Olivia North

"Daddy, I'm fine now. Stop worrying and thinking about what happened, it's been a week already." I whined and popped a piece of meat in my mouth.

"Livy, I'm your father, it's natural for me to worry about what happened. What if Nick didn't arrive there on time?" I stood up and back hugged Dad's neck. I rested my chin on his shoulder.

"Exactly, Nick got there so the bastard didn't go further with his assault. So stop thinking about it, I don't want you to worry anymore and besides, he's already in jail." I said softly.

"But still..."

"Daddy, worrying is bad for your health! So stop it. I'm perfectly fine." I said sternly and glared at Zac. I pointed my index finger at him.

"You! I told you to not tell what happened to this old man! See, he's worrying. Damn you, Zachary, you can't keep a secret when it comes to me." I said in irritation but he just shrugged his shoulders.

I went to him and did what I did to Dad, hugged him.

"But thank you for coming though. Thank you for fixing everything for me, dear brother." I hugged him tightly and I playfully tightened my arm around his neck so he choke.

"But you shouldn't have told it to dad, you ninny." He removed my arm forcefully and coughed. I laughed and went to my place.

"You fucking---"

"Zachary!" Dad stopped him and he looked at dad in disbelief.

"She's going to kill me!" He said in an accusing tone. I smiled sweetly at him and showed my tongue.

"But still, you shouldn't curse your sister." Dad reprimanded him and he smiled at me and held my hand.

"Oh so it's okay for you when she almost killed me?"

"She was just joking, Zachary. Stop whining and finish your food." Dad said and Zac glared at me.

I know he's not totally irked for what I did and he's only being playfully to lighten up the mood.

"I love you, Dad." I smiled and Zac scoffed.

"I love you too, my dear brother Zachary." I said and put his favorite brisket on his plate. He clicked his tongue and I just smiled at him thanking him with everything that he's done for me, through my eyes.

He saw it and he nodded and smiled at me.

After dinner, Zac drove me to my apartment and even walked me to my unit. Since I came home, he's been the one driving me home and would wait for me to go inside my apartment.

While we're in the lift, I linked my arm to his and leaned my head to his arm.

"Zac, what happened to you and Erin?" I asked him and he stilled.

"I know there's something going on between you two. What happened?" I looked him through his reflection on the lift doors.

He frowned and sighed.

"Livy, can we not talk about it tonight?" He said and I nodded.

"Fine. But a gentle reminder, Zac, if you're unsure with your feelings towards her, leave her be. You're not only hurting her but you're also hurting yourself." I said and went out when the lift doors opened.

I walked to my unit and Zac followed me. He was quiet until I opened my door.

"Good night, brother. Call me when you get home, okay." I reminded him and he just nodded and kissed my forehead.

"Drive safe." I smiled and went inside, when he started to walk away, I closed the door.

I went straight to my bedroom to freshen up. After that, I opened my laptop to start working.

This was my nightly routine since I came back, I work til dawn or atleast when sleep comes. I lied to Dad when I said I'm fine but the truth was, I'm far from it. Everytime I close my eyes, I can see and feel everything that he did to me.

There was a time I tried to sleep but then I dreamt about it. I woke up crying and screaming Nick's name. I didn't want to tell anyone that I'm still affected by what Shaiful did to me.

My phone rang and I saw Nick's name so I quickly answered it.

"Hello." I said concealing my excitement. Every night he calls me to check up on me, he wanted to be the one to pick me up at work but I told him that Zac's doing it.

"Hey, were you sleeping?" He asked in his sweet husky voice.

"Nope. How bout you? Don't tell me you're only on your way home?" I looked at the clock and saw that it's 11pm.

"Actually, yes." He chuckled and continued, "How was your dinner with your father?" He asked.

"It was great. I manhandled Zac, you know." I laughed when I remembered his face.

"Oh? Why?" He chuckled lightly.

"For telling dad. Anyway, have you had your dinner?" I asked diverting the topic so that we won't talk about the incident.

"I haven't but I'll just buy cheeseburger and fries."

"Ooh. That sounds good. I was actually craving for it since yesterday, you know." I said and yes, since I saw Nikkie eating it yesterday, I've been craving for it.

"Do you want me to buy you one tonight?" He asked and my eyes widened. I eagerly nodded not because of the food but because I'll be seeing him again. It's been a week since I saw him and we were still in Dubai.

"Uhmmm, Olivia?" He called me and I face palmed for not answering him because of my excitement. I covered the speaker using my hand and cleared my throat.

"Only if it's not a bother to you." I replied.

"It's not. So, do you want the regular or the medium one?" He asked and I internally squealed. Geez, why am I acting this way, like a lovesick teenager.

"Just the regular please."

"Okay. I'll call you later when I'm near." He said.

"Alright. Drive safe, Nick." I reminded him and I can sense that he's smiling and I hung up.

