LATE IN THE NIGHT (3)

"Okay, let's get out of here." Her lips curled up in a smile. He grinned, too. Even if it wasn't what he preferred, he obliged. He figured he couldn't force her to do what she doesn't want. He'd rather believe that Sola knows her body more and is acting out as a responsible adult who would not put herself in a much worse state.

He hooked one arm around Kang Sola's nape as they prepared to leave the ward. Kang Sola rested her arm around Guangxi's waist.

As a compromise, Kang Sola indeed sought the doctor's advice first, just to push away Xue Guangxi's apprehensions. She wouldn't want him to worry any more than he already did.

As expected, the doctor advised that her condition does not require her to be admitted to the hospital.

On the way home, they grabbed an unhealthy set of fast food meals: burger, fries, and a large cola, two sets, upon the lady's request. Then, Xue Gunagxi pulled over at the side of a highway that had benches on them, more like a park to pedestrians, and ate their food there overlooking the downtown city lights beyond the railings. They sat cross-legged on the benches beside each other near the railings.

"I'm sorry." Xue Guangxi breathed with solemnity amidst burger and fries in both hands.

"Mmmm?" Kang Sola took a sip from her cola. "For what?"

"For my attitude this afternoon. I shouldn't have reacted that way."

Kang Sola deliberated on his words. "I'm sorry, too. I know you're just concerned about me. But, it's part of who I am. I mean, I'm not even that famous. I'm not an actress or a celebrity. My channel's followers… I treat them like my friends. I am everybody's friend. I'd like to think that way. So…"

"I understand. You don't have to spell it out to me. I'm in the wrong. It somehow pisses me. The male fans, I mean, how brazen of them to approach you. And how come most of them who do are males? It's baffling."

She playfully sniffed and teased. "Can you smell that? Smells like vinegar [1]. Haha."

"What?!!!" Xue Guangxi's face turned deep red. "I'm not jealous. Not funny, Sola."

"Really?" Kang Sola inched closer and stared at Xue Guangxi's flustered face. "I thought you're thinking that I'm taking the limelight from you."

"Huh?!!! Ehhh???!!!" Xue Guangxi's head jolted backward from Kang Sola's proximity and her unexpected words. It seemed that the lady had a different concept of jealousy, Sola being the center of attention and not him.

"HAHAHAHA!!! You have an interesting brain, Sola. I think it's wired differently." He laughed even more. Some bits of the burger bun and meat escaped his mouth. She didn't get his point. He thought she had hit the bull's eye, but 'No Sir! She's as dense as the heaviest iron ore.

"Gross, Guangxi!!! Ewww!!!"

He laughed some more. "It's tasty, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Eat some more." He fed her with two pieces of French fries. She gobbled it up in no time.

"Are you feeling really okay now?"

"Yeah. You've asked a hundred times already." She fought the urge to roll her eyes.

His eyes softened. "Just want to make sure." He might be playful and laced with mischief most of the time, but he takes matters concerning health seriously.

They enjoyed their snacks in peace. She leaned part of her back on the side of his arm. In response, he wrapped that arm around her shoulders.

"Oh wait." Kang Sola pulled away to retrieve her tiny wallet from her back pocket. "How much do the medical expenses cost? I'll pay you." She dug into her wallet. "I might not have enough, but tell me, I'll top it up when we get home. She handed him some paper bills.

"No need. No." Xue Guangxi shoved her hand and the bills away. "That's offensive."

"I insist." She shoved her hand back to him. She's getting more forceful. "Please. Just take it."

Xue Guangxi was starting to get annoyed for real. "Will you be at peace if I take it? I told you what you are doing right now is offensive."

"No, you not taking my bills for MY medical expense is offensive. I mean, I can support myself! I'm grateful enough that you helped me get on my feet. I was on my way to the pharmacy to get medicine anyway. Take it. Here."

He shut his eyes, then massaged his forehead.

"Okay fine!" He emptied her hand almost brashly. Then, he threw the bills onto the railings down to the abyss below them, into the world of unknown.

The paper bills fluttered like feathers and snowflakes and danced against the wind.

"HUH!!!" Kang Sola gaped with watery eyes. "My money!!!" She went against the railing and watched the paper bills rain at its leisure.

"No, that's already MY money. You gave it to me, didn't you? And being my money, I can do whatever I want with it. So I gifted it to the world who needs it more. I wish it would benefit someone out there." Xue Guangxi was still annoyed.

"YOU!!! You filthy rich son-of-a—Ahhhh!!!!!!!" She pulled her hair out in vexation. "Not all people are as rich as you, bastard!! That's my hard-earned money!!!" From the railing where she stood, she rushed back onto the bench only to pound her fists on his arm and chest.

He just let her beat him. He didn't catch her fists. His face still wore an annoyed scowl.

She bit her lower lip, fighting the honest urge to shed some emotional tears. She gripped his shirt's collar. "What you did is what's OFFENSIVE. That's OFFENSIVE!!! It's like you just disregarded my genuine intent to pay off my debt. You!!! Ugh!!!"

She released her hand, claimed her seat beside him, then buried her face on her palms.

Soft sobs came.

"Hu. Hu. Hu."

Xue Guangxi clenched his teeth. What could he do in such a situation? It easily and very swiftly plummeted into the lowest of low.

[1] vinegar is associated with being jealous