{CHAPTER FOURTEEN}

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"Hanna! Check this out," Jackson exclaimed, pointing excitedly. "There's an ice cream truck over us. Want to grab some ice cream?"

I grinned and gave him a small nod. "Hmm, ice cream is not really my thing, but you go ahead and treat yourself to one."

He chuckled in disbelief, as if to ask, 'who in the world doesn't love ice cream?' His laughter was infectious, and I couldn't help but smile, still amazed that Jackson was now my boyfriend.

"Come on, Hanna, you've got to give it a shot for your boyfriend," he urged, taking my hand and leading me towards the ice cream truck.

"Two ice creams, please. So, what flavor are you feeling?" He glanced at me briefly before turning away, a playful smirk on his face, hinting that he had a special surprise flavor just for me.

While still holding my hands gently, he passed me the ice cream, his voice barely audible as he whispered, "This one's all yours." Settling the bill with the vendor, he maintained a firm grip on my hand. The entire scene unfolded before my eyes, flooding me with a surge of exhilaration.

"Mmm, I'm so happy," Jackson breathed out, his gaze drifting to the sky as we strolled.

"Why's that?" I teased, barely catching his words, a smile dancing on my lips.

He clasped my hands, savoring a bite of his ice cream. "I'm thrilled that you're finally mine."

I let out a soft chuckle, my hand instinctively rising to shield my cheeks from his gaze, trying to conceal the blush that threatened to give me away. His words have this uncanny power, like he's a master sculptor crafting them to paint my cheeks in shades of crimson. It's as though he's been perfecting this skill just to see my cheeks turn red.

"I'm thrilled as well," I responded, savoring a lick of my ice cream.

"Do you find the flavor to your liking?" Jackson asked.

"Uhh, you know, it's pretty good, but I swear, no more ice cream for me," I quipped with a mischievous smile.

"Okay, okay, no more ice cream," he muttered softly, delicately wiping away a hint ice cream from my lips, our eyes meeting in a sweet, intimate moment.

I felt it deep in my soul, this was the moment, the very instant, where our lips would meet in a passionate embrace. As he leaned in closer, my eyes shut slowly, our hearts beating in sync, revealing our intense desire for each other. In that moment of pure ecstasy, the rain poured down around us, a single raindrop caressing my lips, urging me to open my eyes. It seemed like the heavens conspired against our love, for there was no forecast of rain today, yet it poured heavily.

"Shit, it's pouring!" Jackson exclaimed, tossing his half-eaten ice cream aside. He swiftly shrugged off his black jacket, using it as a shield from the sudden downpour.

The chaos unfolded on the street, thunder and lightning painting the sky with bursts of light. The once bright street now cloaked in darkness by the heavy rain. Pedestrians scattered, racing to find shelter from the relentless downpour, while vehicles zoomed by, splashing water in a chaotic display on the wet streets.

Captivated by the unfolding scene before us. I carefully pulled away the jacket that jackson had been using as a shield from the rain.

"Hanna, what on earth are you doing? You're gonna get soaked" his eyes wide opened in shock at my actions, as he wiped his face with his hand to brush away the raindrops falling on him.

"Haha, I'm pretty much drenched already," I chuckled.

"But Hanna, you're going to catch a cold, I can't let that happen," he insisted, attempting to shield me once more with his jacket.

"I'll be fine," I reassured him. I sprinted ahead a few miles, bouncing in my sneakers as water splashed over my red dress. I stretched my arms out wide, leaping once more. Then, I abruptly stopped to catch my breath and glanced back at Jackson, who stood there with a smile, gazing at me in amazement.

I hurried back to him, my head slightly tilted down to shield myself from the rain. Extending my hand to him, I said with a grin, "Come on, join me." Jackson eagerly took my hand, clapping it together as we frolicked in the rainy streets, laughing and splashing water all around. The once bustling street soon cleared out due to the rain, leaving just the two of us in our playful moment.

