Axel slowly opens his eyes. He touched his head which feels like it's going to explode any minute now. He tried to scan the room but he was blinded by the lights making him close his eyes once again.
Small sensors attached to his body carrying information to the monitor. Some sensors are patches that stick to his skin, while others are clipped on one of his fingers. The electronic heart monitor makes an irritating sound so he quickly moves his hand to remove the clip on his fingers. "Don't move Axel." He heard a familiar voice.
No matter how much he resists, his eyes stay shut. He tries to move his hand searching for warmth. When he feels someone grab his hands, he soon relaxed.
"I'm here," Mallory whispers, moving Axel's cold hand closer to her cheeks. Seeing the state of this man sends a shiver to her spine.
She cannot believe she almost lost Axel today. When Seven told her about the accident, her heart stop. It took her a lot of courage before she could finally look at Axel. Somehow, she can't help but blame herself. Axel wouldn't be in this condition if she doesn't poke her nose in his family affairs. 'I guess I'm really tied up with bad luck.' She sighs heavily.
"Are you crying?" Axel finally opens his eyes and crack a smile. "You look ugly when you cry."
Mallory stops. She swears if Axel is in good condition right now, she will beat her to death herself. Of course, no one looks beautiful when crying.
Axel chuckles. Even though his whole body hurts he sits up and wipe Mallory's tear. "Stop crying, Mallory. I'm fine." Hearing these words makes Mallory cries even harder. Axel sighs leaving no choice but to hug Mallory, comforting the girl and whispering sweet things to her ears. The actor groans in pain when he feels Mallory hugs back.
On the other side of the room, Lupin stands eating popcorn. "What the heck are you doing, Lulu?" Bella smacks him at the back of his head.
Lupin awes in pain and points at the window which completely gives a full view of Mallory and Axel. "Stop hitting me, woman! I'm watching a live-action romance drama here." He shakes his head in disbelief.
Bella quickly rolls his eyes. "Stop being creepy, Lulu." Lupin tilts his head and offers a popcorn. Shaking her head, Bella walks toward the door to check on her patient but Lupin hurriedly blocks the door.
"You can't interrupt two people falling in love, woman. Especially when the good part is coming." Lupin moves them back to the window. When he sees Mallory cutting some Apples on the other side of the room and Axel trying to go back to sleep, his shoulder slump. "They are supposed to kiss!" He ruffles his hair in frustration.
Bella, on the other hand, laughs at his reaction. "This isn't a movie Lupin." Then without a word, she walks into the room checking her patient.
"How is he?" Mallory asks curiously. Axel is beaten by his father a while ago so adding his fresh new injuries must have been really hurt.
Axel gulps preparing to hear the bad news. "You just got some minor injuries. Nothing much hurts expect your arms which will be cast until the next two weeks. You just have to take the medicines I prescribe and rest so you can easily recover your strength." The man sigh in relief.
Just when Bella is about to walk out, she nudges Mallory to follow her. "Axel is a bit stubborn when it comes to taking his medicine."
Mallory chuckles. "Yeah, I figured it out."
Bella smiles in return, "And he's a workaholic so make sure you will let him stay out of his phone especially now that the media is talking about him the entire evening."
"Take good care of my friend, Mallory," Bella adds before walking out to check her next patient. Somehow, Mallory feels like that sentence has a double meaning. Struggling her shoulders, Mallory gets back to the room.
"So what did she say?" Axel asks curiously, holding a remote and changing the channels. He groans seeing that the news is all over him.
Mallory bit her lips and stole the remote. "How about you take a rest?"
"Sorry, I just took asleep." His grey eyes look closely at hers. He takes the moment to examine her face up close. When he notices a scar on the upper side of Mallory's head, he touches it. "What happened?"
"I was ten years old when I got that scar." Mallory held his hand. "Back in the orphanage, we have this tradition were kids receive gifts from good Samaritan. While everyone fought to get the bigger box, a small box flew and smack my head. Thus, I got this scar."
