Heart Stealer's point of view
The doctor's voice was calm but unyielding. "Hindi po masisigurado kung kailan magigising ang pasyente sa coma. Pwede siyang magising sa susunod na linggo, buwan, o sa kamalasan, taon." His words grounded me harshly in the reality I was facing.
After finishing his rounds, he left me alone with Jane once more. I turned to her, my voice barely a whisper. "Jane, pang-apat na araw na ito at hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Alam kong ligtas ka dito, pero natatakot ako.
"Baka may magtangka na naman sa'yo kapag umalis ako," I confessed. I knew she could hear me somehow, even in this state. We had no family left, just each other, and now she was all I had.
I had been at the hospital for four days, barely leaving her side. I hadn't showered, hadn't eaten, barely slept. I just kept holding Jane's hand, hoping that my presence would somehow keep her safe.
I needed to get back on my feet. I needed to get my life back on track. But I couldn't bring myself to leave her. I was terrified that the moment I take my eyes off her, whoever Alasteer's enemies were, they would try to take her away from me.
I didn't trust anyone to protect her—not after Veloz's 16 spies had been ambushed so quickly. I felt utterly alone in this fight.
But wait. There was one person. Jazz. Maybe he could help.
Jazz Klein, a cold, nonchalant man with an unknown past. He owed me, and now it was time for him to pay up. I could ask Jazz to keep an eye on Jane while I took care of other things, like managing the café. We could take turns, ensuring that Jane was never left alone.
I am Heart Stealer, the vigilante protecting women, a café owner, and someone who would stop at nothing to bring down Alasteer. I didn't care what was happening behind the scenes or who Alasteer's enemies were. All I knew was that I had to act.
"Could you tour the café?" I asked Jazz when I called him.
Jazz didn't respond immediately. Instead, he raised his phone, panning it slowly to capture a panoramic view of the café, KopiKopi. I watched, stunned by what I saw.
The café was bustling with life. Every seat was taken, and a crowd was waiting outside, eager to get in. A young woman worked the cash register, her movements efficient and fast, while another girl on roller skates weaved through the customers, serving orders with a skillful rhythm and grace. The place was more alive than I had ever seen it.
Jazz had kept the café running smoothly despite everything, and it gave me a momentary sense of relief. Maybe, just maybe, with his help, I could keep Jane safe and still handle everything else that needed to be done.
Okay, that's one less problem," I muttered, trying to focus on the positives. "I have a proposal for you." I looked directly at Jazz, studying his expression. He seemed intrigued, his eyes locked onto mine.
"You can make up for it now, completely," I suggested, hoping to soften the blow of my request. Jazz waited for me to continue, his eyes showing a hint of curiosity.
"You take care of Jane," I finally said.
"No," he replied immediately.
I smiled inwardly. This was a classic sales tactic—anchoring. Start with an unreasonable offer to make the next one seem more acceptable.
"Then, we switch turns taking care of Jane," I proposed, dropping the real suggestion.
Jazz remained silent for a few seconds, his eyes narrowing slightly. I could tell he was considering it.
