March 5, 2019.
It has been eight days since Zoey's first encounter with the man she called Browny. During that time, she would occasionally drop by and check on her prey's health. Because of the ever righteous and immaculate Cora Ma, Zoey was forced to make an oath to put her romantic advances on pause until he recovered.
And to make that possible, Zoey remained her distance by not going inside his hospital room. She would just peek inside and then she would leave.
However, this particular day, Zoey didn't hesitate to enter where he was resting as if it was her home. Glancing at the man, he was leaning his back against the bed's headboard and had his eyes on her figure.
The moment she entered the room and until she plopped down to the couch not far away from the bed, he just stared at her without a word.
"Don't worry, I won't eat you today." Without looking at him, Zoey reclined to the long sofa and indifferently reassured him.
"I am not worrying, I am wondering why you 're here." Blinking once, he responded. His tone was flat, unlike that night and their negotiation several days ago.
By the looks of it, this was what he truly was. A stiff, boring guy who was too honest for his own good. Yet, Zoey could not care less. She had encountered a variety of weirdos, and meeting another one wasn't that of a surprise.
"You're wondering why I go to places I am paying?" Zoey stretched and tilted her head back that was resting on the sofa's armrest, by this, she could see him, although upside-down.
"Don't get too cocky, Browny. I still pay for this room and all your fees since you can't pay for it just yet." Closing her eyes, Zoey muttered as blunt as possible.
For some reason, Zoey's mood wasn't as cheerful or playful just like the usual. She seemed tired and slightly quiet which was more intriguing to him.
"Matthew, Matthew Xi." He corrected. He doesn't have a say to her other statement as she was doing him a huge favor for financing his medical bills and needs.
"Didn't hear you." Obviously lying, Zoey responded as her shoulders relaxed. She preferred the nickname she had given him just because it sounded cute — at least, to her, it sounded cute.
After her last remarks, silence resounded across every corner of the hospital room. Matthew Xi, not saying anything yet, continued to stare at her unmoving head.
'Is she sleeping?' He wondered inwardly.
Slowly, the man carefully assisted himself out of bed. Dragging the IV stand with him, he carefully approached the unmoving figure.
As soon as he drew closer, the man saw an angelic sleeping face. If she's like this, one would think how pure and innocent she was.
However, after the 'dangerous' stunt she pulled — the time she preferred his service — Matthew Xi would not be deceived at how kind she looked when sleeping.
As the man looked at her, he sniffed which made him drew a little closer to her. But, just as his head was one ruler away from his, he instantly retracted his head while waving his hand in front of him as she reeked of alcohol.
Just then, a loud ring broke the silence around and caused her to slowly open her eyes. As she regained her vision, she saw a pair of reddish-brown eyes looking at her.
"You really have nice eyes," Without short notice, no pause and hints, Zoey said as she stared at him, particularly his eyes.
"Your phone," Instead of falling for her compliment, he reminded as the ringing continued.
"Ohh..." Snapping back to reality, Zoey rolled her body to her side with great difficulty, reaching for her phone on the back pocket of her jeans.
When she successfully pulled her phone out, Zoey didn't check the caller as she answered almost immediately. "My friend!"
"Happy birthday, Z!" Cora Ma's lively voice came from the other end of the call. "Wait- are you drunk?!" But, her cheerfulness instant vanished as she distinguished the difference on Zoey's tone.
"Uh, no. I'm not but I had a few drinks."
"Z..." A heavy sigh escaped from Cora Ma's lips as she frowned. It was Zoey's 29th birthday today and yet, Cora Ma, as usual, couldn't celebrate with her as she was in the countryside, celebrating her father's birthday.
That's why she would always celebrate with Zoey the next day or several days later when the two of them were not busy. Still, she felt bad for not being with her on her special day all the time.
"Yeah, feel bad you heartless friend." Knowing that her friend would begin to her sentiments, Zoey sabotage it by leaving her sarcastic humor.
"Uh, Z! How can you say that?" Frustrated, Cora Ma didn't take it to the heart but instead, she humored back.
"Because you disturb my sleep. Anyway, I'm catching up as much sleep as I can before my leave ends." Zoey chuckled and listened to whatever Cora Ma said before the call ended.
As soon as she cut the line short, Zoey tossed her phone to her feet and turned her head to the side, arching her brows that Matthew Xi sat on the opposite sofa.
"Hey, do you want to eat out?" Without further ado, Zoey inquired which made him crease his brows. He felt that Zoey's mouth was akin to a ticking time bomb — one wouldn't know how dangerous it was until she dropped them.
"Apparently—"
"My treat." Just before he could refuse, Zoey offered and without batting an eye, the man responded; "Alright."