❦ . ❦ . ❦

Laurence looked at the owner of the voice, who'd called his name like it was a question.

Near the first tropical almond tree, Odessa stood frozen, her eyes wide, her lips slightly parted.

"Hey," Laurence said, uncertain how else to greet the woman or how he would explain his and their boss's current closeness. He glanced to his side when the younger man shifted and raised his head, leaving a sense of emptiness on his shoulder.

The creases between Isaac's brows put a compassionate smile on Laurence's mouth. He directed the same gentle expression to Odessa, who had yet to recover from astonishment.

Oddly, it didn't bother him that the woman had stumbled upon them while they'd been in an intimate position, even if she'd witnessed a scene that could serve as irrefutable proof for the rumor in their workplace.

Maybe because it was Odessa, one of the few people, a friend whom he was confident would never spread tacky stories about him. He trusted it was not in her nature to do anything that could cause others trouble.

"Hi, you're here," he tried again. "Are you—"

"Si... sir." Odessa gave a hasty bow, failing to reciprocate her colleague's greeting. "I didn't mean to... I was just... I was supposed to visit Rence. I was very worried about him and thought I'd get off work early to come here. I... I made sure I completed most of my tasks today before leaving the office, and I... I'll take extra hours tomorrow to make up for it and... finish the rest."

As Laurence turned to Isaac, he discovered the reason for Odessa's nervous and unexpected defense. He nudged the young CEO to distract him from sending the poor woman a long stare and mouthed, "Stop glaring," which only earned him an eye-roll in response.

Laurence stood and approached the woman. "Sorry. I went out of my room for a bit. Good thing you found me here."

"Y-yeah." Odessa cast a cursory gaze at the bench before focusing on the man in front of her. She attempted a smile. "I was told by the Information you'd be here, and you were supposed to be returning soon. The nurse said the doctor had to examine your condition, so I offered to look for you and remind you about it. I..." She bit her lower lip and stole another glimpse behind Laurence. "I had no idea you'd be together with... I didn't mean to interrupt."

"C'mon, don't worry about it. Not like it was your fault. It's on us. 'Course, this is a public area, so we should have been aware this could happen. I'm going back with you." Laurence scratched the side of his neck. He swiveled and threw his attention to Isaac again.

The young boss had assumed the appearance of someone lost in thought and staring in the far distance, but this pretense would no longer fool Laurence. He knew the devious punk was listening in on Odessa and his exchange.

Laurence permitted himself a couple more seconds to feast on the view. With his arm draped over the bench backrest and his legs crossed, Isaac Ruiz was like the subject of a romanticism painting, which had come to life.

"How 'bout you?" he asked once satisfied, not bothering to use a formal tone even with Odessa hearing everything, knowing it was pointless after what she'd seen minutes ago.

"You can go first." Isaac pried his regard off the blank space and aimed it at his two employees. "I still have to discuss something with someone else. I'll go to you in an hour."

Laurence nodded. He was just about to leave with Odessa when Isaac called him one more time.

"Before I forget, come here for a bit, Rence. I have something to return to you." Isaac searched in his suit pants pocket.

Despite his puzzlement, Laurence walked back to Isaac.

The young boss pulled out a small package the size of a ring box. "Give me your hand."

Laurence did, his former junior's commanding tone affecting him as if it was a spell that had provided his body with the free will to move on its own.

A shape of amusement surfaced on Isaac's mouth. He held Laurence's fingers, flipped them over, and placed a familiar flower-and-leaf charm on the other man's palm. "Remember to always keep it with you," he said in a murmur. "I had the tracker disabled, so you won't have to worry and feel uncomfortable about it anymore."

As he studied the tiny item that had survived amid the dreadful attack against him and the crushing of his phone, Laurence recalled what Isaac had said the day he'd gifted it to him.

I wish for this charm to protect you wherever you go.

He breathed a chuckle. In the end, the charm had indeed helped Isaac locate him and come to his rescue on time. It had, as the young boss had wished, protected him in a way.

Laurence wrapped his hand around the charm and brought it close to his chest, clasping the thing as though his life depended on it. "Hey, just so you know, I was never upset with you for planting the tracker in it. You were able to save me because of it, yeah?" he whispered. "And you may be tired of hearing this, but really... thank you, Ice."

He observed the relief washed off the stain of anxiousness in the younger man's pretty green eyes. Isaac offered him a soft smile, and the urge to touch surged over Laurence once more. He really, badly wanted to kiss this punk. Or hug him, at least.

But because he'd become conscious of their location and the fact they had a spectator, he settled for reaching the top of Isaac's head and ruffling his hair, something he'd been wishing to do since they had been in high school.

"I'll see you later then." He embedded the young boss's surprised face in his mind before turning away and nearing Odessa. "Let's go," he said, brushing off the woman's perplexity with a casual tone.

