Dominique didn’t know how long he had stayed sitting at the front gate of Athena’s penthouse. His mind had been preoccupied with the recollection of mories he had shared with Sabrina in the past. He didn’t bother to check his ti.
In the end, he decided to buy beers at the nearby convenience store before returning to his previous spot. He was so determined to see Athena. Furthermore, he felt so lost as if he had nowhere else to go just to satisfy his longing for Sabrina.
Holding a canned beer in his hand, Dominique absentmindedly watched the gentle glow of streetlights across his spot. His thoughts churned with different emotions.
"What should I do now? If Sabrina was alive, I’m certain that she wouldn’t want to see ever again. But what if Athena is Sabrina? Did she return for revenge? How about Aaron? Is Aaron truly connected to her? Is he our son?"
With a sigh, Dominique took another sip of his beer, the amber liquid soothing his nerves as he continued to gather his thoughts, trying to figure out what he would do next. Whatever the future might bring, he was determined to face it head-on, ready to confront whatever challenges lay ahead.
"If I were given another chance, I’d do my best to redeem myself and ask for Sabrina’s forgiveness," Dominique mumbled with unwavering resolve. "Please... I hope that she is alive. I don’t care if she hates so much... as long as she is alive... I won’t ask for more."
As the hours stretched out into what felt like an eternity, Dominique continued drowning himself with beers. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing as he waited for Athena’s arrival.
*****
The next morning, Athena felt refreshed as she slept well last night.
"Gael, I’m sorry I didn’t finish our movie marathon last night. My eyes gave up from drowsiness." Athena apologized as she smiled sheepishly.
Gael just let out a soft chuckle. "You sleepyhead! Co here. Eat your breakfast first before going ho."
"Hmm. I’ll just take a few bites then go ho. Have you checked the area?" Athena grabbed the coffee and took a bite of the chicken sandwich prepared by Gael.
"Yes. I surveyed the vicinity. I didn’t see any suspicious man. I guess Dominique didn’t mobilize his n to monitor ." Gael reassured her. She could leave Gael’s place at ease. She had nothing to worry about.
anwhile, Athena felt relieved when she heard that. "G, I think... we should limit ourselves in the anti and stay cautious with our movent. We can’t see each other like this. I’m sorry. I made a blunder last night."
Gael felt a little bit disappointed and sad after hearing her last remarks. He wanted to spend more ti with Athena. However, they should keep Athena’s real identity so they must avoid seeing each other. They couldn’t afford to be seen together by Dominique.
"I understand. But I’ll find a way to visit you secretly." Gael responded with a smile, concealing his unhappiness.
"We can still keep in touch. You can always call !" Athena leaned on Gael’s shoulder, wrapping her arm around his waist.
Gael chuckled once more, pinching the tip of Athena’s nose. "Alright. But I prefer videocall so that I can see your face."
Athena giggled and pinched Gael’s face. "Okay, G. Your wish is my command! Now, let’s eat!"
Athena left Gael’s place in a good mood. She was delighted to have spent ti with him, reminiscing about old tis. She felt like their bond had gotten stronger as the years passed.
’I’m so lucky to have a very caring best friend like Gael.’ Athena thought to herself. She rode a taxi on the way ho.
It wasn’t long before Athena arrived at her destination. With a radiant smile plastered on her face, she stepped out of the taxi cab, only to be taken aback by the unexpected sight unfolding before her at the entrance of her gate.
’Is that Dominique? What on earth is he doing here?’ Athena’s eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth hanging open as she stared at Dominique’s sleeping figure. He was leaning on the wall of her gate with his eyes closed, several empty canned beers scattered around him.
Athena didn’t know what she would do at that certain mont. This was the second ti around Dominique appeared in front of her house uninvited!
"Should I simply walk past him, pretending I didn’t see him, or should I wake him up?" Athena pondered silently, her gaze still fixed on Dominique’s form.
Athena wanted to ignore him but the mont she was opening her gate, she turned around, walking back to Dominique’s spot.
’Yeah. I almost forgot. I am supposed to win his heart. I should pretend that I care about this guy.’ Athena sighed deeply before gently patting Dominique’s shoulder.
"Mr. Smith, wake up! Mr. Smith!"
It did not take long before Dominique responded to her. He groaned softly as he opened his eyes. The first thing that greeted his sight was Athena’s beautiful face. Feeling weak and tired, he blinked several tis just making sure he was not imagining things.
"Athena?" he called out her na in his hoarse voice.
Athena flashed a warm smile and extended her right hand towards him. She simply wanted to help him stand, as he was still crouched on the ground.
"Good morning, Mr. Smith. It’s quite a surprise to see you here so early. What brings you to my place? It appears you’ve made yourself quite at ho, sleeping comfortably with a makeshift bed of empty beer cans," she teased, raising an eyebrow as she gestured towards the scattered cans.
anwhile, Dominique took her hand and attempted to rise. However, a surge of dizziness washed over him. He nearly stumbled, his head throbbing with a headache. He had to lean on Athena’s shoulders for support.
)
"Hey, are you okay? Don’t tell you’re still drunk?" Athena asked, quickly grasping his arms and helping to steady him.
Dominique shut his eyes for a mont, his free hand rubbing his temples. "Cough! Cough!" he began to cough, feeling the irritation in his throat. It seed he had caught a cold after staying outdoors for the whole night.
"Shit! You’re burning up!" Athena gasped, feeling the heat radiating from Dominique’s body. "Let’s get you inside." She quickly unlocked the gate with her keys and ushered Dominique into her penthouse. He obediently followed her, his fingers entwined with hers.
Athena brought Dominique inside her house. She made him sit on the couch for a mont as she searched for her dicine kit.
Soon, Athena returned to the living room, holding a glass of water and dicine for the cold.
"Take this," she handed him the pill and the glass of water.
Dominique just stared at her palm for a long mont. His heart clenched once again as he recalled how Sabrina took care of him whenever he was sick.
"Drink this," Athena urged him when he didn’t take the dicine. "Do you want to feed this to you?" she reprimanded him.
Dominique subconsciously bobbed his head as he rembered a certain mont wherein Sabrina had to feed him his dicine by transferring it through her mouth.
Athena froze for a mont when she realized what Dominique was thinking. She also rembered that mont. However, she tried her best to feign ignorance.
She grabbed his hand and just put the pill in his palm. "You are not a kid anymore, Mr. Smith. You can drink your dicine on your own."
Dominique didn’t argue or complain. He just took the dicine and drank water in front of her.
"I’m going to get so ice packs to cool you down. You are still burning up."
Athena was about to leave when Dominique suddenly grabbed her wrist, stopping her. She gazed down only to et his penetrating gaze.
’Why is he looking at like that?’ She pondered to herself.
"Athena..." he paused for a mont.
"What? Are you still in pain?" she asked him.
When Dominique heard that question, his eyes beca gloomy. He was indeed in pain right now, not physically but emotionally.
Without saying a word, he just nodded and pulled her into a hug. Dominique embraced her from behind as Athena ended up sitting on his lap.
Athena’s body stiffened at Dominique’s sudden action. She was caught off guard and wasn’t able to prepare herself.
’Shit! Why is he hugging now?’
"Mr. Smith, what are you doing?" She asked.
Athena tried to struggle free from his embrace but Dominique tightened his grip further. Then he whispered into her ear. "I feel cold. Let hug you for a while. I need your warmth." He begged her in his desperate tone. He didn’t want to let go of Athena. He imagined himself hugging Sabrina right now.
In their current position, Dominique couldn’t see Athena’s face but he could hear her voice. This helped him imagine that Sabrina was the woman in his arms right now.
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