeah, I guess so."

"It's easy to tell." A weak smile skipped to Jade's lips. "He stayed by your side the whole last night. Anyway, I haven't gotten the chance to thank him for saving you and bringing you here. If you see each other, please pass on my gratitude, although I plan to do it myself when I get to talk to him personally."

"Sure, but that may have to wait 'til the end of working hours. I'm assuming he's still in the office."

"I don't believe so. I just saw him in the hospital garden earlier. He appeared like he was meeting someone. Anyway, I'll have to go. Rest more, Rence. I'll be back later, too."

Laurence waited until he was sure he was alone before he got off the bed. Ignoring the twinge on the side of his stomach, he paid a brief visit to the nurses' station to ask if it was okay for him to go out to the garden for a bit.

The staff on duty was surprised to see him up already at first. After informing her colleagues about the situation, she told Laurence it might indeed be a good idea for him to get some fresh air. The nurse also reminded him not to take too long because the doctor would have to check on him once he returned to his room.

Laurence agreed and exited the building. He made his way to the hospital green space in the backyard, an area he'd never wandered into the first time he'd been here in the Aurora Medical Center, even when his confinement had lasted for a few months.

Thanks to the number of velvet apple and tropical almond trees, the warm weather affected Laurence less. He turned his head upward, squinting as the sunray seeping through the branchy and leafy canopies hit his sight.

He continued to amble through the garden and admired the blooming roses, geraniums, and hibiscus all around. Some people sat near the plant boxes. A few nursing attendants assisted the patients in wheelchairs while they strolled.

Laurence reached the end of the garden. By a bench under a triplet of tropical almond trees, he found the person he was searching for.

"Hey, Ice—" He was about to rush to the location when he noticed the young boss was not alone.

A woman in a semi-formal white blouse and a black skirt sat next to Isaac. He could not get a good view of her overall appearance, but she seemed engaged in a conversation with the young CEO.

Curiosity pushed Laurence to sneak behind the tall raspberry bush near the first tropical almond tree. He took a seat on the edge of the concrete plant box, making sure he was hidden from the pair's field of vision. He relaxed, relieved when the voices came clear enough to listen from his location.

"So, that special friend of yours, I learned his name is Florence Villena," the woman said with a casualness one would use to someone they had a close relationship with.

"What about it?" Contrary to the other person's tone, solemnity blanketed Isaac's words.

"It sounds like the name of that man you brought here more than a year ago. That one who..."

Laurence contained the impulse to peek over the bush to check why the woman had paused.

"Laurence Villegas, was it?" she continued.

At the mention of his name, he straightened his back and raised his attentiveness.

"Young man, are you sure you are not just using that new kid as a replacement for a... dead person because their names are similar?"

Laurence's pulse increased. He fidgeted with his fingers, anxious to hear Isaac's answer to the woman's question, notwithstanding that he already knew what it would be.

"No. That's not the case, doc. I'm afraid I cannot reveal the whole truth about it, but I can at least assure you I genuinely care for him."

Light emotions swelled in Laurence's chest. He drew a brief, soundless chuckle. He had not imagined Isaac's response to please him more than it should be, but it did.

"I don't understand your relationship with Florence Villena, yes. Not fully," the woman said. "Maybe I'm just worried. You'd been broken for some time after that Laurence kid's death. You were like a walking dead, and it was as if nothing could pull you out of that darkness you chose to lock yourself in."

The words poked at Laurence while they served as a confirmation of the CEO's claim about how devastated he had been at the loss of his former senior. He nipped his bottom lip, recalling the image of frightened Isaac yesterday.

To ease his guilt for often putting the younger man to witness those scary scenarios, Laurence made a mental note to treat him much better from today on.

'Guess I gotta pamper that punk more.

"You've been looking well since the beginning of this year and restored some of your glow, especially these past couple of weeks. I can only guess who's been inspiring you to pull yourself together and restart living your life like you should. Still, I'm hoping no one would end up hurt, that no one's feelings would be shattered again. Not yours, not that kid's, because of this decision."

"You have nothing to worry about, Auntie."

"Aunt... what..."

The woman gasped, and Laurence pictured her gaping at the young boss.

