Chasing the Storm

Compensation

Once the tow truck had arrived, Payu offered to give Beam a lift to the garage.

"We have to go to the garage together. To do paperwork."

"Oh. But it's so late. How will I get there?"

"I'll take you."

"Oh, that's okay. I wouldn't want you to go out of your way."

"You have two options: ride with me, or with him."

Beam looked over at the mechanic who was towing her car. The man grinned widely at her.

"I'll make my own way there."

As soon as she said it she knew it was stupid. She had clung to Payu because she didn't want to be left by herself this late at night. There was no way she was travelling across town to the garage by herself.

"There won't be any taxi's this late with the rain. If you wait here alone, who knows what will happen. All the shops around here have already closed, no one else is around. Did you see the news a few days ago about the student who was found murdered in an alley way."

"Okay! I'll go with you."

She would rather ride with her senior than with the mechanic, a stranger. 

When they arrived, he strode through the place as if he owned it, leading her to the office. He picked up a card from the desk and gave it to her.

"Call next week and your car should be ready."

"How...?"

"It's my family's garage."

"What? Really?"

No wonder he's so good with cars.

Looking at the business card, she was a little disappointed to see that it was the mechanic's number and not her senior's.

"Follow me."

Beam followed Payu upstairs. It wasn't until they walked into the room that she paused. It was a bedroom.

"Umm..."

"This is where I stay when I work late at the garage. Take a shower before you get sick."

"Oh, but I should probably get home."

"How? I'll lend you some dry clothes and then we can talk about your payment."

Ah, right. Payment.

"We can do that now and then I'll-"

"You've been shivering this whole time. We can talk once you've warmed up."

He was right. She was freezing in her wet clothes and she didn't even know how she was going to get home. When she went to speak again, Payu raised an eyebrow at her and she closed her mouth before smiling gratefully. The story of the dead student on the news echoed in her mind.

"Okay. Thank you, P'Payu."

Beam felt so much better after a hot shower. She walked back into the bedroom wearing Payu's clothes, a large t-shirt and a pair of shorts, and a towel around her shoulders. Payu was sitting on the bed scrolling through his phone and only glanced up as she entered the room. He was wearing a black tank top and sweatpants and she couldn't help but notice how toned his arms were.

The room had glass walls that overlooked the garage. She could see a variety of expensive-looking cars and even a motorbike on the shop floor below them. Beam took a minute to admire the place. She had never been somewhere so luxurious. 

How expensive is this going to be?

"Um, you said we'd talk about payment?"

Payu put his phone down and smiled at her while patting the bed beside him.