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Rafayel had grown accustomed to being disappointed, especially when it came to humans. Sure, partly it was his fault for not knowing better how the world worked, how this city worked. His own naivety was to blame. He just made his name here. An upstart artist with a potential so big to be ignored that he attracted all kinds of people, especially the dangerous ones.
Rafayel was, at the very least, not naive enough to accept just any sponsor for the career he wanted to build here in the city of Linkon. Chain could come in many forms, and he was far too familiar with being bound without will. Yes, he admitted, that his rejection came off uncouth. And, yes, he had probably offended the dignity of the people who scouted him that they had to hire thugs to mess him up.
But, really. Must they gang up on him in the quiet mountain road like that? Wrecking the first sports car he bought with the money he made from his art? They acted like a scorned ex whose mindset was something along the lines of If I can't have you, then no one can because the intention was as clear as day with the damage that had done to his car.
Rafayel was alive, yes. But he had a hard time calling himself lucky when his right arm was fucked. As an artist, his hand was very important to him. The doctor said that there wouldn't be any permanent damage as long as he followed the recovery procedure. It might take between two to three weeks. That was too long. Should he try painting with just his left hand?
His phone rang. Rafayel groaned quietly while picking up the call.
"Yes, I'm on my way," he said with a frustrated huff before he hung up and shoved his phone inside his jacket.
He looked through the rearview mirror and spoke to the driver ahead, "Sir, it would be great if you could hurry. I have traffic control on my ass."
The driver shrugged, "I could. But I won't risk it when I have a wounded passenger like you, Sir."
Rafayel rolled his eyes. Though he was right. Even the smallest bump from the ride made him uncomfortable now that the painkiller had gradually worn off.
He had to sneak out of the hospital because the traffic control staff kept pestering him about taking his car off the scene. What a heartless bunch. Couldn't they help tow it for him or something?
It was pathetic. He felt pathetic. Not just about the accident, but how he realised how lonely it was to go through all this alone. He was the new kid on the block. He knew no one he could ask for this kind of personal help. The people he knew were basically from the art world. After discovering that this world had a dark side to it, Rafayel had become more doubtful about trusting someone to help and not taking advantage of the situation later on.
An hour later, the taxi arrived at the mountain road where his wrecked car was still there. Rafayel recalled the accident once more upon seeing the condition of his car. It was in the middle of the night when it happened. He had to wait two hours for an ambulance to come pick him up, dealing with the pain and the fear that the thugs might come back.
The ruined car shimmered as sunlight poured over its poor condition, exposing his weakness and naivety, which had soured his mood even more. The OTTO robot that had been watching after his car flew to him.
"Mr. Rafayel, are you ready to take your car?"
"Yeah. You can go." Rafayel dismissed the robot with a languid wave of his hand as he approached his car.
"Oh, wait, little OTTO. Help me call an auto repair shop nearby that also has a towing service. Anyone who's already awake around this hour. Thank you."
"Understood, Mr. Rafayel. The nearest shop is around 7 kilometres from here. You may need to wait for at least half an hour. Is that okay?"
Rafayel shrugged, "Do I even have any other choice?"
"Yes, you do actually have plenty of choices! Here I can show you three other shops that are ready to operate now—"
"Not that," he groaned while rubbing his face. He forgot robots couldn't identify what sarcasm is.
"Nevermind. Just pick the closest one."
"Understood, Mr. Rafayel. Your request has been confirmed. They are on their way. Is there anything else you need?"
"Nope."
"From one to five, how helpful was my service to you?"
Rafayel deadpanned. He clicked his tongue impatiently. "Five if you stop talking and leave."
"Thank you for your feedback! Have a good day, Mr. Rafayel."
He was alone once again. Rafayel opened the caved door of his car. The window's glass was smashed, leaving small scraps on the leather seat. Rafayel carefully wiped the bits with a handkerchief he kept in the compartment. He lolled in the driver's seat with one foot out, resting his eyes while trying not to feel the pain in his arm.
Rafayel was about to doze off when he heard a car come to a stop right next to his. The thrum of the engine was too refined for a tow truck, so he snapped his eyes open. His back immediately straightened in tension when he saw a sleek, black sedan before him. Did they come back?
It was actually a familiar face when the owner stepped out of his car. Not because he personally knew him, but because he often saw him through the news. What was his name again…
Oh, right. He was Dr. Zayne. The man was known for his talent in the medical field, almost a genius if Rafayel could say so. He was the youngest doctor that have ever been appointed as the chief surgeon. And he was working in the Akso Hospital, where Rafayel had sneaked out from.
"What is an important doctor like you doing in a place like this?" he asked as the chief surgeon approached him. He looked slightly different without his white coat. One could almost mistake him for an actor or model.
"And what is the patient that shouldn't be out of his room doing in this place rather than recuperating?"