The pair walked back to the hospital building in silence.

Once they reached Laurence's room, Odessa fidgeted with the chain strap of her sling bag and lowered her gaze. She parted her lips to speak, but whatever she meant to say was cut off by the arrival of the attending doctor, with a nurse trailing behind.

The medical staff checked his vital signs first. After a quick exam of the bruise on his abdomen and a few questions about his condition, the doctor explained they'd prescribe NSAIDs and oral antibiotics for now. Laurence would also need an x-ray to rule out any rib or skull fractures. If the results were clear and he showed no signs of infection within twenty-four hours, he might be able to go home tomorrow.

A few more minutes of instructions later, the doctor and nurse left the room.

"You have something to tell me," Laurence said as soon as he was alone with his female colleague.

Odessa appeared caught off guard by the statement at first, but quickly recovered. She shook her head. "It's nothing important. Just that I was... I was so worried this morning upon hearing the news. Actually, it's now a hot topic in the office."

Laurence scoffed. "Of course. Not surprised 'bout that."

"They've also been..." The woman snatched a glance at the door and then took a seat on the edge of Laurence's bed. "Our coworkers have been gossiping about you and... Mr. Ruiz. So, uhm, the two of you... are you really..."

"Together? Or do they still think we've been having an office affair?"

"That's..."

"Hey, I've been curious about it for a while now. It's a shame I can't remember anything, but what even made those people in the office arrive with the idea that it was an illicit romance then? Did they believe Isaac was in a committed relationship?"

"I'm not really sure about the whole story." Odessa averted her eyes and gripped her skirt with both hands. "All I was aware of at that time... I mean, what I overheard from others was that Mr. Ruiz had a special someone, and they were the inspiration for the current theme of Renascence Café."

Laurence frowned. Florence had also mentioned this in his journal. Now that he knew there was truth in that one rumor, a big question sprang up in his mind. How in the world did those people even find out that information?

His desire for the answer was extreme, but he managed not to intimidate the unsuspecting woman into giving him one. Odessa might just be as clueless as he was about where all the stories spreading like a virus in their workplace had originated.

"Well, I'll let you know this at least. Nothing was going on between me and Isaac during that time."

"And..." Odessa gave him an expectant stare. "Now?"

Laurence wondered why she seemed so interested in this subject until it clicked that she might be doing this out of concern for Violet. This must be her trying to confirm nothing would break the heart of the person she liked.

He smiled, although he doubted Odessa would see the silent apology behind it. "No. We're not together... yet," he said in a quiet voice. He combed his hair with his fingers. "I haven't replied to his confession. Or whatever that was."

Thinking back, he realized that punk had yet to tell him the three little words.

"I see," Odessa said, covering up her true reaction with a rigid smile. "Ah, by the way, I heard they already caught the one who attacked you."

"Oh." Laurence paused and let the news sink in. An inexplicable sensation created a knot in his stomach. "Really? I just woke up like an hour ago, so I haven't been updated about the case. That's... that's good to know then."

"Right, yeah, and that man... that person..."

"Rence," a familiar deep voice cut in, resulting in the second interruption to Odessa.

Isaac stepped into the room, carrying a brown paper bag. He acknowledged Odessa with a curt nod before addressing the other man. "I bought you a meal. I realized you haven't had anything since last night."

As if on cue, Laurence's stomach growled.

The young boss smirked. He adjusted the overbed table, pulled two meal boxes out of the paper bag, and set them up in front of the patient.

Laurence gulped, the whine of his stomach growing louder at the sight of rice plus the smell of barbeque chicken and sauteed bitter melon with shrimp.

"How about you guys?" he asked his two companions in the room.

Both Isaac and Odessa answered they were fine since they were done with their lunch. The young CEO added that Rence should worry about himself, and that he needed to have food more than anyone else at the moment.

Laurence picked up the spoon and began eating. He shot furtive glances at the two every other bite of his meal. As much as he wanted to fully savor the dishes, it was impossible for him to slow down and take his time because of the awkward atmosphere, which was amplified by Odessa's continuous fidgeting and Isaac's indifference while he was occupied—pretended to be occupied—with his phone.

After he ate, Laurence didn't get the chance to resume his conversation with Odessa because it was then that Dr. Naomi, the psychotherapist and the person with Isaac earlier, arrived.

At a closer look, Laurence figured the woman was older than he'd expected. She might be the same age as Camila or his own mother if she was alive.

With a warm greeting, Dr. Naomi sat on the chair beside the patient's bed. She started small talk with Laurence and shared some facts about herself.

She mentioned she was the late Isla Ruiz's good friend, the piece of information shedding light on the way she treated Isaac like a younger family member.

"I am single and still consider myself too young to be called auntie," she said, emphasizing the last word and tossing a mock glare at Isaac, who just ignored her by keeping the act of browsing his phone. She quickly switched to a cheerful face as she turned back to Laurence. "You can call me older sister instead."

