All the time Kai had stood quietly at her side, simply watching the sister's exchange.
As soon as the door clicked shut, May leaned against it, exhaling heavily. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to quell the strange mix of emotions churning inside her.
"Are you alright, May?" Kai's deep voice broke through her thoughts.
May looked up at him, studying his impassive face. "I'm fine," she replied, pushing herself off the door. "It's just... overwhelming."
He nodded, "That`s understandable."
May ran a hand through her hair, feeling the tension slowly drain from her body. She moved towards the kitchen, needing something to occupy her hands. Kai followed silently, his presence a comforting constant in the wake of her sister's whirlwind visit.
"Tea?" she asked, already reaching for the kettle.
"Yes, thank you," Kai replied, leaning against the counter and watching her shuffle about.
They returned to their seats at the dining table, each with a steaming cup of tea before them. May took a few sips, feeling the warm liquid flow down her throat, easing her tense muscles and calming her nerves.
May considered explaining her earlier behavior to Kai but hesitated. How could she articulate something she didn't understand herself? There was no logical reason for her aversion to her sister's presence in the apartment, yet the feeling was undeniable. The cause, like so much else, remained hidden in the fog of her amnesia. She could only hope that the return of her memories would eventually shed light on it.
"How do you handle your shifts?" May asked, steering her thoughts away from the unsolvable question. "I'd like to know, so I'm not startled to find a stranger in my apartment tomorrow morning," she added with a wry smile, attempting to lighten the mood.
"There won't be anyone else. It will always be me by your side. Only in very urgent cases might someone else take over, but I'll inform you if that happens. Otherwise, we'll always be together from now on," he answered, his tone serious.
"But... how does that work? I mean, don't you need to, you know... " she searched for the right expression "…need some private time?"
"We find it," he simply said, and she thought she saw his lips curl into a slight smile. But as soon as she looked closer, it was already gone. "You don't need to worry about it. Your safety won't be compromised," he said solemnly.
"That's not what I was worried about..." she mumbled, turning her head away. "I'm sorry," she said, turning back to face him. "I didn't mean to pry. It's just... this is all so new to me. Having someone around all the time, I mean. So I was simply curious how everything is going to be."
He nodded, his expression softening slightly. "I understand. It's an adjustment for both of us. But I assure you, I'm trained to be as unobtrusive as possible. You'll hardly notice I'm here."
She doubted that. Now that she had calmed down and all misunderstandings between them were cleared, she took the time to muster him.
His raven-black hair was neatly combed back, revealing a strong jawline and piercing blue eyes that seemed to miss nothing. His broad shoulders and tall frame made him an imposing figure, even when he was trying to appear non-threatening. His presence filled the room, commanding attention even when he was perfectly still. How could she not notice him?
"Right," she said, the word stretching unconvinced.
A look outside the window revealed that it had turned completely dark. Now with the tension gone, she felt fatigue creeping up on her. She tried to stifle a yawn, but was unsuccessful.
"I am sorry if my question might sound stupid, but where will you sleep?"
"The couch will suffice," he answered. "However, I'd appreciate if you could leave your bedroom door slightly ajar. It facilitates quicker response in case of emergencies."
May nodded. "Of course." Though the idea of constant monitoring felt a bit strange, she was surprised to find herself neither averse nor uncomfortable. She attributed this to the steady and professional aura Kai exuded.
May finished her tea and stood up. "I'll get you a spare blanket and pillow," she said. After a brief search in the bedroom cupboard, she returned with what appeared to be a new set and placed it on the couch.
"Thank you," Kai said.
"No need to thank me," she replied. "Have a good night."
"You too, May."
Yawning again, she turned and retreated to her bedroom.
With her sister gone and her bodyguard settled for the night, May could finally bring this crazy day to a close.
Since waking from her coma, every moment had been nothing short of insane. A love triangle, a pregnancy, a servant AI, and a killer on her heels—oh, and let's not forget the amnesia! Who on earth had a life like hers?
It had been barely more than thirty hours since she'd regained consciousness, yet in that short time, she'd already gathered a considerable amount of information and secured protection for herself and her baby. In the coming days, she would do nothing but carefully sift through all the data.
It was a bliss to have Rob. The AI was quick and efficient, requiring no explanations. Though talking to a program felt odd, May had to admit she wouldn't have gotten this far without him. She would have stumbled just trying to access her phone and laptop. She could have asked Lilly or one of the two men, but she was reluctant to do so. It was hard to trust anyone with no memories and an unknown killer lurking. Once they were proven innocent, her life would become much easier. For now, all she could rely on were Rob and her own wits.
Was it any wonder she felt ready to collapse from exhaustion? She was actually astounded by her stamina. Judging by her fit physique, she must have been quite active before her accident. Making a mental note not to let her fitness slide, she prepared for bed. She could barely keep her eyes open as she finally sank onto her bed, the soft cushions yielding to her body.
Glancing through the ajar door towards the living room, she pulled the blanket around herself. Bundled up in a cozy cocoon and aware of the protective presence on her couch, she soon drifted off into a deep and peaceful sleep.