Chapter 40: He Was Topless


    "I massaged it over and over again, but it''s still hard? Darn," Kiro muttered, his frustration evident in


    his voice. His words almost made me gasp with concern. I still held the mat and pillow I had brought


    for him, and he had turned his back to me, clearly trying to hide his difort.


    Unable to ignore his obvious distress, I approached him cautiously and saw him massaging his leg,


    which was now resting on another chair. I knew that his leg had been hit earlier at the market, and


    the long walk back must have taken a toll on him.


    Without hesitation, I sat down next to him and gently touched his leg, asking if he was alright. He


    wasn''t entirely sure, but I noticed that the area around his knee appeared swollen. Worried, I


    decided to take a closer look and carefully lifted his pants to get a better view.


    "It''s because I was careless earlier and didn''t notice the mishap. I''m fine though—" Kiro began to


    say, attempting to downy the seriousness of his injury.


    "Kiro, it looks swollen," I expressed my concern, not wanting him to brush off his condition.


    “It’s actually just…fine–”


    "No, don''t pretend you''re okay when you''re not," I insisted, not willing to let Kiro dismiss his pain.


    "Hold on, I''ll heat some water for your leg," I said, determined to do whatever I could to ease his


    difort.


    Hastily, I went to the kitchen and heated some water, ensuring it was warm enough to soothe his leg


    without causing any harm. Returning to Kiro, I set up a makeshift treatment area by wrapping a


    towel around a basin and pouring the warm water over it.


    Gently, I started to apply the warm towel to his swollen knee, taking care not to press too hard. I


    knew the towel was hot, but Kiro didn''t react orin, just looking at me with appreciation and


    trust in his eyes.


    "It''s swollen. Why did you massage it so much?" I asked, my concern evident as I furrowed my


    brows.


    "I thought it might help ease the—" Kiro began to exin.


    "Oops, actually, massaging it like that can make the swelling worse. You should have told me!" I


    interrupted again, realizing the mistake he made. I continued to apply the warm towel, hoping it


    would provide some relief.


    Kiro smiled softly at my antics, his eyes warm with gratitude. "Thank you for taking care of me,


    Lyka," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.


    I smiled back, trying to hide the fluttering feeling in my heart. "Of course, that''s what friends do for


    each other," I replied, though deep down, I knew my feelings for him were bing more than just


    being ‘friendly’.


    But I couldn''t let my emotions get the better of me. We were friends, and I didn''t want to ruin our


    bond with theplications of romance. I cherished our friendship, and I didn''t want to risk losing


    him.


    Yet, there were moments when our eyes would lock, and I felt a connection that went beyond


    friendship. A blush would creep up my cheeks, and I would quickly look away, hoping he didn''t


    notice the turmoil inside me.


    As we sat there, with me tending to his swollen leg, there was a sense of closeness and


    understanding between us. We didn''t need to say much; our actions spoke volumes about the bond


    we shared.


    After a while, I gently removed the warm towel, knowing that leaving it on for too long might not be


    ideal. "Rest your leg for a while, Kiro," I advised, "and if you need anything during the night, do not


    hesitate to call me."


    "I will. Thank you!" he replied, his voice soft and grateful.


    With that, I helped him settle down on the makeshift bed, ensuring he wasfortable and had


    everything he needed within reach. Before heading back to my room, I took onest look at him,


    feeling my heart flutter again as I realized how much he meant to me.


    "Alright, tomorrow we''ll do this again," I told him. He then nced at the mat and pillows I was


    carrying.


    "You can sleep here in the living room, if it''s alright. I know you''re not used to sleeping—"


    Before I could finish my sentence, he suddenly moved closer to me, and for a moment, my heart


    skipped a beat. I closed my eyes, thinking he might lean in for a kiss, my mind racing with thoughts


    and emotions. But to my surprise, he gently reached past me and picked up the mat and pillow from


    behind me.


    I was stupid to think that way!


    "It''s okay, Lyka," he said and stood up. I was left stunned. What was I thinking earlier?


    As heid the mat on the floor, creating his makeshift bed for the night, I couldn''t help but furrow my


    brows in confusion. Wait, why was heying it on the floor? That was not the n! He was


    supposed to take the chair.


    "Kiro... It''s too cold there. Are you okay just sitting on the chair?" I asked him.