After that, I went immediately to my bathroom to see if I'm good enough to face him. I sprayed some cologne and tidied my living room then after 30 minutes, I heard my door bell rang. I looked at the intercom and saw Nick so I quickly went to the door to open it.

As I opened the door, his sandalwood scent filled my nose and I just want to hug him and bury my face to his neck.

"Hi. Come in." I opened the door widely and he went inside smiling. I locked the door and followed him in the living room.

He put down the paper bags on the coffee table and started to unpack them. He gave me my order and I sat beside him.

"So, how are you?" He asked and I stilled.

"I'm fine. How's Dylan? When will he be coming here?" I asked to change the subject but I really miss the little devil though.

"Next week. I'm quite busy nowadays because we're working on a new software that's why I asked mom and dad to take care of him." I looked at his face and I can see exhaustion in them.

"I shouldn't have asked you to buy me this. I'm sorry for taking your time." I apologized but he just smiled at me.

"Olivia, you're not taking my time." He said and I pouted.

"I am. You should be sleeping by now but--"

"Nope, I won't be sleeping when I get home, you know. I'll just go straight to my office." I gasped and rolled my eyes at him.

"Seriously? You and Zac are the same! Can't you leave your work in your office?" I grunted and he just chuckled.

"It's part of our life, you know. We're working hard not only to provide for ourselves and to our family but also to provide for our employees." He said and took a bite from his burger.

"But that's not enough for you to kill yourself with work. Geez! Let loose and have fun." I whined and took a fries.

"I think it's the---" I shove the fries that I was holding into his mouth. I chuckled and took another fries from the box and shove it again to his mouth.

"Olivia... Stop it..." He said in a mouth full of fries. I laughed so hard and I unconsciously hit his arm for I couldn't contain my laughter.

I stopped laughing when I realized he was staring at me.

"What?" I asked and I can feel the flushing of my face because of his intense gaze.

"Nothing. It's just that, you're laughing again."

I cleared my throat and took a sip of my cola. Once I got a grip of myself, I smiled at him.

"Yeah. Thanks to you." I mumbled and before I realized what I said he heard it clearly and held my hand.

"Do you wanna watch a movie?" I asked him before we ventured into a more serious topic.

"Sure. What do you want to watch?"

"Avengers." I said while turning on my tv to rent the movie.

I laid back comfortably on my couch and lifted my feet from the ground. He then removed his blazer and rested it on the arm of my couch and then get himself comfortable.

We were in the middle of the movie when I felt sleepy. The screen's starting to get blurry and then when I tried to close my eyes, someone covered my mouth and started assaulting me. I tried opening my eyes but I couldn't, then I felt a hand touching me all over my body. When I opened my eyes, I saw Shaiful's face and I screamed for help, for Nick's help.

And then I heard Nick's faint and panicked voice. Someone shook me furiously and when I opened my eyes, I saw a figure in front of me and I got even more scared so I screamed.

"No! Don't touch me! Please get away from me!" I cried and hugged myself.

"Olivia, it's me. It's me, Niccolo." I heard the familiar voice and when I looked in front of me, I saw the very worried Nick. I hugged him immediately and cried.

"Please don't leave me. Please don't. I'm scared." I cried and he caressed my hair but I can feel the tight grip he has on me.

"I won't leave you, Olivia. I will always be here for you." He said to me while comforting me and we stayed like that for like a good 5 minutes until I released him from my embrace.

"I-I'm sorry. I-I d-didn't mean to..." I cannot continue because I didn't know what to tell him.

"Shhh. It's okay, I'm here. Let's get you to bed." He said and I hugged him again tightly.

"Please don't leave me. Stay here. I'm scared to be alone, Niccolo. Please." I pleaded and I felt that he lifted me from the ground. And then I felt the softness of my bed.

"Sleep now, Olivia. I won't leave you." He brushed away the stray hairs in my face and headed somewhere. I then held his hand to halt him.

"Niccolo."

"I'll just turn off the tv. Don't worry, I won't leave you." He said and I nodded then I realized something.

"I-if you want to freshen up, you know where your things are." I said shyly and he smiled at me and kissed my forehead.

"Noted. Sleep now, Livy." And I closed my eyes.

After a while, I felt the bed beside me dipped and a hand was caressing my hair. I took a deep breath and sighed in contentment then scoot closer to Niccolo and put my arm around him. He then hesitatingly placed his arm around me and when he did, I scoot even closer to him. For me, this is safety, this is home, and this is my Niccolo.

******
Since that night, Nick has been sleeping beside me to ensure that I won't get any nightmares anymore. It's been 4 nights now and I wasn't complaining though, I actually liking this setup.

Every morning when I wake up, I always see him preparing breakfast, just like today. Now that it's weekend, he's not wearing his work clothes, he's dressed into his house clothes and he looks so sexy. I just want to jump on him and kiss him.