Rafayel grinned. "How do you know? Maybe I was already being discharged."
"Not with that hand, I'm sure," Zayne said as if his eyes were equipped with x-ray. "And you just got in a few hours ago."
"Oh, wow. Are you a fan? How do you know that much?"
"There's this thing called an article if you're not familiar with it yet."
Rafayel deadpanned. There was already an article about him? Ugh.
"I have my reasons."
Zayne tugged a subtle raise of his brow. "Such as?"
"I don't think it's your business, doctor. I'm not your patient. Unless you came here personally to deliver the news that somehow my heart is affected by the accident?"
"You're one of the patients from Akso Hospital, Mr. Rafayel. It's not my direct responsibility, but I have to make sure that any patient won't carelessly put harm on themselves," Zayne said, dismissing his cheeky reply calmly.
"Very generous of you," Rafayel snickered. "And, oh, please. Call me Rafayel."
Zayne only stared at him before he reached out, "Let's get you back to the hospital."
Rafayel ignored his hand and leaned back to the seat again with his eyes closed. Though he had to move slowly because his broken arm throbbed like hell. "No can do. I'm waiting for a tow truck. I won't be so rebellious if the traffic control didn't pester me to take my car off this damn road A-S-A-P."
"Is there anyone you can contact to deal with it?"
Rafayel peeked at him from his right eye. He smiled. "Dr. Zayne, do you know me?"
Zayne answered after a beat, "Not personally, no."
"Tell me."
"You're a rising artist who just came to Linkon. I have taken a little glimpse at your art. It's beautiful."
Rafayel snorted. "Save the flattery. Thinking about art only pissing me off right now. But, yes, the point you need to know is that I just came here. I don't know anyone yet. Not to the level where I can ask for help and show them how pathetic I look right now."
The silence after that made Rafayel pout. He did look like a man who didn't say much. But, not even a polite consolation? Rafayel decided that he was worse than OTTO. One star.
"How long until the tow truck gets here?"
"OTTO said it takes at least half an hour."
Zayne nodded. "I'll wait here with you."
Rafayel blinked at him. "You… don't have to—"
He could barely finish his sentence when Zayne turned to his car and took out his bag. He placed it on the car hood as he rummaged inside. He put the bag back in the car once he found something he needed.
Zayne came back with a bottle of water and a smaller white medicine bottle in his hand.
"Drink this," he offered, "It can help with the pain."
What a nice coincidence to meet a doctor right here.
Zayne handed the water first, then he helped with the cap of the medicine bottle. "Give me your hand."
Rafayel didn't like his ordering tone, but he did need the painkiller. So, he begrudgingly opened his palm, not quite hiding the petulance in his face. Unfazed, Zayne shook two small pills out of the case into his hand. Rafayel popped them into his mouth and drank half the water in the bottle. He was thirsty as hell, too.
"Thanks. Oh, how I damn needed it!"
Zayne pocketed the medicine and took the water bottle from his hand. "Now, come rest in my car. I'll help handle the tow truck when it arrives."
"Are you not busy? Why are you being so helpful?" Rafayel asked suspiciously, "You haven't even told me why you are here. Are you actually my stalker?"
Fine. He was being dramatic. But life had recently taught him not to trust anyone.
…Though it was a bit too late for that when he already accepted water and medicine from him. He immediately trusted him just because he was a doctor. Well, Rafayel. You're one hell of a dumbass.
"Just came back from handling a patient who lives around here. His condition was critical last night, so I ended up staying the night to monitor him," Zayne answered.
His calmness put Rafayel's ridiculous accusation to shame. He looked away with pursed lips.
"…Fine. Since you're so pushy about it," Rafayel grumbled, trying to save his face.
Zayne pulled the door wide open as Rafayel got up. Rafayel narrowed his eyes at him. This man had quite a strong act-of-service that Rafayel didn't know whether to be charmed or annoyed with.
"Dr. Zayne, you're not having a crush on me, right?"
Zayne blinked. He was caught off guard first, but then he smiled. Amusement flickered in his eyes.
Rafayel frowned. "I'm not being funny. It's a serious, genuine question."
"Will you believe me if I say no?"
"Yes."
Zayne opened the door to his car. Rafayel didn't stop staring at him as he got into the passenger's seat, waiting for his response.
Zayne closed the door and leaned down slightly to speak through the half-rolled-down window. "Then, no."
"I don't believe you."
Zayne snorted, as if he already guessed that. He pulled away and went to the other side. But instead of getting inside, he was just resting his back against the door. He was probably being considerate about Rafayel's concern. And if he was, it only made Rafayel feel guilty for overreacting.
"Are you not coming in? You're purposely making me feel bad."
"I'm just preventing my heart from bursting being so close to my crush."
Okay, now he was making fun of him! Fuck you, Dr. Zayne.