"Hah, okay, I reckon that is my cue to stop talking about the subject. If you're genuinely happy you've found the person who can help you move on from a horrible past, and you're saying you sincerely care for him, that's good for you. I have nothing more to say about it. Though allow me to tell you one last thing. I'm glad you're moving forward again, Isaac. Wherever your mother is at the present, I'm pretty certain she shares the same sentiment."

The woman's tone grew chirpy. "Alright, time to go back to work. I will drop by your friend's room in a few hours if he's awake and chat with him to assess how we'll proceed with his psychotherapy. I'll see you around, boss."

Laurence's ears caught the uninterrupted tap of high heels against the brick path. It faded every second until there was no more.

For a full minute, the area was silent.

And then Isaac spoke.

"You can come out now."

Laurence flinched. His right eye widened. He remained motionless, willed himself not to produce a peep, as he held on to that flimsy reasoning that Isaac might have referred to someone or something else.

It could be a kid playing hide-and-seek. It could be a stray cat.

"Have you developed a strange habit of eavesdropping on people, senior?"

Or not.

"Tsk." Laurence stood and rounded the raspberry bush to reveal himself to the other man. He rubbed his neck and focused his gaze to the side, unable to look straight at Isaac.

"Come here," the young CEO said tenderly, patting the vacant spot beside him on the bench.

Albeit reluctant, Laurence approached Isaac and settled next to him.

"How have you been feeling?" Isaac asked, endearment oozing from the simple question.

"That's..." Laurence scowled at the younger man's paler complexion and the shadows under his eyes. "I'm better. I should be asking you that. Jade told me you had not gotten proper sleep last night."

"I couldn't relax until I was assured you were totally fine."

Laurence pursed his lips. He wished he could scold Isaac for not taking care of himself better, but he acknowledged he was not in the place to talk, knowing all of this had happened because of him and his recklessness.

There was no chance for him to soak in self-reproach when Isaac palmed his left cheek and gently, ever so gently, caressed his dressed wounds.

The young CEO closed the gap between them and brushed his lips against the patch on his former senior's eye.

"Wha... what's that?" Laurence asked, more concerned about the heat rushing to his head and the flutters in his stomach than the fact that they were in a public place.

"A kiss to make the pain go away."

"Are we toddlers?" Laurence choked.

What the hell? Since when had this punk become this huge of a cheese junk?

But he didn't hate it. Not when this side was still much preferable to the terrified Isaac yesterday.

"Or is it the lack of sleep talking?" Laurence muttered.

"If you're that worried about me not having sufficient rest last night, then would you mind lending me a hand? Or your shoulder."

"What?"

Isaac scooted over to the other man as if their proximity was not enough.

Laurence stiffened when the young boss put his head on his shoulder.

"It may be easier to catch a wink now that I've seen you awake. Let me use you as a pillow for a bit, senior," Isaac said in a murmur, folding his arms and shutting his eyes.

The tickling sensation inside Laurence intensified when the younger man's hair brushed against his neck. He relaxed to make their position more comfortable for Isaac.

As serenity came over them, Laurence reveled in the melodious tweets of birds from the trees and the calming fragrance of his companion.

"Thank you, Ice," he whispered, the soft wind carrying his statement like a prayer. "It's because of you that I'm still here."

The young CEO did not stir. He hummed. "Years ago, you saved me too, didn't you? There wouldn't have been an Isaac who came to your rescue yesterday if you didn't give me a reason to live when we were in high school, so you have yourself to thank from the beginning."

"That's—"

"I'm just grateful that you're safe, Laurence."

"Yeah, me too. And listen, Ice, I'm really sorry..."

"Shh, I'm trying to nap here. As much as I love hearing your voice, let's not talk about the horrendous things for now."

"Fine, fine," Laurence said with a sigh. He peeked at Isaac, surreal thoughts coursing over him at the sight of the younger man's solemn face.

Deep within his heart, he found an emotion he wasn't certain he'd felt for someone before or, at least, recognized if it had always been there.

He hoped the young boss would never be clingy like this to anyone else but him. He hoped only he would ever have the privilege of being on the receiving end of the man's sheer affection. If possible, he wanted to keep this adorable side of Isaac to himself.

Ah, perhaps, when it came to this relationship, the young CEO was not alone in being greedy. Laurence realized he was just as overprotective, just as territorial with this cute punk.

Hell, I wanna kiss him, he mused and began to lean in.

However, before he could act on the burning urge, a confused voice broke through the moment. "Rence?"