Catherine's POV,
I woke up looking like a zombie. Eyes swollen, head heavy. I didn't sleep well last night—actually, I didn't sleep at all.
I couldn't stop thinking about Elai. And her woman.
Girlfriend? Wife? Fiancée?
I don't care.
Yeah, right.
I rolled my eyes at myself, remembering how happy they looked last night. I didn't make a scene. Why would I? I hate her. I hate everything about her.
Then why the hell did it keep me awake?
I was walking toward the door when I heard a knock.
Alorra.
"Rise and shine, Princess! Wakey wakey! I'm hungry. There's a coffee shop just across the hotel, let's go grab breakfast there."
"I'm still sleepy. I didn't get enough sleep last night." I yawned and let my body fall onto the couch. My eyes shut immediately.
"Are you still thinking about Elai and that woman? Come on, maybe she's just a colleague."
Colleague, my ass.
"I don't care." My voice was flat, like saying it could erase the fact that it bothered me all night.
"Okay, whatever." She switched her tone to that irritatingly cute one. "Can we go grab coffee already, please?"
I groaned.
Coffee sounded good. But so did forgetting Elai even existed.
We crossed the street, Alorra walking like she owned the morning while I dragged my feet behind her. My head was pounding, my chest still heavy.
The place smelled like roasted beans and fresh bread. People were chatting, typing on laptops, laughing. Normal. Too normal for the mess in my head.
Alorra went straight to the counter, already ordering like she'd memorized the menu. I stayed behind, half-asleep, half-dead, waiting for her to finish.
Alorra stood up, muttering something about needing sugar packets. I didn't even look, just kept stirring my coffee like it might drown the thoughts in my head.
Then I heard it again.
Her voice.
"Elai?"
My head snapped up. No. No.
There she was. At the counter. Alorra was standing right next to her, smiling like they were long-lost friends.
Oh, god.
I wanted to melt into the chair, disappear, vanish from existence. But no, Alorra had to open her big mouth. She had to ask her!
Really, Alorra?
"You should come sit with us!"
No. No, no, no—
I gripped the cup tighter, knuckles white.
And of course, Elai turned her head. Eyes finding mine across the café. That stupid grin was spreading across her face like she'd been waiting for this exact moment.
"I don't think your company here wants me to join you guys," Elai said. My eyes rolled. My eyebrows furrowed.
What the fuck is she trying to imply?
"It's fine," I coldly responded.
"So you're the engineer in charge?" Alorra was being too noisy. Too obvious. She kept asking things like, Are you single? Do you have a long-term girlfriend? Are you available?
What annoyed me more was that every time she asked, she'd look at me and grin.
Elai tried to have a conversation with me when Alorra got up to order another slice of cake, but I immediately showed no interest.
After what I witnessed last night? It keeps making my blood boil for no reason.
"How was your work at the hospital?" She tried again.
"Good" I answered not looking at her. I was just busy scrolling through my phone, pretending and ignoring her.
"I'm sorry, Catherine" I finally looked up to her.
"What?"
"That night, I was not myself-"
"I don't care anymore. It's just a mistake. No one wanted that. Keep it out of your head, and forget it ever happened. It's not a big deal anyway." I said, turning down her attempt to talk to me again.
My words stung me.
I didn't know how I was able to say that, knowing that I got hurt. That almost ruined my sanity.
She did not speak up after that. The atmosphere was very awkward, not until Alorra came back. She's asking questions again.
I didn't mind them. I acted like I didn't care about her answers to Alorra's questions, but in reality, I was really catching up.
So that girl was a client?
The next morning, Alorra and I drove to the site for inspection. The sun was brutal, and I already hated everything about being outdoors.
Hard hats. Safety vests. Dust everywhere. Alorra was busy chatting with one of the staff, asking too many questions like she was applying for an engineering degree herself.
Me? I was just trying to get through the day without seeing her.
And then it happened.
That sharp cramp. The familiar sting. My chest tightened as I froze in place.
No. Not now.
I whispered curses under my breath, pressing a hand against my stomach. My steps slowed, my face heating up, and of course—Alorra noticed.
"Cathy? You okay?" she asked, her voice louder than the damn drilling machine behind us.
I shook my head quickly. "I'm fine. Just—shut up."
But then I felt it. That sudden warmth. The panic rushed in.
Perfect. Just perfect.
And like fate was laughing at me, she appeared.
Elai.
She was talking to one of the site managers when her eyes locked onto mine. And just like that, she was walking over.
"Doctor?" Her tone was soft, questioning.
I wanted the ground to swallow me.
Alorra, being the devil she is, whispered way too loudly, "She got her period."
I almost strangled her.
Elai didn't even flinch. She just nodded once, calm as ever, and without saying another word, walked off toward the site exit.
"What the hell is she doing?" I hissed.
"Buying you pads, obviously." Alorra grinned, way too amused.
My whole body burned.
Kill me now.
This is just so embarrassing.
Alorra was smirking beside me like this was the best entertainment of her life.
"She's not really—" I started.
"She is," Alorra cut me off, grinning like an idiot. "You should thank her when she comes back."
This is a nightmare. A literal nightmare.
Me. Catherine Luis Lavander. Standing on a construction site, waiting for her to come back with pads.
Unbelievable.
I crossed my arms, biting the inside of my cheek, every second dragging like hell.
If she actually shows up…If she actually hands me that damn bag…
I don't know what I'll do.
I don't even know what I'll say.
God help me.
There she is.
Elai, holding a small paper bag, was walking straight toward me like this was the most normal thing in the world. Calm. Unbothered. Like she didn't just leave a construction site in the middle of the day to buy… that.
"Here," she said simply, handing me the bag.
My face burned. My hands refused to move.
Alorra, of course, reached out and snatched it for me. "Thank you, Engineer Andres. Very heroic of you."
I wanted to die. And Alorra's teasing is not helping at all!
Elai's eyes flicked to mine, just for a moment. Serious. Quiet. Almost… soft.
"Take care of yourself, Doctor," she said. Then she turned, walking back like nothing had happened.
I stood there frozen, bag clutched in my hands, heart pounding so loud I swore everyone could hear it.
Alorra's grin was blinding. "You're doomed."
"Shut up."
To Be Continued...