"It's not exactly like that," Oscar replied.

Hannah frowned. "Any other reasons?" she asked, surprised.

Oscar smiled playfully. "Hannah, you want to know me so much?"

Hannah rolled her eyes. She thought she wasn't interested in him.

"You'll find out later," he said. His words hinted at something more, something Hannah couldn't decipher. She'd always known Oscar wasn't simple, but she hadn't realized just how unconventional he was.

Hannah began to doubt her decision to cooperate with him, wondering if she was repeating a past mistake. She'd made a decision—she wouldn't fall in love, wouldn't allow herself to.

Silence fell between them. Sometimes, Hannah found Oscar cheerful and talkative; other times, he was unusually quiet, revealing little of his thoughts or emotions.

A knock came at the door. "Master Oscar, Miss Hannah, Madame requests your presence for dinner," a servant called.

"Okay," Oscar answered, rising from the couch.

Hannah tried to move, but tore her wound, gasping in pain.

"Could you please ask the maid to bring me my dinner?" she asked Oscar.

He nodded and left.

Hannah lay idle, boredom settling in. Reaching for her bedside phone, Oscar's voice interrupted her.

"You can't settle down for even a second," he said, his unpredictability striking again.

He entered carrying her dinner. Hannah withdrew her hand, remaining under the quilt.

"Polenta," Oscar said, placing the food before her.

"Thanks," Hannah replied.

She watched, surprised, as he spooned some polenta, blew on it, and brought it to her mouth. Thinking a maid had arrived, she was startled by his actions.

"Open your mouth," Oscar ordered.

"Let the maid—"

"Open your mouth."

Hannah thought, sometimes, he was incredibly bossy. She opened her mouth. Oscar fed her, and she chewed slowly.

"Is it to your liking?" he asked.

"Yeah," Hannah responded. She'd preferred something lighter, though.

Oscar served another spoonful.

…

Dinner ended with Oscar's assistance.

"Do you want some more?" he asked.

"No, thanks," Hannah shook her head.

"No?"

"Yes," she corrected.

"Then I'll eat," Oscar stated flatly.

Hannah frowned. "You haven't eaten yet?"

"I have to feed you first," he said, serving himself from a larger bowl.

"I didn't realize you were so considerate," she said.

"There are many more things you didn't realize," Oscar replied, his smile charming.

"Huh," Hannah teased, thinking he was easily flattered and prone to pride.

Turning away, she noticed something surprising. Oscar had served the polenta directly into her bowl, using her spoon.

‘Didn't he think of changing spoons?’ she mused.

"Do you want it?" Oscar asked.

"No," Hannah said, turning away again. She couldn't resist adding, "You're using my spoon."

Oscar seemed surprised, but held back laughter. "Oh, yeah? No wonder I think it's especially sweet tonight."

After dinner, Oscar played a mobile game while Hannah, restless from lying down so long, felt the need to use the bathroom. She struggled to sit up, acutely aware of her injured clothing and her desire to avoid Oscar's ridicule.

"You want to go to the bathroom?" Oscar asked, surprising her with his perceptiveness.

"Can you hold back?" he asked, still playing his game.

"No," Hannah replied, annoyed at his obliviousness to her discomfort.

"Okay," he said, setting down his phone. Hannah could still hear a voice from the game, "Oscar, move! Why aren't you moving?" But Oscar ignored it, picking her up.

"Oscar…" Hannah protested, but the movement caused pain. She shielded her breasts instinctively.

He carried her to the toilet. "Do you need me to help you take off your pants?"

"Get out!" Hannah snapped.

Oscar chuckled and left.

After attending to her needs, and taking a long time to redress, Hannah was startled to see Oscar push open the bathroom door.

"I thought you fell in the toilet," he said, laughing at her stunned expression.

Ignoring him, she went to the sink, where Oscar helped her wash her hands, his large hands meticulously cleaning hers. She felt a surprising sense of childish dependence, even a paternal feeling from him. It bewildered her.

He then carried her back to bed, abandoning his game. After showering, he slid under the covers with her, his actions natural and unselfconscious. Hannah stared at him.

"We've slept, hugged, and kissed last night, and even…" Oscar laughed, leaving the sentence unfinished.