In the Embrace of the Past

On the way, Kevin glanced several times at the girl who was now sleeping in the passenger seat. Her face appeared peaceful, but traces of sadness were unmistakable. The car drove steadily toward a hotel in the city center.

"Why are you so stubborn? You shouldn't have been there," Kevin muttered, turning the steering wheel while occasionally glancing at her. But, of course, there was no answer.

A few minutes later, Kevin arrived at his apartment. He got out and picked up Cleo again. Her body was so light, as if she hadn't eaten properly in a long time. With long strides, he made his way to the elevator that led to the apartment on the upper floor.

Once inside the room, Kevin gently laid Cleo down on the bed. He sat on the edge, rubbed his tired face, and let out a heavy sigh.

His eyes returned to Cleo. She looked calm, though it was clear she was hiding deep pain. Kevin's hand slowly reached out, brushing Cleo's hair gently. Suddenly, she mumbled in her sleep.

"Jack... why are you so cruel to me..."

Kevin was taken aback, his eyes widening. Her voice was full of sadness, making his chest ache. "Because of a man?" he murmured, his voice bitter. "I suspected as much," he hissed, shaking his head.

He looked at Cleo again, an unfamiliar feeling rising within him. "Who is the man who hurt you, Cleo?" he thought.

After making sure Cleo was comfortable, Kevin tucked her in so she wouldn't get cold. He stood up to move to the sofa in the corner of the room when suddenly his hand was stopped by something.

He turned around and found Cleo, still fast asleep, holding his wrist tightly.

"Don't leave me... stay with me here. I'm scared..." Cleo whispered, her voice filled with desperation.

Kevin was silent, guilt washing over him. He took a deep breath and sat back down on the edge of the bed. After a moment, he took out his phone and called his assistant.

"Get the report I need for this afternoon ready. I won't be going to the office tonight," Kevin said briefly before hanging up.

His eyes returned to Cleo, who was now sleeping more peacefully. "I'm here. Sleep," he whispered, as if to reassure her.

Soon after, drowsiness began to creep up on Kevin. In an uncomfortable sitting position, he finally dozed off.

Cleo opened her eyes slowly. Her head felt heavy, as if weighed down by an invisible burden. "Ouch, why is my head so heavy?" she muttered, rubbing her temples.

She sat up on the bed, looking around the unfamiliar room. The ceiling was different, the smell of the room unfamiliar. "Where am I?" she asked quietly.

Memories of the night before started to surface. She remembered the blinding lights of the club, the loud music, and... a man. Cleo's face suddenly turned pale.

"The guy from last night," she whispered in panic. She quickly checked the clothes she was wearing. Everything was still intact, nothing had changed. But the worry wouldn't go away.

"Did he bring me here? He didn't... do anything to me, did he?" she thought fiercely.

Cleo got out of bed, her steps a bit unsteady. She peeked at the door, ready to sneak out when a voice from the direction of the pantry stopped her.

"Where are you going? I made you a drink to help with your headache."

The voice made Cleo freeze in place. She turned slowly and looked at the man standing in the small hotel kitchen.

Cleo furrowed her brows, squinting at him. "Who are you really?" she asked suspiciously.

The man turned slightly, looking at her with a small smile. "Just call me Kevin," he replied, placing a glass of drink and a plate of food on the dining table.

Cleo walked closer, her steps hesitant. She glanced at the food briefly and then back at Kevin. "You're... not a bad guy, are you?" she asked cautiously.

Kevin chuckled lightly, then sat down at the table. "Bad? Do I look like a bad guy to you?"

Cleo paused for a moment, then shook her head slowly. She sat in front of him, though her gaze remained wary. "You're the same guy from last night, aren't you?"

Kevin nodded slightly. He pushed a glass of drink toward Cleo. "Drink this. It'll help with your headache."

Cleo eyed the glass suspiciously. "There's no poison in this, is there?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kevin smiled faintly, his voice casual. "I'm not that bad, Cleo. I just want to help a sweet girl like you."

Hearing that, Cleo felt a pang of irony. She hissed softly but eventually took a sip of the drink. The cool sensation refreshed her throat, easing the dizziness in her head.

After that, Kevin offered her a plate of food. "Eat this. I prepared it for you."

Cleo stared at the food for a moment, then looked back at Kevin. To be honest, she felt guilty. But her stomach was growling, and the food looked too tempting to refuse.

"Thank you," Cleo said softly, picking up a fork.

Kevin nodded, then took a portion for himself. The room fell silent, only the clinking of cutlery against plates could be heard.

However, during the meal, Cleo occasionally stole glances at Kevin. The man looked so calm, as if he wasn't bothered by her sharp gaze.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Kevin suddenly asked, making Cleo jump.

"I'm not staring at you," Cleo replied quickly, averting her eyes. "Perverts like you are not even interesting."

Kevin chuckled at her words. "Pervert? You're funny."

Cleo huffed in irritation but didn't respond further.

After a while, Kevin finally spoke. "Did you have a broken heart last night? That you had to drink alcohol?"

The question left Cleo speechless. She stared at her plate, absentmindedly stirring the food. "Yeah," she finally replied, her voice small.

"Hmm, because of a man?" Kevin asked again, his tone understanding.

Cleo nodded slowly. "Yes. He—he cheated. And I don't know why I still care."

Kevin listened intently but didn't respond right away. After a moment, he said, "That drink won't erase your pain. You'll only regret it later."

Cleo looked up, her eyes glistening with tears. "Then what should I do?" she asked desperately.

Kevin sighed deeply. "Let it go. Focus on yourself. Don't let that pain destroy you."

Cleo didn't answer, but Kevin's words slowly seeped into her thoughts. She knew he was right, even if it was hard to accept.

After a moment, Cleo asked again. "Why do you care? We only met last night."

Kevin shrugged slightly. "I just don't like seeing someone destroy themselves. Especially a girl like you. The world is already tough enough without you adding to the burden in that way."

Cleo tilted her head, studying the man in front of her. There was something strange about Kevin. His gaze was warm, yet his eyes hid an unspoken pain. "You speak as if you know what it feels like," Cleo finally said.

Kevin laughed softly, his tone bitter. "Maybe I do," he replied, looking away.

The words piqued Cleo's curiosity even more. "So, you’ve been heartbroken too?" she asked cautiously.

Kevin didn't answer right away. He seemed to be thinking, deciding whether he wanted to share his story or not. After a moment, he said, "Once. But it wasn't just about love. Sometimes, heartbreak comes from many things—losing someone you love, dreams that don't come true, or even betrayal from someone you trust."

Cleo was silent. She hadn't expected this man to have such a deep story. "So, how did you move on?" she finally asked.

Kevin smiled faintly. "I chose not to stop. Life won't wait for you. If you stop, you'll be left behind. So, I kept going, even when my steps were unsteady."

Those words stunned Cleo. She looked down, trying to process what she had just heard. All this time, she had felt that the world was unfair. But maybe, she had been drowning in her own pain for too long.

After a moment, Cleo raised her head. "Thank you, Kevin," she said sincerely.

Kevin just smiled slightly. "No need to thank me. I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

After finishing their meal, Kevin stood up, collected the empty plates, and took them to the sink. Cleo, feeling guilty, stood up to help. But Kevin quickly stopped her hand.

"Let me do it," he said firmly.

The touch made Cleo freeze. Their eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. There was something in Kevin's gaze that made Cleo feel at ease, even though she had just met him.

"Why does his face look familiar?" Cleo thought suddenly, not blinking at all. The same went for Kevin.