Chapter 48

Mikayla's POV
“Don’t worry, I never wanted to be bothered about who Rudolf chose to be with. He will eventually see who is truly there for him. And when that time comes, everything will be revealed, including true love,” I said, adding conviction at the end of my sentence.
After a while, the woman left, leaving me with mixed feelings. I breathed a sigh of relief. The heaviness in my chest began to lift, but the incident still left a mark on me.
Not long after, Rudolf finished his therapy and came out of the treatment room. When his eyes met mine, I could feel the anxiety in his gaze. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked, perhaps seeing that my face still had traces of tension from the previous meeting.
I clasped my hands, trying to calm myself for a moment before answering. One thing I did was not want to add to Rudolf’s burden. “It’s nothing, Rudolf. Just a slightly unpleasant encounter with someone outside,” I answered softly, trying to smile even though my heart was still pounding.
“What’s the matter? You look like you’ve just been through something hard,” he observed, creating a protective wall between us.
I knew there was no point in lying. If I kept this feeling to myself, it would only get harder for me. “Someone I met here was just… not very friendly. She’s from our past. Frankly, she wasn’t too happy to see us together,” I said, feeling the need to explain without causing alarm.
Rudolf looked at me, his brow furrowed, as if feeling a deep sense of discomfort. “Did she bother you?” he asked, a voice full of concern.
“No, nothing like that. She just told you some really hurtful things,” I replied, trying to limit the impact of the incident on his face. “But I’m fine. The important thing is that we can be together, right?”
He paused for a moment, and in his gaze, I could see his desire to protect me. “Mikayla, I don’t want you to feel pressured. If anything makes you uncomfortable, let me know. We can get through anything together,” he said in a deeper voice as if nodding to the hope of honesty.
I felt a sense of emotion wash over me. The connection and support from him meant so much. “I know, Rudolf. And I really appreciate that you’re here for me,” I said, looking at him sincerely. “We’ll face this together, no matter what.”
With that, Rudolf smiled slightly, and we continued, walking hand in hand towards the hospital exit. It was brightly lit outside.
“Would you like something to eat?” Rudolf asked, his voice warm and caring.
“What should I eat?” I asked back, a little surprised by his offer. Sometimes, little things like this mean the most, especially after such a sad event.
“It’s up to you. It’s been a while since you’ve been to the city, maybe you’d like to eat at a restaurant or somewhere else you like?” he replied, giving me the freedom to choose.
I pondered the possibilities. It really did feel like it had been a while since I’d been to the city. Moments like this were the perfect opportunity to celebrate our time together and forget about all the tensions that had been going on before.
“I think I’d like to eat at a restaurant we haven’t been to in a long time—the one by the river. They have amazing seafood,” I said, remembering our previous experience there, as we laughed and shared stories over delicious food.
“Good! Let’s go there!” Rudolf exclaimed excitedly. His face brightened as he imagined the fun experiences they would have together.
I felt happy to see his enthusiasm. We both walked out of the hospital, breathing in the fresh air that made me feel alive again. This was our chance to share some quality time, doing something fun together, without the burdens that haunted me.
“Do you still remember how we always argued about which dish was the best?” Rudolf added, his eyes shining with memories of the past.
“Yes! And you always chose the weird ones!” I laughed, remembering how funny our arguments were that never ended in a definite answer.
As we reached the car and started to head to the restaurant, a sense of happiness filled my soul. All the tension that had been there slowly began to fade, replaced by new hope and the precious feeling of being with Rudolf.
“Thank you for taking me there, Rudolf. It will be a very fun moment,” I said gratefully, realizing how important it was to have each other’s support in living a challenging life.
He smiled, returning the gratitude sincerely. “There’s nothing better than spending time with you. Let’s make this day memorable!”
We each ate our food, and I felt so satisfied. The food here was amazing, and every bite brought back nostalgia. It was like going back to a time when everything was simpler and happier—before all the trouble between us.
I remembered the times we used to eat here, discussing our dreams and hopes for the future. The warmth of the food and Rudolf’s presence beside me brought back all those wonderful memories. His big smile made everything feel even better.
But in the midst of this happy moment, something felt strange. I felt like I was being followed, a tension in the air. I turned my head and scanned my surroundings, trying to figure out if my feelings were just imagining it.
Then, I saw a man sitting a few tables away, staring at me. His gaze was intense and disturbing as if judging my every move. My heart started to beat faster, and a sense of unease crept into my chest.
“Mikayla, are you okay?” Rudolf asked, watching my facial expression change suddenly.
“Yeah… It’s just… I feel like I’m being followed,” I replied quietly, trying to hide my worry from Rudolf. “Look at that guy over there,” I said, slightly indicating where I was looking.
He followed my gaze and frowned. “Is that him? Why does he keep staring at us?” he asked in a serious tone.