"It's fine. I'll stick to Dr. Naomi." Laurence flashed him a lopsided grin that swelled to chuckle at the older professional woman's pout.

In the middle of their chat, Odessa bid them goodbye with the excuse that she had to go somewhere else.

Dr. Naomi continued the initial assessment of Laurence, asking him a few personal questions. Soon, she eased into a graver subject and brought up the assault.

Laurence answered everything with honesty for a couple of minutes until his psychotherapist was content with the details she'd gathered to decide how they would proceed with their next session.

At the end of their exchange, Dr. Naomi advised Laurence to have a good rest and told him she would drop by again tomorrow.

"In case you'll be allowed to go home early, just let Isaac accompany you in visiting me on weekends, is that alright? You seem to be coping well, but it's best to be completely certain," she said, and then left the two young men.

Later at night, Laurence's temperature rose, and his condition lasted until the next day. Even though his fever broke in the afternoon, his discharge order was postponed because his CBC result suggested he still had an infection. On the bright side, there had not been a problem with his x-ray.

Isaac had not shown himself in the hospital since morning. Despite being the one who'd reminded the young boss during their phone call to avoid slacking off at work while his employees were making money for his company, Laurence could not help but feel down because he missed that punk's handsome mug.

He thought of contacting him through video chat, but reconsidered. He didn't want to bother him because he was sure the young CEO was busy with his executive duties.

Stop being irrational, you idiot. Why are you suddenly acting childish? Laurence caught his face with his palm. It must just have been the aftereffect of that freaking fever.

He consoled himself with Isaac's promise to spend time with him in the evening. As hours flew by and the sunset approached, his mood improved.

Laurence went to the bathroom to wash himself while Camila was out to buy distilled water. When he returned to his bed, Isaac was already in the room, watching the dim surroundings outside through the window.

"Hey, you're here."

Facing Laurence, Isaac revealed the shadow of exhaustion in his features.

"Rough day?" Laurence asked with a gentle voice, and the young boss's silence confirmed his guess. "Are things in the office getting more and more demanding and stressful?"

"That, too. The concerns with the Board have not fully settled down, although the old people on top have been a little quiet recently. At any rate, it's not all about business at work."

Laurence hummed, signaling Isaac to continue.

"I have been receiving a few brief reports from the authorities regarding the attack on you the other day."

The news piqued Laurence's interest. He dismissed the apprehensive leap of his heart and feigned composure. "Oh, yeah, Odessa mentioned they already caught the attacker."

A frown flitted across Isaac's face, but he was quick to cover it up with his usual solemn expression. "That's right. I could not find the right time to apprise you yesterday. One of my men, that person who saved you from the assault, managed to capture him during their chase on that night."

"That's, he's actually impressive, yeah?"

"He's a former military."

"Oh." Laurence lifted a brow. He shouldn't have been surprised, and yet he was.

It was just that Isaac had been assuming a low-key lifestyle for someone of his status; Laurence sometimes forgot it was not impossible for the young CEO to have those types of formidable people working under him. And that made Isaac Ruiz fearsome himself.

Laurence took a seat on the side of his hospital bed. "So, what about it that seemed to stress you out? Something's not going well with the investigation?"

Isaac remained standing, leaning against the windowsill. "No. On the contrary, crucial information was discovered, following that person's arrest."

"Let me guess, the authorities found out that the attempt to take me out the other day was related to the car crash, which had killed my original body last year," Laurence said, his instinct allowing him the confidence in such an assumption. He surprised even himself with how calm he was taking the entire conversation.

The young boss contemplated. "Yes, and there is another significant revelation connected to it. Your assaulter was the same person who tampered with the brakes of your car and the sensor of your airbag last year. The real perpetrator, it was not Kian Fajardo."

A ray of hope peeked within Laurence upon hearing the last part of Isaac's update.

"Then I was right all along. I knew Kian could not do it to me. Does that mean he was..." The relieved smirk peeking from his mouth withered before it could sprout. He furrowed his brows deeply, a key memory from his visit to RPI flashing in his mind. "Was he framed up? No, that can't be right. Something's off. If that's the case, why did he take the blame... why did he confess he did it? Was it possible... was he being threatened? What's going on here?"

The lack of response and Isaac's serious mien inflamed the sinking feeling in Laurence's stomach.

"Give it to me straight, Ice."

Isaac looked him square in the eye. "The real perpetrator in that car crash and the person who assaulted you the other night... was someone close to Kian Fajardo..."

Laurence's heart pounded. The cool blow of the air conditioner did nothing to stop him from sweltering.

"...and to you."

Wide-eyed, Laurence shook his head. His breath caught. There was no need to hear Isaac's next statement for him to hate it already.

"The one who tried to kill you twice... was Grey Calma."