39 | Surprises

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I woke up with a start and I could feel the panic kicking in. I could not breathe properly and someone's arms were around me. People were all around, fussing over me and I can't see all their faces clearly from all the tears streaming from my eyes.

"Winter! Munchkin, it's alright!" Nate's voice rang and I realized that he was the one holding me.

My father was in front of me as well and he was wiping the tears from my cheeks and sweat from my forehead. "Darling, it's alright. Everything's alright. You just need to breathe for me."

I still couldn't breathe properly and that caused me to panic even more.

"Hey, hey. Munchkin, look at me," Nate said and placed his hands on my cheek and faced me. "You need to breathe, okay? Inhale."

I did what I was told and inhaled, staring into his eyes.

"Now, exhale," Nate said.

We were doing that for a couple minutes and my breathing turned back to normal but my parents still insisted that I be rushed to the emergency room because I was feeling very weak and looked deathly pale. Nate wrapped me in a blanket since I was feeling really cold and carried me downstairs with the help of my brothers. Once inside the car, I snuggled into Nate's chest and his chin was propped up on my head while he mumbled comforting things to me. My brothers were beside us, my feet on their laps and they both looked very sleepy but nevertheless they were still rubbing my freezing feet over the blanket. My father was driving, which was a surprise, and my mother was on the passenger seat.

Once we've parked, Nate carefully carried me towards the emergency room and doctors and nurses instantly surrounded us.

I woke up blinded by the light above me and I whimpered. I remembered what happened before I fell asleep and I couldn't help but cringe at the thought.

"Winter," Nate said from beside me. "Are you feeling alright?"

I looked at him and forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine now."

"Are you sure? Do you want anything?" he asked.

"Yes I'm sure. Stop fussing around, Nate," I told him with a chuckle but his expression remained serious.

"You had a panic attack last night," he said, as if I didn't remember.

"I know, Nate. I don't need to be reminded about it," I snapped.

He sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry, Munchkin. I'm just really concerned."

I squeezed his hand and smiled. "I'm fine."

He brought my hand to his lips and said, "Do you know why you had a panic attack?"

"It was just a bad dream," I answered.

"What was it about?" he pressed and I can't help but feel my heart sink.

"I... I don't remember anymore," I lied. "Might have been a dream where I was being chased by zombies. I often get those."

I remember what it exactly was about but I wasn't about to tell him that.

"You should stop watching that series about zombies then," he said with a laugh and I knew he bought the lie.

"I will," I said. "Why don't you go get a coffee and some fresh air. You look tired."

"Says the one who's lying on a hospital bed," he smirked.

I rolled my eyes at him and said, "At least get a coffee, stubborn man."

"Fine," he said and kissed my forehead. "I'll be right back."

He finally left the room and I was left to my thoughts. The dream was horrible. Even if it was just a dream, it was so vivid and real that I couldn't help but still feel it's aftermath. They say that dreams are a reflection of your thoughts but even with my overthinking, I have not come across the thought of Nate and I being kidnapped.

I was brought back home a few hours later. Thankfully, the media has not discovered what happened or else rumors would be spreading around like wildfire again. Our family can't have that.

They let me rest in the bedroom even though I insisted on going to the very important meeting we had scheduled. So, instead of charts and papers, I ended up watching weirdly satisfying documentaries like how paper cups are made. It feels really weird to not be working.

Nate was out and about all day which was better for me. It turns out, he had been helping out his parents run their company while he was in Australia and now that his father is going to fully pass the job to him, he's been handed a lot more work than usual.

The next day was spent for rest as well even though I, again, insisted that I was fine. Mother said the it was going to be the last day of rest and that I could work the day afterward. It was spent on watching documentaries in the room again and eating a whole lot of chips. Nate was still busy sorting out his work.

In the afternoon, Nate finally arrived and checked up on me.

"Hey," he said as he walked towards the bed. "How was your day?"

I smiled at him and shrugged. "It was fine."

"Just fine? Not awesome?" he asked.

"It was okay," I said, redirecting my eyes to the documentary I was watching.

"Come on, munchkin. Put on a nice dress, it's not too late to make the day more awesome," he said while pulling me by my arms.

"Nate, I'm not really in the mood to go out," I complained but he just smiled at me.

"Look, munchkin. You're going to get dressed and we're going out and that's final," he said and winked at me.

"Fine," I groaned and got up and put on a blue velvet dress. After fixing my hair, I got out and Nate and I walked towards the garden. It was a bit dark now and I was confused.

"I thought we're going out," I commented.

"We are out," he said.

"Right. So why are we here?" I asked.

"We're here for this," he answered and just as we rounded the corner, there was a little teepee set up by the tree and some fairy lights dangling from the branches.

"Nate, this is beautiful," I said.

"Come, sit," he said as he led me to a chair.

I was looking at all the food laid out and I didn't notice Nate bending on one knee.

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