Felicidade

17. He smells like home...

*****Ridhi's POV*****

The least I remember is that I collapsed when he tried to lift me up in his arms. I was not even in the state to be thankful for that moment. He smelled of blueberry. It was intoxicating. It reminded me of faraway places with hills, tulips, sunlight, cool breeze where I wanted to hide away forever. He felt like my home.

I still don't know what exactly happened yesterday. I told Diya to leave me and go home and she agreed to come back right after taking a quick shower and taking her dinner. I couldn't convince her to stay at home as she was continuously rolling her eyes even in front of Mr Kim when I was repeatedly telling her that I'll be OK alone.

After she left the medical attendant gave me dinner and two pills. I never liked hospital food. But after tasting the food I realized that I shouldn't have compared hospitals in India to an in-house company medical center in Seoul. The food was delicious and not at all boring.

I fell asleep right after I took the pills. I was dreaming may be. I can't remember what I was dreaming about but it felt like someone was watching over me closely. I was not even able to open my eyes properly but I felt very much that I wasn't dreaming. I was in a strange state of mind between dreaming and being awake. Everything felt like so real. I tried to touch the face of the shadow that was hanging over my face but it moved right after I lifted my hand. I sat up and tried to say, "Who is there?" Nothing came out of my voice and nobody answered but I clearly understood that someone was standing at the end of my bed. It was a black shadow and someone was standing there in a black hoodie.

The moment the shadow started to move towards me again I literally dragged myself out of my bed in the opposite direction. I screamed as loudly as I could.

"Who are you? Why are you here? What do you want?"

The shadow answered in a hissing voice,

"Does Kim Seokjin treasure you that much that he would do anything to save you if I kill you right now?"

What the hell on earth is he talking about? I tried to think but couldn't get a hold of my thoughts properly. My brain was not working. I suddenly saw that he has started to move towards me and he sprung over the bed. I noticed a sharp metal in his right hand. In that very moment I just realized that I need to run and run as fast as I could or I may be dead within a second if he has any intention of hurting me with that knife or whatever he is holding. I ran like my life depended on it (which is quite true) and stormed out of the door.

All I could see was the "Emergency exit" written in red at the end of the long corridor. I ran towards it. All I could hear were the footsteps running towards me as I was barefoot. I could swear that I have never run so fast in my whole life. I used to be the last place holder in all school races. But I can bet my sports teacher would have been proud of me if he could see me now. I opened the exit door and saw the downstairs first. I literally jumped 2-3 steps down even though I could feel that I'm having my energy draining out with each jump. The last step of the stair felt like miles away but I somehow managed to drag myself there and opened the door.

I fell down on someone with a thump. This is already the second time that has happened with me here. Why is there always someone on the other side whenever I open any door? But I didn't feel that bad as I realized who was the person that I fell upon. Why does his voice always give me such peace and makes me almost too numb to function?

If I could and if it was in my capacity then I would have stopped the moment then and there. He was so close to me. I could even feel his heartbeats and his breathing getting heavier. He held me so carefully that I even forgot what was going to happen to me if he was not there. I wanted to sink deep in that moment and never look backward or forward.

But I lost my sense when he lifted me up. I smiled weakly at him before fainting but he didn't see it. It was dark.

I hate myself for thinking such lewd thoughts even in this situation where everyone is worried about me. But I can't help. I'm grinning inside like an idiot. What's wrong with me? I should be scared and worried. But again, Damn!!! Was it necessary to faint right there?