Rafayel stopped trying to talk to him after that. He shifted his focus to the inside of the car. It almost felt like a brand new car with how clean and tidy everything was. It was almost boring— mirroring the person who stood outside right now.
Running out of things to look at, Rafayel decided to look outside. His eyes fell on Zayne's back, broad and reliable. That man seemed to have mastered the art of respecting personal space as naturally as breathing. The safe distance Zayne put between them while making sure Rafayel is not alone and getting the help he clearly needed, was making him feel at ease.
His kindness didn't feel overwhelming at all. Fine. He took his word back earlier. This man was definitely a five-star, despite his stolid nature.
What a shame, Rafayel thought to himself as he closed his eyes and leaned back properly in his seat. His eyelids were getting heavy.
If he were a five-star, then there's a high chance he was already taken.
Ah, what the hell was he thinking about? There's no way he wanted to bag a man he just met. He blamed the painkiller for this.
Rafayel wanted to tell Zayne that he needed to rest his eyes for a couple of minutes and asked him to wake him up if the truck came. But even opening his mouth felt like lifting a boulder. Rafayel gave up.
✴︎
"…Mr. Rafayel."
Rafayel woke up bleary-eyed. How long did he fall asleep? It felt like a really good sleep compared to the ones he had in his own bedroom, which he hadn't yet acclimated to.
"Is the truck coming?" Rafayel groggily asked while rubbing his eyes.
Zayne snorted at his question. Rafayel frowned and confronted him right away, "What's so funny about my question?"
"Nothing." Zayne shook his head and handed him the handkerchief.
Rafayel stared at the handkerchief cluelessly. "What for?"
Zayne pointed the corner of his mouth, and Rafayel was flabbergasted. He quickly turned the rearview mirror toward himself. His mind screamed when he spotted an almost dry trail of his drool. Can he get fucking towed out of here right now?
"How long did I sleep?" he grumbled as he petulantly rubbed his drool.
Zayne pointed outside as he answered, "Long enough until we've arrived at the auto repair shop. I've already told the owner to wait until you wake up."
Rafayel glared at him. Once again in disbelief. "Why didn't you wake me up soon?!"
"The patient is resting. I can't bother him."
Even if he said it seriously, Rafayel noticed the subtle flicker of amusement in his eyes. It made Rafayel want to shove the handkerchief into his mouth.
Zayne spoke again, ignoring Rafayel's sharp eyes that wanted to punch a hole in his face. "And I apologize for taking your call without permission earlier. When I noticed it's from the hospital, I just thought I should let them know that you're safe."
Rafayel rolled his eyes. Yeah, safe enough that he drooled while sleeping! What is wrong with you, Rafayel?
"Thanks, I guess."
Zayne shook his head and smiled. Rafayel looked away. It was unfair to smile like that, making his annoyance disappear in an instant.
"I'll talk to the owner."
"Mhm. I'll wait."
His movement was strained when he wanted to open the door, finding out he was wearing a seatbelt. He scrambled to take it off and got out of the car as quickly as he could. The mental image of Zayne putting the seatbelt on for him made his ears red.
He took only twenty minutes-ish to talk to Wade, the owner, before he went back to the car. He decided to have Wade keep his car until he was ready to use it again. When he was strong enough to take care of more than one plate, he thought to himself. Zayne started the engine once Rafayel sat next to him. But he didn't move the car until Rafayel put the seatbelt on.
"Do you—"
Rafayel cut in on him, "No. I can do it myself."
He wouldn't survive it sober.
The descent down the mountain road was unhurried. Tall trees stood in long ranks on either side, their shadows elongated on the asphalt. The ride was quiet except for the soft, muted purr of the engine. Rafayel tried to look at everything else that was not Zayne and how good the man looked when driving—with a hand resting lightly on top of the steering wheel and the other one on the gearshift. His thumb was rubbing on it absentmindedly. Gulp.
Rafayel wasn't a bad driver himself, but Zayne's style of driving was another story compared to his. Even with all the curves that made up the road, Rafayel could barely feel the turns. It felt like he was just gliding. No wonder Rafayel could sleep like that earlier.
Like the road that stretches on in front of them, the silence between them also continued. Now that all of Rafayel's business had been settled, there was nothing to talk about between them anymore. Unless Rafayel started it.
Fine, he will start it. But not because he liked his voice or anything. He just wanted to feel less awkward during the long ride.
"When we arrived at the hospital, can you help me talk to the nurses again? I don't wanna deal with angry nurses."
"Me too."
Rafayel snorted. "What? Is it true, then, that even doctors are afraid of nurses?"
Zayne only gave him a vague smile as his answer. Rafayel assumed it was a yes and laughed anyway.
"And here I thought you were the doctor everyone feels intimidated by."
"You're not intimidated by me."