    "Hmm, it''s cold, and I don''t have a nket..." he replied, looking away. I realized I only brought a


    few mats and pillows. I felt so silly.


    "Oh, right! I forgot... Let me get you a nket and a shirt," I said.


    "I have my shirts, but they''re in my car... Thank you," he said, avoiding eye contact. I smiled at him.


    "Oh, right! I forgot... Let me get you a nket and a shirt," I said, realizing my mistake. I smiled at


    him reassuringly, wanting to make sure he felt at ease.


    I went quietly to Mom and Dad''s room to borrow some clothes for Kiro. I didn''t want to wake them


    up, especially Dad, who could be quite grumpy when disturbed from his slumber. As I approached


    Dad''s wardrobe, I heard his voice, and my heart skipped a beat. I nearly jumped in surprise as I


    turned to see him sitting on his wooden chair, a book in his hands. I hadn''t noticed him earlier when


    I entered the room.


    "Huh! I thought the man you brought was rich?!" he asked. I tried to hush him and asked him to go


    back to sleep.


    "Shut up! Do notmand me! Just because you''re the one earning here, that''s how you answer


    me?! You''re too arrogant!" he shouted, filling the home with his loud voice.


    "What happened?! It''s literally the middle of the night and you''re shouting? Go back to sleep,


    Rohelio!" Mom intervened while Dad continued to direct his anger at me.


    "Your daughter is too arrogant, Linda! She''s just a maidin that mansion, and her boss'' son is still—"


    "Enough, Dad! What are you really grumpying for? I just went here to grab some avable clothes


    for Kiro. I don''t want to argue with you, so I''ll leave," I calmly said.


    "Wait! I''m just asking, Lyka! You''re too much for your man... You didn''t even bring him to your fatherContent provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    for a little introduction, huh? And now, he''ll borrow a shirt from me? He''s rich, right?! HAHA!" I was


    taken aback by his words. I couldn''t understand what father was trying to point out, and I didn''t want


    to fight. It could ruin my rtionship with him. It could ruin my rtionship with him more.


    I felt my head heating up from his words, but I tried to stay calm. "If clothes are the issue then he


    won''t borrow, Dad. As easy as that! I''ll go out first—"


    "Look at how your daughter answers, Linda! Another hard-headed—"


    "Shut up, Rohelio! Let her go out, and what are you fighting for?! What’s your nonsense all about?


    Let''s go back to sleep!" Mom scolded him, and he fell silent. She then turned to me and nodded in


    support.


    As I carried Dad''s t-shirt back to Kiro, tears welled up in my eyes. It hurt deeply to see my father


    treating me with such distance, coldness, and grumpyness. I couldn''t understand what was going


    on in Dad''s head, why he had changed so much. I longed for the days when he used to call me


    "princess" and showered me with affection.


    I couldn''t shake off the curiosity about my father''s sudden change in attitude towards me. What had


    caused this rift between us? Was it because I decided to leave our hometown to work and pursue a


    better life for us?


    I couldn''t understand why he would be upset with my decision. I had left not out of negligence or


    abandonment, but out of love and a desire to provide for our family. I had taken on the responsibility


    to work and send them money, to make sure they had afortable life.


    Yet, it seemed like my efforts were in vain. Instead of receiving his support or encouragement, all I


    got was this cold and distant treatment. It hurt deeply to think that he might see my choice as a


    betrayal, when all I wanted was to uplift our family from poverty.


    Kiro noticed my distress and asked me what happened. I didn''t want to talk about it, so I just said, "I


    don''t understand Dad. Let''s just forget about it." I handed him the t-shirt, and he thanked me.


    We sat quietly for a few more minutes, the air feeling tense between us.


    Suddenly, I was shocked when Kiro turned around and started undressing. "What are you doing?" I


    stammered. He was taking off his clothes without any hesitation.


    "I''m changing clothes," he replied straightforwardly. He always seemed so philosophical in his


    responses. Obviously, I know what he was doing! WHat I am curious about was as to why was he


    changing in front of me?


    "Why did you turn around so suddenly... What...?" My eyes widened as he turned back and was still


    not wearing any clothes.


    "Do I really need to cover up in front of you? I mean, without turning around?" I could imagine that


    he was probably smirking at me. I didn''t know for sure because I quickly turned away and averted


    my eyes.


    I identally saw him topless!