"Don't you just love the rain?" I asked, gazing up at him.

Jackson didn't say a word; he just looked at me, our hands locked together, ensuring I didn't slip as we leaped through the rain-soaked streets, our laughter mingling with the sound of the pouring downpour.

I swiftly pulled my hand away from his, teasingly darting forward, using my hands to cover my mouth as I cheekily taunted, "Catch me if you can!" Winking slyly, I dashed ahead, with Jackson already in hot pursuit, excited to join in the playful chase.

In no time, Jackson closed the distance between us, quickly lifting me up, his strong arms wrapping around my waist from behind, my legs effortlessly rising as I burst into a breathless giggle.

Jackson tenderly guided me to face him, our eyes alighted with affection. I could feel his heartbeat syncing with mine. He slowly smoothed my damp hair back and then gently caressed my cheeks.

Remember that moment when I felt it was the perfect time for us to kiss? I was mistaken. This was the moment, I could feel it. I closed my eyes, lifted my legs towards him, our lips inching closer.

A sudden loud thud in my head shattered our embrace.

I clenched my head, my face contorted in pain, the throbbing sensation intensifying as my vision blurred. It felt like a sudden memory striking once more. Trembling in place, Jackson's tight embrace was the only anchor I had. As I lifted my head in discomfort, raindrops fell on his face, causing his words to splash out as he spoke. I could see the veins in his neck bulging, a sign of his worried shouts, though I couldn't hear a word. Suddenly, I collapsed, my eyes closing as I slipped into unconsciousness.

In a short while, I managed to regain consciousness. As I opened my eyes, I noticed the rain had lessened to a light drizzle. I found myself on Jackson's back, running swiftly down the deserted street with no one around to assist us or any taxis in sight. I could hear his rapid breathing and see a bead of sweat lingering on his forehead, even with the drizzle, as he carried me.

"Where are we headed?" I murmured weakly, my eyes barely staying open.

"Thank goodness, you're awake," he began but was interrupted by my groan as I attempted to speak. "Shh, don't speak, we'll be at my place soon, alright?"

I nodded slowly and drifted back into unconsciousness.

I could sense the room's chilling atmosphere as I found myself in Jackson's room, sprawled on his bed under a crumpled sheet. As I rose, a twinge of pain made me bite my lip, shielding my eyes from the sunlight peering through the worn window. With Jackson nowhere in sight, I straightened my tousled hair before the mirror on the opposite wall.

I grabbed my phone and saw missed calls from Lisa and my mom, realizing it was already the following day. "Oh, man! How long was I out?" I muttered, snatching my bag and making my way to the living room. Though, not as pristine as expected, the room exuded a sense of comfort.

As I headed straight to the living room to leave, I spotted Jackson peacefully dozing on the couch. "He must have been really worried yesterday," I mused, settling down on the cramped space beside him on the couch.

He slumbered so tranquilly, clearly drained. I delicately traced my fingers over his face, ensuring not to disturb his rest. Seeing him in that state, so calm and almost defenseless, brought a smile to my lips at his innocence. It was a departure from the usual rugged Jackson I knew; he appeared more like a tender, slumbering infant.

"Tsk, to think, when I first met him, he came off as so strange. I mean, just look at him, he doesn't even give off the vibe of someone who could hurt a fly," I scoffed under my breath, all the while gently stroking his face.

Finally snapped back to reality from my admiration for Jackson, memories of yesterday's incident flooded my mind. I murmured to myself, staring ahead, "I remembered the night's events from the car crash with Dad once more, similar to the one I recounted to Mom. But who is this young boy who rescued me?" As I tried to call Lisa, frustration set in as my phone showed a dead battery.

I quickly got up, dashed out of Jackson's house, aiming to ask Lisa about the young boy who saved me that night, as Mom had advised. Mom believed Lisa was the only one who had spoken to the young boy, the one I keep getting a sudden memory flash from the night of the accident.