Chapter 47: Chapter 47

●Daniel's P.O.V.●

I heard a high-pitched scream, and my sleep broke. I thought I was dreaming at first, but then my eyes fell on the balcony. Nuri was screaming and yelling things while hiding her face with her palms.

I removed the blanket over me and placed my one foot out of bed. It felt like I was touching ice. Then placing another foot on the floor, I stood up. I felt a little dizzy as I tried to walk, but I needed to know what was scaring her.

As I reached her, I placed a hand on her shoulder. And my touch gave Nuri a jump scare. She turned to me with fear in her eyes. But as soon as she realised it was me, Nuri embraced me and hid her face on my shirt while trembling.

I was shocked to see Nuri so scared. I lightly caressed her hair as I whispered, "What is it, Nuri? Why are you so scared?"

Soon, I noticed Ray and his friends were standing on their balcony and staring at Nuri.

"What happened to her?" I asked Ray with an emotionless face.

"I-I don't know.

We were having a little chit-chat, but all of a sudden, she started screaming while looking at something in the street.

I tried to ask her about it, but she didn't tell me." Ray explained.

I shifted my gaze to the street but found nothing suspicious. The rain started getting heavier. I decided to go inside. I nodded to Ray, and he nodded back, understanding my hint. He went inside his room with his friends and closed the balcony door.

I pulled Nuri inside as well while hugging her.

"It's Fine. I am here. What happened? Tell me." I whispered as I kept rubbing her back.

Finally, Nuri glanced up at me. Her face looked devastated with teary eyes and quivering lips.

"He was there! " She said with a timid tone.

I cupped her face with my palms and wiped the tears carefully.

"Who was there?"

"That kidnapper!" Nuri blurted out.

"Huh?"

"Yes. I saw that man staring at our hotel with the same ruthless eyes. Even he and I had eye contact for a second." Nuri explained.

I was confused when I heard her words.

"Nuri, how can that man be here? He is behind the bars!" I tried to console her.

"No! He was there!

I freaking made eye contact with him. He was the same damn person Daniel. I swear I'm not lying!" Nuri became excited while explaining her experience and raised her voice at me.

"Nuri, Jagi, calm down." I pressed her head back on my shirt.

"I'm not saying you're lying.

I am just trying to say that maybe you misunderstood someone else, thinking of him."

Nuri moved away and said, "Daniel, I am saying I saw him with my own eyes just a moment ago. I can't forget his face."

"He has returned to kill me, Daniel! He has returned to kill me!" With the last sentence, she again hid her face in my chest while weeping.

"No one can hurt you until I'm here. Okay?

No one! Don't say these words."

Nuri nodded, hesitatingly looking up at me.

"Okay. Let me call the police station and ask them if the kidnapper is still there or not.

If he's there, you won't cry, okay?"

Nuri once again nodded her head obediently. I placed a kiss on her head before searching for my phone.

Soon, I found it on the table.

Leaving Nuri for a second, I dialled the officer's number who arrested the kidnapper that day. And after three rings, he received the call.

"안녕하세요

다니엘 김입니다."

"【Hello Sir. This is Kim Daniel.】"

"며칠 전에 납치범을 내 호텔에서 체포했잖아요."

【You arrested the kidnapper from my hotel a few days ago.】

"네.네"

【Yes. Yes.】

"물어볼 게 있어요, 경관님.그 유괴범은 아직도 감옥에 있나요?"

【"I wanted to ask you something, officer.

Is that kidnapper still in prison?"】

"옿. 알았어요.도와주셔서 감사합니다."

【"Oh, okay. Thank you for helping."】

"안녕히 주무세요, 경관님."

【"Good Night, Officer."】

I disconnected the call and turned to Nuri, who was now sitting on the edge of the bed. As soon as Nuri noticed me keeping the phone at its old place, she stood up from her position and walked to me.

"What did they say? Is he still inside?" Nuri's voice seemed curious and timid.

"He is still inside the prison. I told you, Nuri. I think you saw something wrong. Don't worry." I patted her head lightly.

"How can I see so wrong?" Nuri questioned herself.

"It happened from the stress I created for you. It's my fault, actually."

Nuri rubbed her nose on my shirt while shaking her head.

"It's not your fault. I think I'm traumatized enough to imagine all these."

"Ah...Fine. Let's not think about it again. Okay?"

Nuri nodded her head with a slow movement.

"Well, I'm hungry. Should we order some snacks and enjoy ourselves while watching a movie or something?" I tried to brighten Nuri's gloomy mood.

"Okay," Nuri replied with a faint smile.