Rafayel bragged with a smug smile, "Well, that's because I'm not intimidated easily."
Zayne glanced at him before his eyes were back on the road. A small smile tugged on his lips.
"I believe you."
"Why? Because nobody talks to you as freely as I do?"
"Because you're strong," Zayne said as he adjusted his speed along the sharp turn. Once they got back on the straight road, he glanced at Rafayel, who was caught off guard with the sudden assessment.
"Being in an accident is never easy, especially when alone."
Rafayel squirmed in his seat, not expecting to get an acknowledgment like that. He cleared his throat and looked at the trees instead.
His answer came a little while, "Fuck yeah, it's scary when you wait up there all alone. What if a wild animal smelled my blood and pounce me?" He purposely avoided telling Zayne the whole truth.
"But it's not like I have any other choice but to be resilient. When you only have yourself, you don't really have the privilege to be weak. Because who's going to take care of you but yourself?"
Zayne waited to make sure Rafayel had nothing more to say. He said, "You know, I'm all by myself, as well."
Rafayel raised his brow. "Lover?"
"Negative."
Rafayel held back a smile. He cleared his throat, schooling a composure into himself. "Parents?"
"They're mostly overseas. We spoke sometimes on the phone."
Rafayel smiled. "My aunt is always on a lot of tours herself."
"Oh, a traveler?"
"A singer, actually."
"I see. So, being an artist is within the family."
"Well, is being a talented doctor running in the family as well?"
Zayne chuckled. Rafayel cursed his unprepared heart for skipping a beat on that.
"Well, they're also doctors."
"Hmph. Figured."
Rafayel couldn't believe they were already talking about their family members. He wanted to take it slow on making connections in Linkon City. He wanted to take a step back and learned more about it so he would be prepared once he met someone dangerous again.
However, Zayne made Rafayel want to climb the wall he had built himself and went to the other side, where he was.
Rafayel snapped out of his mind when Zayne handed him his phone. Rafayel took it with brows knitted in confusion. "Why are you giving me your phone?"
"I want you to save your number on it."
Rafayel looked at him, baffled. He narrowed his eyes and leaned towards the driver's side, flashing a suspicious gaze. "So, you do have an interest in me?"
Zayne held back his laugh. "I can already see that you really are an interesting person, Rafayel."
Oh, God.
It was so unfair that he suddenly called his name just like that while teasing him.
"Shut up. I'm within my rights to be suspicious."
"A little bit too late for that, don't you think?"
Rafayel pressed his lips together, caught in his lame excuse.
Zayne smiled at Rafayel's self-will to remain distant from everyone. He held his hand out to him for his phone. "No rush, then. Whenever you're ready."
Rafayel returned the phone, and Zayne pocketed it. His hand joined the other hand at the steering wheel once again. They had finally gotten out of the mountain road. The street was slightly packed with vehicles. Linkon City was just right ahead.
"I don't know why you're doing this."
"Doing what?"
"I don't know. Trying to get close to me?"
Zayne tapped his finger on the steering wheel. "I just thought I didn't want you to feel lonely. Living alone in the city can be quite a challenge."
Rafayel felt his face getting warm. "Just because you help me right now, doesn't mean I'm your responsibility."
"You're not. I'm sure you're very capable of building your life here. You already made a name for yourself in just a short time."
Rafayel looked at him with a probing gaze. Zayne continued, "You'll burn out quicker if surviving is the only thing you have in your life."
When the car stopped at the red light, Zayne finally turned to see him properly. "And I don't want to merely survive."
Rafayel clicked his tongue, trying to ignore the flutter in his chest. As if it wasn't enough to make Rafayel this flustered and in trouble, that man had to add, "And just like you said, you're the one who doesn't feel intimidated by me. And I do have an interest in you."
God, please break my other hand too before I slap this man's mouth.
The light turned green when Rafayel grumbled, "Help me with the nurses first, then we can talk about being acquainted."
Zayne stepped gently on the gas as he chuckled.
"You're a handful."
"I'm not the one who has an obvious crush between us."
Zayne finally laughed. "You know, it makes me think the opposite since you're the one who keeps mentioning it."
Rafayel gasped. His ears got red. "Absolutely not!"
The next fifteen minutes in the car were filled with Rafayel rambling defensively about his zero interest in Zayne. Zayne teased him to save his breath, and it only spurred another fifteen-minute ramble to endure. Zayne didn't seem to mind, though.
Later in the hospital, both Zayne and Rafayel got scolded by the nurses. Especially Zayne for not bringing Rafayel back as soon as he found him. Feeling delighted from witnessing Zayne's shoulder slumped like a child getting nagged at by their parents, Rafayel gave the doctor his number later that night when he, once again, sneaked out of his room to his office.
And he thought of calling Wade to tell him that he could proceed with fixing his car.