Burning Passion

CHAPTER 91: HIS DREAM AND REALITY

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"Nikki!" He burst out.

Eyes widened, he realized the car he sits on was Nikki's red Honda Civic 2020. He scanned the vehicle. It was 3 years old but still, it looks well cared by the owner.

"Are you okay?" Nikki asked him afterward. She noticed Theo seems in deep thoughts. She sees him halted in front of her car with a furious expression on his face. Surprised when he strides closer and takes a seat on the hood of her car.

She then heard him heave a deep sigh. Giving her the idea that he must have a problem with the way his face has this expression, bothered with something must be.

Theo takes a moment before he responds. He first determined whether he is dreaming of seeing Nikki out here. The episodes inside his head were like from his dreams. He is certain, he must dream of this encounter before.

It feels like this happens already, but right now; it is reality.

"Oh, um... Ahem!" He clears his throat. He sounded like a teenage boy startled when suddenly his crush walked in. "Well, I was sort of busy and something going in with work," he reasons. Still mesmerized by having this encounter with Nikki.

"You sound exhausted, I could see that..."

He stared at how Nikki blushed. She always averted her gaze, avoiding meeting his eyes. And he doesn't understand, but it amuses him witnessing her expression like that.

"Erm, are you here to take care of you... I mean, I heard your mother was here for months already." Ugh. He almost slipped out and revealed himself he's stalking her.

"Yeah. I was attending her during the night. Oh, have something to drink!" she offers. Nikki places the plastic basket on top of her car hood and takes out one can, then she hands it to Theo. "Here, take this..."

Theo took the beverage from Nikki's hand. It was chilled. "Thank you. Did you go to the convenience store?" he asked while opening the can.

"Nah. I always bring food in my trunk."

"Hum? But this one is still cold!" he wondered.

"I have a fridge in my car," Nikki replied.

Dumbfounded, Theo is trying to imagine how a fridge fits in the car.

Watching him like having a serious thought of what she said, Nikki cannot hold herself to laugh at Theo's reaction. He was too cute having this expression on his face.

Realizing that he looks like an idiot in front of Nikki, he blushes a bit. But it gladdens him to see her laughing like this. His head filled with her; worrying after he finds her crying in the corner when her mother asleep. He understood, she doesn't want her mother to see her struggling to take care of her.

Not a long moment passed, Nikki settled down and apologized. "I'm sorry about that. You just looked cute, but it's my bad if that sounded a joke. It was a small cooler I carried around and stuff with drinks when I came here to the hospital. Something to munch if I don't feel to sleep early which always, so I am eating while watching drama or movies to fall asleep," Nikki explained.

She is now sitting on the hood of her car, opening the drinks in her hand, and has a big gulp from the can.

Watching her, he was still dumbstruck to what Nikki stated just now. She called him cute and his heart squeals... this left a warm smile on his face.

From the corner in a distant staircase, someone actually observing them. To his happiness, he was dancing while mouth humming "YES, YES, YES..."

It was Roland and he takes out his phone from his pocket, took a stolen shot of his young master. It was his evidence that his master actually knows how to flirt. Even though how he rejects and rude toward another girl, but he was soft to a certain woman.

• • •

Thinking Roland wasn't here yet, Theo sat next to Nikki and stretched his legs. He raised the can in his hand and read the beverage name. He realized it was one of their products, the distributor is by Li-Shang Company.

"Although these drinks have naturally sweetened syrup as sugar… have the least drinking during the night or it keeps you awake," he commented but remembering he was exposing himself. Nikki is now looking at him with amazement, she smiled and it gladdens him she's not asking things.

"You're right. But it was what I actually needed."

"Hum?"

"I want to finish a drama quickly to watch another drama... those Asian dramas and Netflix shows," Nikki said cutely.

After he understood what Nikki meant, Theo's laugh echoed in the parking lot.

"I see. That's why you have these prepared?"

"Uh-huh."

She pushes a shy smile as Theo didn't leave his eyes staring at her. She's praying he would stop doing that because her heart flutters, beating like crazy.

"That's cool! I mean, you were like a Girl Scout always ready."

"Is that a compliment?"

"Absolutely."

They both laughed. He likes the light talks he shared with Nikki. In these passing days, he once again killing himself making plans on how to approach her. But having these unexpected encounters giving him more chances to get to her closer.

And he doesn't want to end the night. He doesn't like to separate from her that soon, but he knows that Nikki's mother needs to watch the entire time.

"Um, thanks for the drink. Also, I enjoyed your company," he said after a long moment of silence. Guess, it doesn't need to talk much to show how happy to have someone next to you, he thought.

"Hmm?" Nikki glanced at his direction. She pushed a smile and blush, shifted her gaze at the can she's holding, the laughs softly. "Ah, I think we're just even. Thanks for accompanying me as well."

His eyes never left at Nikki. No need to ask anymore, but he knew that she is lonely right now as he is.

But nothing she knew… her presence eases his troubled heart and dreaming of her gives light to his gloomy life all these years.

He controls himself not to hug her. Nikki needs it, as it is what he needs also, right now. But she might think he is a pervert, and he might miss it all the time.

'What was I thinking?' Theo lightly shook his head to cut out his crazy thoughts.

"Then!" Nikki stepped down from sitting in her car and pick up the basket with foods. "It's getting late at night. I guess you were headed home?"

"Ah, yes. I was just waiting for my assistant."

"I see. Bye, I'm going in now," she tilted her head toward the elevator across them.

"Sure! Good night, Nikki..."

"Night…" she partly nods and smiled.

He follows her until Nikki steps inside the lift and waves at him before the door closes.

He waves back and feels like his heart just left his chest. He was unknown to this feeling.. It aches, but at the same joy fills his chest.