A Knife on His Lap|| Bodyguard AU

Gentleman

~Nariya Patel~

Shards of brightness pierced my vision, each one intensifying the pain that reverberated through every inch of my body. Groaning, I attempted to shield my eyes, only to discover that my arms were unresponsive—numb. The sensation of numbness extended everywhere; I could feel my blood flow, yet it, too, seemed distant. Surprisingly, panic did not surge through me. After a while, the calmness of sunlight streaming in and the melancholy melody of birds chirping outside my window helped to subdue the pain.

Several minutes passed before my vision cleared enough to discern the structural integrity of the furnishings around me. The room, adorned in simple sage green and cream colors, featured minimal light grey wooden accents. A large window panel door likely led to an outdoor patio. However, what commanded central attention was the beautiful mural painted on the ceiling—a simplistic depiction of a sunny, bright, cloudy sky. It seamlessly brought the room together, subtly radiating warm and homely vibes. It felt perfect and surreal, a masterpiece that embraced me in its comforting ambiance.

A meow caught my attention, and I observed the black cat stretching and purring as she greeted me. A smile formed on my lips as I watched her rub against my numb body, her tiny presence providing a sheen of warmth wherever she touched.

"Hey there," I said, my voice barely rising above a whisper—a surprise even to me. It was then that I noticed how dry my mouth had become, and my own voice felt unfamiliar, as if it didn't belong to me.

Meowing to me one last time, the black cat shifted her body to jump off and walked towards the door, her voice calling out to someone. What an intelligent creature, I pondered, before I could hear heavy running footsteps rushing towards the room's door. A disheveled version of the man I had seen the previous night greeted my vision as he hurriedly exclaimed, "Oh, thank goodness, Holy Mary, you are awake. How do you feel? Do you need anything?"

His luscious hair was a mess of a nest, and his bright grey eyes were now laced with signs of sleepiness. A shadow had fallen on his features, and I could discern from the signs that he had endured sleepless nights taking care of me.

I observed him for a little while before my small voice could usher, "Wa-Water."

His eyes brightened up instantly, as if I were a fragile paper doll just mere seconds away from fading away. He replied, "Yes, of course," and promptly poured water from a pitcher into a glass. With the support of plush cushions behind my back, he helped me sit up, slowly guiding the glass to my lips. The tiny trickle of cool water had a welcoming effect on the dry walls of my throat, but it didn't last long. After just a sip, I started coughing, spitting water all over my caregiver. I had expected a sharp response to this embarrassment, but he eased my discomfort by rubbing my back carefully.

"I... I'm sorry," I meekly uttered, our last conversation still fresh in my mind. I won't lie; I was scared of this man. His touch, though gentle and caring, for some reason also repulsed me. Shifting my weight, I swayed away from his touch, and a hint of hurt flashed in his eyes. Instantly, it was gone as he murmured in the same tone as mine, "It's okay, moonpie. You are currently under the effect of painkillers, but slowly the effect will wear off. Then you would be able to move, but I need to warn you, it's not going to be painless. When you need something," he handed me a small buzzer, "just click the button. I'm going to call the doctor, and she will examine you," his emphasis heavy on the word 'she.'

The digital clock beside me displayed that it was already three in the afternoon. The cool autumn breeze, tinged with a hint of lingering summer air, created a perfect cocktail drifting through the panel window. The cat, named Nyx, possibly after the Greek goddess of night, added to the beautiful scene with her coat of dark midnight fur and sparkly blue eyes—like orbs of stars, I thought. She was back on the bed with me, and her companionship, along with the chirping from the branches outside the window, crafted a remarkably relaxing atmosphere.