Chapter 4 Buried memories
Cassian's POV
I was scared right from the breaking of dawn. But I was scared of making a public appearance.
I wasn't scared of being in front of a camera. Besides, I've always been behind one, and a photographer shows no fear for the lens.
It wasn't the fame I was scared of because I wasn't actually looking for it.
I was just scared of messing this up.
When I signed that contract, Denise highlighted that if I messed up the entire act, she would make sure I walk away with nothing.
This thought haunted my nerves and forced me to be extremely cautious.
Luca placed his hand on my shoulder. “I didn't mean to be rude.” His soft tone forced me to raise my head.
I looked straight into his eyes. “I'm sorry if I crossed a boundary back there.”
He gave me a pat on my shoulder. “Let's go and see your mother.”
We got into the SUV, and my nerves finally relaxed again.
But I still remained cautious of my body brushing against Luca.
When we finally arrived at the hospital, Luca followed me to the doctor's office.
“I was about to put you on the phone, Cassian. We haven't heard from you for days now.”
I took a deep breath. “I…I have actually…” I stuttered.
“Don't worry, I think I'll take it from here.” Luca leaned forward confidently.
The doctor's eyes narrowed and he locked them on Luca.
“I'm his best friend, Luca.”
“Alright, Luca. I'm still trying my best to understand what we have here.”
“Uhm…I'm actually here because of his mother. I was hoping I could help offset the entire debt and get her treatment started right away.”
The doctor burst into laughter, the sound obviously cutting through the walls of his office.
But he eventually stopped when he saw the firm stare in Luca's eyes.
It was obvious that he wasn't bluffing, and that forced him to get in character.
“Did I say anything funny, sir.”
The doctor didn't say another word. He bent his head to his laptop and after a lingering silence, he turned the screen towards us.
“What's this?” Luca asked, his narrowed eyes staring at the screen.
“You're looking at the amount left to pay. He owes $8000,” The doctor said. “How do you expect to pay that?”
Luca pulled out his cheque book from his coat and took a pen.
Then he drafted out a cheque of the same amount, tore it out and handed it over to the doctor.
The doctor didn't react. His eyes remained calm and expression was just pale.
“I'll have the account office cash this cheque. If this cheque declines, you'll pay dearly for it.”
Luca smiled. “Take your time, doc. I'll be in her ward if you need me.”
So we left his office and went to meet my mother in her ward.
Her eyes softened and a smile appeared on her face as she saw me.
“Mother!” I hugged her warmly but carefully at the same time.
Her eyes turned towards Luca who let out a smile and a gentle nod.
“Who's he?” She muttered.
“He's Luca, my best friend.”
She chuckled softly. “You know you can't lie to me. I know an act when I see one.”
My mother's eyes were still sharp as ever.
She could see things that I ignored. The wrinkles behind our smiles.
The way my pulse was visible beating close to my neck.
She noticed all of it without a guide.
“He actually came to pay off the debt.”
Her mouth dropped open as her eyes darted between me and Luca.
“You just have to rest, ma'am. We're waiting for the doctor to process the receipts.” Luca added.
The smile on her face said it all. The gratitude she held I'm her heart was clear on her face.
She wasn't holding back that detail…not in a situation like this.
After a few minutes, the doctor walked in with a rather bright expression than earlier.
“I'm really sorry for being rude, earlier. Pardon my manners, Luca.” He handed him the receipt of payment.
My mother couldn't help the expression of shock etched upon her face.
A gasp ripped through my throat as my widened eyes stared at the receipt.
I couldn't hold back the excitement within my veins.
I leaped with great joy and embraced Luca tightly, forgetting the agreement binding this entire moment.
A gentle cough from him forced me back to my senses, and like a beaten dog, I quickly forced myself into composure.
Luca allowed me a moment with my mother before we finally left.
“Thank you very much.” Those words weren't enough to express the gratitude I held in my heart.
Luca smiled. “I was happy to finally see that smile on your face.”
His soft and charming eyes peered right into mine for a longer time before he looked away.
My cheeks reddened, and a part of me that felt dead for a long time seemed to have jolted back alive.
Luca was never just a casual friend back in university.
We almost shared a forbidden moment, but I guess life forced our paths to separate back then.
“You did great today, Cassian.” Denise welcomed us.
There was no smile on her face. It wasn't actually a compliment.
I'm not sure Denise drops the serious act ever.
She has always worn a grim on her face since I stepped into this house.
“So, like I mentioned on the contract, the both of you will be living here together,” she added. “Remember to keep your boundaries.”
I nodded. “I don't have a problem with that.”
“You certainly shouldn't.”
Denise left the house, leaving me alone with Luca.
The entire living room settled into awkward silence.
Our eyes roamed until we locked eye contact. This time, it lingered.
My heart rate spiked and my palms grew sweaty.
It felt like history was repeating itself again.
We've looked at ourselves like this before. This isn't the first time.
My mind slowly began to replay an event I thought I had forgotten.
Two men in a dark room.
We could hear our heart beats slamming against our chest.
We were very close to each other, eyes locked together and we felt our breath slowly mixing together.
His warm breath coursed over my neck, and my entire body drew closer to him like an iron towards a magnet.
His fingertips slowly brushed against my skin up to my waist, closing up the gap between us.
It was just the two of us.
There was nobody there to stop us. Nobody spoke against what was about to happen.
We leaned in, our lips ready to brush against each other to seal this passionate moment.
“Cassian!!” Luca snapped his fingers right at my face.
I blinked repeatedly with my mouth wide open, snapping out of my thoughts.
“Where's your head at?” He asked.
“Oh, I'm sorry. I was just— Nevermind.”
“I actually wanted to explain a few things about the house to you.”
“Alright, you have my attention.”
“Now, that's the kitchen…”
He took his time to explain a few things I needed to know about the house.
He definitely didn't want me getting unconformable or feeling unwelcome here.
After that, he went to his room while I went to mine.
He already had my wardrobe taken care of, so I didn't need to worry about getting what to wear.
For six months, all I was expected to do was live my life here with him and let him worry about surviving.
A wall stood between our rooms.
A wall kept our privacy as it was supposed to be.
I leaned into the cold wall, pressing my warm body against and letting out a huge sigh of relief.
I looked up to the roof and I allowed those thoughts to take me.
The thoughts that I had tried to bury for years since I left the walls of that university.
It came down on me like a raging storm. The way Luca looked at me was still the same.
I didn't sense any difference.
I placed my hand against my neck and closed my eyes with a deep breath, trying to relive the feeling of his hands on my neck.
The smell of perfume coursed through the air like he was present in this room, and I felt the dead feeling inside me jump awake.
My bed turned into a torment, forcing me to turn from side to side.
Unable to get some sleep, I got up from.the bed and headed out of the room to the living room.
My feet froze right at the entrance of the living room and I locked eye contact with Luca who was just walking out of his room as well.
He swallowed and so did I. “Is there a problem?” He asked.
I paused and scratched the back of my head nervously.
“You couldn't sleep as well?” He added.
I nodded. “Yeah, I'm having a hard time sleeping.”
He smiled. “It was something to do with old memories, right?”
