CUPID

18.

CHAPTER 18

Natan hurriedly ran toward his McLaren. But when he remembered he had not locked the apartment door, he cursed and ran back to secure it.

Still flustered, he rushed to the garage, jumped into his car, buckled up, and started the engine. He headed straight for the highway, exiting the subdivision.

He opened his phone and followed the Google Maps route to Quindo Hospital, where Bradley said Brian had been admitted.

After more than thirty minutes, Natan arrived in front of Quindo Hospital.

He parked quickly, stepped out, and rushed inside, still catching his breath.

"Miss, do you have a patient named Brian Alcazaren?" he asked a nurse at the counter right away.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but we do not have a patient named Brian Alcazaren here," the nurse replied calmly, her professionalism clear.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Sir."

Natan cursed in frustration. He immediately dialed his phone while rubbing his temple.

When Bradley answered, Natan's voice was sharp.

"Where the hell is Brian?! They said he's not admitted here in QH!"

"Just come up here. I'm upstairs right now," Bradley sighed on the other end. "If anyone stops you, tell them you are with me."

"What is happening, Bradley Wendell?!" Natan, still confused, hurried to the second floor in search of him.

"Sir, may I know what you need here?" a security guard asked when they crossed paths.

"Do you know Bradley Morales? Is he here?" he asked a doctor nearby while keeping his phone to his ear. "Bradley, you better not be fooling me," he muttered into the phone.

"Sir, he is with Sir Brace on the fourth floor. Are you Mr. Natan?"

"Yes."

The doctor smiled. "In that case, Sir Brace asked me to send you to the fourth floor."

"Why?" Natan frowned. He was about to ask Bradley directly, but irritation hit him again when he saw Bradley had hung up. "Damn it! I am not playing games here!"

He kicked at the cement, torn between believing Bradley or not. He only wanted to be sure Brian was safe, so why all this drama?

Annoying.

"Sir, please go to the fourth floor. I will escort you," the guard said calmly, and Natan could not bring himself to yell back.

He decided to go along with what Brace wanted.

Brad, if you are really up there and Brian is not even in the hospital, you are in trouble.

Natan followed the guard into the elevator to the fourth floor. They were alone for a few minutes, and from the atmosphere, Natan could tell not just anyone could access this level. Probably not even most staff or visitors.

When the elevator opened, a wide marble hallway stretched out before him.

Where are we? Why am I even here?

The panic from earlier eased for a moment, replaced by the grandeur around him.

Large paintings hung on clean white walls. Elegant vases of fresh flowers lined the sides.

This must be a VIP floor, like Cloud 9 in other hospitals, where only important guests and select staff could enter.

Natan was used to places like this, having been to VIP floors before since his parents were doctors.

They walked a bit farther before stopping at a set of double doors that radiated sophistication.

Tch.

Natan waited as the guard tapped a sequence of buttons on the side panel. A beep sounded.

Seconds later, the door opened, revealing a fair-skinned guy in a tank top.

"Hi!" the guy greeted.

Natan was not sure if it was directed at him, the guard, or both. He ignored it.

"Where's Bradley?!" he demanded after the man gave him a smile and a quick once-over.

"I'll be going now, sir Brace!" the security said before stepping aside. He turned to Natan and bowed slightly. "Sir Natan!" Then he left.

Now Natan was alone with the mestizo guy, Brace.

"Chill, dude. Relax." Brace leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, a knowing smile on his face.

He was undeniably handsome and carried himself with the confidence of someone fully aware of his charm.

"Fine. Where's my friend?" Natan tried to keep his voice steady, though he wanted nothing more than to push past Brace and demand answers from Bradley and find Brian.

Wait... he still had Brian's number. He had never deleted it since the first time he saved it.

Realizing this, Natan quickly searched for the contact and hit dial. But before it could connect, he froze.

Someone was singing.

Slowly, Natan looked up. He saw Brace push the double doors open wider, revealing Bradley on a sofa, strumming a guitar. Beside him, singing softly, was a man.

Brian.

Brian was singing Dilaw by Maki but in a slow, heartfelt ballad style.

Natan did not move. He just stood there, letting the sound wash over him. Brian's voice was soft and angelic, paired with a face that was far too good to look away from. And he was singing while gazing straight at Natan.

Natan's stomach fluttered, like butterflies throwing a party inside him.

He closed his eyes, letting the song wrap around him.

In that moment, there was nothing else, no sound, no sight, nothing but Brian's angelic voice.

And that was when Natan realized he was, little by little, falling for a man named Brian.

And it felt dangerously, beautifully good.