Her calm, sleeping face wasn't able to calm his heart. Heavy breath emptied his chest. These were the second time he put her in this condition. He rubbed his face to hide the troublesome portrayed on his face.
A grey-haired man wearing a casual blue-collar t-shirt with black pants and a stethoscope around his neck gently inspected an unconscious Kahina on the bed. He kept his silence, and it was killing Touma inside.
"Do you know what type of drug she had?" the man asked.
"I'm not sure. It's either Yohim or Poppers."
He turned to her and scoured his bag, looking for something. A moment later, he filled the syringe with a clear yellow liquid and slowly injected it into Kahina's arm. A frown appeared on her face for an instant then back to nothing after.
"That will help neutralise the effect on her," he paused before scribbled something on a piece of paper and gave it to Touma, "This is her prescription. Just make sure to let her drink a lot of water to flush out the drug from her system."
"Will she be okay?"
"If she wakes up after at least 4 hours, then she'll be fine. If not, please contact me." He looked at agitated man opposite him, and he can only smile. 'Young birds nowadays…'
"Next time please take it easy with the drug. I know it gives young couple like both of you to spice things up, but it may cause harm than good."
If not because he trained himself to be composed in all time, he might drop his eyeballs upon hearing the doctor's words. He wanted to explain, but it was not a wise option since he needed to make sure no one knows about the invasion. The least people knew about it, the better.
Touma glanced at Kahina before let out another heavy sigh. "I'll keep that in mind, thank you."
The doctor assurance eases the tension on his face. His worry turned to anger as he remembered Kahina's condition when he found her. She was lying with blood on her hands and face. Her clothes were a mess, and the worst part was the tears on her cheek. Kahina never shows her tears since they knew each other, and again, he was the reason for it.
He walked the doctor out of the room and back to sat beside the bed. His brain was working double to plot his payback. No one hurt his woman will live happily. That would never happen, at least not if he is still alive. 'I will make them pay a thousandfold than what you are suffering now.'
He took the tablet and tapped it to look for the book Kahina love, and he started to narrate it, "She sat up in haste and gazed in every direction, desperate to feel her father's soothing pats on her tousled hair; but the infinite trees held only absolute darkness.
The urgency to return to him hit Alexandria, but her fragile hope battled to keep its flames against her father's last words.
"Don't come back. I'm going to be fine," she heard in echoes….."
Narrated Kahina's favourite novel while she unconscious was becoming his habit now. It was the only way to keep him calm while waiting for her eyes to open. Once in a while, he stopped and caressed her head.
"I'm so.. so… so… sorry." he resented himself for everything. He shouldn't allow Kahina to do as she pleases. Protecting her should be his priority, but again, he failed. How can he keep his honour and promises to Takio? And how he wants to hold his head high in front of her? He rubbed his face a couple of times. A habit he had when something was troubling him.
Knock! Knock!
Loli head pops out from behind the door, "Dillan, I bring you dinner." She approached her with a tray full of delicious smelling food. All his emotions disappeared and replaced again with nothingness. She put the tray on the table near Touma and stand beside Kahina.
"You've changed. She must be special to you," A tinge of jealousy shadowed her words. Her eyes gleamed, mirrored her heart. She knows his love would never be hers. She accepted it, but her heart still broke when she saw how panic Touma was when Kahina needed help. If she were the one in Kahina's shoes earlier, Touma would sacrifice her instead of jeopardising the mission. Honestly, she gladly gives her life for Touma, but around Kahina, she never existed to him.
"None of your business. Fuck off." Touma monotone reply tore her heart even more.
He looked at the tray, and there was no dessert. It was just a simple homemade Hawaiian food. It was simple Lalau (pork wrapped in layers of taro leaves), Lomi Salmon (Salmon salad), and Chicken Long Rice (clear mung bean noodles cooked in chicken soup) which didn't have any grain of rice at all. He shoved his disappointment inside and ate it without a word of complaint. His elegant demeanour wasn't diminished at all, even though he did nothing but eating.
Loli's eyes fixed on him. Do not even blink at all. Her broken heart a while ago instantly healed by only watching him eat. She imagined herself serving him as a wife. A smile cracked on her face.
"Anything else?" he asked without lifting his head at her. Still, focus on the food.
"Kaamu already contacted Mahoe, and we will be meeting them tomorrow at the port."
"Hmm… Anything else?"
"Dillan… I don't agree with you earlier. You should leave her behind. What could possibly happen to her? Alana just wants to play. She's not going to kill her. She almost jeopardises our mission."
Prang!!
He slammed the spoon on the table and pierced Loli with his sharp gaze. A gaze that able to stop her heart and kill her in an instance. Loli's lips trembled as her guts twisted inside. The pressure she felt almost limp her knee.
"I ask you again. Did you have anything else to report?" An ice-cold voice froze her spine, frozen all her blood. She gulped her saliva and swallowed all her dissatisfaction.
"No, boss…"
Without waiting for his reply, Loli forced a quick pace to the door. If she stays a bit longer, her heart might stop for real.
Unfortunately, before she could reach the door, Touma added, "If anything happens to Layla, no one will see another day."
She nodded with her back facing Touma. She can't turn to him. The tears welling up in her eyes could burst anytime if she confronts him. "I'll make sure her safety is my priority." She walked out the door with a bleeding heart.