twenty-eight

Alone in her room, Aliyah was sitting in front of her vanity mirror as she puts her make up on, "Do you know whose Adam's fiancée?" she asks Dr. Costa who is on the other line.

Dr. Costa, sighed, "I thought we are just discussing your situation bakit napunta na naman ito kay Adam?"

Aliyah pursed her lips as she fixes her make-up "Nagtatanong lang eh baka may nasasabi sayo si Zania" she stated

"Alam mo kung wala ka nang sasabihin I'm gonna hang this up now," he said but before he hangs up, he added "Just transfer my fee for this session in my account"

Aliyah looked at the ended call "Napakakuripot talaga" she stated as looks at her reflection in the mirror, her black backless gown was touching on the ground she sighed giving herself a small smile before she grabs her clutch and walks out of her bedroom. Swinging her keys in her forefinger she confidently walks to her door, "What are you doing here?!" she gasped when she saw a man leaning on his car the moment, she opens her door.

Adam gazes at her for a minute before he stood up "Let's go" he said

"Anong sinasabi mo dyan? I already told you that I will go to the venue by myself" she said as she swings her keys

Adam walks towards her and grabs her keys "You're not going to the venue by yourself" he said and put the keys in his pocket "Let's go or we'll be late" he commanded as he walks to his car

"Adam!" she called but Adam just go inside of his car and started it.

Stomping her feet, she eyed the car furiously before exhaling deeply and walks to the car. "I told you I was an independent woman you don't need to drive me," she said the moment she got inside the car and put her seatbelt on.

Adam eyed her for a moment, "I am your partner, we should arrive together. That is the normal thing to happen" he said as he starts to drive.

"So? I will start a new normal, arriving alone and being an independent woman without a man by her side" she announced confidently.

Adam just looked straight at the road not paying attention on her nonsense, "Not today, because you have a partner, maybe in another life, you could do that"

"Whatever" she rolled her eyes

Aliyah was looking at the scenery outside, yawning she turned around to look at Adam looking at his stern face her gaze move to his neck down to his chest and her eyes caught his hands that were on the steering wheel, she tilted her head and pursed her lips.

"What are you looking at?" Adam asked as she peeks at the little woman.

Aliyah immediately moved her gaze to the window "Nothing" she mutters as she grabs her clutch tightly.

Adam glance at her, "Is there something wrong with my hands?" he inquired "You kept on looking at them" he added when he stopped the car in front of the hotel.

Wetting her lips with her saliva, Aliyah swallowed her saliva and look at him straight into his eye "Give me your right hand" she commanded

Adam looked at her skeptically but eventually gives his hand to her "What is it?"

Aliyah opens her clutch as she took a watch from it, placing it on his wrist "Much better" she said and smiled at him "Let's go" she immediately gets out of the car.

Stunned for a minute a small smile escapes on his face as he glances at the watch in his wrist "Finally" he muttered and gets out of the car.

Throwing his keys to the valet and followed Aliyah who is walking fast inside the hotel.

"Are you nervous?" he eyed the woman beside him who's keep breathing heavily "Don't be"

Aliyah looks at him with an unsteady gaze "Ewan. Wala akong maramdaman" she said as she bites her lips, "I am not just sure how the people would take it" she sighed

"It will be alright" Adam touches her arms slightly "You're cold," he declares as he takes off his coat and covers the petite body of hers.

Aliyah was shocked when a coat drops down on her shoulder, she looks at Adam "I don't need this kaya nga ako nagsuot nito diba to flaunt it" she said but he eventually silenced her.

"Shh," he said as he tapped her shoulder preventing her to take off his coat "You're next," he said as he gestures her father who is now speaking on the stage introducing her as the next heir of their hospital.

"Let's welcome our daughter Aliyah Rose Argania the leader of the trauma center project" Her father announced as he gestures his hands pointing at Aliyah's location.

Aliyah's breathe deeply as she smiled at the people around her, she looks at Adam for a second, he gave her a nod "I'll accompany you to the stage" he said as he offers his hand to her

"You don't need to" she whispered, being in the spotlight Aliyah was hesitating whether to accept his offer but before she could decide Adam took her hand and escort her to the stage.

Adam was still holding her hands when they go up to the stage "Go for it" sabi nito at binitawan na ang kamay ni Aliyah.

Aliyah smiled at him "Thank you" she said and nods her head

"Wait," he said before Aliyah could turn around, he immediately grabs his jacket on her shoulder, "You said you wear it to flaunt it" he looks at her "You can go now"

Aliyah just let out a sneer before going to the center of the stage "Good evening everyone" she greeted as her eyes roamed around to the people in the venue.

Adam peeks at her before stepping down on the stage and waits for her to finish her speech at the bottom of the stage.

As her eyes wander around in the venue Aliyah starts to introduce her new project, "Trauma center is indeed a risk—" her speech halted as her gaze focuses on one silhouette. Breathing heavily, she can't come even avoid his gaze, those hazel eyes that she once loved, now gave her shivers. Gulping she tries to keep her emotions in touch "This, The trauma center" she repeats as she felt a numbing pain in her head and how cold sweats cover her entire body. "This was a risk" she mumbled her words as her sight become pixelated, her knees are wavering, she tries to look for him in the bottom of the stage "Adam" she mumbled 'Help' she thought before she collapses on the stage, she looked at Adam who's now running to her.

Adam knew there is something wrong once she repeated her words, hearing her muttered his name before collapsing he immediately runs to the stage "Ali" he whispers "What happened?" he asked Aliyah who is now pale and covered with her sweat.

"He's here" with her trembling voice she whispered repeatedly, her trembling hands tried to grab his coat, looking at him "Please let me live," she said sobbed "I don't want to die. Please"

Adam shushes her holding her trembling body like a fragile glass "You won't" he said "Let's go. I'll protect you" he removes his coat and covers her head and body with it but before he could lift her, she collapsed on his arms.