CHAPTER 8

"That's not possible. I did not find any wounds on his head last night. How is that even possible?" Anna frowned pacing back and forth.

The man sitting at the kitchen table looked at her with his sparkling orbs while the old lady was on the call, speaking to someone very softly, as if making sure the man does not hear it.

Anna was grumbling and muttering things under her breath, she had forced herself into this situation. Only if she had called the police at the accident spot or just ignored the car last night, she would have been enjoying her day off having her favorite hot choco and Granu's cookies. But she could never do that, being the kind and thoughtful person that she is, she would never abandon someone like that on road.

She stopped pacing and looked at the man sitting at the table, he smiled brightly, showing his perfectly arranged white teeth. She sighed for the millionth time that day and continued pacing, biting her nails in between.

"John said we have to take him to the hospital," the old lady informed Anna and she looked at her and nodded.

They heard a rumbling sound and turned towards the man who held his stomach which was growling too loud and looked down at it.

Anna just blinked while her grandmother smiled at him. He somewhat reminded her of Anna's Father's childhood; the pout and the eyes. The old lady made her way to the man and caressed the top of his head slowly and he looked up before a small smile spread across his lips.

"What do you want to eat?" she smiled, continuing to slide her hands on his soft hair. His eyes lit up and he bit his lips and blinked as if confirming the question.

"Go ahead" the old lady motioned him with her head.

"N-noodles" he looked down at his hands.

The lady chuckled lowly at his shyness and patted his shoulder before nodding. She made her way to the kitchen counter to make the noodles. She took out some vegetables and started chopping it.

The man's eyes turned towards Anna who was observing the sudden change in her grandmother's behavior. Her grandmother never liked to see boys lingering around her and whenever she did, she would shoo them away. Why was she suddenly acting so kind towards a stranger?

She felt a pair of eyes on her and turned her eyes without moving her head. Her gaze was instantly locked with the green orbs and she felt the sudden warmth again, her heartbeat suddenly increasing. His expressions were soft and a sweet smiled drew on his face, looking at her with admiration. Her cheeks turned crimson and she could not help but break the stare and look away.

'How could a man act so cute and the next moment become so intimidating?'

'I love his eyes. OMG' her inner mind was blushing.

Anna rolled her eyes at the comment and walked towards the kitchen without sparing the man another glance. He instantly pouted when she left the room. He stood up and went towards the living room and sat down on the couch. Folding his knees to his chest, he leaned back waiting for the noodles.

"What happened Grannu?" Anna raised a brow, munching the carrot sliced for the noodles.

"What?"

"What's with all those head pats and smiles?"

"Nothing. He was hungry and you know I can't handle when anyone is hungry around me" the old lady frowned, fine lines forming on her forehead.

That was true. She never used to let anyone go to bed empty stomach, when Anna's parents were with them. But after the incident of their death, which was almost a year, she had lost all the interest and craze of cooking and feeding everyone. She hardly used to have meals herself but made sure Anna did.

After so long, Anna had seen her cooking so happily and with so much interest for someone that she could not help the smile that crept up her lips. She somehow felt happy to see the old Grannu back, she felt happy for the smile that was presently plastered on the lady's wrinkled face.

"Go check on him, he might need something. Go" She smiled and Anna nodded. Hopping down from the counter she walked out of the kitchen to find the table where the man was seated empty. She looked around but did not see the huge figure anywhere.

"Where did he go?" whispering to herself she hurried to the living room where she saw the similar figure on the couch. His eyes closed, lips parted slightly, little snores escaping from it. She unknowingly smiled at him, and almost immediately straightened her face.

She turned towards the stairs to go to her room, her mind not able to clear his face from it, she shook her head trying to calm down. Why did he feel so familiar? She climbed two steps and tripped on the third, falling to the floor with a thud.

"Ouch!"

"What was that?" She heard her grandmother's voice from the kitchen. If she knew, she would not let her walk for the whole day, she did not want to stay in bed all day, specially on her day off.

Taking a deep breath she yelled back "Nothing. I just dropped something. It's fine"

"Okay"

She let out a breath of relief and tried to stand but failed, her ankle was hurting when she tried to stand. She rubbed her ankle somewhat trying to soothe the pain. 'Great beginning of the day.'

Suddenly two pairs of hands scooped her up and she almost let out a scream but covered her mouth with both her hands.

"Noona are you okay?" the man enquired. Worry and concern was written all over his face, he looked at her ankles and then back at her. She just blinked at him. Why was this man so concerned about someone he barely knew?

"Does it hurt bad?" his voice was low, climbing up the stairs slowly. Anna's hands were still covering her mouth and her wide eyes still looked shocked.

"Hmm?" he looked at her and she looked away quickly. Removing her hands from her mouth she folded them over her stomach, not wanting to touch him.

"It- It's fine. Thank you'. She finally found her voice which was stuck at the back of her throat.

They reached her room, he slowly turned his back on the door and pushed it open. Walking inside he placed her slowly on the bed before kneeling down and taking her foot in his big hands.

Her eyes went wide at his actions.'What is he doing?'

He slowly caressed her ankle, his eyes filled with concern and his lips slightly pouted. She felt goosebumps all over her hands and the back of her neck when his fingers brushed her feet, her heart racing and her cheeks turning red.

"I...I am fine." She tried retreating her feet but he slowly pulled it back to himself and sat down near the bed and placed her feet on his thighs.

Anna's soul almost left her body when she felt his thighs flex under her feet. She was feeling things she never felt before, things she couldn't understand, and from someone whom she met last night. She doesn't even know his name. 'Oh wait. His name.'

"Umm... What was your name you said?" she asked, hopefully this time he would answer without throwing any questions back at her. The man was so engrossed in massaging her ankles that he answered without even looking up at her.

"Raven. Raven Lorraine,"