"I'm really sorry. Please tell me you're gonna get over what I said. I will make it up to you," Kevin said as he walked up to Leena. He pinched her red face, his eyes full of affection.

  "Never mind," Leena grumbled, pursing her lips. She shook off his hand and continued tidying up the room.

  "Have you eaten your breakfast?" Kevin asked her. He noticed when he had come back, the breakfast on the dining table was still set, just as it had been before. Naturally, he was worried. Leena had suffered quite a shock last night.

  "Not yet. I'll eat soon and then go to the hospital to check on Patricia's situation," Leena said, unperturbed. Kevin heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Leena did not forget about what had happened to Patricia.

  "I thought you forgot Patricia's accident!" Kevin exclaimed, looking at her with amazement. She looked so calm this morning. He thought she would not be able to stand the blow of Patricia's accident and forgot everything. He too began to help her do the room. Leena seemed very composed.

  "Come on. Patricia is one of my best friends. How could I even forget about her? I've come around to the idea that however sad and dejected I am, she won't get better anytime soon. So why should I be so hard on myself? I have to cheer up." Leena gave Kevin a bitter smile. She had now become more mature than she used to be.

  "I'm glad you see it that way. You know, you really scared me last night." Leena had crumbled under the shocking news of Patricia's situation. It had startled Kevin. Luckily, Leena seemed to have made her peace with it. Otherwise

  afford to stay in the ICU. The expenses incurred were high. Patricia had already been in the ICU for about a week. The cost of it was equivalent to what ordinary families earned throughout a year.

  "Tom, may I ask you a question?" Leena turned to look at him, wondering why he hadn't fallen for a beautiful and sincere woman like Patricia.

  "Of course." Tom cast a final glance at Patricia before leaving the room with Leena. On the way to his office, he looked at Leena, still waiting for her question.

  "You really don't like Patricia?" Leena fixed her eyes upon his face, not willing to miss a single expression on it. She didn't want him to hide how he felt.

  "You know I hate being forced to do anything," Tom said with a frown. He didn't dislike Patricia. She was beautiful, funny and too clever by far. He just hated the way she approached him and how she pushed him to accept her.

  "So, you dislike how forward she is about her feelings?" Leena asked him again. If so, it would be hard for Tom to say yes to being in a relationship with Patricia.