His Villain

18

The hospital room exuded an intense atmosphere, with three individuals occupying the space. Celia, the patient, sat against the headboard of the single bed, clutching a cup of hot water tightly in her hands. Her knuckles turned white from the force as she struggled to contain her emotions. The room was enveloped in an eerie silence, interrupted only by the sound of harsh breathing and the occasional drip from the IV.

Two figures stood before her, one casting soft glances while the other emitted hard glares. Warren, the first visitor, maintained a worried expression, his eyes darting between Celia and the other person in the room. Meanwhile, Dante, the second visitor, fixed her with a piercing gaze, his brows furrowing in question.

The intensity in Dante's eyes was palpable, even though he appeared infuriated. Despite his anger, he emanated an undeniable magnetism. His piercing brown eyes, prominent nose, and perfectly sculpted jawline concealed a dangerous allure. Celia couldn't help but notice the mole at the corner of his right eye, a tiny detail that seemed to add to his enigmatic charm.

Celia averted her gaze from Dante's intense stare and focused on the covered lap in front of her. Taking a deep breath, she summoned her courage and reciprocated his hard glare, determined to defend herself. She opened her mouth to explain her current condition when suddenly, Dante rose from his seat, striding purposefully toward her. He reached into his pants pocket and dropped something onto the bed, startling her.

Surprised by the unexpected action, Celia felt her feigned confidence dissipate, like sugar melting in hot water. A gasp escaped Warren's mouth as he hurriedly approached the bed, picking up the items that Dante had placed there.

With a mix of sadness and concern in his tone, Dante sternly warned her, "Didn't I warn you not to accept any escort invitations?"

"I didn't accept this one. It was optional, and besides, it's expired," Celia justified, frustration lacing her voice. She closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh, trying to alleviate the stress weighing on her. She knew how much Dante despised her involvement in escorting and performing in public events where her body became the center of attention.

Dante ran his hand through his silky hair in frustration, then asked, " mind to elaborate on how you ended up in this condition?" Warren stood nearby, attentive to every word.

Celia contemplated whether to tell the truth or fabricate a story, but she knew they would eventually see through any lie. Downing the water in one go, she placed the cup on the side table, steeling herself for their reaction.

Instead of answering Dante's question directly, Celia turned to Warren and inquired, "How did you know I was here?" Her audacity to ignore Dante's question caught both men off guard. Warren cleared his throat before responding, "Dalia called me."

Accepting his answer, Celia hesitated for a moment before asking, her voice laced with a hint of desperation, "Did she tell you everything?"

Warren shook his head, indicating that Dalia hadn't divulged all the details. With that, Celia proceeded to answer Dante's question, recounting the events that had led her to this hospital room. She explained how she had been booked to perform for Mister Romano two days prior and how he had invited her to his place the following day. Faced with a threat against Warren's life, she reluctantly accepted the offer, hoping it would ensure their safety. It was meant to be a one-night arrangement, a dance performance after dinner. However, everything took a sudden turn when an unknown person appeared and drugged them at gunpoint. Celia described the moments of partial consciousness, the sight of a tablet, and finding herself in a dark place-possibly a bar or basement.

Her voice trembled as she continued to recount the subsequent events-questioning by the mysterious person, Mister Romano's brutal demise, and being struck with a flower pot. The details blurred in her memory as she recalled being conscious again, this time tied to a chair in a basement. People had assaulted her, and a man had interrogated her about Mister Romano, other girls, and weapons. She mentioned the woman who had pierced a knife into her thigh. Eventually, Dalia had burst into the room, engaged in a heated argument, and rescued her, bringing her to the hospital.