**********

●Nuri's P.O.V.●

Even though the police informed us that the kidnapper was still inside the prison, I still couldn't believe it 100%. Something wasn't right. We were missing a point to solve the whole puzzle.

But Daniel wasn't believing me. I knew I saw right. The way of of that man's staring and the dressing was the same as the last time.

We both had eye contact for a second even. I just couldn't shrug it off. But how can a person stay at the prison and in front of our hotel at the same time? Wasn't it impossible to do so?

"Did I really imagine him?" I asked myself in my head.

"Nuri, what do you wanna eat?" Daniel asked, turning the menu page.

"Anything you order." I tried to give a genuine smile, but I didn't know if I was successful in it.

"Okay, then you should try a new Korean dish today," Daniel said while smiling.

"Okay." I smiled again, but deep inside my heart, I was still scared of that previous incident.

**********

After having dinner, Daniel took his medicines and got up on the bed. I laid down on the couch and covered myself with a blanket.

"Why are you sleeping there?" I heard Daniel's voice.

"Why? Then where should I sleep? On the floor where you threw me to?" I made an annoyed face and made myself comfortable on the couch.

"Are you mad at me because I pushed you down from the bed?" Daniel burst out laughing.

I rolled my eyes and turned my gaze to my phone screen.

"You will feel cold there if you sleep on the couch," Daniel spoke again.

"It shouldn't be your concern."

"Are you coming on the bed or not?" Daniel raised his voice while pouting.

"Daniel, let me sleep!" I said without looking at him.

After that, I didn't hear anything from Daniel and assumed he gave up.

I concentrated on my phone screen again.

I was reading a novel about traveling. The girl in the novel went to travel to a foreign country on a ship.

But all of a sudden, I felt two hands slide under my body. One was under my shoulder, and another was under my thighs. And the next second, I was in the air. Not exactly on the air, but I was in Daniel's arms. Daniel lifted me from the couch, and he was holding me in his arms with the blanket over me.

I would have looked like a sushi roll if I could check the mirror.

"Daniel!!!!"

I yelled, squeezing my eyes shut in anger. Daniel didn't say anything. When I opened my eyes, he was smiling at me.

"What the heck are you trying to do?"

"Uh...Taking you to bed!" He replied with a smile.

"I am fine on the couch."

"I'm not." He chuckled.

"Put me down! Right now!" I ordered.

"I will." Then Daniel moved towards the bed while smiling.

Daniel was sick yet so strong. I couldn't understand how he even managed to lift me from the couch that easily. I didn't know I was so light! Was I?

My train of thoughts stopped when I felt myself lying on a soft surface again. Honestly, the bed was ten times better to sleep in than the couch. But there was a reason why I chose not to sleep on the bed.

Daniel was steaming hot! And controlling myself even after lying beside him could be hell for me, so I chose the easy way to suppress my feelings and laid on the couch. But who knew Daniel would carry me up to the bed?

"You're crazy!"

Daniel got up in bed and laid beside me while smiling.

"Maybe I am."

And with that, Daniel leaned for a kiss. It was a clear indication of what was going to happen next. Hence I found a pillow and put it between him and me. Most probably, the pillow received Daniel's kiss, and I laughed behind the pillow. Daniel grabbed the pillow and put it down a bit to see my face.

"What is this pillow doing between us?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Protecting me!" I scoffed.

"Do you think this pillow can protect you?" And I heard the dangerous, seductive tone of Daniel.

I didn't know Daniel was able to talk like that! Was it like a split personality?

I faked a yawn.

"Ow, I am so sleepy. See you tomorrow. Good Night." I turned my head to the balcony, and Daniel was facing my back.

But I could feel his stares on my back.

Suddenly one of his hands slid on my waist, and it gripped me tightly while pulling me backward. It continued until my head touched Daniel's chin.

"Daniel..?"

"Let's sleep like this," Daniel whispered in my ear.

I couldn't reply to his innocent request and just stayed still under his touch.

Daniel chuckled.

"What?" I couldn't understand what he was laughing about.

"This is so strange." He said.

"What is strange?"

"This feeling that I get while embracing you. It is strange. The apartment I was staying in until now never felt like home. It was just a roof to keep me safe from the sun and rain.

But when you came to stay at my place, The apartment magically became home."

Daniel explained.

"Even now, this hotel feels comfortable because you are beside me. The strangest thing I just realised is you are my home. Wherever you are with me, it feels like home."

His explanation left me speechless. Indeed, the feeling of coming home is not When you return to your house made with walls and a roof, but when you return to the people who love you dearly. But wasn't it too early to feel this strong feeling for a person you just met a couple of days ago?

When did we come so close? It felt like Daniel was moving too fast.

"Do I feel the same as Daniel?"