Axel laughs so hard. "Maybe the box is really destined to be with yours."
"That's what the nuns also said but even though I knew they were lying about it. A part of me actually believed that is true."
The injured man seems to enjoy listening to her story so she continued. "I don't remember opening the gift until summer."
"Why did you wait that long?"
"Oh, I don't really know my birthday so I always celebrate it in summer." She chuckles. "Anyway, you won't believe what I got that day."
Axel chuckles, "What?"
"I got a music box and a picture of the person who gives me a gift. Sadly, I lost the music box but I kept the picture close to me." She grabs her bag to get her wallet but she stops midway, realizing that her wallet is old and has a broken zipper. "I'll just show it to you some other time." She blushes, completely embarrassed.
Axel groans but nods his head. He realized that in the past three weeks, Mallory already knows so much about him but he knows nothing about her. "Do you got any friends in the orphanage?"
Mallory smiles widely. "I only got one friend. His name is Sevy. I had a major crush on him but sadly, someone adopted him at the age of twelve." Her shoulders suddenly slump remembering that she no longer recognize the face of her best friend. Until now she is still looking for her friend.
Realizing that Mallory is getting sad by talking about it, Axel changes the topic. "I'm sorry for being a jerk a while ago."
Mallory smirk. "I'm sorry. I didn't catch it. What did you say?" To be honest, teasing the arrogant and stubborn man like Axel makes her feel good. After all, he never apologizes when he disturbs Mallory sleeping just to order her to make some food. Or when he pulls a prank at her for instance, putting hair color in Mallory's shampoo.
"I know you heard me." Mallory chuckles, saying that everything is okay. "How about a truce?" He lends his hand which Mallory gladly takes.
They spend another hour talking about random stuff until Mallory yawns. Axel quickly gets the sign as he glances at the clock. "Maybe we should take a rest now. I'm pretty sure you're also tired." Mallory nods preparing the couch for her to sleep in.
"Aren't you going to be comfortable there?" Axel pats the bed. No kidding, the VIP room is just like a hotel. It has a bigger and softer bed which is customized especially for famous people like him. "Sleep with me."
Mallory blushes, her eyes are completely wide once she heard Axel. She glances at the man, seeing his half-open lips and half-open hospital gown makes her crazy. "S-stop it! If someone heard us. They will misinterpret what you said."
Axel raises his eyebrow repeating his words once again, checking what's wrong with his sentence. Mallory rushes quickly covering his mouth. They stared at each other. When Mallory gulps, Axel couldn't take his eyes off her. It's no secret that Mallory is different from the girls he dated. Axel used to love dating blonde girls with perfect barbie figures. He would do anything just to get their attention even if it means faking his attitude. He loves taking girls out every weekend spoiling them like a princess but now he changed. Ever since he met Mallory, he no longer dates anyone. He wasn't afraid to let Mallory see his true self.
"Eh, what's wrong?" Mallory moves closer to the heart monitor beside Axel. Seeing Axel's monitor fastened each time makes her suspicious so she moves closer once again. Axel gulps realizing that Mallory's breast is getting closer to her. He closes his eyes and tried his best to move further, dipping his head to the pillows.
"Should I call Bella? I think this is not normal." Axel immediately grabs her wrist, sending a weird feeling in his stomach. Perhaps, he wasn't really feeling well.
"Let's take a rest, Mallory." He finally got the correct sentence. He moves Mallory to lay beside him. His left arm is still touching her wrist.
Mallory is about to utter a word but Axel shushes her. He moves a few strands of hair that's covering her face before planting a goodnight kiss at her temple. "Goodnight, Mallory." He said before Mallory succumbed to the call of sleep.
Meanwhile, Axel tosses around the bed. His head field with thoughts about his father, the accident, and above all, he is thinking about Mallory.
He looks at Mallory, who is sleeping peacefully next to him. 'Am I falling for you?'