He hung his head, pressing fingers to his temples, voice gravelly. “Call a cab. Hurry up.”

Alarieka finally wrenched free, rubbing her elbow in frustration.

Under the dim light, she shot him a silent glare. Rude guy.

When no reply came after several seconds, he urged, “Hurry.”

Alarieka eyed him coldly, pulling out her phone to book a ride while thinking: Must be tough holding it in? Why not just suffocate already? Is this how you drag people around for help? So rude!

Cab fares in the capital were steep. Though Alarieka could afford it, she refused to waste money on someone this ill-mannered. “You’re paying for the ride,” she said irritably.

The man actually found breath to taunt her, scoffing lightly. “Cheapskate.”

Alarieka stated flatly, “Medical bills too. Don’t think you’re skipping out.”

He drew heavy, labored breaths, voice strained. “Enough talk.”

Alarieka brushed past him, tossing over her shoulder, “Move. Steady now. If you fall, I won’t pick you up.”

He scoffed. “Won’t need it. Save your concern.”

Alarieka walked under a streetlamp, the man trailing closely behind.

She whirled around, studying his face in the murky light. During their earlier contact, she’d already sensed she’d definitely seen him before.

Recognition flickered in Alarieka’s eyes. Her neighbor across the hall.

Seeing him clearer now, she confirmed his mixed-race features. He still wore the same gray hoodie she’d seen before. His features were sharply defined, strikingly handsome—more so than runway models—with an air of aristocratic grace. Even in this disheveled state, he resembled a fallen noble.

Bloodshot eyes, thin lips that looked stained crimson, vivid and moist.

Her gaze lingered on his mouth. He frowned, voice low. “What are you looking at?”

Alarieka clicked her tongue, looking away.

Seemed he didn’t remember her. Whatever.

She started walking again. Her job was just getting him to the hospital. The rest wasn’t her problem.

The cab arrived. Alarieka pulled open the rear door when the man spoke again.

“Ride up front,” he ordered rudely.

Alarieka rolled her eyes internally, lips twisting in annoyance, then slid into the passenger seat. Fine. She didn’t want to sit beside a drugged man anyway.

At the hospital, Alarieka got out first, waiting by the entrance for him. People streamed past. She waited, growing impatient as minutes ticked by with no sign of him.

Just as she was about to go check, the driver in the front seat rolled down his window and said awkwardly, “Miss, your friend seems really unwell. He can’t move. Could you come help him up?”

A mocking smile touched Alarieka’s lips as she walked over and opened the car door on the man’s side. The moment it opened, she saw him slumped in the back seat, head tilted against the headrest. His arm covered his eyes, crimson lips slightly parted as he breathed in shallow, suppressed gasps. Eyes tightly shut, he looked utterly frantic.

Alarieka’s gaze drifted casually over the hem of his hoodie. Spotting a certain curve, she raised an eyebrow, amusement glinting in her eyes.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t want my help earlier. Now you can’t move? Not so tough now, huh?”

The man lowered his arm from his eyes, fixing her with a dark stare. Bloodshot veins were starkly visible across his eyes, both nearly crimson red. He truly looked like a cornered beast, glaring at her with stubborn defiance.

Probably too proud to ask for help after rejecting her earlier. He panted heavily while Alarieka crossed her arms, radiating indifference.

The driver turned around, sounding troubled. “Miss, could you help him out first? My next ride’s in a hurry.”