But before you assume anything, we are not back together yet. We're friends, I guess, that's sleep beside each other every night because he's helping me with my nightmare. That's all, and no one knew about it, even Jowee and Erin.

I went to Nick and touched his arm. He was slicing a watermelon and then he looked at me and smiled.

"Good morning." He greeted me and I smiled.

"Coffee?" He asked and I shook my head.

"Nope. I'll pass, I'll have tea today, you want some?" I asked and he shook his head.

"Livy, I think you need to grocery shop. There's barely food inside of your fridge." Oh right. Geez.

I sighed because that's what I hate the most, to shop for groceries. I didn't know what to buy and which brand is good, that's why I leave it to Jacinda. But Jacinda and Belle took a week's leave because a relative of them would get married tomorrow and they had this family ritual that they needed to spend a week's time before their relative gets married.

"Ugh! I dreaded grocery shopping!" I rested my head on the cupboard.

"I can accompany you, you know." Nick offered and I looked at him surprised.

"Really? I mean, you're not going home after this?" I asked and he looked at the ground.

Oh. Is he being shy now?

"I meant if you only want." He said and I saw a tinge of pink on his cheeks. Aww. My baby's blushing...

"If only if you shave those annoying stubble." I pointed at his face and he chuckled.

"You really didn't like this, didn't you?" He said and resumed slicing the watermelon.

"I do. It tickles, you know." I said and he suddenly brushed his chin on my shoulder for I was wearing a sleeveless pyjamas.

"Ugh! Niccolo! Stop it. It's annoying." I said playfully. I pushed him softly and he was going to brush his stubble again on my hand but I was quick this time so I avoided it and we both laughed because I just did a ninja move.

The pot signaled that the water's boiling already so I went to it and poured myself into a cup.

"Oww!" I heard Nick's groan and when I faced him, there's blood oozing from his hand.

"Oh my God, what happened?" I asked worriedly and took his hand and placed it under the running water.

"I cut myself. The knife slid and it cut my hand." He groaned when I put pressure into it to stop the blood.

"Place your hand under water and put pressure on it. I'll get the first aid kit." I ordered worriedly and sternly.

I took the kit under the counter and took out the hydrogen peroxide to clean up his wound then I applied the povidone iodine and placed a gauze pad on his wound.

After I treated him, I looked at him and he was staring at me intensely so I frowned at him and hit him on his arm.

"You careless man! You made me worried! Next time, no joking in the kitchen, understand?" I said strictly and he smiled.

"Yes, ma'am." He chuckled and my frown deepened.

"What's funny?" I asked.

"Well, given this." He showed his bandaged hand and continued, "I don't think I can grant your request to shave these." He pointed his stubble and smiled widely.

I rolled my eyes at him.

"I'll do it. After breakfast. Now, let's eat." I threw the cotton I used in the bin and I put back those medicines in the kit then we started having breakfast.

Since Nick's injured, I cleaned the kitchen and told him to ready all the things we needed for shaving his stubble.

I went to my room and saw that Nick's in the bathroom trying to open the shaving cream in one hand.

"I told you I'll do it." I said and sandwiched myself between him and the sink. We were so close with each other and my heart was beating rapidly but I acted naturally so he won't see his effect on me.

Then when I out a good amount of shaving cream on my hand, I looked up at him lather the cream onto his stubble. He gasped and when I looked him in the eyes, my throat got dried down and I licked my lower lip. His eyes were looking at my lips intensely and I took a deep shaky breathe to calm my nerves.

"C-can you lower your face?" I stuttered when asking him because he's so tall for me.

I squealed when he picked me up and sat me on the sink. Then he placed himself in between my thighs. His arms though were resting on the marble tile of my sink so the his face and I were now in the same level bug in a very dangerous distance.

I needed air. Oh my God, the butterflies in my stomach were in havoc now. This man! But I wasn't complaining though because I actually liked this position.

Nick then took my hand and started lathering the cream on his face while staring into my eyes. His eyes, omg, it hypnotizes me, it woke up the feelings I thought I'll never be able to feel again. Oh my love, I don't think I can further hide my love for you anymore. I think I must heed on to what my heart says.

His face were inching towards me and I met him halfway. When I said the butterflies in my stomach were in havoc, well now, they all exploded one by one when I felt his lips on mine.

The familiar sensation came back to me. The way he slowly moved his lips with mine made realize that I have already forgiven him long before I knew and I was only denying it to myself.

We halted all of a sudden when we tasted a bitter menthol. When we pulled away, he chuckled lightly and wiped my cheek. I looked at the mirror on my left and there were spots of shaving cream on my face. I looked at him and we bursted into laughter.

Oh my God. We look like five year old kids who played with their father's shaving cream.

"I love you, Olivia." He said out of nowhere and I stared at him for a minute. I know he's uncomfortable with my stare so he looked down but I lifted his chin up for him to look at me.

"I love you."

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